2006 DENVER OVER 60 BASEBALL LEAGUE

WELCOME TO THE FIRST NATIONALLY AFFILIATED BASEBALL LEAGUE DESIGNED FOR THE MOST SENIOR ATHLETE.

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If you're spending a lot of money on gasoline to get you to and from the Double Angel Baseball Complex in Parker, Colorado, the following link will help you find the most affordable gas stations (all brands) throughout the Denver Metro Area. Gasoline prices and gas station locations are constantly updated.

JUNE 6th: Rule changes concerning secondary/emergency players have now gone into effect. If you desire to play 2 games on any play date, you must adhere to the league's rule addendums. Please note that there will be no extra charge for playing in a second game during any week of the season. By clicking on the following link, you can read about the LEAGUE'S SPECIAL RULE ADDENDUMS and the requirements to play an extra game on any game day.

JUNE 15th: After completing the first round-robin of this year's league, it appears that every team is "in the hunt." Only one game separates first place from last place. Today's games (6/15) were both decided by just one run, and the competitive/excitement level was keen. Playing on a new high-quality field makes a big difference, and the mostly tight, low-scoring games are indicative of a better baseball playing experience. By the way, the Double Angel Foundation has already planned to improve the field conditions at the complex. New mounds with harder clay will be installed shortly, and the infield dirt will be cleared of the small rocks, as well as watered regularly to produce a more hardened and smooth surface. Lastly, a BIG THANK YOU goes out to Al "Buck" Bucholtz for his excellent umpiring behind the plate. This is the first time in the league's three year history in which we've had practically no complaints, just praise about the umpiring.

JUNE 20th: During the week when games would normally be scheduled on July 13th, we will not be able to play any league games. First of all, the Double Angel Field Complex will not be available for our use. Secondly, Denver West High School (our supposed backup field) is in deplorable condition. Thirdly (and most importantly), several key primary and secondary league players will be attending a tournament in Cooperstown, NY during that week. Their absence would make playing the games with enough players very questionable. June 23rd update: Therefore, the games that were originally scheduled for July 13th have now been rescheduled to Thursday, August 3rd, and the games formerly on August 3rd are now scheduled to August 24th. As a result of the schedule changes, the playoffs have been pushed back one week. The league championship game will now be played on Thursday, September 7th at 11 A.M.

JUNE 23rd: PLEASE NOTE THE ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE SCHEDULE MENTIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE IN THE JUNE 20TH PARAGRAPH. Also, the league director extends a big thank you to all of the secondary players who participated (especially) in the early morning game on June 22nd to help make it happen. Without secondary/emergency players, this league could not operate.

JULY 6th: (SECONDARY PLAYER DRAFT UPDATE AND SIGNUP EXTENSION) Between July 17th and July 20th, all league managers will participate in an official draft of secondary players which will be held to insure the viability of each league team as we draw closer to the end of the regular season and the playoffs. The present system of drafting secondary/emergency players on a game-by-game basis will be discontinued. If you want to be included in the official draft of secondary players, you must email an affirmative reply to the league director <over60baseball@yahoo.com> no later than Monday, July 17th (extended 11 days from July 6th and 3 days before the league's next scheduled games). Once drafted and assigned, that's the official secondary team that each drafted player can play for during the rest of the regular season and throughout the playoffs. In all probability, there will be no charge for official secondary team players. Please note, if a player's primary team is scheduled against his newly-drafted official secondary team (resulting in a game-schedule conflict), that player must play with his primary team, but he can still participate as an emergency player in the other time-slotted game that week. During the playoffs, only primary and official secondary players can participate with their teams. Emergency players will be handled on a game-to-game basis, but the use of emergency players during the playoffs will be discouraged, unless absolutely necessary.

JULY 6th: During the Rockies-Fossils game on July 6th, a very unusual play occurred. In the last inning with the score 6-2 in favor of the Fossils and the Rockies batting with 2 outs, a walk was issued with a runner already on first base. That runner not only went to second base as a result of the base on balls, but he continued on to third base unexpectedly. The shocked defense then tried to get the runner in a run-down between second and third base, but by the time a tag was applied, he was already standing on third base. No out or safe call was made by the home-plate umpire. By the way, the ball had been caught by the catcher on the ball four pitch and all ensuing throws by the defense were caught on the fly. When the third baseman then threw the ball to the shortstop (again on the fly), the runner (who was now on third) broke for the plate and beat the off-line throw from the shortstop which was caught by the catcher. Again, no call was made by the umpire. After much confusion, the defensive team then yelled to the catcher to throw the ball to second base, which he did. However, the throw was not on the fly all the way to second base as the ball bounced 15 feet in front of the fielder. Now, the umpire called the runner safe at the plate and the run scored (resulting in 2 stolen bases in a supposed no-stealing league). If you know and understand the special rules of Denver Over 60 Baseball, you'll understand why the above happened, and you'll be prepared defensively for any future unusual plays. By the way, the no-stealing rules for Denver Over 60 Baseball mirror the rules used in the Las Vegas National Fun Tournament each year.

