Tryouts for 2022 teams in the Bettendorf Baseball Club (BBC) are Thursday & Friday, August 19-20.

Players in the 8-under to 12-under categories (as of May 1, 2022) are at the Crow Creek Park 4-Plex from 5-7 p.m.

Players in the 13-under and 14-under categories (as of May 1, 2022) are under the lights of “Smitty Field” (Crow Creek Park diamond No. 5) from 7:30-9:30 p.m.

Players need only attend one tryout session.

In 2020, Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball (BPV) began a new partnership with the Bettendorf High School baseball program called the Bettendorf Baseball Club (BBC).

There was a successful 12u team during the 2021 season, mixing weeknight play and practices in the BPV with action in select weekend travel tournaments. The August tryouts are the next step to expanding the program to additional age levels.

NOTE: The BBC is specifically for current Bettendorf Community Schools students and their families! Separate BPV tournament teams for Pleasant Valley (and other school) students also are offered but unaffiliated with a high school program at this time (we share those tryout details when available and as teams are forming!)

If interested in the BBC? PLEASE FILL OUT THE TRYOUT FORM at BETTENDORF BASEBALL CLUB (google.com)

The BBC is committed to building a quality organization with well-led teams that will cultivate future BHS Bulldog baseball players and confident, responsible, hardworking young men.

BBC teams develop both by playing at their current age level in weekend USSSA tournaments and by “playing up” in BPV weeknight games, a combo that fosters well-rounded, multi-position athletes.

BBC players will be eligible for both all regular BPV activities (games, practices, camps, clinics) and unique BBC team activities, including chances to learn from BHS baseball players and coaches.

BBC teams will wear uniforms designed by BHS coaches and BBC board members to reflect the colors and styles of Bettendorf High School Baseball.

While travel baseball normally includes significant costs, the BBC is committed to offering opportunities to players from a broad range of economic backgrounds.

Interested in coaching? Please send an email to danesco33@gmail.com & tappasteve@gmail.com & include details about baseball background, coaching experience, & info on related player(s).

Bettendorf/Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball is hosting a fundraising baseball tournament this weekend (Saturday, May 15-Sunday, May 16).

Lots of service learning hours are available for local high school students. This also offers a great resume entry on college and work applications, with references available to our best volunteers!

Help also is appreciated by the general public to support the BPV’s three-pronged mission of A) providing community-based baseball to youngsters 6-20 regardless of financial need; B) offering college scholarships to our best and brightest high-school graduating BPV products; and C) raising funds for much-needed facility improvements, such as our 2021 special projects at Scheck Park/Tyler Hurd Field (several improvements along dovetailed with naming the field) and much-needed laser-grading at the Crow Creek 4-Plex.

Most of the help is in the concession stands/outposts, but there are also grounds crew spot available for the handiest.

Games run 8 am-8 pm Saturday and Sunday at Crow Creek Park, Devils Glen Park and Ed Scheck Park/Tyler Hurd Field. All time slots are available! Any help is appreciated!

To reserve a spot, or for more information, contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111.

All proceeds from the BBC Slugfest go to the BPV’s program mission to make baseball better in our community!

SPECIAL NOTE: USSSA or high school-certified umpires also are needed and invited to apply for paid shifts of games. Please contact Steve Tappa at the above email or cellphone to inquire.

ADDITIONALLY: BPV has service learning hours & volunteer positions available this summer and fall that can be easily worked around other activities!

Help is needed in concessions each night at the Crow Creek Park 4-Plex or Devils Glen during the summer season.

A Fall Ball program features weekend games on Saturdays at the 4-Plex and Sundays at Devils Glen from mid-April to mid-October.

There also are several behind-the-scenes jobs available working with league, equipment and facility management.

For more information, or to inquire about a spot on the volunteer team, contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111.

High schoolers: Grab your friends and help form a team this summer in the Seniors Division of Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball!

Teams of friends, ages 15-20, play an average of three games per weeknight from mid-May to late July. Solo “free agents” also are very much welcome and are placed on a team.

Registration is open at the following sign-up link:

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

NOTE: Players making high school teams are eligible, but pairing with freshman baseball is the best option. If trying out and not sure if you will make your high school team, sign up because refunds are available if you make the team and have second thoughts next month. (It is easier to subtract players from a BPV roster instead of trying to add players scrambling for available spots later).

To discuss the possibilities, or for more information, please contact Steve Tappa at tappasteve@gmail.com.

The Senior Division season officially kicks off Sunday, April 25 with a Players/Coaches meeting at Devils Glen (Saldivar Field).

The purpose of the 6 p.m. meeting is to set expectations, discuss details of the season and cover other important information about the division.

