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Vienna Little League

News Detail

19

Apr, 2023

Diamond Talk Newsletter

Sponsored by

 
Diamond Talk
The official newsletter of Vienna Little League
 
 


Check Out Highlights from Opening Day 2023

Thank you to all of the volunteers and special guests who came out for the Opening Day ceremonies of Vienna's 72nd Little League season. It was a tremendous turnout by hundreds of players and their families to mark the start of play by our 86 teams. An album of pictures from the day is available on our website, taken by photographer and VLL Mom Beth Blinstrub. There is also a video of the remarks given by Madison HS Senior, MLB prospect, and VLL alumnus Bryce Eldridge (taken by his mother, Beth Kenney).





Free Nats Tickets for Tee Ball, Rookie, 1A & 2A Teams

The Washington Nationals generously provided uniforms for 60 of our teams (600+ players) through their TeamUP program, and those uniforms -- and Coaches hats -- are the players' and coaches' "tickets" to attend a game at Nationals Park in June.

Any VLL player who wears their Nationals-issued uniform or VLL coach who wears their TeamUP coach's cap can receive two complimentary tickets to the Nats vs. Phillies game on Sunday, June 4, at 1:35 pm.

Tickets will be distributed beginning at 11:00 am outside of the Home Plate gate entrance, located on the corner of South Capitol Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE. Click below for additional information.




Drop Us Your Best VLL Pics All Season Long

We want to see your photos! Help us document all the memories being made this season by sharing your photos with the league. We plan to feature images of the great baseball action and off-the-field fun in a web album and in our social-media feeds. We will select the best photo in each category at the end of the season, and the winners will receive a fun prize as well as recognition in Diamond Talk.

To submit a photo, please follow these steps, which you can do right from your phone:

1. Visit the following link on the device that has the photo:
https://www.dropbox.com/request/M2Zm89r9HwIsulFI3WQ1 (or go to the VLL website and click on "Submit Photos" under the "Team Central" menu).

2. Click "Add files" and then browse to the "Photo Library" or other photo location.

3. Select the item(s) and click "Add."

4. Provide your name and email address and click "Upload."

Then keep an eye out for your photo to be featured in our season album or other posts.



Four-Game Fridays at Yeonas Park Start This Week

VLL's Friday Night Series begins this week and runs through May 12. Each week will feature a slate of four Majors games, with all teams in one division (AL or NL) participating on alternating weeks. Come out, have dinner, and watch the best Little League baseball around.

The first week will feature the following AL matchups:
- 5:45 pm Crabtree: Cardinals @ White Sox
- 5:45 pm Rhodes: Yankees @ Cubs
- 8:00 pm Crabtree: Braves @ Red Sox
- 8:00 pm Rhodes: Giants @ Blue Jays.







How Are We Doing? We Want to Hear from You!


VLL is committed to providing a positive, player-centered experience for our children. We encourage feedback and value input from around the league. Please use our online form to provide us with constructive feedback (positive or negative) about your experiences with our volunteer coaches. All submissions are anonymous. Feedback on other issues -- scheduling, safety, field conditions, umpires, or spectator behavior -- can also be provided confidentially to members of our Board of Directors.





Attend Virtual Session on Reforming Youth Sports Culture

VLL invites all parents and coaches to attend an exclusive Zoom discussion with Nick Buonocore, founder of The Reformed Sports Project and host of The Reformed Sports Project podcast, this Sunday, April 23, at 8:00 pm. VLL Coaching Coordinator Mitch Schwartz will lead a 45-minute moderated discussion with Nick, followed by a Q&A session.

Zoom Link: Click HERE
Password: VLL

Buonocore is a parent, volunteer coach, and former collegiate athlete with a first-hand perspective on the changing culture of today’s youth sports industry. Drawing on his own parental experience, Buonocore realized he was part of the culture challenge as he subconsciously -- and at times consciously -- attached his own identity to his children's performances. He was among countless parents vulnerable to the influences and effects of the growing, multi-billion-dollar industry. 

