Time to grab your friends and form your own baseball team for the summer!

The Seniors Division of Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball kicks off Sunday, May 1 with a players and coaches meeting starting at 5 p.m. at Saldivar Field at Devils Glen Park.

Registration remains open for the Seniors Division, which is baseball for ages 15-20. The sign-up link:

https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196

Signing up now — and attending the meeting — is essential to help set the number of teams and get uniforms ordered in time for the summer season. Games are scheduled to start Tuesday, May 31. NOTE: An earlier start is possible depending on project arrival of the uniforms.

If you are interested in playing — BUT UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING BECAUSE OF WORK OR SCHOOL CONFLICTS —please get registered before Sunday’s meeting to ensure you and or your group is counted!

For more information, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111. NOTE: Emails are better than phone calls at this time of year.

ABOUT THE SENIORS DIVISION:

There are no tryouts or draft. Ideally, friends & classmates are grouped together in the Seniors. So make sure to list the players/coaches you are planning to play with in the special request section of your registration.

If you only have one best friend you’d like to play with? Please list that.

If you only have 3-4 friends and don’t have a “full” team? That’s OK!

All registered players will be placed on a team and groups can be consolidated to make a team.

Each team needs an adult coach/manager and sponsor to form a team — but let us know if you need help with either. Note for prospective coaches: This is a “players league,” where the players are old enough to do many tasks themselves! And the Seniors Division follows the Spiderman mantra in terms of players making this league great for themselves: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Coaches/managers and sponsors are needed at this time. To volunteer, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com. NOTE: A coaches and captains meeting follows the players meeting Sunday to review rules and team expectations.

The overall purpose of the players meeting is to set expectations, discuss details of the season and cover other important information about the division & the way we will operate. It’s also a good time to address all questions.

The meeting also allows “free agents” to get an idea of the familiar faces in the league for team placements.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1. What is the Seniors Division? Also known as the Colt League. The division is for teenagers, ages 15-20, to continue playing competitive baseball on a regulation diamond (90-foot bases, 60-feet, 6-inches mound-to-home). High school students hail mostly from Bettendorf or Pleasant Valley, but Assumption and some other Davenport schools also are represented. North Scott schools also usually have a team or two in the league. Participants are also welcome from the Illinois Quad Cities. Players younger than 15 are eligible to play in the league as well, especially those eighth graders participating on high school teams or looking ahead to tryouts as ninth graders. NOTE: The mixture of participants ranges from current and former high-school program players; younger kids preparing to make the jump to high school play; and high school athletes from other sports. The division also regularly attracts a handful of college-age athletes (including baseball players) wishing to continue playing the game with friends. (The age limit allows for participants unable to transition into slow-pitch softball because of the drinking-age restrictions in many of those leagues).

2. How many players make up a team? Each team should plan to carry between 12-15 players on their roster to allow for both injuries and the inevitable work, school and other personal conflicts that come up during the summer. NOTE: BPV uses a continuous batting order — so everybody who shows up gets to bat – and free defensive substitutions to help keep games moving quickly. A “sub rule” also is used to ensure games are played — so if a team is short players, they can borrow from any other BPV Seniors or Juniors Division team. Unregistered players are ineligible because they are not covered by BPV’s insurance policy. Teams using ineligible players are subject to suspension.

3. How many teams are in the league? To be determined by the number of playing participants. Last year included 13 teams split into divisions based on the age and experience levels of their rosters. A two-tier postseason tournament was offered for the same reason, with the youngest teams offered the choice of playing in a Gold or Silver bracket.

4. How are teams formed? There are no tryouts and there is no draft. Players are encouraged to play with their friends and classmates. Players can form their own teams. An adult coach and sponsor is needed (ask if you need help finding either). If you only have one best friend you would like to play with? Please list that in the requests section during registration. And if you only have 3-4 friends interested in playing and do not have a “full” team? That is OK, too! Groups can be consolidated to make a team and all registered players will be placed on a team.

