From the Commissioner's Desk... Vol 1 Issue 3

LEVITTOWN BASEBALL 

In 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th president of the United States, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly in space, Freedom Riders took buses into the South to bravely challenge segregation,  East Germany began construction of the Berlin Wall, and Levittown North Baseball was established! 

I am happy to report baseball is still synonymous with Levittown.   Whether it be the Little League experience through West, the lighted fields of Central, the softball/ baseball collaboration of Island Trees, the focus on collaborating with Seaford and Wantagh in LSW, or the family atmosphere of Levittown North Baseball; baseball and Levittown are inseparable.    

While we all would love everyone to join the Levittown North Baseball Family, it is important to remember the value that each league brings.  We are a stronger community because of the parents that volunteer in each league, the town officials that keep the fields maintained in each league and the local business that support our youth baseball in each league. 

As the spring season begins, and the ballplayers take the field, keep in mind that your children are continuing a tradition that makes our community strong. 

Levittown and baseball are still going strong!  

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Maryann Brown was once again hard at work organizing the LNBB parent Night.  A table was set up for in-person registration, sweatshirt purchases and DUCKS TICKETS.

THIS MEETING WAS FOR RETURNING PARENTS AS WELL AS NEW MEMBERS!

Levittown North introduced James Labartino (former collegiate and professional baseball player) current staff athletic trainer with NYU Winthrop Hospital.  Parents got a quick league overview, met current board members, and had the opportunity to get more involved in the Levittown North Baseball community. All questions were answered:  When and where are games played? Uniforms? Practices? Parent expectations? Volunteer opportunities? Parents interested in joining the board for a brief meeting following the event were welcome to stay.
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THANK YOU

SARAH TAMBERELLI! 

Levittown North has a new Instagram social media master! 

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It's in the Stars! (recent history)

• Spring of 2010 - Northstars win Babe Ruth Tournament 

• Summer of  2015 -  the Travel Northstars visit Cooperstown

• Spring of  2016 -  the Travel Northstars were non-existent!  

• Spring of 2018 - Coach Billy Mugno held an open tryout for an 8u travel team. (only 6 kids tried out NO TEAM FORMED) 

• Fall of 2018 - Coach Scott Butler and Coach Billy Mugno held an open  tryout for an  8u fall team (15 kids tried out for 13 spots) 

• Spring of 2019 - Coach Billy with help from coaches Michael Clark, Scott Butler, and Steve Mercedes, held an open tryout. ( 26 kids tried out for 14 spots) 

• Thanks to Billy, Michael, and Scott, the Levittown NorthStars are rising once again!  

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Shanna Mugno is reaching out to coaches and contacting player parents for KICKBALL.
Tim Dulude has divided T-BALL players into teams based on parent requests and schools.
William Rumaldo has worked with his coaches to form rosters for the LOWER FARMS
Scott Butler hosted the UPPER FARMS DIVISION DRAFT (a fully catered event)
Anthony Kenney has been ordering uniforms and touching base with our MINORS team.
Mike Adams has reached out to all registered MAJORS.

UNIFORMS WILL BE ORDERED TODAY!

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INTRAMURAL TOURNAMENT IN THE WORKS!

Monday, March 11th, officials from surrounding youth baseball leagues including Bellmore- Merrick, Central Nassau, Bethpage, Island Trees, and Plainview met to discuss the possibility of an intramural tournament.  Anthony Kenney, Bill Mugno, and Scott Butler represented Levittown North Baseball.  While all leagues are reporting that their numbers are down in the 10-13 yr olds all leagues are reporting an uptick in their youth programs.  Continuing on the systems that Walter Hetzel, Greg Bodkin, and Matt Runyan set in place, Levittown North’s kickball, t-ball, lower farms, and upper farms are bursting at the seams with registrations.  It is not surprising that the future of Levittown North Baseball shines brightly.  As the league stands on the shoulders of its current and future volunteer parents, the league remains solid. 

