Extra Innings REGISTRATION

Steps to ensure registration and participation in this event include:

1. Go to http://www.extrainningscharity.org
2. Click on the “Register” tab and complete all of the requested info for your child to join the fundraiser.
3. Send the personal fund raising page link from the welcome email you receive to your family, friends, and colleagues so they can donate in your child's name.

As players raise funds they will receive prizes. When a player raises $50, they will receive an official event shirt; $150 gets them an official event shirt AND official event hat; $250 gets them the official event shirt AND hat AND the opportunity to attend, with a guest, lunch with a former New York baseball legend (still to be determined). Lunch will include a question and answer session and picture taking opportunity. The top overall fundraiser will win the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Brooklyn Cyclones game!. There will also be team awards to encourage participation.

Questions or comments...contact Mike Otero at oterom@nytimes.com

Extra, Extra, Extra Innings

HBQVB Athletic Association to play 24 hour baseball game for charity



Queens, NY. - Sleep will be at a premium starting at noon on Saturday, May 22nd when the 500 players of HBQVB AA (Hollis, Bellaire, Queens Village, Bellerose Athletic Association) participate in New York City’s first ever 24 hour marathon baseball game.

The Knights of Columbus (Holy Family Council 14520) created the event, billed “Extra Innings with HBQVB”, as a charity event to raise money for a variety of national, regional and local charities, and also to help support the HBQVB Athletic Association.

Extra Innings will begin on Saturday, May 22nd at noon and continue straight through the night until Sunday, May 23rd at noon. Every baseball and softball player at HBQVB who signs up to participate in “Extra Innings” will play in the game. The 24 hour roster will feature T-ballers right through to those playing in the Babe Ruth league.

The 24 hour game of a lifetime will be played at MCU Park (formerly KeySpan Park), home of the New York Mets Class A farm team, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Event organizer and K of C member John Saffian said, “This is going to be a great ball game, and it’s also going to be a great community builder. These young boys and girls from Queens and Long Island will be playing a 24 hour game on a professional field in Brooklyn, and the event will raise money for many worthy causes. The kids can’t wait to step onto that ballfield.”

As players raise funds they receive prizes. When a player raises: $50-An official event shirt $150-An official event shirt AND official event hat $250-Official event shirt AND official event hat AND the opportunity to attend, with a guest, lunch with a former New York baseball legend. Lunch includes a question and answer session and picture taking opportunity. The top overall fundraiser will win the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Brooklyn Cyclones game, and there will also be team awards to encourage participation.



About Fisher House Foundation:

The Fisher House™ program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates “comfort homes,” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times-during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

There is at least one Fisher House™ at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House™ program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly three million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.

For more info, go to http://www.extrainningscharity.org/

Upcoming Tournaments

HBQVB has been promoting its Thunder Rumble Tournament for the past month now, and many have since come to recognize Joel Bernstein as HBQVB Thunder’s manager and head coach. Now, another HBQVB tournament has made its way onto the official calendar of events.

The Memorial Day 12U and 14U girls’ fast-pitch holiday tournament will be held at Padavan-Preller Fields on May 29 and 30. A guaranteed four games, with umpires and balls included in the price, as well as team awards and winning manager awards are included in the standard rate of $450. Please contact Tournament Director Joel Bernstein at tournaments@hbqvbaa.org or 347-564-7083.

HBQVB Thunder is still looking for a few dedicated girls for its 14U team this spring season. Anticipation, excitement and intensity all put together. We call this mix of emotions Thunder. For more info, visit www.eteamz.com/hbqvbthunder, or contact Thunder Manager Joel Bernstein. Check back on our Web sites HBQVBAA.org for further information.

As an extension to HBQVB’s Nick Lomangino Tournament, dubbed the Thunder Rumble Tournament, a girls’ 12U, 14U, and 16U fast-pitch series will take place from Saturday, July 10 to Sunday, July 11, 2010 at Padavan-Preller Fields. A $450 team fee will guarantee four games (three pool and single elimination), umpire fees, and balls. The event has already received much attention and spots are filling up very quickly.

HBQVB has a professional athletic facility that includes nine available fields divided up between baseball and softball, a concession stand, restroom, full parking lot including handicap-designated sections, and the luxury of batting cages.

HBQVB has been featured in many periodicals and online magazines, including The Queens Courier and fiveborosports.com, respectively. Don’t miss your chance to participate in one of the best well run, highly respected, and talked about tournament programs in New York.

HBQVB's fast-pitch softball team, Thunder

HBQVB’s 14U Girls travel team, Thunder, is a very dedicated yet fun fast-pitch team looking for a few additional players. Joel Bernstein, Thunder’s manager, is very passionate about leading the girls travel program for HBQVB.