5. What equipment is necessary? All participants receive a jersey/shirt and hat, with sponsor fees covering most of that cost. Players provide their own baseball pants, shoes, and gloves. Most players have their own bats and batting helmets. Batting helmets and catching gear is provided for teams, if needed, but most players opt to use their own catching gear, too. The league provides game balls and qualified high school and young adult umpires for each game. NOTE: A limited supply of previously used pants, cleats, gloves, and bats are available to borrow from the league if needed by participants.

6. How many games can I expect to play? Normally, three games per week depending on the weather. The Seniors Division schedules as many games as the calendar allows from late May to late July/early August. So, expect to lose some games to the weather, as rainouts are rarely re-scheduled because of a lack of field and player availabilities. The season wraps up in early August before the first high school practices of the fall with a double-elimination postseason tournament and an all-star game. Barring severe weather problems, you can expect to play between 20-25 regular season games and at least 2 tournament games (unless inclement weather forces a tournament reduction to single elimination).

7. When are the games? The Seniors program runs from late May to early August with no games offered during the long weekends for Memorial Day and the 4th of July to avoid the inevitable holiday conflicts (including out-of-town trips) for players, coaches, umpires, and administrators. The last few seasons, every night of the week except Saturday has been used for game nights. The nights can vary depending on the number of teams and games necessary. Normally, teams will be on a Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday or Monday-Wednesday-Friday rotation during a game week – although back-to-back game nights are possible and sometimes necessary. Typically, doubleheaders are played — with two teams starting a game at 5:30 p.m., and two other teams playing at 8 p.m. New innings may not start in either game after a 2-hour and 15-minute time limit has been reached. Like the fall program, “day” games have been played previously on Sundays, too, but those afternoon game times are only used when necessary to allow players a good time (all day Saturday and Sunday afternoons) to work their part-time jobs. NOTE: Except during the postseason tournament, Bettendorf enforces a 10:30 p.m. lights out/out-of-park policy which allows for little wiggle room. So do not waste time — we are hustling on and off the field!

8. Where are the games? Games are primarily under the lights at Saldivar Field at Bettendorf’s Devils Glen Park – as well as 10-15 minutes north of the TBK Bank Sports Complex at McCausland City Field. Bettendorf’s lighted Juniors Division diamonds at Crow Creek #5 (Smitty Field) and Castro Field at Kiwanis Park/Paul Norton School also can be expanded for use depending on the Juniors Division schedule.

9. When are the practices? Diamond time and practice time is at a premium. Teams are welcome to practice whenever (and wherever) they are able — particularly in May before the season starts (and there is a field schedule to sign up for diamond time at Devils Glen and the BPV Juniors Division fields if necessary and available). However, a common experience in Seniors is few (if any) actual practices and a lot of game action (with three games per week normally). Many teams simply rely on pre-game warmups, including batting practices in the batting cage, because of limited player availability.

10. What if I am trying out for the high school team? What happens if I make it? Players making their high school & college teams are able to play in the BPV Seniors Division. Past experiences show this league works especially well with high school freshman players looking for additional at-bats/defensive innings (or pitching innings if not pitching on the freshman level) against good competition on a regulation diamond. When school lets out, freshman games and practices normally are in the morning and early afternoon – and game action is at a premium. So, BPV Seniors games three nights per week is a good option for more repetitions, more at bats and more innings on defense (or innings pitched if not pitching on the freshman team). This is especially true with few travel/tournament weekend options for players 15-over. (A recent BPV Seniors player actually juggled BPV games with weekend tournaments AND freshman games/practices). NOTE: The request for all players participating on scholastic teams is DO SOMETHING YOU DON’T NORMALLY DO FOR YOUR SCHOOL TEAM when playing in BPV games. If you pitch for your school team? Do not pitch in the BPV, but add some defensive position (outfield, especially) to your tool belt to become a better-rounded high school baseball player. And enjoy those at-bats you are not getting on your school team! If you catch for your school team? Add time at a corner infield or outfield spot and maybe consider pitching. If you play middle infield? Focus on the outfield. If you do not normally catch or pitch for the school team? Either is always a great skill to develop and make your more versatile. ALSO: If trying out and not sure if you will make your high school team, sign up because full refunds are available if you have second thoughts later in the month. (It is easier to subtract players from a roster instead of trying to add players or additional teams later). To discuss the possibilities, or for more information, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

