The BPV’s Wolfpack posted a runner-up finish in September at the “Ballin’ for Health” tournament at the TBK Sports Complex in Bettendorf.

The Wolfpack finished 3-2 overall in the 11U bracket of the USSSA event.

“We only won one tournament all summer,” Wolfpack coach Matt Wood said. “Having this kind of success while playing as a full team during BPV league play is huge.”

Team members include Connor Cewe, John Gayton, Barrett Hehlke, Ryker Kulig, Bryson Minnich, Justin Mitchell, James Murray, Nolan Raabe, Mason Sereda, Joh Shook, Owen Vidmar, Connley Wikan, Blake Wood, Myles Wood. Coaches: Matt Wood, Joe Mitchell.

The BPV’s inaugural BBC team enjoyed a strong finish to its maiden voyage.

The 12U BBC staved off elimination in mid-July by winning three games and reaching the championship of the D4 Silver Bracket in the lower AA division of the Iowa USSSA state tournament.

The 12U BBC settled for second place, but the title-game run was a huge accomplishment for a first-year team that started 0-1-1 in Friday’s pool play and needed to earn a state quarterfinal berth.

“Super proud of this team!” said 12U BBC manager Dan Martens. "We knew it wouldn’t be easy this first season, but the parents supported us and the kids kept getting better and picking each other up during the highs and lows of a fun baseball season!

“I feel like this team broke ground and there’s a great foundation there. I’m looking forward to seeing it build up from here. The boys know they were part of something special this season.”

The Bettendorf Baseball Club (BBC) is a partnership started in late 2020 between the BPV and the Bettendorf High School baseball program to develop a feeder system of Bettendorf Schools students.

The team is pictured (L-R): Coach Justin McDermott, PJ Lynch, Patrick McDermott, Jack Hayes, Dylan Westphal, Jaxson Giza, Mitch Martens, Caden Ringsdorf, Coach Dan Martens, Gavin Mitchell, Jon Carter, Will Harrington, Coach Pat Lynch. Missing: Dylan Berg and Coach Scott Berg.

The dad’s coaching the BPV’s 11-U Royals received a fantastic Father’s Day gift during 2021.

The Royals won the 11u AA QC Cannons’ Fathers Day Showdown at the Campbell Complex in Rock Island. The Royals beat both the Moline Blackhawks 11U and Orion Outlaws to take the title.

The Royals are pictured here. In front, laying down: Keagan O’Brien. Rest (L-R): Liam Dunlay, Isaac Kulig, Owen Paul, Max Montgomery, Beau Blackburn, Ty Shearer, Will Boens, Evan Sels, Griffynn Evans, Kellan Rogers.

Tryouts for the Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball 9-under tournament team for 2022 is Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 5:30 p.m.- 7 p.m.

All of the tryout opportunities are at Diamond number 11 at the Crow Creek Park 4-Plex.

The tryouts are in advance of the 2022 USSSA season. This team will be playing BPV games during the week and 1-2 USSSA weekend tournaments per month.

Players with birth dates of May 1, 2012 and younger are eligible to try out and play for the BPV 9-U tournament team.

All families are eligible for these BPV weekend tournament teams, but these opportunities are separate from the Bettendorf Baseball Club (BBC) partnership between BPV and the Bettendorf High School baseball program.

If you plan to attend the tryout, please send an email to bpv9uteam@gmail.com with parent name, player name and mobile number so we can ensure the tryout is able to accommodate those interested and communicate any updates.

For more information or alternative tryout times, please contact Trent Kulig at bpv9uteam@gmail.com.

Online registration is now open for Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball’s fall ball program.

Please visit: https://active.leagueone.com/Olr/pages/welcome.aspx?clubid=14196

The fall baseball program features seven weekends of scheduled games from Saturday, Aug. 21-Sunday, Oct. 10.

Games are on Saturdays for the three youngest divisions at the Crow Creek Park 4-Plex, as well as nearby as needed at CC#6 and Tyler Hurd Field at Scheck Park. (Game dates: Aug. 21 & 28; Sept. 11, 18 & 25; Oct. 2 & 9).

Games for the oldest division (ages 14 and over) are Sundays at Devils Glen Park and Smitty Field at Crow Creek #5. (Game dates: Aug. 22 & 29; Sept. 12, 19 & 26; Oct. 3 & 10).

