Waterbury Boys Hodges

The CABC Annual Meeting was held on February 20, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. at the Coco Key Hotel & Convention Center in Waterbury. A quorum was present to conduct the business of the meeting. Following is a review of the issues discussed at the meeting:

1. Overview of 2012 Season- 2012 was another successful season for the CABC. Teams from Mays (Overlook), Reese (CT Combat) and Musial (Stratford Storm) advanced to World Series.

Roster requirements and Tournament procedures were reviewed.

It was stressed that each team participating in a State Tournament should sign an Intent Agreement, agreeing to advance to the next level if they earn that right.

2. Registrations- Connecticut’s registrations decreased from 244 teams to 202 teams. The number of Leagues decreased from 22 to 20.

3. Budget- The Treasurer's Report was handed out. As of February 19, 2013, the CABC had a balance of $13,370.31. It was noted that some of Tony Santoro’s expenses for the National Meeting were reimbursed by the AABC, since he has been elected to the AABC’s Board of Directors.

4. Insurance- The official carrier of AABC insurance remains K & K Insurance Group, Inc. Application forms are available online on the AABC’s website. Rates have increased for 2013. Discounts are available for Leagues registering all of their teams at once. Teams/Leagues have the option to apply for $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 for liability and participant accident coverage.

THE AABC NO LONGER ISSUES INSURANCE WAIVERS. THEREFORE, ALL TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN TOURNAMENT PLAY ABOVE THE STATE LEVEL WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE K & K INSURANCE.

Tony Santoro emphasized the need to have policies in place for: (1) screening of volunteers (there is a link on the AABC for Lexis/Nexis, where information is available for background screening); and (2) obtaining signed Waiver and Release forms.  If teams/leagues fail to enforce a system to secure and maintain signed waivers, there will be less insurance coverage.

The CABC purchased Directors and Officers Liability Coverage in 2012 and has done so again in 2013.

5. Review of AABC Annual Meeting

(A) Rule Changes: Tony Santoro reported that some rules changes were adopted to the AABC Official Handbook at the National Meeting held in Seattle, WA in November, 2012. Copies of the rules changes were handed out at the meeting and are also available on the CABC website.

PLEASE PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE RULES REGARDING BATS.

(B) Change in World Series Formats: American Baseball, Inc. will only be running the Griffey and Mattingly World Series this year. There will be fees for these Tournaments.

The Musial World Series will be played in New York this year. The Hodges World Series is returning to Brooklyn, New York.

(C) Change in World Series Travel Arrangements: Travel is no longer arranged by the AABC or the World Series host. Instead, each team will book its own travel, and will receive a set fee from the AABC. These fees have been significantly reduced. In addition, World Series teams will receive a travel allowance from our Region.

(E) Single-Age Groups: World Series will once again be conducted at the single-age group levels (Jackie Robinson 9s; Hodges 11s; Nolan Ryan 13s; Griffey 15s; and Mattingly 17s). State winners in these age groups advance directly to the World Series, without having to play in a Regional Tournament.

Tony Santoro stressed that it is extremely important for any League wishing to participate in single-age group play to notify him as early as possible, so that he can reserve a slot in the World Series and determine if a State Tournament will be needed.

(F) Diamond Baseballs: There will be a price increase of approximately $3-$4/dozen.

6. 2013 World Series, Regional, Sectional and State Tournament Dates- A list of World Series, Regional and State Tournament dates for 2013 was handed out. These dates (which are posted on the CABC website) are current as of February 20, 2013 and are subject to change.

7. Review of Regional Meeting

(A) Regional Dues: Each CT team that won a Regional Tournament and advanced to a World Series in 2012 received money from the Region. Tony Santoro pointed out that the amount received greatly exceeded the $1,010.00 in Regional Dues which CT paid last year.

(B) Entry Fees for Regional Tournaments: Beginning in 2013, each team participating in a Regional Tournament will be charged an entry fee. It is expected to be approximately $200-$250/team.

The Region will also contribute money to each Tournament host.

(C) Mays and Reese: CT may have two (2) slots in the Mays and Reese Regional Tournaments, provided MD doesn’t participate.

(D) Musial: Our Region will once again have 2 slots in the World Series. CT will host one of the Regional Tournaments, with teams from Massachusetts.

