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Montgomery Baseball & Softball League (NJ)

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2024/2025 MBSL BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 29TH!!

 

YOUR MBSL COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!!! BE A COUGAR.....VOLUNTEER TO SERVE ON YOUR MBSL BOARD!

 

Board Application is HERE!

 

It's that exciting time of year again...kids are back in school, leaves are changing colors, and we are doing our best to make baseball and softball last until those late October morning frosts start to glisten.  Even more exciting is the opportunity to serve the youth in our community by volunteering for the MBSL Board!  Our league cannot run without dedicated volunteers from the community who are willing to commit their time to supporting our baseball and softball programs in Montgomery. 

 
If you and your children love being involved with baseball and/or softball and want to see these sports continue to flourish in Montgomery then please consider volunteering some of your time by joining our Board.  Prior baseball or softball experience is NOT required; all you need is motivation, a desire to be involved with our community, and fresh ideas to support an enjoyable and learning environment for our players.  Your time and effort are required but the smiles on the faces of our kids having fun at the fields makes it all worthwhile!
 
Historically, the entire MBSL Board has been elected annually (with terms running from November through October).  The MBSL Bylaws were modified last year to allow for greater stability within positions on the Board and to ensure that the Board retains experienced members across years.  We now have two classes (or groups) of Board members that will serve for staggered, two-year terms. 
 
For 2024, our transition year, all MBSL Board position are up for election.  Going forward, Class 1 Directors will be elected in odd years and Class 2 Directors will be elected in even years.  For example, Class 1 Directors elected in 2024 will run again in 2025 (odd year) but Class 2 Directors elected in 2024 won't run again until 2026 (even year).  This every-other-year cycle will then repeat going forward.  So, after we kick off this initial year, Class 1 Directors will run in 2025, 2027, 2029, etc. and Class 2 Directors will run in 2026, 2028, 2030, etc.
 
Class 1 Directors:  President, VP of Umpires & Scheduling, VP of Rec Softball, VP of Travel, VP of Administration, and VP of Special Events.
 
Class 2 Directors:  VP of Finance, VP of Tournaments, VP of Communications, VP of Rec Baseball, VP of Registration, VP of Sponsorships & Fundraising, and VP of Fields & Maintenance.
 
Note:  The Past President is not elected but remains a Board position.
 
Following are high-level descriptions of the duties for each Board position: 
 
President: Sets the overall direction for the League and provides leadership and guidance for Board and Committee members. Ensures that the Board and League operate according to our Bylaws and our Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth Charters.  Serves as primary League representative with Babe Ruth District and Headquarters executives, Township officials, and vendors/consultants.  Interacts with player families and volunteers at all age levels.  Must be willing and able to make difficult decisions that balance the best interests of our players and programs while ensuring the long-term viability of our League and protecting the integrity of the MBSL, Cal Ripken, and Babe Ruth brands.

VP of Rec Baseball:  Responsible for the coordination of Rec baseball season planning, team drafts, and game scheduling.  Recruits and provides direction to League Directors, Team Managers, and Coaches.  Ensures that all rules-of-play are current, provide the right balance of fairness, player growth, and safety, and are adhered to throughout the season.  Partners with VP of Registration to help recruit new players to our programs and retain current participants.
 
VP of Rec Softball:  Responsible for the coordination of Rec softball season planning, team drafts, and game scheduling. Recruits and provides direction to League Directors, Team Managers, and Coaches.  Ensures that all rules-of-play are current, provide the right balance of fairness, player growth, and safety, and are adhered to throughout the season.  Partners with VP of Registration to help recruit new players to our programs and retain current participants.
 
VP of Travel:  Responsible for the coordination of travel team tryouts, player evaluations, and the overall travel team planning.  Leads the Travel Selection Committee and makes sure all necessary information has been collected and distributed to all Travel Committee Members. Responsible for the recruitment and evaluation of travel team Managers and Coaches.  Coordinates Travel Team practice schedules in coordination with the Board.  At the current time, Montgomery has a travel baseball program but not a travel softball program.  

VP of Tournaments:  Responsible for the coordination of our town's annual tournament, the John Covino Invitational, including forming and leading a Tournament Committee to assist in the recruitment of teams, scheduling of games, and coordination of volunteers.  Coordinates with the Board to establish tournament budget and fees and to engage volunteers, supporting committees, and other resources. 

