THE 2021 SEASON! What’S Inside?

WELCOME TO THE 2021 SEASON! What’s Inside?

Welcome to 2021! It’s always hard to think about baseball this time of year when the temps are Happening Now p. 2 below freezing and there is snow on our ball fields. However, online registration is right around the corner and the 2021 baseball season will be here soon! Like last year, COVID-19 has again brought Important Dates us in to uncharted territories. However, with the vaccine becoming available, and with winter sports back to practicing; we are anticipating a regular baseball season. There are still a lot of unknowns 2020 Improvements as we move forward towards our 2021 season. There are a few big changes this year from past years. This year there will be no registration night. All registrations will be completed online and Softener Salt Presale players are strongly encouraged to try on uniforms at the Park and Rec office. Check out the Little League/Minor League sections of our newsletter for more information. Another change is Grades 2-5 pp. 3-4 evaluations will be held at the Dundas Dome in Northfield, MN this year and will only be conducted for grades 4th through 8th. Little League Information

Our Little League (2nd through 5th grade) is applying to become part of the Junior Twins program Grade 5 p. 5 again in 2021. This relationship with the Twins has been fantastic for our baseball program, and their contributions have helped promote and grow our Little League. We want as many kids as 5th Grade Family Note possible playing this great game of baseball, and with all the options kids have to participate in different summer activities, it can be challenging to keep their baseball interest at a high level. We Open Gym Information are looking forward to continuing to grow our program in 2021! Last year was a different look for our Little League teams and Players. We hired Coaches for all grade levels having a practice month Ramp Up Pitching p. 6 where players learned valuable baseball skills. As the season progressed, we were able to offer an additional month for game play. Bullpen Club Online

The Minor League (5th through 8th grade), like our Little League program, went through some Grades 6-8 pp. 7-8 changes last season as well. They also had a practice month, followed by a month of in-house games between the U12 & U13 players. The U14 players were able to play league ball with outside Minor League Information teams. Our Baseball Academy program is planned again this year and is included in your registration costs. This is an excellent way to get additional practice time with our high school Owatonna Baseball Academy coaches. See the Baseball Academy section for more information and dates/times for your player’s age group. Lastly, we plan to assign a Board Rep for each team this season who will act as a point of Home Tournament Dates contact for anyone on the team to call/email with questions/concerns throughout the season. This will be a great avenue of communication between parents and board members. Grades 9-12 p. 9

The Bullpen Club is always looking for ways to improve our baseball program, and that can’t be Spring High School done without our Bullpen Club Board members. I want to thank each of them for their year-round efforts and continued commitment to making our baseball programs better every season. Each Summer Major League board member plays a vital role in helping to provide a great baseball experience for our players and parents. If you’re interested in becoming part of our Board, please feel free to email me Major League Staff ([email protected]) or reach out to another board member. Bullpen Club Board Lastly, a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our partners and sponsors. Without them, our youth baseball Sponsors p. 10 programs in Owatonna would not exist. They help to reduce our program costs and allow us to develop new opportunities/programs for our youth, and keep our facilities in great shape. Please help spread the word and encourage others to participate in baseball through the Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club. We hope to see all of you at the ball fields this summer, and if you know someone who works with one of our sponsors, please thank them for supporting Owatonna baseball.

Matt Frantesl President Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2021 February 21 - March 14 Winter Baseball Camps @ Owatonna Middle School (Sunday Nights) February 22 Minor League (Grades 5—8) Registration Online through Sports Engine Little League (Grades 2—5) Registration Online through Park and Rec March 9 3:30pm OHS Practice begins for ALL POSITIONS at Owatonna Middle School 6:00pm OHS Baseball parent/player meeting at Owatonna High School

April 10 Little League (Grades 4-5) and Minor League (Grades 5-8) Evaluations @ Dundas Dome in Northfield

April 8 5:00pm OHS Home Opener vs. Northfield April 23,24 8:00am Salt Delivery May Metro League Play begins for U12, U13, and U14 May 3 5:30pm Youth Baseball Coaching Clinic @ Dartts Park (tentative) May 23 Section 1AAA Playoffs begin June 7 Owatonna Baseball Academy Begins

ALWAYS IMPROVING… SUPPORT THE PROGRAM! Thanks to the community’s support of BUY WATER SOFTENER SALT! Owatonna baseball, the Bullpen Club invested in some physical improvements and Every year, Owatonna’s high school equipment upgrades for the program. baseball team sells water softener 1. McKinley, Manthey, Jaycee, and Owatonna salt. Middle School fields: New hitting You can order now by contacting screens for practices and warm-ups Owatonna Baseball Coach, Tate 2. Owatonna Middle School: New portable Cummins. pitching mound and batting cage net Email: [email protected] 3. Dartts Park: Fixed the scoreboard and Players will begin selling salt later installed new Conference this spring and will deliver the salt Championship and Big 9 banners starting on April 23. 4. Fairgrounds Park: New Concession flags

2021 LITTLE LEAGUE INFORMATION

2021 is going to be a great year for 2nd through 5th graders to play baseball! Little League Commissioner Sarah Escamilla - [email protected]

Registration: Registration Deadline: April 30, 2021.

