Please click here to Download out Thank You Letter to our 2009 Sponsors
The Scotch Plains Fanwood Youth Baseball Association’s 2009 season was a rewarding one for all of us. We implemented many changes, all in our continuing effort to improve the overall experience for our players. Some of those changes included:
• Rebalancing our divisions to coincide with player’s school grade
• The introduction of a 50/70 division for our 6th
• The introduction of our Parents Auxiliary to embrace new ideas graders to ease the transition to the big diamond
• Our first annual family picnic, which hosted over 400 families
• A combined league approach with other communities for our 16/18U division
• Welcoming our HS Varsity Baseball Manager onto the SPFYBA Board
• Teaming with the SPF school program for coaching clinics and managing our 7th and 8th grade teams
We were also able to make many improvements to our home at Booth Field. A sampling of those improvements includes
• Draping a 30’ high safety net around the outfield and the 3rd
• Reinforcing the retaining wall behind home plate. This alleviated an erosion problem that was threatening to ruin our field. base line. This net now protects our neighbors on Valley Road and our fans watching the games in the stands.
• Installing a 20’ x 3’ sign commemorating our field
• Reinforcing the barrier surrounding the parking lot to protect cars from the stream that surrounds the field
• Purchasing tarpolins to protect both home plate and the pitchers mound
These improvements were both necessary and timely. All of these improvements were done by volunteers wherever possible. The poles used to secure the netting were installed by professional fence builders. But volunteers worked over the entire preseason to install the net, reinforce the retaining wall, install the sign, and build the fence in the parking lot. The hard work of our volunteers, coupled with the generous contributions of our sponsors, allows us to create a wonderful baseball experience for the children of our community. Our sponsors generosity has also allowed us to hold registration fees flat, and in some cases lower them.
On behalf of the SPFYBA Board of Directors, coaches, and most importantly, players, we would like to thank you for your generosity in 2009 and hope that you continue to support our association in 2010 and beyond.
Again, thank you,
Paul Laki Jr.
SPFYBA Board Member - Director of Fundraising
Mike Dempsey
SPFYBA Board Member - President