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Minutes of Minnesota Baseball Association Board meeting. Meeting site - Holiday Inn, St. Cloud. Meeting called to order by President Richter at 11 a.m., roll call showed all directors present with the exception of Bob Zellmann, who recently underwent hip replacement surgery and was unable to attend. We all wish Bob the best in his endeavor of pursuing a smooth and healthy recovery. Motion Brennan, seconded Wegscheid, carried, to accept the minutes as mailed. There were 22 baseball supporters who attended the meeting. The board met with John Fahey and Jim Zellmann, representing Hamburg and Norwood, site of this year’s state tournament. They notified the board that Diamond will be the baseball used for this year’s tournament. They also specifically noted that Green Isle has been designated as the third site, if needed, to be utilized for scheduling games due to inclement weather or any other issues. There was some discussion regarding the potential issues with Hwy. 25 and coordination with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, but it was determined that this would be covered prior to the tournament. It was noted by the board that there is every intention to play all scheduled tournament games at Norwood and Hamburg, however, if necessary we would utilize Green Isle’s facility and they should be prepared and have their field ready for play, as well as have appropriate committees staffed in case of need. The board then met with representatives from the Rochester Blues, Winona and Blue Earth on the issue of reClassification. Kirk Rubado and Dan Hoefs, on hand representing the Rochester Blues, were first to present. Kirk presented the details of their desire to remain in Class “C”, citing that there is currently no criteria in place to determine reClassification annually by the MBA Board. He also stated their overall youth within their organizations and modest recent success is not enough to reClassify them to Class “B”. At that time, Jarvis Anderson, the Regional cominissioner from Region 5, then stated the league’s support and desire to retain the Rochester Blues in their league as a “C” team. Bruce Brinkman, representing Winona, then presented the details and rationale stipulating Winona’s desire to remain in Class “C”. Jarvis Anderson also then advocated on behalf of the league and Regions’ desire to retain Winona as a Class “C” team. Todd Schmidtke and John Stallmann, representing the Blue Earth Pirates, stated that they wished to remain Class “C”. They stated numerous reasons: using all local players, pending roster changes with possibly losing two players and the demographics of the population base to draw from. A letter from Mike Krenik, a 13-60 league officer, was read stating that the league voted 7-1 in favor of maintaining Blue Earth as a Class “C” team. After some discussion, President Richter requested that those in attendance leave the room so that the board could have a closed meeting to discuss in further detail the reClassification of the three teams. The board then met and discussed each team’s request as well as the need for us to establish criteria and a means of differentiating the components of Class “B” and Class “C”. A motion by Barry, seconded by Brennan, carried 8-0, that we allow all three teams to remain in Class “C’ for the 2007 season. The board then addressed a letter from Albert Lea and Owatonna, requesting to be reClassified to Class “C”. Bill Trygstad, Albert Lea and Chuck Fuller, Owatonna presented the details of their desire to be reClassified to Class “C”. They cited the primary reasons were their inability to compete at the Class “B” level and the desire to rebuild their programs. They felt that they would have a better chance competing and rebuilding against “C” teams. A motion by Forsman, seconded by Roufs, carried 8-0, to reClassify both Albert Lea and Owatonna to Class “C” effective for the 2007 season. A letter from Tink Larson, Waseca, was received and duly noted requesting Waseca’s desire to be moved from Region 4 to Region 2. The board opted to table this request until the March meeting. A letter from Randy Heidman regarding his opposition to roster expansion in Class “C” was read and duly noted. Motion by Brennan, seconded by Wegscheid, carried 8-0 to approve an “Ad” for $150 in the high school coaches handbook. The board received a letter of resignation from Verne E. Radlof, Region 2C Commissioner. Motion by Wegscheid, seconded by Barry, carried 8-0, to accept Verne’s resignation. The board would like to thank Verne for his overall commitment and years of service to Minnesota Amateur Baseball. Thank you, Verne. The Board reviewed the MBA Handbook with the following changes made: 1. Article 4 - Government. A motion by Roufs, seconded by Rademacher, carried 8-0, to allow Region and Section comissioners, in good standing, to have voting rights on all matters brought before the annual meeting, including the election of board members. 2. By-laws of the MBA. Article I B Membership. The annual dues of the MBA will be as follows: league: $50, team: $10 3. Article 9 Player Eligibility B & C. A motion by Roufs, seconded by Forsman to change the radius for Class “C” and Class “B” as follows: Class C teams would have a 15 mile radius and Class B teams would have a 25 mile radius. Voting for the motion - Roufs, Forsman, Hartmann, Wegscheid and Brennan. Voting against Richter, Rademacher, and Barry. Motion carried 5-3. This radius change applies to all player eligibility references including the resident player and college rule. 4. Article 10 Contracts A & E. Motion Forsman, seconded by Wegscheid to allow teams playing in Class “B” to have a 25 player roster and Class “C” teams would have a maximum of 20 players on the active roster after June 30. Voting for the motion Richter, Wegscheid, Rademacher, Roufs, Hartmann, Barry, and Forsman. Voting against - Brennan. Motion carried 7- 1. This rule change includes regular season, Regional/Sectional play, as well as state tournament rosters (exclusive of drafted players). Also noted in Article 10 Section E that the board will allow appeals from players if they are not granted a release from their current team. These appeals will be reviewed an a case by case basis. 5. Article 13 Illegal Participation E & Definition of Games. A change in the term “exhibition” game to non-league and also included definitions of “games” in article 13 of the handbook. 6. Article 20 Special Regional and Sectional Player Rules. Serviceman Rule: Added the active duty clause to read as follows: “Each team is allowed twenty (20) listed players in Class “C” and twenty-five (25) listed players in Class “B” (exclusive of drafted players). Said lists must be certified by the secretary of the league and the manager of the competing team and must comply with the rules of both Region-Section and state tournament. No substitutions will be allowed. Active duty servicemen excepted.” 7. Article 21 T. Rules for State Tournament: Added that teams that have qualified for state tournament play, along with draftees will be allowed to play non-league games or scrimmages. 8. MBA Official Tournament Rules for Regional, Sectional & State #6: Deleted the sentence stating “Batter must have his baseball cap on person.” 9. MBA Tournament Rules #22: All team rosters must be typed and completed in full for Region, Section, and state tournament. No names will be added once rosters are turned in to state secretary. 10. MBA Tournament Rules #23: Noted that the pro-slide will be used at first, second and third base. The college slide rule will be adopted and used at home plate. This will be effective starting with the 2007 season. Motion by Wegscheid, seconded by Barry, carried, to approve all changes made in the 2007 MBA Handbook. Being that no further business to come before the board, motion by Barry, seconded by Forsman, carried, to adjourn. Adjournment noted at 4:40 p.m. Next meeting of the MBA will be Sunday, March 10 at the Holiday Inn, St. Cloud at 1 p.m. Also, please note that we will also be meeting Sunday, March 11 at the Holiday Inn, St. Cloud with league officers at 1 p.m. |