JULY 18th: After the scheduled games of July 20th, all league managers will participate in an official draft of secondary players which will be held to insure the viability of each league team as we draw closer to the end of the regular season and the playoffs. The present system of drafting secondary/emergency players on a game-by-game basis will be discontinued after the July 20th games. Since there are some additional players wanting to be listed for the draft, I've decided to hold the permanent draft immediately after the completion of the July 20th games. Before each game is played on that date, the weekly draft of emergency/secondary players will be held (for the last time) to insure that full teams will play. (Please note that the Fossils play the Rockies at 8 AM, and secondary/emergency players will be absolutely necessary for that game.) Then, during each game on Thursday, I'll ask each dugout's players if they want to be included in the draft. Please remember, there is no additional charge to be an official secondary player. Once you're on a secondary team, you'll be eligible for anything that team earns.

During the second half of the season and the playoffs, each team will be allowed to add to and carry up to a maximum of 12 primary and secondary players combined on its roster. Once the 10th game of the season is played (the end of the 3/4 mark of the regular season and according to NABA rules), no new players added to any team can be eligible for the playoffs. If a team drafts any secondary players, it cannot replace that secondary player with a brand new recruit. Once a secondary player is drafted, that player is permanently assigned throughout the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.

There are no guarantees that everyone listed for the draft will be taken. However, managers will be required to maintain a roster of no fewer than 10 players (both primary and secondary combined). Also, during the draft, managers will not normally be permitted to draft more than one secondary player from the same primary team. The order of the draft will be based upon the present league standings (after 6 games played), with the last place team selecting first, and so on. Please note that the Grizzlies have the same record as the Fossils, but the Grizzlies have beaten the Fossils twice in head-to-head play and therefore occupy first place in the standings.

If drafted, secondary players will incur conflicts in schedule once in every three games played, when their primary team is scheduled against their secondary team. In those instances, a drafted player who still wants to play a second game on that day may do so as an emergency player. Managers may recruit those players directly (without the need for a weekly draft) by communicating with prospective players anytime before their game is scheduled. (That's one of the reasons why all league player's email addresses are exposed in this email.) Since player absences will continue to occur and other teams will also have secondary player scheduling conflicts, there should be continual opportunities for emergency players.

AUGUST 14th: In order to provide a better playoff opportunity for all teams, the present single elimination playoffs will be replaced by a double elimination playoff system that will commence on Thursday, August 17th (see schedule further below). The Denver Grizzlies have been declared the division winner and the #1 seed entering the playoffs, since they cannot be overtaken by the second place team (the Grizzlies hold the tiebreaker against the #2 seeded Rangers). With the implementation of a longer playoff format, three of the four teams in the league will still be guaranteed a minimum of 13 games played. For the team that loses two straight games in the playoffs and is eliminated from further official playoff games after August 24th, that team will probably be offered an additional exhibition consolation game (their 13th game) after the conclusion of the playoffs. If that game can be played, it will be scheduled on September 7th, if the championship is decided the prior week. Details will follow, if applicable.

The manager and players of each team should communicate with each other immediately to insure attendance in each playoff round. During the first round of games on August 17th, only the Rangers and the Rockies will be exchanging time slots from what was the previous regular season schedule. During the playoffs, the draft of emergency players will be discontinued. If any manager anticipates being shorthanded, he can recruit emergency players from the opposite time slot (or players from teams already eliminated from further play in future weeks) during any playoff game to increase his team size up to a maximum of 11 players. If, as a hopeful emergency player, you're not contacted by a manager for extra game play, you may show up at the Double Angel Complex (specifically the early morning 8 AM game). The same procedure applies for any official secondary player whose primary and secondary teams are playing against each other, except for any player who has to travel over 100 miles roundtrip in order to play. For the player in the league that it applies to (Lou Rotola), the playoff team with the fewest players at game time must add Lou to their roster. If both teams have the same amount of players, the home team will be required to take him. Each manager will be required to take emergency players if his team has fewer than 9 players present 5 minutes before game time. Please note, however, there are no guarantees that any other emergency players will be taken, since managers are not required to add players beyond the absolute minimum of 9 during the playoffs.