11. What is the registration fee? $150 for the season (plus a $3 online service fee for us using the registration system to remain organized). That’s only $25 more than the other divisions in BPV — despite playing more games — and the increased costs for insurance (older divisions cost more to insure per player), for umpires (necessarily experienced umps command larger fees), field maintenance (more games equal more the city charges us from chalk and field rental), equipment (Seniors Division goes through a ton of baseballs and hardware costs more for adult sizes) and uniforms (larger rosters, larger apparel, larger costs). NOTE: BPV annually operates the Seniors Division at a deficit — but we do that because we feel this division and these kids are that important. Financial assistance is available for hardship cases with demonstrated need. To discuss, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

12. How do I become a sponsor? The sponsorship fee is $400 for the season (and teams playing together in the fall wear their existing uniforms to give sponsor a little extra bang for no extra bucks). Sponsorship helps cover some (but not all) of the uniform costs for teams. Sponsors are able to advertise their business on the jerseys/shirts and are able to choose their team colors (unless the color combination has been claimed by another sponsor). Sponsors also may make a donation to the general BPV fund to help cover league costs or anonymously sponsor a player or family on financial aid. For more information, contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

13. How do I register? The online registration link is at BPVbaseball.com in the announcements section (any of the news stories mentioning “seniors” or “registration”). Otherwise, the registration link is https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196. The registration system accepts Credit Cards. Checks can be mailed to: BPV Baseball, P.O. Box 215, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722. Payment options and financial assistance also can be discussed by contacting Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111. After May 1, please contact Tappa to be sure playing space remains. Do not delay; there are only so many sots available after the player meeting (typically in mid/late April). Requests to play with certain friends are encouraged but cannot be guaranteed late in the registration process.

14. What if I have a schedule conflict? Simply communicate with your coach and teammates. Perfect attendance cannot be expected because of jobs, school activities and family functions (That’s why rosters are larger than the usual Little League). With Colt League, rules allow for late arrivals and early departures to play as much as possible, when players arrive or before they depart. When teams are short of players in the regular season, they also can borrow from other teams to avoid a forfeit, so there are opportunities to play more games than your team is scheduled to play. A long-standing rule that has been skipped in recent seasons considers players postseason eligible (for the tournament and all-star game) by participating in 40-percent of their team’s games.

15. What if my question was not answered above? For more information, contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111. Or visit BPVBaseball.com.

If you are interested in umpiring this season in Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball, plan on attending the FREE Umpire Clinic on Sunday, April 24 from 1-4 p.m. at Bettendorf’s Life Fitness Center.

All umpires are welcome and encouraged to attend to prepare for the rapidly-approaching 2022 season. Check-in is open from 12:45-1 p.m.

High school-certified umpires Brad Wittnebel and Chris Ekstrom are the primary clinicians. BPV umpire director Steve Tappa and top youth lieutenants Luka Konovalov (also HS-certified) and Will Fairman will serve as additional clinic staff.

Instruction will occur for both home plate and base/field duties, as well as a breakdown of gear and Standard Operating Procedures for BPV — and a Q&A period for umpires to ask questions of their clinicians.

Participants will be split into groups according to experience level — from rookie to limited experience to veteran — to better tailor the information to each group.

Umpires are compensated for their game work, with the fee depending on which division is worked!

NOTE: The Life Fitness Center is across the street from Splash Landing (with overflow parking in the swimming pool parking lots) The address is 2222 Middle Road, Bettendorf.

THE CLINIC

Whether or not you have attended one of our clinics in the past, you will find the experience beneficial as we gear the training to the experience level of your grouping for the session.

So, rookies will get more basic/introductory information, while veterans will work on advanced training and skill drills.

The clinic is free, so please take advantage of this opportunity to improve your skills as an umpire, whether for the BPV regular season or looking ahead to the BPV fall program or travel/tournament opportunities.

All umpires looking to work in the BPV should plan to attend.