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

A rules meeting for interested coaches & team captains follows immediately after the meeting with all the players breaks up at approximately 7 p.m.

Bettendorf High School’s baseball program is offering 3 days worth of camps in late April to help get youth players ready for a great baseball season!

The fundamentals camps are 7-9 p.m. each night at the Bettendorf Middle School gyms from Monday, April 26 to Wednesday, April 28.

The camps are for players from 3rd through 8th grades.

Pitching and catching is the focus of the camp on Monday, April 26.

Defensive work by infielders and outfielders will be addressed on Tuesday, April 27.

The camp on Wednesday, April 28 is all about Hitting.

Instruction is provided by the BHS coaches and players.

Cost for the camp is $20 each night or $50 for all three nights. Registration is limited to the first 60 participants each night.

There is a $10 family discount for families signing up multiple players for all three nights. The first player is $50, but each additional family member registered is only $40.

The registration deadline is April 23. A registration form is attached to this post.

For a registration form or for more information, please email BHS head coach Blake Hanna at bettendorfbaseballclub@gmail.com.

The Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball season starts Thursday and Friday with tryouts/evaluations for both the Majors (grades 6-7) and Minors (grades 4-5) divisions indoors at the TBK Complex.

Note: There are no tryouts/evaluations for players in the Coach Pitch (grades 1-3), Intro to Kid Pitch (3rd grade or below), Juniors (grades 8-9) or Seniors (9th grade and up) divisions.

The Coach Pitch, Intro to Kid Pitch and Juniors teams are forming now with coaches meetings planned. The Seniors season starts later, with a player and coaches meeting in mid to late April.

The Intro to Kid Pitch coaches meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at the TBK Complex, following the tryouts/evaluations for Majors & Minors. Kid Pitch division director Ron Johns will decide at the meeting if registrations are ready to close.

BPV registrations currently remain open in every division EXCEPT Majors and Coach Pitch, where space is now restricted and waiting lists are forming by contacting the appropriate division director (see contacts below).

If you are interested in playing in Intro to Kid Pitch, Minors or Juniors, you are asked to sign up immediately.

Please note, the option to sign up for LeClaire-based teams is closed in Majors, Minors, Intro to Kid Pitch and Coach Pitch UNLESS there are enough players and coaches for a full team. Contact Alysia Huffman to discuss at alysia.quigley@gmail.com.

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

If you need assistance in registering, please contact Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111) or any of the division directors listed below. Walk-up sign-ups also are offered during this week’s tryouts/evaluations.

Please note: Volunteer coaches still are needed in the Coach Pitch division, and still welcome in every division, including Seniors. Contact the appropriate division director listed below.

For the Majors and Minors division, the tryouts/evaluations are 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday (April 1) and 5-6:30 p.m. Friday (April 2). Players in those two divisions (grades 4-7) need only attend one night — so choose whichever one fits your family’s schedule the best.

For players unable to attend the tryouts/evaluations for any reason, they will still be placed on a team.

All registrants are placed on a team. The tryouts simply are used to help coaches evaluate players in an effort to level the competitive balance of the teams in those divisions.

The tryouts feature one station each for the skills of hitting, fielding, pitching and running. The tryouts are indoors on synthetic turf, so players should wear athletic attire — t-shirt, tennis shoes, shorts or sweatpants or baseball pants. Please bring a baseball glove and favorite bat if you wish.

Please check in at the main table where your BPV registration will be confirmed. You will then be assigned a tryout number and directed to your first station. Once all stations are completed, players may leave and they will be contacted by their 2021 coach/team after the division draft is conducted early next week following Easter.

More information about BPV is available by visiting BPVBaseball.com (https://bpv.teampages.com). Details about the calendar and divisions are located on the two previous registration posts.

KEY CONTACTS:

— Coach Pitch (Grades 1-3): Tyler Driever (tdriever@mchsi.com)
—*Intro to Kid Pitch (3rd Grade/Advanced):* 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): Dan Escontrias (danesco33@gmail.com or 563-210-3489)
— Juniors (Grades 8-9): Tyler Driever (tdriever@mchsi.com)
— Seniors (Ages 15-20): Steve Tappa (tappasteve@gmail.com or 563-676-8111)

NOTE: Coaches meetings are planned for the next week in every division EXCEPT Seniors. If you are planning to coach, please contact the appropriate division director. Volunteer coaches are needed in all divisions to make BPV happen.

The Intro to Kid Pitch coaches meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at the TBK Complex, following the Majors/Minors tryouts/evaluations. Division director Ron Johns will decide if registrations are ready to close at that meeting. Please contact Ron for more details.