The league banquet will be held in conjunction with the Colorado Over 50 Baseball League during the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 13th at Colorado Christian University.

AUGUST 25th: The following modification to the rules concerning substitute runners (rule #3) will be implemented immediately "...a player may only run the bases for himself (when he gets on base) and only once as a substitute runner during any one inning. The only exception to this rule will occur when the offensive team goes completely through its batting order during any one inning and batters are now getting their second at-bat during the same inning. If a non-runner gets on base twice and requires a substitute runner both times during the same inning, a substitute runner who has already run for him or someone else may run again. This situation will probably occur only during a team's last at-bat in the 7th inning or in extra innings when unlimited scoring is in affect."

AUGUST 31st: The Colorado Rangers defeated the Colorado Fossils (2-time defending champions) by the score of 9-7. After winning the division title last year but faltering in the playoffs, the Colorado Rangers "ran the table" this year by winning 3 games in a row during the playoffs. Manager Paul Vargo went the distance on the mound, and Pat Moriarity supplied the power with back-to-back 3-run homeruns and an additional run batted in for a total of 7 RBI's. Pat Moriarity also won the Home Run Derby with a total of 3 homers this season.

Standing (left to right): Pat Moriarity, Lou Rotola, Larry Grohn, George Southern, Harry Buckner, Eric Hall

Kneeling (left to right): Dennis Brown, Mark Hamilton, manager Paul Vargo, Fred Terranova, Sid Biderman

The Colorado Fossils earned the right to face the Colorado Rangers in the championship game by defeating the Denver Grizzlies 10-7 in the early morning game with a big 7th inning come-from-behind rally.

Standing (left to right): John Weston, Phil Herre, Steve Coble, Billy Smith, Mike Carroll, manager Ken Ayers

Kneeling (left to right): Bob Heid, Jim LaFoe, Phil Towe, Wayne Snow, Bob Clinard

TEAMS

WINS

LOSSES

PERCENT

GAMES BEHIND

DENVER GRIZZLIES*	8	2	.800	-
COLORADO RANGERS	6	4	.600	2
COLORADO FOSSILS	4	6	.400	4
COLORADO ROCKIES	2	8	.200	6

THE FIRST GAME WILL START NO LATER THAN 8:00 AM, & THE SECOND GAME WILL START NO EARLIER THAN 10:45 AM, WITH A MINIMUM 15 MINUTE BREAK BETWEEN GAMES. ALMOST ALL GAMES WILL BE PLAYED ON THE LOGAN FIELD AT THE DOUBLE ANGEL BASEBALL COMPLEX IN PARKER, COLORADO - 9345 NEWLIN GULCH ROAD.

THE ONLY EXCEPTION FOR FIELD USAGE WILL OCCUR ON JULY 13th, WHEN THE DOUBLE ANGEL COMPLEX WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. THAT WEEK WILL BE DECLARED AN "OFF WEEK" AND NO GAMES WILL BE PLAYED.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LINK MAP PROVIDED ABOVE INCORRECTLY NAMES NEWLIN GULCH ROAD, WHEN IT SHOULD READ NEWLIN GULCH BOULEVARD. ALSO, ONCE YOU TURN SOUTH ON NEWLIN GULCH BOULEVARD, YOU SHOULD ONLY TRAVEL 1/2 MILE TO THE HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL TOWERS. JUST A FEW FEET SOUTH OF THE TOWERS IS A DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE GOING WEST ONTO AN UNNAMED SEMI-PAVED ROAD. THAT ROAD IS ACTUALLY NEWLIN GULCH ROAD, AND YOU'LL THEN TRAVEL APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE TO THE BASEBALL COMPLEX ENTRANCE.

THE LAST GAME EACH WEEK MUST BE COMPLETED OR STOPPED NO LATER THAN 2 PM, SINCE THE FIELD WILL BE LEASED TO OTHER ENTITIES AT 2 PM ON MOST PLAY DATES. ALSO, ALL POSTPONED GAMES WILL BE RESCHEDULED AND, AS A RESULT, WILL EXTEND THE REGULAR SEASON BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS CAN BEGIN.

(Since the Rangers won this game, they were crowned league champions without the need for an additional game)

YOU SHOULD SIGN UP FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL OVER 60 BASEBALL DIVISION IN THE NATIONAL FUN TOURNAMENT IN LAS VEGAS THIS FALL. JUST CLICK ON THE OVER 50 BASEBALL BANNER DIRECTLY BELOW FOR ALL OF THE DETAILS!

UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 3, 2006