For more information or to reserve your spot, please email tappasteve@gmail.com or call 563-676-8111

A couple of frequently asked questions:

— What should I do if I am a former umpire unable to umpire this year because of another job or activity? Please just drop Steve Tappa a note to remove you from the active list. And we of course wish you well in your future endeavors! If you need a job reference, you can absolutely put Steve down as a reference without asking — and you never know, someday you may find the time or opportunity to come back to umpire for us again!

— What if I am a former umpire who plans to umpire again? Unless you tell Steve Tappa to remove you from the active list, you will continue getting emails! Please let him know if there is an update to your contact information (especially your cellphone for scheduling purposes!) AND, most importantly, plan to attend the FREE Umpire Clinic on Sunday, April 24. The clinic is for the benefit of all umpires — young and old, rookie or veteran.

— What if I am interested in umpiring BUT have a prior commitment conflicting with the FREE Umpire Clinic? We realize one size will never fit all! Missing the clinic could delay the start of your season — but will not prevent you from umpire duty! PLEASE drop Steve Tappa a note and we will look for a different day when you can get some training if you are a rookie or have limited experience — or if you are a veteran needing to brush up on skills and knock off the rust!

— What if I am only able to attend a portion of the clinic? Please plan to attend as much as you can. But let Steve Tappa know if your clinic stay will be shorter than scheduled and we’ll talk about getting you the most important parts of the clinic to get you ready for the season!

— What if I am a LeClaire resident who needs to stay in LeClaire to umpire? For the first time in 2022, we are also scheduling the umpires in LeClaire, so please let Steve Tappa know if you are up for regular duty at LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex!

Registration for the two youngest divisions in Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball are now CLOSED and wait lists are forming for the spring/summer season.

Both the Coach Pitch (grades K-3) and Rookie/Kid Pitch (grades 2-3) divisions are at a maximum number of participants for available coaches.

In fact, the Coach Pitch division could use another group of volunteer coaches from the current crop of registrations to reduce the number of players on each roster from 13-14 down to a more desirable 12 on each team to ensure kids play as many innings as possible defensively. (Currently 3-4 kids are sitting on the bench each inning).

For Coach Pitch to work properly, every parent/family needs to be involved in sharing the on-field duties for the team to ensure a great experience for your child!

For example, when your team is batting, there has to be: 1) a coach to pitch; 2) a coach at first base to help any base runners; 3) a coach at third base to help any base runners; 4) a volunteer from either team to serve as the “home plate umpire” helping shag the balls and keeping track of the number of pitches; 5) a volunteer from either team to serve as the “base umpire” to make any calls on the bases; 6) a coach at the front of the dugout helping batters prepare for their turn at the plate; 7) a coach at the end of the dugout to keep players engaged (and not wandering off!); and 8) a scorekeeper to help keep everybody on track for the batting lineup and defensive rotation.

If you are able to volunteer your time to head up another team as a coach — and help make this the best possible season for kids — please contact Coach Pitch director Bob Jurkowski at rjurkows03@gmail.com or 563-940-3935.

A Coach Pitch Coaches Meeting is Thursday night (6-7:30 p.m.) at the Bettendorf Public Library (Malmros Room). Coaches should be in contact with their teams this weekend.

For those that missed the sign-up deadline in Coach Pitch or Rookie/Kid Pitch, please send an email to Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com. NOTE: If there are enough late registrants and new coaches, additional teams can form. Otherwise, the wait list is at the mercy of any openings in the program (injuries or withdrawals).

OTHER DIVISIONS

Registration remains open in the other four divisions — Minors (Grades 4-5), Majors (Grades 6-7), Juniors (Grades 8-9) and Seniors (High School & up; ages 15-20).

The registration link is: https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196

Except for Seniors — which starts and finishes roughly a month later than the other divisions — the clock is ticking and roster spots are going fast!

Tryouts/evaluations for Majors and Minors is Monday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 6.

Both sessions are 6:30-8:30 p.m. indoors at the TBK Bank Sports Complex in Bettendorf to avoid any problems with the weather.

Participants only need to attend one of those nights — whichever is most convenient for the player and his family.