With more youth sports opportunities than ever before, he began to question the approach and perceived benefits that families are left to navigate on their own. Grounded by self-realization and inspired to champion a reformed mindset, Buonocore established The Reformed Sports Project and podcast to promote a healthy and holistic approach in all areas of sport, through education and advocacy. Today, he is a leading voice in youth sports reform.

Questions? Contact Coaching Coordinator Mitch Schwartz at [email protected].



13U MVP Terps Tryouts Scheduled for May 7th

Tryouts for MVP Terps 2023-24 13U teams will be held on Sunday, May 7. The season will run from September 2023 through the summer of 2024. There is no cost for the tryout. Please see the details and registration information below.

Who: Players who will be age 13 or under as of April 30, 2024
When: Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm. (check-in starts at 3:45 pm.)
Location: Browns Chapel Field 2 (entrance at Browns Chapel Road & Baron Cameron Avenue in Reston)

Please CLICK HERE to register for the rising 13U tryout.



Summer Baseball Camps at Marshall High School

The Marshall Baseball camp (for ages 8-14) is a developmental camp designed to teach the fundamentals of the game while having FUN! The campers will receive instruction in a small-group setting and will progress to game situations. Location is the Marshall High School baseball fields. Click HERE to register.

Session #1: July 10-13, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session #2: July 17-20, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm



Register for Summer Camps with MVP Baseball

VLL sponsor MVP Baseball School will offer the following summer baseball training opportunities for players in Vienna Little League.

Register by May 1 to take advantage of Early Bird Pricing. Camp details and registration links can be found on pages 13-14 of the Vienna Summer Camp Guide by clicking HERE. Offerings include:

- Little League Baseball Camp (ages 7-12)
- Transition Camp (ages 4-7)
- Advanced Youth Hitting Camp
- Advanced Youth Infielders Camp
- Advanced Middle School Hitting Camp
- Advanced Middle School Infielders Camp
- Catching Camp 

Vienna camps will fill quickly, so register your ballplayer today! Other options include:

MVP Indoor Baseball Camp

MVP Baseball School is once again offering our popular Indoor Baseball Camp for youth players who want to get baseball instruction while beating the heat. This camp is for players aged 6 thru 12. Campers will be grouped by age and skill level. Each session has limited enrollment to ensure a 4:1 camper to instructor ratio.

Location: MVP Baseball School, 356 Victory Dr. Herndon, VA 22090
Cost: $210
Time: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Days: Monday – Thursday (*except for the July 3, 5-7 session which will be held Monday, Wednesday-Friday due to the July 4th holiday on Tuesday 7/4)

Session 1: June 26-29 - register HERE for Session 1
Session 2: July 3, 5-7 - register HERE for Session 2
Session 3: July 17-20 - register HERE for Session 3
Session 4: July 31-August 3 - register HERE for Session 4

MVP Outdoor Baseball Camps in Reston

This camp is for players aged 6 thru 12. Campers will be grouped by age and skill level. Each session has limited enrollment due to the age of the campers.

Location: Hook Road Baseball Fields (both fields will be used)
Cost: $190
Time: 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Days: Monday – Thursday (Friday rain date)
Session 1: June 19-22 - register HERE for Session 1
Session 2: July 24-27 - register HERE for Session 2
Session 3: August 14-17 - register HERE for Session 3

For questions, please call Coach Mark "Pudge" Gjormand at 703-975-4124 or email him directly at [email protected].



Complete HammerZone Survey & Enter Artie's Raffle

VLL sponsor HammerZone Sports is seeking your input on their programs.

HammerZone hit our one-year anniversary of being open!  We want to know how we’re doing with our service and are inviting everyone to complete this short survey. Help us do some of the heavy lifting; your input is extremely valuable.

We're looking forward many more years of providing the best baseball/softball/fitness instruction in the area through our private lessons, camps and clinics as well as being the home of all of the teams that have chosen to train at HammerZone. Thank you! One lucky winner will receive gift certificate to our City of Fairfax neighbor, Artie’s Restaurant. 

Thanks as always for being a loyal customer of HammerZone, and we look forward to seeing you soon.
 
 
Vienna Little League
P.O. Box 61
Vienna, VA 22183
www.vll.org
  Email: [email protected]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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