8. CABC Rules- CT has adopted the same bat rule as the AABC- see Rule 221 of the Official Handbook.

9. 2013 CABC Officers and Directors- The following people were elected as Officers and Directors of the CABC:

President/Treasurer Tony Santoro

Vice President Ray Brown

Secretary Wendy Stadalnik

Musial Director Mike Fedell

Mack Director Mark Finkenzeller

Mantle Director Mark Finkenzeller

Koufax Director Ray Brown

Reese Director Bill Ryan

Mays Director Tony Stango

Clemente Director Wendy Stadalnik

10. Deadlines for Registrations, Insurance, Schedules and 2013 State Tournament Bids, Etc.- Following is a list of important deadlines:

May 15, 2013- Deadline for submitting State Tournament Bids

June 1, 2013- (1) State Tournaments Awarded

                 (2) Deadline for declaration of preference for tournament play by teams in more than one League

June 15, 2013- (1) AABC Registration Form due at National Office, with National Dues of $30.00 per team- Clemente, Mays 9s, Mays, Hodges, Reese,                        Nolan Ryan 13s and Koufax

                  (2) Deadline for establishing residence

July 1, 2013- (1) AABC Registration Form due at National Office, with National Dues of  $30.00 per team- Griffey 15s, Mantle, Mattingly, Mack and Musial

                (2) CABC Rosters due at State Office, with State and Regional Dues

                (3) Copies of Schedules due at State Office

11. State/Regional Tournaments- The following issues were reviewed:

(A) Insurance is mandatory for all levels of Tournament play, including State Tournaments.

(B) Under no circumstances may a player compete in Tournament competition at more than one age group Division, as specified in the AABC Official Handbook.

(C) Teams will be required to sign an “Intent Agreement” in order to participate in the State Tournament. Copies of the Agreement were passed out at the meeting and are available on the CABC website.

12. 2013 State Tournament Bid Forms- Any team or League wishing to submit a bid should contact Tony Santoro.

Single-age Tournaments are open to teams that will commit to advance.

13. Regional Tournaments- Connecticut hosted the Clemente and Mantle Regional Tournaments last year. Both Tournaments were very successful. Tony Santoro thanked Ray Brown, Mark Finkenzeller and Kyle Brennan and all Committee members and volunteers for making these Tournaments such a success.

Connecticut has been awarded the 2013 Clemente and Mantle Regional Tournaments, as well as one of the Musial Regionals.

14. 2013 Qualifying Tournaments

Mack- June 25-30- Phoenix, AZ (30 teams; $1,600 entry fee)

        July 1-7- Troy, NY (30 teams; $1,600 entry fee)

Information on these Tournaments, as well as other Qualifying Tournaments which may be scheduled, is available on the AABC website.

15. Super Regional Tournaments

It has not yet been determined whether there will be a Super Regional Tournament for the Griffey Division. Any 15 year old teams interested in participating should contact Tony Santoro.

16. Roster Sheets- The CABC Roster Sheet was handed out at the meeting and is available on the CABC website. A fillable roster form has also been posted on the CABC wesbite.

17. Miscellaneous

(A) Background Checks

All managers, coaches, chaperones or other volunteers must be checked against the State Sex Offenders Registry. Each League is responsible for checking the registry with respect to each League team. Each League will have to certify to the CABC that all such persons have been checked against the Registry. If any person does appear on the Registry, Tony Santoro is to be notified in writing immediately. Failure to follow this procedure may result in loss of insurance coverage and/or disqualification from Tournament play.

This requirement does not apply to the Musial Division.

A Certification Form which must be signed and returned to the CABC by a League official was handed out, and is available on the CABC website.

(B) Portable Fence- Bill Ryan is looking into the possibility of purchasing a portable fence which can be used for State Tournament games. The cost may be split among some Leagues and the CABC.

(C) Connecticut Combat/Lou Spataj- Tony Santoro has received numerous complaints from Tournament officials regarding the conduct of Lou Spataj and the CT Combat.

After discussion by the Board of Directors, it was decided that Mr. Spataj and the CT Combat would be put on probation, and that any further verified complaints against them would result in their immediate suspension from further Tournament play.

Tony Santoro once again stressed that all teams are expected to represent the CABC with class and dignity.