If unable to attend either night, players will still end up on a team.

Players are asked to bring their glove, favorite bat and dress for a baseball practice (example: baseball hat, t-shirt and baseball pants or sweat pants). There will be a number of skill stations, including hitting, pitching, fielding and running.

All players registered are placed on a team! The tryouts/evaluations simply are used by coaches to measure a player’s current skill level. Coaches draft their team’s for the season, with the entire process helping to strike a competitive balance to make everyone better.

No extra sign-up is necessary for tryouts/evaluations. If you are registered for Majors or Minors, just report on one of those days.

Check-in will open at 6:15 p.m. on both days. Please check-in at tryouts/evaluations by 6:30 p.m. if possible. Participants showing up late can still be added to one of the rotating tryout groups, but from an organizational standpoint — and to avoid the risk of your player missing a drill — it is easier if all the players are there at the start before breaking them into the groups.

The Majors (grades 6-7) and Minors (grades 4-5) are the only divisions where a tryout is planned.

Juniors teams (grades 8-9) will begin forming during a coaches meeting next week.

Seniors teams (ages 15 & up) begin forming during a player meeting in mid-to-late April (TBA), with players urged to play with friends and form their own teams for the summer

For those planning to coach in any division, please contact the appropriate division director:

— Coach Pitch (Grades K-3): Bob Jurkowski (rjurkows03@gmail.com or 563-940-3935)
— Intro to Kid Pitch (2nd/3rd Grade): Ron Johns (johnsronald2020@gmail.com or 251-533-1858)
— Minors (Grades 4-5): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Majors (Grades 6-7): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Juniors (Grades 8-9): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)
— Seniors (Ages 15-20): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)

For more details about BPV and the 2022 baseball season, please visit: TeamPages: Bettendorf/Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball – BPV 2022 spring/summer registration open!

With youth baseball season starting soon, here is a quick reminder to get registered if you have not done so already for Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball.

Teams will be forming soon, and once that happens, roster spots become scarce! (The exception is the Seniors Division for high school ages & up — which starts a month later than the other youth divisions).

The link for registration is: https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196

If playing in the Majors (grades 6-7) and Minors (grades 4-5) divisions, make sure to mark your calendars!

The tryouts/evaluations for the Majors & Minors is Monday, April 4 and Wednesday, April 6 indoors at the TBK Bank Sports Complex.

The sessions are 6:30-8:30 p.m. either night, with participants only needing to attend one of those nights. And if unable to attend either night, players will still end up on a team!

Players are asked to bring their glove, favorite bat and dress for a baseball practice (example: baseball hat, t-shirt and baseball pants or sweatpants). There will be a number of skill stations, including hitting, pitching, fielding and running.

All players registered are placed on a team! The tryouts/evaluations simply are used by coaches to measure a player’s current skill level. Coaches draft their teams for the season, with the entire process helping to strike a competitive balance to make everyone better.

No extra sign-up is necessary for tryouts/evaluations. If you are registered for Majors or Minors, just report on one of those days.

Check-in will open at 6:15 p.m. on both days. Please check-in at tryouts/evaluations by 6:30 p.m. if possible. Participants showing up late can still be added to one of the rotating tryout groups, but from an organizational standpoint — and to avoid the risk of your player missing a drill — it is easier if all the players are there at the start before breaking them into the groups.

The Majors & Minors are the only divisions where a tryout is planned.

Coach Pitch (grades K-3) and Rookie/Kid Pitch (grades 2-3) teams are formed by school and special requests.

Juniors teams (grades 8-9) will form during a coaches meeting. Seniors teams (grades 9-up) begin forming during a player meeting in mid-to-late April (TBA right now).

For those planning to coach in any division, please contact the appropriate division director:

— Coach Pitch (Grades K-3): Bob Jurkowski (rjurkows03@gmail.com or 563-940-3935)
— Intro to Kid Pitch (2nd/3rd Grade): Ron Johns (johnsronald2020@gmail.com or 251-533-1858)
— Minors (Grades 4-5): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Majors (Grades 6-7): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Juniors (Grades 8-9): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)
— Seniors (Ages 15-20): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)

For more details about BPV and the 2022 baseball season, please visit: TeamPages: Bettendorf/Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball – BPV 2022 spring/summer registration open!

The Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball registration website is now open for the 2022 spring/summer season.

To sign up, visit:
https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/Pages/Welcome.aspx?ClubId=14196

More information is attached, available below or at:
BPVBaseball.com (https://bpv.teampages.com).

Exact dates will be released soon for tryouts and evaluations, but those season-starting sessions typically are the final week of March after Spring Breaks.

The general calendar always sets the first week of April to have teams set in all divisions so practices can start 3-4 weeks prior to games starting on Monday, May 2. (The exception is the Seniors Division (ages 15-20), which follows the high school baseball schedule, with a late May start to games).

So, if you plan on your child playing baseball this spring and summer, please register ASAP!

DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN

The divisions offered this year are the same as last season (in all divisions, all players bat in order and participation rules are followed):
— Coach Pitch: A beginning program for Grades K-3. Younger players can request to play — however a season of tee-ball is suggested, with that separate city program an appropriate starting point for all baseball players. Inexperienced 2nd and 3rd graders can request to remain in Coach Pitch. Coaches pitch to batters. Players run the bases with some restrictions. Three outs or a run limit (whichever comes first) defines the inning. Games run six innings, with teams playing typically twice per week, and practice time available on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Weather permitting, games run May 2 to Friday, July 1. The season ends with a postseason tournament and All-Star games, where all of the league’s participants receive an award. Fields typically used are at Hoover School and the diamonds nearest to Splash Landing at Middle Park (called Lowry Field & 23rd St. Field) and LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex. Most teams grouped by school or special request. Also: LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Bob Jurkowski at rjurkows03@gmail.com.
— Kid Pitch: Geared for 2nd and 3rd graders (and any advanced/veteran coach pitchers ready for a new challenge, with younger players allowed to request playing in this division). Kids pitch to hitters with restrictions. A mixture of rules are used from the Coach Pitch and Minors Divisions to prepare players for the next level. Six-inning games, with teams playing typically twice per week, and practice time available on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Weather permitting, games run May 2 to Friday, July 1. The season ends with a postseason tournament and All-Star game. Field used: Tyler Hurd Field at Ed Scheck Park & LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex (occasionally Crow Creek #10 and #11 at the 4-Plex can also be used, especially for all-star or tournament games or makeups as the schedule allows). LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Most teams grouped by school or special request. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Ron Johns at johnsronald2020@gmail.com.
— Minors: For Grades 4-5. Full kid pitch with base-running restrictions. Regulation games are six innings, with teams playing typically twice per week, and practice time on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Weather permitting, games run May 2 to mid-July, with the season-capping All-Star games and a postseason tournament coming after July 4. Fields used: Crow Creek #10 & #11 at the 4-Plex and LeClaire’s Veterans Memorial Complex. Teams formed by a draft following evaluations. LeClaire-only teams are a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Matt Wood at mcw1205@aol.com.
— Majors: For Grades 6-7: Full base running rules. Regulation games now seven innings, with teams playing typically twice per week, and practice time available on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Weather permitting, games run May 2 to mid-July, with the season-capping All-Star games and a postseason tournament coming after July 4. Fields used: Crow Creek #8 & #9 at the 4-Plex, and Crow Creek #6 (by the soccer fields). Teams formed by a draft following evaluations. Also: A LeClaire-only team is a registration option on a first-come, first-serve basis. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Matt Wood at mcw1205@aol.com.
— Juniors: For Grades 8-9 (ages 13-15). NOTE: If planning to play high school baseball, play in the Seniors Division on a full-sized diamond against older competition and where more games are played. Teams normally formed by a draft, with the coaching group deciding together if evaluations are necessary. Full baseball rules (except dropped third strike) on slightly smaller-than-regulation fields (54-foot mound, 80-foot bases). Games are seven innings, with teams playing typically 2-3 times per week, and practice time available on the weekend once games start. April is set aside for practices. Games run May 2 to mid-July, with an All-Star game and a postseason tournament capping the season after the July 4 holiday. Fields used: Crow Creek #5 and Castro Field at Kiwanis Park/Paul Norton School. Some games also at out-of-town destinations such as Eldridge, Long Grove and Donahue, versus teams from the North Scott and Wapsi Little Leagues. Bettendorf fields have lights, so night games are normal. Those interested in coaching are encouraged to contact the division director, Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.
— Seniors: Ages 15-20. Grab your friends and create a team (adult coach needed). All registrants are placed on a team. Full baseball on a regulation diamond (60-foot, 6-inch mound, 90-foot bases). Games are seven innings or limited by time limit. Teams play typically three times per week, with practice time available on the weekend. Games start in late May and run through late July, with a postseason tournament and All-Star game capping the season. The program ends before practices start for fall high school sports. Fields used: Devils Glen Park, McCausland City Field and occasionally Crow Creek #5 or Castro Field at Kiwanis Park/Paul Norton School. Schedule includes doubleheaders (5:30 and 8 p.m. starts) on lighted fields, mainly Monday through Friday, with Sundays also possible depending on participation numbers. Those interested in coaching or forming a team are encouraged to contact the division director, Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE BPV