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SATURDAY

March 30th

Rosenberg / Whelan Beautification Project

(parent Volunteers requested 10am)

More the merrier! (no kids) 

Re-hang Batting Net

Remove old sheds

Install new sheds 

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SATURDAY

April 6th

FREE MACARTHUR CLINIC (all Ages)

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SATURDAY

April 13th

PARADE

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Saturday

April 20th 

FREE PITCHING CLINIC - (7-8 yr olds)

w/Professional Baseball Player James Laberinto

From the Commissioner's Desk... Vol 1 Issue 2

Levittown North is widening their net!  This past week Ed Michalowski, Anthony LoPinto, Maryann Brown and former commissioner Walter Hetzel brought the magic of baseball to the youngest players in Levittown.  The team from North met with 300 kids from Tender Garden and First Presbyterian.   Participants learned the basics of throwing, hitting and even had the chance to run the bases.  Each participant went home with a coloring page to share with the parents and remind them of the fun they had that day.

Baseballs have been delivered!  Levittown North recently received a delivery of over 1,200 baseballs emblazoned with the iconic LN Logo.  There is nothing like being awarded a game ball for a young player and it's even more special when it stamped with North’s logo. Thank You Anthony Kenney for providing the man power during a torrential downpour.

One of our league sponsors, DICKS SPORTING GOODS, has shared the linked coupon.  20% off an entire purchase from March 15th to March 17th.

North's Lawn Sign Campaign - Thank You to Billy Mugno, Mike Pisciotti, Shawn Klotz, Walter Hetzel, Cynthia McGuire, Steve Mercedes, Anthony LoPinto, Firestone Auto Care, Matt Runyan,  Ed Michalowski , Peter Zirogiannis, Walter Brown Sr.  and Jessica Berju.  By graciously hosting lawn signs you are helping the residents know that BASEBALL in LEVITTOWN  is back! 

Huge shout out to the businesses that have already agreed to sponsor LNBaseball.org! Vincenzos Pizza, Frozen Ropes, Margarita’s Cafe, Car Craft Auto, Demitri's Valet, Saf -T- Swim, and DICK’S SPORTING GOODS.   The Levittown North Family needs to show their love!  Let these organizations know you are appreciative!  

DO YOU KNOW OF A SMALL BUSINESS THAT WOULD LOVE THEIR NAME ON A TEAM’S JERSEY (only $250) ?  to sponsor click here

North would also like to shout out Connie Capitano for her efforts pushing the LN Social Media Campaign.  Lots of laughs have been had for the “over the top” memes including the use of Mike Pisciotti’s plane and of course the Amy Freeze shout out on ABC NEWS.  In the Levittown North Family, even the parents, like Mike Scully, want to have fun!! It’s not too late play!  Follow us on Facebook, share our memes!

Thanks to Billy Mugno the new sheds have been ordered and plan on being erected on Whelan and Rosenberg on March 30th.  Additionally, Billy is working hard at organizing the 8U travel team tryouts. North has reached out to members of the MacArthur coaching staff to help with tryouts and evaluations.

North’s Numbers as of 3/10/19 :

5 Kickball Teams (3-4 yrs)

4 T-Ball Teams (4-5 yrs)

4 Lower Farm Teams (5-6 yrs)

4 Upper Farm Teams (7-8 yrs) *

2 Minors Teams (9-10 yrs)*

1 Major Team (11-13yrs)*

*teams will play neighboring leagues

Travel

1 8u Travel Team ---> OPEN TRYOUTS 3/13 6pm at Memorial

Travel Tryouts For players born after May 1st 2010		Parent Night
March 13th 6pm Memorial HS Gym		March 20th 7pm Wisdom Lane Auditorium
FREE CLINIC HOSTED BY GENERALS VARSITY BASEBALL TEAM APRIL 6th OUTSIDE!!!!

