Hello Buddy Baseball Fans,
Happy Birthday to us!! We are 10 years old! Our first season was in 2009. Back then, we had six teams, 36 players and 38 buddies. It was just a five week season and we had a pot luck end of season party under the covered court. I remember it like it was yesterday. The kids and parents enjoyed the season so much they wanted to have a spring season, instead of waiting 11 months for the season to start again. So, we did and added two more weeks to the schedule.
Today, we have added four more teams to the league since the spring season for a total of 20 teams and just shy of 300 participants. The games ten years ago ran pretty much the exact same way as they do today. We have gotten a little fancier, made tweaks and enhancements over the years, always trying to improve the league. This season we have two original buddies from our very first season, who have graduated college, are in the work force, and have come back to coach a team.
A big welcome to the many new players, buddies and coaches this season! I can't wait to meet you.
Our season kicks off with our Meet and Greet on Saturday, September 21st at the Lightfoot Center in Temple Terrace - details below. For those of you new to Buddy Baseball, the Meet and Greet is a chance for the players, buddies, coaches and parents to get to know each other before the season starts. We will be handing out team shirts and hats at the event.
Opening day will be September 28th. We play on the fields behind Lewis Elementary in Temple Terrace. 6700 E. Whiteway Dr. Temple Terrace, 33617. The Tampa Breakfast Sertoma Club will grill hamburgers and hot dogs for us from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. If you have the late game that day, come early for lunch.
The schedule for the season is on our website.
I'll see you all at the Meet and Greet!
Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director
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The Meet and Greet luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 21st. We will be serving McDonalds cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, deli sandwiches, salad, fruit, chips, cookies and drinks for session 1 and 2. Ice Cream, cookies and drinks for session 3! (We will have a dairy free ice cream alternative)
Session 1: 11:15 am - 12:00 pm - light lunch
Blazers, Bulldogs, Cobras, Cyclones, Coyotes, Hornets, Pirates
Session 2: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm - light lunch
Bombers, Jaguars, Mustangs, Ravens, Thunder, Tigers, Wildcats
Session 3: 2:45 pm - 3:30 pm - ice cream
Bobcats, Hawks, Hit Squad, Rockets, Scorpions, Sharks
Location: Lightfoot Center, 10901 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, FL 33617
The Lightfoot Recreation Center is on the corner of 56th St. and Whiteway Dr. There is a Bank of America drive through north of the Lightfoot Center, a 7-11 to the south and a Dairy Queen diagonally across from the location.
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Our Buddy Training for our new buddies and coaches will be held the same day as the Meet and Greet, Saturday, September 21st.
Training Time: 12:00 - 12:40 pm
Blazers, Bulldogs, Cobras, Cyclones, Coyotes, Hornets, Pirates, Bombers, Jaguars, Thunder
Training Time: 1:45 pm - 2:25 pm
Bobcats, Hawks, Hit Squad, Rockets, Scorpions, Sharks, Mustangs, Ravens, Tigers, Wildcats
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Please join us for the 9th Annual Buddy Run fundraiser on Sunday Morning, November 17th at Lake Park. There will be a 5K Race, a 1 Mile Fun Run and the Buddy Dash for our runners with special needs. Click on the link for all the information and to register. Thanks to Suncoast Credit Union for your title sponsorship!
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Player Spotlight - Alex Tirado
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Alex Tirado
Alex is a long-time player with Buddy Baseball. He is 12 years old and attends Liberty Middle School. Alex is the strong, but silent type. He is always very happy, smiling and laughing. He picks out the outfits for his family on a daily basis. Alex loves writing events is his own planner, going to the movies and listening to Yacht Rock. His most prized possession is his AMC Refillable Popcorn Bucket. Alex's special talent is listening to his parent's conversation from the next room. If Alex was famous, it would be for scheduling. When he grows up, he wants to be a Disney World bus driver.
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Buddy Spotlight - Ava Morgan
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Ava Morgan
This will be Ava's sixth season with Buddy Baseball. She is 14 years old and is in her first year of high school at Tampa Prep. Ava has two younger sisters and a dog name Jinju. Last year for a school project she made a documentary about Buddy Baseball. She comes early to the games with her dad to help set up for the day. Ava's favorite food is sushi and her favorite restaurant is Ginza. If she had a $1000, she would buy a new phone.
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Coach
Spotlight - Patrick Nusbaum
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Patrick Nusbaum
Patrick is from Carey, OH, which is a very small town in Northwest Ohio. He has a huge passion for Ohio sports teams including Ohio State and all Cleveland pro teams. Patrick is a Recruiter at The Fountain Group, which was a sponsor for the Jaguars this past spring. He is the oldest of three kids. He has a younger brother and sister.
Patrick is a US Marine Corps Veteran and was happy to provide service to our country. Thank you for your service Patrick! He has spent the last five seasons as a coach for the Jaguars ("the greatest expansion team next to the Cleveland Browns!"). "I also do some announcing of the games, which is so much fun and I really enjoy doing it. I'm so happy and grateful to a part of this wonderful organization and I look forward too many more seasons with Buddy Baseball. Go Jaguars!"
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Parent
Spotlight
Tony and Kathy Sanders
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Tony and Kathy Sanders
Tony & Kathy have been married for15 years and together for 21. Tony is originally from Louisville, Ky, and is the youngest of six. Kathy is a proud Tampa native and has two brothers. She is of Spanish, Italian, and Cuban decent. Tony and Kathy have two children, Ava (age 13) who is a buddy and Jake (age 10) is a player, and lots of family on both sides locally.
Tony has owned a custom picture framing business for 23 years in Tampa, Master Art & Frame on Kennedy Blvd. He has an engineering bachelor's from USF. Kathy worked for many years in the customer service and legal industries, and now steers the busy Sanders family ship from home. She has been a life long Florida Gator. Tony plays a little guitar, since age 14, and is a huge fan of Batman comics. They don't get to travel often, but absolutely love New Orleans and New York City. They do frequent the Sirata on St Pete Beach, and Disney Springs.
They are all big fans of the Rays and the Lightning. "Last spring was our first time playing Buddy Baseball, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience for all of us! Jake loves to get a hit but isn't such a fan of wearing his glove in the field. Maybe a natural Designated Hitter! Jake LOVES his favorite animated Buddy Baseball announcer, Anthony Viola. So much so, that daddy has to often do his best Anthony impersonation, "Well done, Jaaaaaaaake!" We love being a part of this organization and are so impressed with everyone involved. Play ball!"
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During the average major league baseball game, 50 foul balls are hit into a crowd of about 31,000 people.
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Until next time... PLAY BALL!!
Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director
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