Sidelines

CSSA BOARD MEETING
March 8, 2021
The monthly meeting of the CSSA was held March 8, 2021, at GameDay Grill, and called to order by Norm Thiem at 6:30 PM.
Members present: Ray DeLuca, Andy Tubbs, Dick O’Conner, Bob Werner, Norm Thiem, Mike Parson, John Humeston, Robbie Crieder, Dewey Hom, Leland Brown

Absent: Randy Bergman & Brad Tafoya
A. Minutes from 2-08-21 meeting were read, and approved.
B. Sponsors updates were given, and 16 have been paid. Follow-up letters for renewals will be sent out this week.
C. Saturday & Sunday evaluations went well over the past two weekends. Approx. 48-50 new players coming into the CSSA.
D. Credit card process for the new players worked well. It took about 1 minute per transaction. Every returning player must pay before they can play, and it should ALL be done via the new credit card system. The cost to the CSSA for each transaction will be 1 ½% per transaction.
E. National League will consist of 5 teams (13 players); American League will consist of 6 teams (13 players); Masters League will consist of 6 teams (14 players). Other leagues will have at least 13 – 14 players according to player evaluations.
F. The BOD will address fees for players coming into the league after the start of the season at the next BOD meeting in April.
G. In order to accommodate the amount of players and for safety issues, players that are 69+ years old this year, playing on Tuesday nights, will move down to the Masters League for 2021 only.
H. Code of Conduct Rules and Liability Waver MUST be signed prior to playing in 1st game.
I. Tuesday night, March 16th, is scheduled for the testing of national League bats. No bats will be allowed to be on the field unless they have been labeled with player & serial number.
J. In the event of an injury, caused by a batted ball, the bat should be tested in ALL leagues.
K. Rosters need to be sent to the Commissioner the day after the draft.
L. Next BOD meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 5, 2021, at 6:30 PM at Gameday Grill.
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM

CSSA BOARD MEETING
February 8, 2021
The monthly meeting of the CSSA was held February 8, 2021, at GameDay Grill, and called to order by Norm Thiem at 6:30 PM.
Members present: Ray DeLuca, Andy Tubbs, Dick O’Conner, Bob Werner, Norm Thiem, Mike Parson, John Humeston, Robbie Crider, Dewey Hom, Leland Brown & Brad Tafoya

Absent: Randy Bergman
A. Minutes from 1-11-21 meeting were read, and approved.
B. Sponsor letters for renewals and new sponsors will be sent out this week. Same fee as last year ($350) and looking for corporate sponsors of the $1000 tier to name a league after their sponsorship name.

C. Head counts for teams and leagues need to be sent to Norm by Monday, February 15th. All league directors are responsible for getting in touch with team managers to receive correct information & forward to Norm.

D. Continued discussion to handle all player fees to be paid via an on-line system. Further investigation needs to be done to look at more options with respect to fees and quality of service. Plans are to have a system up and running prior to the start of the 2021 season.

E. Umpire in Chief, Darrell Moreland, is designated to be the umpire for all National League games. The National League will meet February 15, 2021, to discuss rules and additional matters that affect the league directly.

F. Dates for evaluations:
1. February 27 & 28 Hobgood Park
2. March 6 & 7 Skip Wells

G. Ads will be placed, over the next 2 weeks, in newspapers, yard signs, web page & Facebook to announce evaluations and information on the CSSA. Registration will need volunteers from the BOD and the league to assist with paperwork, pictures, screens & pitchers.

H. The BOD discussed and voted to keep the minimum age of players at 49 years old. Those players MUST turn 49 by December 31, 2021.
I. The BOD also discussed to purchase a new ‘Infield Drag’ for Skip Wells Park. In order to provide safety to the players, the motion was passed and the drag will be purchased at a cost of $117.98 + tax.

J. Draft order for the spring season will be as follows:
1. National League Tuesday, March 9, 2021
2. American League Wednesday, March 10, 2021
3. Masters League Thursday, March 11, 2021
4. Monday Gold Sr. TBD
5. Legends League TBD
6. Legacy League TBD
7. Lowell Lawson TBD

K. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Monday, March 8, 2021, at Gameday Grill.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 PM.