VP of Umpires & Scheduling:  Responsible for field scheduling, and for scheduling and payment of umpires for our Spring and Fall Rec seasons, Spring and Summer Travel seasons (home games), Covino Tournament, and special event scheduling at our facilities. 
 
VP of Fields & Maintenance:  Responsible for managing the maintenance of th McKnight Complex fields, facilities and equipment.  Negotiates MBSL-friendly contracts with maintenance service providers and contractors.  Interfaces with contracted maintenance companies, utilities, suppliers, and vendors.  Organizes complex openings and closings and recruits volunteer participation.  Leads any large-scale maintenance or capital investment efforts that impact the physical footprint of the League.  Responsible for assessing game-day weather-forecasts and field conditions to ensure player safety.

VP of Administration:  Responsible for purchasing merchandise, equipment, uniforms, trophies, and supplies such as baseballs and softballs.  Coordinates the inventory, distribution, and collection of team uniforms and equipment.  Coordinates with the Board regarding annual Parent Night, Opening Day, and Photo Day events.

VP of Finance:  Responsible for management of the financial health and compliance of the League, including establishing annual capital and operating (expense) budgets, establishing fees for Rec and Travel programs, performing cash management functions at McKnight Complex, regularly monitoring the League P.O. box and depositing checks/processing invoices, paying bills, tracking revenue and expenses, and maintaining financial records (using QuickBooks) including providing monthly bank reconciliations to the Board.  Partners with Board and Committee members to negotiate prices for products and services.  Coordinates the League's annual tax return by working with our CPA to provide information and respond to any audit requests. 

VP of Sponsorships & Fundraising:  Responsible for raising community-wide awareness of League activities and initiatives, and raising revenue from sources other than registration fees, including charitable donations, sponsorships, and signage.  Activities include engaging with local businesses and MBSL families to obtain sponsorships for Rec baseball and softball team uniforms, complex signage, Cougar Cards, and digital marketing opportunities.  Creatively generates funding for community events such as Opening Day, Championship Day, Somerset Patriots Night, and Outdoor Movie Night.  Partners with Board members to advertise League events in local press, schools, and community businesses, and to launch relevant social media campaigns.  

VP of Special Events:  Responsible for the coordination of large-scale fundraising and community events such as Parents' Night, Opening Day, Championship Day, Mother’s Day Flower Sale, Somerset Patriot Nights, Outdoor Movie Night, and any other activities supported by the Board.  Assists the VP of Sponsorships & Fundraising with further the MBSL brand throughout the community.  This role may also assume other related tasks in coordination with the Board.

VP of Registration:  Responsible for coordinating Spring and Fall Rec registration activities including tracking and reporting trends to the Board.  Partners with the Board, League Directors, and Team Managers to actively recruit baseball and softball players and identify potential new players.  Manages all website registration activities for special events including Travel tryouts, baseball and softball camps hosted by the League, and other League and complex activities that require player or family registration.  Assists the Board and League participants with establishing and utilizing team management software (e.g., TeamSnap).  Develops creative ways to promote player retention and “customer satisfaction” throughout the baseball season.  Coordinates post-season player/parent and managers/coaches surveys as necessary.

VP of Communications:  Schedules and coordinates all Board meetings, records and distributes meeting minutes, and tracks action items.  Maintains League website, Bylaws, documents, and records.  Supports the conduct of the annual Board election process including public announcements and assisting the Past President in performing the annual election process in accordance with Leage Bylaws.  Ensures that all Board members, Managers, Coaches, and volunteers obtain required background checks and training in accordance with Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, and League policies.  Partners with the League President in furthering the MBSL brand through social media and public relations campaigns and activities.

If you are interested in volunteering for the MBSL Board of Directors, please complete and sumbit an application (see Board Application link below).  The Board application submission deadline is October 15, 2024.  Elections will be held on October 29, 2024, and candidates will be informed of election results prior to October 31, 2024.  
 

Click HERE for the MBSL Board Application. 

Please submit any questions and/or completed Board applications to montgomerybaseballnj@gmail.com

2024 Fall Baseball & Softball Registration is Open!

2024 Fall Baseball and Softball 

Registration for the 2024 Fall Season.