Early Registration Discount Deadline: March 4, 2021.

Registration will be online only this year starting February 22, 2021. You may register at: http://ci.owatonna.mn.us/293/Online-Registration Uniforms will be available to try on at the Park and Rec office, 540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna, MN 55060 after February 22. You are strongly encouraged to have your player(s) try on uniforms this year as exchanges will be limited.

Online Registration only this season Monday, February 22, 2021 through April 30, 2021

Owatonna Parks and Recreation website: http://ci.owatonna.mn.us/293/Online-Registration

Cost Scholarships are available through the Owatonna Youth Scholarship Fund. Level 1 - Current 2nd and 3rd Graders $60 to Owatonna Park and Recreation ($70 after March 4) $25 to Huskies Bullpen Club for the Taco Johns Fundraiser coupons Level 2 - Current 4th and 5th Graders $80 to Owatonna Park and Recreation ($90 after March 4) $25 to Huskies Bullpen Club for the Taco Johns Fundraiser coupons U11 Travel Baseball - Highly recommended for all current 5th Graders $255 to Huskies Bullpen Club $25 to Huskies Bullpen Club for the Taco Johns Fundraiser coupons

2021 LITTLE LEAGUE INFORMATION (continued)

There will be no Kick Off event this year. Players will meet their Coaches and receive their uniforms the first day of practice.

Player Evaluations for players Grades 4-5 only this season (Grades 2-3 will randomly be placed on teams). Saturday, April 10 @ Dundas Soccer Dome - 2033-2198 Cannon Rd, Northfield, MN 55057, (approximate time for grades 4-5 is Noon-3:00 PM). Every player will be on a team. The evaluation process helps the Little League Commissioner assemble balanced rosters. You’ll receive specific time and additional information as we approach the date. Little League Program Specifics Level 1 (Current 2nd and 3rd Graders) Pitching machine leagues with emphasis on participation and development of fundamental baseball skills. All participants receive a full uniform (pants, belt, and jersey) with a hat featuring the Owatonna “O” team logo.

Level 2 (Current 4th & 5th Graders) Player pitch leagues intended to continue the development of fundamentals and the skills of the game. All participants receive a full uniform (pants, socks, belt, and jersey) with a hat featuring a professional team logo.

Practices & Games Coaches will coordinate drills at practices and during games. In the past, we have encouraged Parents to assist if available, but with COVID protocols, this may not be possible this season. 4th & 5th Grades—Mondays and Wednesdays (June and July) The Huskies Bullpen Club hosts an end of the year weekend tournament for all 4th/5th grade teams in late July. This is a fun experience for these teams as they prepare for traveling baseball.

5TH GRADE FAMILIES! U11 Travel Baseball is recommended for all 5th graders. Talk to a Huskies Bullpen Club Board member if you have questions. The goal of U11 is to introduce a travel and tournament baseball experience for 5th grade players. U11 participants in 5th grade will receive a uniform (2 dry fit jerseys, pants, socks, belt) with an Owatonna travel team hat.

Registration: Online only Registration this Season Monday, February 22, 2021 through March 4, 2021 Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club website: Owatonnabaseball.com

Uniforms will be available to try on at the Park and Rec office, 540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna, MN 55060 after February 22. You are strongly encouraged to have your player(s) try on uniforms this year as exchanges will be limited.

Age Requirement A player must not reach age 12 before May 1, 2021.

Evaluations Players will be evaluated on April 10 at the Dundas Soccer Dome, 2033-2198 Cannon Rd, Northfield, MN 55057 (approximate time for grade 5 is Noon-3:00 PM). Players will be divided into teams that will compete in league play, 3 weekend tournaments, and a possible state tournament if they qualify. The number of U11 teams is dependent on the number of registered players. You’ll receive specific time and additional information as we approach the date.

Cost $255 to Huskies Bullpen Club $25 to Huskies Bullpen Club for the Taco Johns Fundraiser coupons

Practices & Games Practices are mainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teams participate in the South Central League and game nights will vary. Tournaments There will be 3 weekend tournaments in May and June. State Tournament: A U11 team must qualify to play in a state tournament (July).

2021 Minor League (Travel Baseball) U12-U15 travel teams participate in the Metro Baseball League (AA team) and the South Central League (A team) with home and away weekend tournaments throughout the summer. Minor League Commissioner Jeff Otto – [email protected]

Registration: Online Only Registration this Season Begins in February (Watch the website for information) Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club website: Owatonnabaseball.com Uniforms will be available to try on at the Park and Rec office, 540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna, MN 55060 after February 22. You are strongly encouraged to have your player(s) try on uniforms this year as exchanges will be limited. After February 22, players can register at the Owatonna Parks and Recreation Office. Late registrations are not guaranteed placement. A Late Fee of $50 will be assessed to registrations that are accepted after the deadline of March 26, 2021.

Age Requirement Players’ eligibility is determined by their age before May 1, 2021.

