siteheader.jpg

Winter Meeting 2008

Winter Meeting officially kicks off 2008 season

 Lots of important changes for the 2008
- Playoffs: Not every team will have a free ticket to the postseason this year. Out of the 12 teams in the league, only 8 with make it past the regular season. Of the 8 teams to make it to the playoffs, 4 will be division winners and the other 4 will be wildcard teams.
- Championship Shirts: The team that wins the coveted HFWB trophy will have another souvenir. Championship jerseys will be made to congratulate the winners of a very important accomplishment.
- All Star Uniforms: Instead of dishing out money to get All Star shirts, this year they will be totally free. The All Star game will consist of 10 players from each league. Here's another incentive to play well, you get free clothing!
- Keeping stats: Every captain this year is going to know how to use the stat sheet. It's very simple and takes about 2 minutes to figure out. There will be a mandatory training lesson during the spring for all captains. This is going to be crucial considering there will be multiple games going on at the same time in different locations.
- League Fee: This is probably one of the most important topics discussed in the meeting. The fee will be the same as last year, $100, and it must be paid before the season starts. Failure to do so will result in forfeits. The league is going to be a lot stricter on this in 2008. No one wants to forfeit a game so just it taken care of before the season starts. Also keep in mind the money only is put into the league, and helps support the costs of supplies for the fields and the equipment to keep the league running. (wiffleballs, paint, spray paint, wood, lights, etc) This league is non-profit and always will be.
- Cash back: Does a $100 bucks seem like a lot of money? To some people it is a lot of money, well how does only paying $75 dollars sound? That's right, if you show up to all your games you get $25 bucks back as a reward. Any game that results in a forfeit for your team from not showing up or rescheduling from a lack of players will result in the loss of your $25 dollars.
- End of season awards: The awards will be selected at the end of the season by the Board of Directors. At least one member of each team must be present.
- Overthrow rule: When a ball is thrown and leaves the boundaries of the field, each runner on base is only allowed the base in which they are running too. For example, if a throw is wild and a runner is coming from 2nd base and running to third base, the runner may not advance home. If there is an overthrow and the ball remains on the field of play, the base runner may run as far as they would like. This overthrow rule does not protect the runner though. If the base runner advances, it is at their own risk. If the field team retrieves the ball and tags the runner, they are out.


Chris Hess stares down a pitch from Brewers captain Anthony Bianchine

- Team uniforms: Team uniforms are MANDATORY. I do not care if you have a white shirt from the dollar store, just make sure your whole team has a similar jersey on. This helps distinguish between the two teams and makes the league look better as a whole.
- Overthrow rule: When a ball is thrown and leaves the boundaries of the field, each runner on base is only allowed the base in which they are running too. For example, if a throw is wild and a runner is coming from 2nd base and running to third base, the runner may not advance home. If there is an overthrow and the ball remains on the field of play, the base runner may run as far as they would like. This overthrow rule does not protect the runner though. If the base runner advances, it is at their own risk. If the field team retrieves the ball and tags the runner, they are out.
- Game days: Game days will be the same as last year. Games will be played on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at either 5:30 PM or 7:00 PM. This does not mean your team will play every one of those days. Your teams will most likely play once or twice a week.
- Your job (if you have one): Many people in the league have a job. Yet to make wiffleball and your job schedule work out, try to leave Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights free. This will help with possible rescheduling of games due to rain. If you cannot get every one of those nights off for whatever reason, make sure you contact Chris Hess to work out a schedule that works for you and your team.
- Possible vacations: It's summer. Everyone goes on vacations, and thats completly fine. Just let me know that way I don't schedule your team to play any of the days you're away.
- The 2008 Schedule: The schedule will be posted sometime in April once everyone has given me the days that work best for them.
- Opening Day/Spring Training: The end of May looks to be the best time to start spring training. Most of the kids from college should be back by then. Opening day should start around the end of May, possibly Thursday May 29th or Friday the 30th.