We’re starting the sixth week of our 2023 season, which puts us close to our midway point. If you’re interested in the standings, click on the yellow tab labeled Scores, Standings and Schedules. The umpires and Byers Complex staff update the scores after all games are finished on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Weather reports

Our seniors played but the juniors were rained out Tuesday. We’re looking at ways to make up these three postponed junior games.

Rainouts are decided by the Byers staff. If the grounds are too wet during the afternoon, a commissioner will get a call from Byers and will contact the managers, who will contact their team members. If the rain arrives later, the decision is made by the umpires at the site.

If there is excessive heat, decisions on postponements are made by our commissioners, not by the Byers staff.

Our primary goal is to make sure players are safe. As long as they are safe, we should play. In many cases, managers can agree to shorten the game to five innings or have a 10-minute cooling-off break sometime during play. Canceling games should be a last resort.

Home run derby

Details will be announced later, but you should circle Wednesday, July 12, on your calendar. That’s the tentative derby date. The entry fee likely will be $10 for ten guaranteed swings. Mike Catanzarite is co-hosting again this year.

League referendum

Another key date is Thursday, July 13, when we will distribute referendum ballots for the 2024 season.

Our goal is to allow good ideas to make the league better and to have our league members make the choices. Referendum topics could include:

• extending our agreement to play at the Byers Complex.
• continuing with the portable home run fences.
• approving a later start time for senior division games.
• allowing pitching screens for senior division games.
• adopting a non-profit structure for our league.
• lowering or raising age restrictions.
• changing rules on legal bats in both divisions.

Pros and cons of each issue will be presented in a newsletter before the referendum. If you have ideas you would like to submit, please let us know.

Commissioner election

Thursday, Aug. 3, will be our election day for 2024 commissioners. We’ll be replacing at least two current commissioners and as many as four. Generally, we ask that commissioners stick with us for three-year terms.

If you’re interested in serving as a commissioner, please contact one of us so we can put your name on the ballot in August. If you’re curious about what our commissioners do, please ask.

Fall ball

We have the option of playing a fall schedule at Byers. Adam Kroemer will be counting heads to see if we will have enough players. We need to make a decision on this by the middle of July.

End-of-the-year celebration

We probably won’t have the traditional awards banquet at the end of this season. Frankly, it was an expensive event that leaned heavily on presenting championship shirts that cost the league about $19 apiece.

We haven’t had anyone step up to take charge of such an event. Here are two lower-key options that we can consider:

1. Some sort of game – two all-star teams playing each other, or maybe an all-star team playing against the league champions. Food could be available through a carry-in, through the snack bar or from a local vendor. If we apply for a one-day permit, we could set up a beer garden as well.

2. A giant outing at Bowlers Country Club. They have 14 bowling alleys and 9 golf holes, as well as darts and a pool table. We could set up competitions among existing teams for golf or bowling honors.

If you have an idea or want to help organize, please let us know.