Program Title Description
Cougar Cubs

This program is for boys & girls who will be entering Pre-K or Kindergarten in Fall and serves as introduction to the fundamentals of baseball and softball. Cougar Cubs is led by MBSL instructors and emphasizes player development and fun.

The program meets once per week on Saturdays from 9:00-10:00 AM.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:Coed
Grades: Pre-K through K
Prospects

For players entering 1st or 2nd grade in Fall, this program serves as a skills development program as players prepare to enter a more competitive environment during our Spring D-Ball and Rookie programs.

The program meets once per week on Saturdays from 10:15-11:15 AM.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:Coed
Grades: 1 through 2
Minors Baseball

For players entering 3rd or 4th grade in Fall, this program includes kid pitch to prepare players for the upcoming Minors Spring season.

The program meets once per week on Saturdays from 10:00AM-11:00 AM.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:Coed
Grades: 3 through 4
Majors Baseball

For players entering 5th or 6th grade in Fall, this program is conducted on McKnight Complex Field D (the 50?/70? field), allowing players to adjust to the larger field dimensions they will play on during the Spring season.

The program meets on Saturdays at 11:30 AM.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:Coed
Grades: 5 through 6
Babe Ruth Clinic

Available to rising 7th through 10th graders, this program is conducted as a 7-session clinic during the Fall led by Montgomery High School coaches. The 90-minute clinics will be conducted on McKnight Complex Field H (the 60'/90' field). The program meets on a weekday evening (tentatively scheduled for Monday nights).

This program is limited to the first 30 registrants.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:Coed
Grades: 7 through 10
8U Softball (Grades 1-3)

8U Softball (Grades 1-3): This program will include one practice on a weekday evening and one game/practice on Saturdays (tentatively scheduled at 1:00 pm). Games will be played against nearby towns (e.g., Princeton, Hillsborough, Hopewell) and will require occasional local travel.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:F
Grades: 1 through 3
10U Softball (Grades 4-5)

10U Softball (Grades 4-5): This program will include one practice on a weekday evening and one game/practice on Saturdays (tentatively scheduled at 9:00 am). Games will be played against nearby towns (e.g., Princeton, Hillsborough, Hopewell) and will require occasional local travel.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:F
Grades: 4 through 5
12U/14U Softball (Grades 6-8)

12U/14U Softball (Grades 6-8): This program will include one practice on a weekday evening and one game/practice on Saturdays (tentatively scheduled at 11:00 am). Games will be played against nearby towns (e.g., Princeton, Hillsborough, Hopewell) and will require occasional local travel.

Cost: $200.00
Gender:F
Grades: 6 through 8

Reminder: The McKnight Baseball Complex is PRIVATE PROPERTY! 

The McKnight Baseball complex is PRIVATE PROPERTY.  It is not a public facility and is not associated with the Montgomery Township or Somerset County Parks systems.  The management and maintenance of this facility is funded by the Montgomery Baseball League (MBL) through registration fees, advertising, fund raising, and the generous donations of local residents and businesses. 

Use of the McKnight Baseball Complex is limited to individuals registered for current MBL programs and MBL-sponsored events and groups.  MBL reserves the right to permit or deny any individual and/or team access to the McKnight complex, including fields, batting cages, or concession, seating, and parking areas. 

Use of these facilities for private games, lessons, or training without written authorization from MBL is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.  Any unauthorized use of these facilities for such purposes is at the risk of the Trainer/Coach AND Trainee(s)/Player(s).  Any damage or injuries resulting from unauthorized use of these facilities will be the sole responsibility of Trainer/Coach.  Violators will be considered to be TRESPASSING and may be PROSECUTED. 

Any questions about this use-policy can be directed to any member of the MBL Board of Directors.  If you see unauthorized use of the McKnight Baseball Complex, please contact a member of the MBL Board of Directors or contact the Montgomery Township Police non-emergency number.  Thank you.

 FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON WEATHER & FIELD CONDITIONS:

The MBL Weather Hotlineis the primary source of
field information:(908)359-4045
Sign up for
Text Alerts as a secondary source of
field information
Check out the
Hourly Weather Forecast for the
McKnight Baseball Complex
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