Syosset Baseball Association opened up the 2007 season on April 14 with a complete array of games from ages 5 tee-ball through 12-year-old Major League Division under blue skies and 55-degree weather.

Players were treated to the newly renovated fields courtesy of the Town of Oyster Bay with new enclosed on-deck circles, wind screen tarps behind the backstops, yellow capping on outfield fences, yellow foul poles, tarp over dugouts to shield from the heat during the summer weather. Additionally, our Syosset Baseball Association Board under the Directors Bruce Ritter and Andy Feit took the project of field maintenance and had a crew raking out fields, lining the foul lines and batters boxes in each of the town fields.

Games played throughout the day provided our kids with fun and memorable times while providing excitement in many of the games played. Our scoreboard at the Syosset/ Woodbury park 60' field is back and running for the 2007 intramural season.

As we continue throughout the season, we ask and encourage the following from each and every family:

• Please keep our fields clean. When leaving, please be sure to take all garbage, bottles and cups, leaving the fields clean for the next team.

• There is a zero tolerance rule on on-deck swinging of bats. The enclosed on-deck circles are the only areas to be swinging a bat. Any player in violation of this will be subject to immediate ejection from their respective game.

• Those games played at our Lewis Lane Field, please be advised if you park inside the circle, and not curbside, you are parked illegally and subject to a ticket.

• A reminder, that at the Stillwell Fields, you can't ride onto the fields at anytime, even just to drop off equipment as well as no parking at the emergency gate. Town of Oyster Bay Department of Public Safety will be patrolling this area and anyone in violation will be subjected to a steep fine.

• Notification of Summer and Fall Travel tryouts have been sent out as well as an e-mail to each Manager in our 8-12 year old Divisions to redirect to individual player families. If your child plans on playing either summer or fall travel, they must attend one of these designated tryout dates.

• The picture schedule for team and individual pictures are up on our website www.syossetbaseball.org.

• 2007 rules for each division are now posted on our website www.syossetbaseball.org

• Newly established Safety Procedures and Safety Manual are on our website www.syossetbaseball.org.

• New York Mets Baseball Academy registration is on-going and filling up fast. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Registration forms can be downloaded from our website www.syossetbaseball.org.

• Save the Date...

May 26, All Star Games and Memorial Weekend Picnic 8:30 .a.m - 7 p.m. Syosset Woodbury Park

May 28, Memorial Day Parade...Jackson Avenue

• Our weather hotline for game cancellations due to rain and poor field conditions 827-8757

This recording will be continually updated on inclement days with field closings and openings for games in divisions 9-Seniors where umpires, scores and standing are affected. Individual Managers and their respective Commissioners will handle divisions 5-8.

• Be sure to check out our website for Woodbury Sports discount coupons on equipment and apparel. When you are on our home page www.syossetbaseball.org, click on Woodbury Sports to bring up the discount coupon.

• Lastly, Board Directors Bruce Ritter and Andy Feit need everyone's help in field maintenance. Everyone arriving at their fields felt "real good" about "Our Field of Dreams" in Syosset. This effort can't be an effort of only two people. Other towns have their managers, coaches and parents helping to maintain their fields. Please step up and assist Bruce and Andy to help keeping these fields in this condition for your child's games. Can you e-mail them directly at Britter@syossetbaseball.org or AFeit@syossetbaseball.org. If everyone gives 1 hour of time, we will have immaculate, well-groomed fields.

Information on Syosset Baseball Association can be found on our website www.syossetbaseball.org.