From the Commissioner's Desk... Vol 1 Issue 1

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Want to see your name in the next blog post? Volunteer! Reach out to Coach Wally at coachbrownlnbb@gmail.com to find out how.

Shout out to Peter Zirogiannis! He has taken a lead role in helping to secure the Levittown Library as our base of operations for the upcoming season.  He also is actively sharing and reposting all Levittown North Events on Facebook and Twitter. Peter has also spent a Saturday afternoon notarizing many documents on behalf of North.

Please acknowledge Ed Michalowski for doing the leg work involved in securing Levittown Hall for our June awards night and additionally setting up preschool recruitment events coming this March.

Billy Mugno, Michael Clark, Mike Pisciotti, Steve Mercedes and Scott Butler are just finishing up an eight week free workout session for any 8 and under Levittown residents whom attended. The events ran from 6-7pm on Wednesdays and averaged no less than 15 participants each week. The hope is that this becomes a long lasting tradition in Levittown.

Billy Mugno called a meeting at Jackie Reilly's with Michael Clark and Scott Butler  to discuss uniforms and next steps with the 8U travel program. Additionally, Billy is taking the lead ordering new steel sheds for both Rosenberg and Whelan Fields. 

Levittown North was well represented in the Levittown Community Council’s Winterfest. Reps met with no fewer than 100 families and received some “on-the-spot registrations,” made easier by the credit card reader Anthony LoPinto arranged through Sterling Bank.  Keeping these connections in the community and supporting the other organization members with their work raises our profile as the premier community sports program in Levittown.

Tim Dulude has already called several times interested in working on a schedule that fits not only the North players but allows them to still play soccer.  Our kids are consumed by organized activities and anything that can make it easier to allow more playtime for more kids is going to benefit us in the long run.

Last Tuesday at a meeting of the Levittown Island Trees Youth Council, LNBB was well represented by Anthony Kenney, Matt Runyan and Walter Brown.  During the meeting there was much discussion as to the importance of using Levittown fields for Levittown residents. Permits and field usage are a hot topic and with all sports now creating year round activities, field space and gym space is becoming quite contentious.  Levittown North continues to maintain their permits to Whelan, Munson, Rosenberg and Sandhill.  We continue to be a model of intramural integrity amongst the leagues with well over 90% of our teams residing in our school district and proudly 100% of our travel team from Levittown.

Amanda Klotz, Pina Campagna, and Nicole LoPinto helped put together baskets to raffle off at the various PTA functions coming up this spring.   Spreading the word and sharing our amazing organization with friends only makes us stronger and better representative Levittown.

Anthony LoPinto is actively working on securing prior sponsors to the league, but is always open to new leads. This league works because of sponsorship. Sponsorship is everyone’s job in the month of March!

Sarah Winthrop and Anthony Kenney strike again!  Levittown North sent out a second round of fliers ahead of the March Registration Madness.  They created lawn signs and delivered fliers to all our feeder schools.

Mike Adams and Bill Mugno have taken active steps in calling their former players and encouraging them to re-register at LNBASEBALL.org. These calls, combined with an amazing email sent by Maryann Brown leveraging her tech skills and generating 115 personalized emails to North families, has resulted in a huge uptick in spring registrations.

HELP WANTED -

• LNBB is in search of a parent volunteer to run our #instagram account. (Reach out to CoachBrownLNBB@gmail.com)

Upcoming Events  

• March 13th - 8u Travel Tryouts @ Abbey Lane School 6-7pm
• March 20th - Parent Information Night @ Wisdom (Board meeting to follow)
• April  6th - Free Clinic with Generals on the field (open to all)
• April 13th - Parade (hosted by LSW)

March Goals

• New Sheds before April 1
• New Mural before April 1
• At least 10 Sponsors before April 1
• Lighted Sign Repaired and functioning before April 1
• New Signs for Whelan and Rosenberg April 13th