Well, I have sent out an email to the contacts that I was able to find – 24 of them or so… Thus far I haven’t heard back from anyone as yet. I am hoping that I will mind you. I’d love to be able to get a good team together. According to MM, the team isn’t interested in being "competitive" … Well, as far as I am concerned, that’s not All-Star.

Here is an email from today and my reply:

Original email:

On 9 February 2010 09:06, <address@removed.ca> wrote:

Kevin, I have heard through the grapevine that you are considering entering this team into AA tournaments. This concerns me in that I think that you are trying to create some elite level team at this age group. I worry that you will not be able to form a team at all. Nine of the twelve kids from last years team simply wanted to play at a level above house league. Most played some form of summer hockey or lacrosse which was their priority. Of the three more serious parents, one is Ralph whose son is underaged and not playing at all due to arm problems/desire/overbearing father?, another played Bullet last fall and will continue this spring, the third may be back but I have not been in contact to know for sure. My son goes through this decision process every year because hockey is so busy all winter and is a long season. When spring arrives, he will want to play baseball. Our whole family plays and enjoys baseball, but if it is going to be more than a couple of league games and a practise per week, along with a few (competitive for the group) tournaments, we will have to consider playing Bantam house league.

I understand that you are enthusiastic but make sure that their are enough players and families interested in your vision first.

Matt

Reply:

Hi Matt,

I am rather concerned with a few things regarding this team. Yes, I have attempted to enter a AA tournament in Vaughan where I have brought teams to since 1997. To date, I haven’t received a cheque for the tournament entry fee so I would guess that the window of opportunity to get into that tournament may have passed already. The difference between A and AA is not a major difference – there are of course some teams that go to AA tournaments that indeed are AAA caliber clubs – this happens all the time.

If the players commitments are not with baseball for the 2010 season than this will be an issue with me. The purpose of All-Star baseball should be to improve ones skills to get to the "next level" which may be playing baseball at a College or University in Canada or the US. I do realize that this is Major Peewee and that the players are only 13, but if the commitment isn’t there on the players and parents end then I am not sure that I want to commit my time and efforts to it.

I am also concerned that I have parents, thus far Dave and yourself perhaps attempting to dictate how I run the team that I was given. With all due respect, if I want opinions from Board members, I will ask and I have never asked for opinions from any parents. With that being said, I do respect that some parents don’t want to commit to a summer of baseball – this also presents a challenge for me.

Perhaps I should step back and allow someone else to run this team if your feelings are similar to other parents on this club.

I will consider that position and will inform the Board of Directors of my decision in the next week.

If either of you would like to discuss, I am available in the evenings at home, <number removed> or on my Blackberry, <number removed>.

Kevin

So, that is that… It is 9:43PM and no responses. That’s OK though… I am hoping that we’ll have some responses before the winter clinics start. If not, I will step down – perhaps someone else will take the team, perhaps not. If the same people that had it last year take it, the team won’t exist from what I have heard.

I am sure there will be more on this. Stay tuned.

UPDATE, 5:46AM on Wednesday, February 10 – I received an email last evening from the SCMBA Treasurer.  I have applied for three tournaments and SCMBA only pays for two…  Yes, I know that – does SCMBA not cover the expenses until we are able to do fundraising?  It is tough working with a BOD that has no clue about All-Star baseball and appear to be closed-minded about the entire process…  Fun, fun, fun…