The calendar: Late March is when the season kicks off with evaluations in the Minors and Majors. Coaches meetings also are held at this time in all but the Seniors division, with Coach Pitch, Kid Pitch and Juniors teams forming (exact dates are TBD). For all divisions except Seniors (which mirrors the high school season), April is set aside for practices. Games begin in May. Seasons end with a division tournament and All-Star Games. Depending on weather, all seasons should wrap up by mid-July (Note: Coach Pitch/Kid Pitch finishes by July 4; Seniors start later with games in late May and runs until the end of July). NOTE: BPV also offers a separate Fall program with games on the weekends starting in mid-August and running through early October.
Games: Expect to play a couple of games each week. Once games start, practice time is mostly available on the weekends, decided on by a team-by-team, first-come basis. (The two oldest divisions usually play 3 games per week, so practices time is scarce and practices are particularly rare in Seniors). Exact game schedules determined by the number of participating teams closer to the start of games.
Awards: All participants receive an award in the Coach Pitch division, with an awards jamboree at the All-Star Games. The top teams in the regular season and tournament also earn trophies in each division. Additionally, the All-Star Game participants receive a keepsake for playing.
Equipment: All players receive a jersey and hat for their uniform. Baseball pants and shoes, as well as gloves are the responsibility of the participant. (Some also provide their own helmets and bats, but BPV also provides those, along with catchers gear, in a set of team equipment).
Fees: Cost for the season is $125 ($150 for Seniors to partially cover additional insurance costs) plus a $3 service fee for the online registration/organizational management service. However, BPV does not exclude participation due to financial hardship. For more information, please contact Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111).
Sponsorship: Our generous sponsors help make youth baseball an affordable treasure in our community. For information on sponsoring your child’s team, please contact Dan Escontrias (danesco33@gmail.com or 563-210-3489).
Volunteers: Helping keep our costs so low is the volunteerism we enjoy at all levels! Behind-the-scenes help running the all-volunteer organization always is necessary. Service-learning hours are available to help meet school requirements – or provide a resume item for college/work applications. Please consider volunteering by contacting Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111).
Help wanted: Umpires are also needed and compensated for their work; contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111. Umpires are provided a blue BPV umpiring work shirt and the training program features a clinic with professional umpires in mid-April before the season starts.

KEY CONTACTS:

— Coach Pitch (Grades K-3): Bob Jurkowski (rjurkows03@gmail.com or 563-940-3935)
— Intro to Kid Pitch (2nd/3rd Grade): Ron Johns (johnsronald2020@gmail.com or 251-533-1858)
— Minors (Grades 4-5): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Majors (Grades 6-7): Matt Wood (mcw1205@aol.com or 563-340-5917)
— Juniors (Grades 8-9): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)
— Seniors (Ages 15-20): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)
NOTE: Coaches are needed in all divisions! (Contact any of those listed).