CSSA will be holding Spring 2021 Evaluations this coming weekend at Hobgood Park, Field #4 from 12 noon to 2pm. Please encourage anyone who has talked about playing this spring to come and be evaluated for a team. Hopefully Friday’s rain will not adversely affect the fields we will be using but as in the past, we have adapted.
If unable to attend this week’s evaluations, they will also be held next Sat & Sun, Mar 6 & 7th at Skip Wells Park, 2334 Bells Ferry Rd, Marietta from 12 noon to 2pm.
As with all other gatherings, current CDC Covid-19 protocols will be in use.
Any questions, please contact your coach, any director or board member. Looking forward to returning to regular season play!!

CSSA BOARD MEETING
January 11, 2021
The monthly meeting of the CSSA was held 01-11-2021, at GameDay, and called to order by Norm Thiem at 3:05 PM.
Members present: Ray DeLuca, Andy Tubbs, Dick O’Conner, Bob Werner, Norm Thiem, Mike Parson, John Humeston, Robbie Crieder, Dewey Hom & Randy Bergman

Absent: Leland Brown & Brad Tafoya
A. Minutes from 12-07-20 were read, and approved.
B. Financial Report: Current Balance $15,919.20
Deferred to 2021 – 3787.00
Trophies & plaques – 320.27
Balance to begin 2021 $11,811.93

C. Goals for 2021:
1. All leagues to play on a same & equal basis;
2. Retighten rules that were implemented in 2020 due to COVID, as opposed to lack of some changes, including play & code of conduct;
3. Try to have 13 players per team in all leagues, and regulate on the amount of teams per league, to achieve this goal;
4. Register and collect fees from players on line. Everything to be done via credit cards, PayPal, etc. The plan is to not deal with cash or checks. Funding will be needed to initiate the program and have it available prior to the spring season. Mike Parson, Dewey Hom & Bob Warner will serve as a committee to look into different options and entities to get this system going.

D. New dates for evaluations:
1. February 27 & 28,
2. March 6 & 7.
 

E. Discussed purchase of new bases for Skip Wells (safety issue from current bases) to include a double 1st base, base pegs, brackets, etc. The cost would be $236.63. A motion was made and passed by the BOD to purchase new equipment.
F. The Umpire in Charge for the CSSA will be Darrell Moreland and his Chief Assistant will be Dick O’Conner. Thank you to both.
G. Managers need to be polled to see if they have enough players to field a team, and how many will they have on their roster. Managers need to report back to their league directors by February 1, 2021.
H. At the November meeting the BOD’s discussed a rule change that allows a team to pick up a pitcher when another team does not have a starting pitcher or backup pitcher available for one of their games. We continued the discussion at this meeting to add clarification to the rule.
1. A team may pick up a pitcher when… their primary starting pitcher or experienced backup pitcher is not available;
2. A team can not pick up more than 3 players for any 1 game;
3. The pitcher picked up will count as 1 of the 3 players that can be picked up for the game;
4. Teams must start with 8 of their roster team players to avoid forfeit.

I. On January 21, 2021, the CRPA will have their yearly Awards Banquet for all of the volunteers who participate throughout the CRPA. There will be an award handed down to someone in the CSSA, and we hope some of you can attend.

J. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Monday, 2-8-2021, at Gameday Grill.

Meeting ended at 5:15 PM.
ATTENTION, ATTENTION: Since I was unable to get the January minutes out earlier I am able to publish the CSSA winner of the CRPA Volunteer Award. This year’s winner is someone special to all of us….. Michael ‘Beans’ Ryan
CONGRATULATIONS… MIKE !!!

Unfortunately, CSSA has lost a well-respected, admired and the ultimate gentleman Senior ball players to Covid-19 on January 15, 2021 after a very brief hospital stay. L J Grant had been a CSSA member for more than 24 years, starting when there were only four (4) teams. In later years, often playing on three (3) Leagues in one season and if needed, would be available to play on another team if they were short players. In addition to playing, he also was a Manager and Coach over the years.
He was the consummate storyteller of any and all areas of life from his early days helping on his dad’s farm, captain of his high school football team, time spent in the US Army, being stationed in Alaska, 40 years driving oil tankers and of course CSSA games, antics and tournaments he and his fellow teammates played. No matter how the game was going, L J could always bring a laugh or smile to one’s face with just a comment. He will be missed by many.
In the 56 years of marriage to his high school sweetheart Daffon, it was said they never spent more than five days apart from each other. L J is survived by his wife Daffon, three (3) children and five (5) grandchildren. Woodstock Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and due to current health restrictions, no public services are being planned. Condolences can be posted on their website or cards sent to: Mrs. Daffon Grant, 5071 Ravenswood Dr., Marietta, GA 30066-1335.