Syosset Baseball Association recently announced that registration for the 2008 New York Mets Baseball Academy is now going on with first come, first serve registrations for all 2008 Syosset Baseball Association players ages 6 through 12.

This is the fifth year that the New York Mets Baseball Academy has come to our site at Syosset Woodbury Park. Each year gets better and better, stronger and stronger, selling out the past 3 years prior to the June cutoff date.

There are a few changes for the 2008 year. First, the New York Mets Baseball Academy is offering an early registration incentive of an official New York Mets Baseball Academy batting practice replica warm-up wind shirt (value $45) for all registered players, registering with a postmark on or before February 29. The registration fee for the 2008 year is $300 per week.

The designated weeks that the Academy will be in Syosset are:

August 18 through August 22

August 25 through August 29

The 6-year-old group has been extended to a full day session for those 6 year old players signing up.

Each year, former and current players come out to our fields to help assist the New York Mets Baseball Academy staff, lending their professional touch. Past attendees to our fields have been Third Base Coach Sandy Alomar, Sr.; Bench Coach to Manager Willie Randolph Jerry Manuel, Bullpen and Catching Coach Tom Nieto, 1969 New York Mets Champion First Baseman Ed Kranepool, 1986 New York Mets Champion/ 1977 National League MVP/ 50 Homeruns/ part of the "Big Red Machine" George Foster, Backup catcher Mike DiFelice to name a few.

This year promises to be just as exciting with the parent club's showing in 2007 and the anticipation for the 2008 season. All New York Mets Baseball Academy attendees are extended an invitation to attend New York Mets Baseball Academy night at Shea, taking over the picnic area, reserved for New York Mets Baseball Academy players, family and friends purchasing tickets exclusively for that area for the game. Prior to the game, weather permitting, selected players and coaches come out for an exclusive autograph signing with the kids. Additionally, all NY Mets Baseball Academy players, wearing their New York Mets Baseball Academy uniforms are invited onto the playing field warning track prior to the game for the National Anthem.

Registration forms are currently being distributed during the 9-year-old through 12-year-old group evaluations, January 26 HB Thompson 3:30 -6:45 p.m., January 27 Southwoods 8:30-10:45 a.m., February 2 HB Thompson 3:30 - 6:45 p.m. and February 3 Southwoods 3:30 - 6:45 p.m. Additionally, registration forms will be distributed through the designated Managers once teams are formed, can be accessed on our website: www.syossetbaseball.org and can be picked up at Bagel Master on Cold Spring Road, next to CVS in the town of Syosset.

Registration fee as mentioned above is $300 per week, payable to: Triple Crown Baseball, LLC. Please send all completed registration forms along with the registration fee to:

Syosset Baseball Association

PO Box 302

Syosset, New York 11791

Attn: New York Mets Academy

Checks will be immediately deposited. Your cancelled check will be your receipt of acknowledgement. Shortly before the week you child is scheduled to attend, you'll be receiving confirmation and instructions directly from The New York Mets Baseball Academy.

This information and other events for Syosset Baseball Association can be found at www.syossetbaseball.org.