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Teams League
and Tournament Champions share great moments. They face periods of doubt. Most often the team that wins has the strongest
belief system. They retain the ability to persevere through adversity and not lose their wellspring of strength. Of
course being able to routinely pitch, hit, field, and throw play their roles, but a game between two evenly matched teams
often is decided by the team who maintains the greatest belief of eventual success.
That belief of eventual success pushes this organization forward.
Eventual success in preparing our players for higher levels. Eventual success forging alliances to build a premier facility
and host championship tournaments. Eventual success making this group of players, parents, and coaches understand the
physical and emotional energy required to succeed. It's what being a champion feels like.
Witness
In 2011, thirty-one teams converged in Wichita to battle for the NBC
Hap Dumont Youth Baseball State Championship. Northeast Baseball umpires officiated over sixty-one baseball games from Friday
through Sunday. Bob Sinks again managed the duties with great success balancing the development of our umpiring
corps with the needs of state championship caliber officiating.
Also, coaches of teams from our league not participating in the state tournament volunteered to score games and
assist with many other hosting duties involved. Rival Electric owner and league coach Mark Cass organized duty
and sign up sheets for parents who were interested in expanding their children's playing horizon making the 2011 tournament
the most successful for the league yet.
Positive Growth
The Northeast Baseball and
Softball Association with cooperation from the City of Wichita, Air Capital and Blessed Sacrament League, along
with a growing number of teams originating from Andover achieved an overall 2011 league roster of 42 baseball teams
and will engage more than 550 youth participants. Continuing cooperation with these organizations has the potential to
yield even more growth and synergy.
Last year's growth came in the number of teams participating
in the NBC "Hap Dumont Youth Baseball" State Championship. In 2011 the NBC affiliated tournament grew
from 22 to 31 teams. That is a result of many factors, but we'd like to think it is a reflection of our efforts
as host.
With our current nucleus of teams, additional partnerships with regional tournament affiliations, city,
school, church, and specific membership organizations we recognize the sizeable constituent base already capable of inhabiting
a premier regional destination.
Our goals are simple. It has been the long held belief of
the Northeast Baseball and Softball Association that success generating donations, grants, and other funds will be difficult for
development of a new complex unless a viable league operation, volunteer base, and tournament hosting experience had
already been established. Thus we continue efforts to steadily develop player skills, increase coaches knowledge, and
identify appropriate partners that will ensure a critical mass working towards the common cause of robust
participation in youth sports. |