“My personal goal,” Bernstein said, “is to see every Thunder 14U player reach their own, individual peak level.” The 14U manager was very excited to embrace his new role as he volunteered to further dedicate himself to softball soon after joining the ranks of the HBQVB Auxiliary Staff this past season.

Bernstein knows that softball offers his players many real life lessons along with how to keep physically fit. “This helps them now,” he said, “and will help them later on in life.”

“Playing softball on the Thunder team has taught me so many real life lessons,” said shortstop and pitcher Tara Bernstein. “Some of the lessons are how to work as a team, always try my best, how to be fair, [and] there is nothing like the excitement of playing in a competitive game. I love it.”

Each player compliments the talents of her fellow teammate to scoop up a hard ground ball by executing a four-six-three double-play or knowing just how to hit a pitch so to advance the runner or score a RBI. It’s the commitment to learn how to support your teammate that allowed Thunder to have a 36-6 record last season.

“I like playing on Thunder because we are a dedicated team,” said first baseman Danielle Plomitallo. “Everyone works hard and the all the girls are really good players.”

Danielle Michaels, Thunder's shortstop and center fielder said “Playing for Thunder is a great experience. A group of such great girls coming together to play the best game in the world, sharing fun and stories give you an amazing sense of belonging. And belonging is the foundation of our team.”

Coach Bernstein said “The Thunder 14U team has a tremendous camaraderie and friendship amongst each other. And it all started with a common interest—their love for playing softball.”

You can see Joel Bernstein managing and practicing with his girls on and off the field, as Thunder is a year-long effort to become well-rounded individuals and athletes in all ranges of the sport.

Anticipation, excitement and intensity all put together. We call this mix of emotions Thunder. For more info, visit www.eteamz.com/hbqvbthunder, or contact Joel at 347-564-7083 or at hbqvb_thunder@rocketmail.com. Check back on our Web sites HBQVBAA.org and hbqvb.blogspot.com for further information.

Happy Veterans Day

More cars from our show on October 25, 2009:

Happy Birthday, Marines

Did you know that today is the 234th anniversary of the Marine Corps?

USMC Day celebrates the birth of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps were created during the Revolutionary War.

The Continental Congress of the newly created United States of America, authorized the creation of the Continental Marines on November 10, 1775. It was later renamed the U.S. Marine Corps. It is often abbreviated as USMC.

The Marine Corps has proudly participated in every war that has involved the United States.

If you see a Marine today, thank them for their contributions to protecting our country. Active or retired, they deserve our thanks and appreciation.

And here are some more pics from the car show!

New additions to Auxiliary Staff

HBQVB unanimously voted two of its members to the auxiliary staff tonight at its monthly board meeting.

Steve Adler, who helped manage Daniel's Trucking last season, headed a division in the Lomangino Tournament this past summer, and has done much more, has also volunteered to relieve Chuck Schub, a board member for over 15 years as the head of Signs & Sponsors.

HBQVB wishes Mr. Schub much luck and success in leaving the board of directors

Mike Otero, who has expressed his interest and has donated much of his time to the T-Ball division has opted to assume responsibility for the division as a whole, relieving but not replacing Ed Velez, who has been in charge of the position for as long as most people can remember.

Mr. Velez will maintain his primary role as the secretary on the executive board.

HBQVB congratulates both men on their new responsibilities and wishes everyone the best of luck.

2009 Car Show Part 2

Did you know that today is Chaos Never Dies Day:

Chaos Never Dies Day recognizes the turmoil in modern, everyday life. Are things a little crazy at home? Is school a little on the wild side? Is your work place hectic and disorderly? We thought so.

Just when things seem to calm down at work and home, along comes something to disrupt your life. Yes, disorder is everywhere. Hectic schedules, changes to plans, unexpected tasks and chores, the list goes on and on and on.......

Today is designed for you. It's a day to recognize the chaos in your life. You can best celebrate this day, by recognizing that chaos never dies. Rather, its a way of life. You can partake in this special day, by putting just a little order back into your life. You can start, by picking one thing that is really disrupting your life, and change it...for the good.

On the bright side: If you think your life is chaotic today, just wait until the holiday season arrives.

Did you Know? There is a scientific Chaos Theory?

We hope you have a calm and serene Chaos Never Dies Day!!!

By the way, here are some more pictures from this year's competition.

2009 Car Show

Congratulations to those who received awards for their showcased cars this past Sunday, October 25. Here are some of the cars featured this year:

HBQVB 9U

Congratulations to HBQVB coming in first place in the Lomangino Tournament, taking the BIG win home! This year we won the Nick Lomangino tournament and came in second in the Babe Ruth competition. They were the Metro NY State Finalists.