NOTE: There are no scheduled games the weekend of Sept. 4-5 because of the long holiday weekend associated with Labor Day (Sept. 6).

The weekend of Oct. 16-17 also is set aside as a rain date in case weather impacts too many weekends of game play. Otherwise, the program is designed to simply play (and practice) as much baseball as possible around school commitments.

Monday, Aug. 23 is the first day of the 2021-22 school term for both the Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley School Districts.

Before school and the fall games start, practice time is available to the individual teams. After school starts, practice time remains up to the individual teams and the preferences/schedules of their families.

For the youngest divisions, it is suggested teams try and practice at least one night each week once the fall games/school year begins, but other sports and extracurricular activities may impact plans (and should take precedence) as BPV hopes to help grow well-rounded student-athletes for the future.

Games also can be scheduled during the week on a team-by-team basis because of rainouts or special request.

The special fall divisions are:

— Rookie: Ages 6-8 as of Sept. 15, or grades 1-3 suggested. Coach Pitch rules are followed. This is a great place to start and build experience for next season!

— Single-A: Ages 8-10 or Grades 3-5. A chance for Coach Pitch and Kid Pitch players/teams to get used to the next-level rules in the Minors division.

— Double-A: Ages 11-13 or Grades 5-7. A chance for Minors players/teams to preview the Majors division style of play. Note: Teams intended to play doubleheaders for extra game action as the schedule allows. COACHES: If your team wants only to play once-per-week, please advise the program director.

— Triple-A: Ages 14-over or Grades 8-12. A smash up for our Juniors and Seniors division to allow Juniors players/teams a chance to look ahead to the future on a full-sized diamond, and Seniors division players to remain active and work on baseball and leadership skills. Note: Teams intended to play doubleheaders for extra game action as the schedule allows. COACHES: If your team wants only to play once-per-week, please advise the program director.

NOTE: AAA-plus division is possible if enough players ages 18-20 are interested, otherwise those participants again will be incorporated into the entire Triple-A division to provide leadership for the overall program.

Program details:

Registration is $75. (NOTE: There also is a nominal online registration fee paid by each registrant for use of the registration management system).

The registration deadline is Aug. 15. Financial assistance is available by filling out an application located at BPVBaseball.com. Or request a financial aid form from tappasteve@gmail.com.

Summer BPV teams encouraged, but not required, to stay together. For instance, If there are 2-3 or more kids/coaches wishing to play together, please let us know on your registration and send a follow up email to tappasteve@gmail.com.

If planning on rejoining a spring/summer team, or perhaps jumping in with friends/neighbors/classmates to create a special fall squad, please note this request on your registration, too.

All coaches, especially those with full or near-full teams, should contact Steve Tappa as soon as possible at tappasteve@gmail.com to declare their intent to coach in the program.

All registrants are placed on a team.

Those wishing to sponsor a fall team to provide new uniforms for their team should contact the program director prior to Aug. 1. Otherwise, existing team jerseys are worn to provide additional exposure for spring/summer sponsors (new players on those teams are asked to wear a similarly colored hat & t-shirt/baseball sleeves).

Game balls and umpires provided. Team catching equipment and batting helmets also are available upon request.

For questions, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111.

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY:

Fall Ball is intended to be a great bridge to the next level next season! The emphasis is not on winning, but rather developing skills and experience by playing (and practicing) as much extra baseball as possible.

Besides batting the entire lineup, as all divisions in BPV follow during the spring/summer season, special rules also are used:

— TIME LIMITS: 1-hour & 45-minute cut offs (10-run rule enforced after 4 innings; 5-run limit each inning; The intention is to play as many innings as the time limit affords).

— PITCHERS: Limited to 2 innings pitched per game & 3 innings per day if doubleheaders are played (goal: use multiple pitchers & develop more hurlers with mound time). Coaches, DO NOT pull pitchers midway through an inning unless in the case of injury. (Otherwise, this needlessly wastes game time for all).

— EACH PLAYER: Should play the infield each game (goal: develop multiple positions).

— SPEED UP: Courtesy runners for catchers & pitchers; replacements ready for catchers making the 3rd out as a hitter (goal: maximize the time allowed).

— SUBS: May borrow other BPV Fall League players to avoid a forfeit, but they should bat last and should not pitch (goal: play as much as possible; forfeits do no one any good).