Evaluation Players will be evaluated on April 10 at the Dundas Soccer Dome, 2033-2198 Cannon Rd, Northfield, MN 55057 (approximate time for grades 6-8 is 3:00 PM-6:00 pm). Players will be divided into teams that will compete in league play, weekend tournaments, and a possible state tournament if they qualify. The number of teams is dependent on the number of registered players. You’ll receive specific time and additional information as we approach the date. Cost $330 to Huskies Bullpen Club $50 to Huskies Bullpen Club for the Taco Johns Fundraiser coupons $100 Worker Commitment Check to work in the concession stand. This check will only be cashed if you DO NOT fulfill your work requirement. $50 Late Fee if your registration is accepted after March 26, 2021.

Practices and Games Practices and games begin in May. Tournament All teams will compete in home and away tournaments throughout the summer months. Schedules can be tracked at owatonnabaseball.com and via the SportsEngine app.

HOME TOURNAMENT INFORMATION A lot goes into successfully hosting home tournaments. Tournaments are the result of partnership between the Bullpen Club Board, Owatonna Park and Recreation staff, sponsors, and lots of parent volunteers. Here are the dates for our 2021 home tournaments.

June 4 – 6: U12AA & U13A June 11 – 13: U12A & U14/U15A June 18 – 20: U11A & U14AA June 25 – 27: U13AA & U14/15A

We look forward to hosting some fantastic baseball this summer!

OWATONNA BASEBALL ACADEMY The Owatonna Baseball Academy provides an opportunity to increase skill level, to develop leadership skills, and to create a dynamic baseball atmosphere in Owatonna that all players can enjoy. We will cover a variety of topics including hitting drill work, pitching mechanics, base running strategies, and defensive drill work. This academy has been supported by the Huskies Bullpen Club and the Minnesota Twins the past 10 years.

Cost Owatonna Baseball Academy costs are included in the summer registration fee. Players should supply their own equipment and nourishment.

Times U11: 6/7, 6/8, 6/10, 6/11 and 6/17 from 8:00 - 10:00 am (Jaycee Park) U12: 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10 and 6/11 from 10:00 am - Noon (Jaycee Park) U13: 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10 and 6/11 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm (Jaycee Park) U14: 6/14 and 6/16 from 9:00 - 11:00 am (Dartts Park)

*Time changes will be communicated to the Head Coach of their respective team by May 19

EXTRA EQUIPMENT? If you find that you have usable, outgrown equipment that you’d like to give away—gloves, cleats, pants—feel free to email me ([email protected]). The Bullpen Club will see about getting those items in the hands of those who can use it. For safety reasons, we cannot accept bats, batting helmets, and catcher’s helmets/masks.

Keep current with Owatonna baseball news in the following ways: Owatonnabaseball.com—The official home of the Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club with information about player care, tournaments, leagues, and contact information for the Bullpen Club Board. SportsEngine App: Get information for your player’s team including schedules and results Instagram: Follow huskies_bullpen_club for announcements and features through the season. Facebook: Follow Owatonna Huskies Bullpen Club for articles and features year-round Help us track your team by posting with #owatonnabaseball

OWATONNA HUSKIES BULLPEN CLUB BOARD MEMBERS

Matt Frantesl Barry Homuth Lisa Aus Dean Smith Jeff Otto President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Minor League Director Tate Cummins Devin Lahio Sarah Escamilla Erin Smith Paul Herzog Major League Director Baseball Operations Little League Director Sponsorships Home Tournaments Capital Improvements Travel Tournaments

Dean Smith James Dahlgren Joe Herzog Josh Storm

Communications Coaches Commissioner Equipment/Apparel Player Development

If you are interested in serving on the Board, please contact any of the current Board members. They’ll be happy to provide an application to you.

SPONSORS A big thanks to our sponsors that make Owatonna Baseball such a success. The funds raised lower participation fees which increases the number of athletes playing the great game of baseball. There is no question that this support makes Owatonna among the best communities in Minnesota to raise and develop our youth. Please support these businesses and let them know how much you appreciate their ongoing support!

● 1st Call Bail Bonds ● Fame Awards ● Owatonna Park & Rec

● American Legion ● Farmers Insurance - ● Owatonna School

● Armstrong Painting Lindsay Macht Agency District

● Berkshire Hathaway ● Federated Insurance ● Pizza Ranch

● Bremer Bank ● Gopher Sport ● Plaza Morena Campestre Grill ● Buck Cyrus ● Hometown Credit Union ● Prairie Ridge ● Cartime of Owatonna ● House Chevrolet Orthodontics ● Cedar Ave Repair & ● Hy-Vee ● SpareTime Lube ● Jaguar Communications ● Struss CPA

● Centerline Builders ● Legacy Signs ● Sweet Towing ● Chevy Youth Baseball ● Kappy's Collision Center ● Taco Johns ● Cole’s Electric ● Miller Sodding and ● Tri-M Graphics ● Cumberland's Trappers Landscaping ● Twins Community Fund Supply ● Mohs Contracting Inc ● VFW ● Dahl Farms ● Oak Glenn ● Wenger ● Deml Heating & AC ● Oldenburg Photography ● Zappa Agency ● D&J Transport, Inc. ● Owatonna Foundation

● Owatonna Gun Club