Modern Woodmen Park to host sandlot-style night game and food drive, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Posted on 21 August 2009 | No responses
By Matt Veto
Last September, Veto League Baseball — or “The VLB” — collected 323 pounds of food for the River Bend Foodbank during the league’s first ever night game under the lights of Modern Woodmen Park. On Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, the most organized pick-up baseball league around will again reward its most consistent regular-season players with a night game on the home field of the Quad Cities River Bandits. And The VLB will again collect food for the River Bend Foodbank. The VLB aims to greatly exceed last season’s food collection totals.
Admission is free, but those attending are asked to bring a non-perishable food item, and in return, will receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes that will be drawn throughout the nine-inning, sandlot-style baseball contest. Festivities (starting lineups, national anthem, on-field group photos, etc.) will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a first pitch slated for 7 p.m.
The VLB was organized in 1998 by Moline native and Quad-Cities resident Matt Veto with the intention of catering to the less-experienced baseball enthusiast. It’s for folks that didn’t start on their high school baseball team — or perhaps never even played past Little League — but love the game of baseball and refuse to accept softball as the only post-18-year-old option. In 10 seasons, over 320 different players of varying age and skill levels have played in the league. The majority of Monday night’s 26-man roster consists of players with deep roots in the Quad-Cities metro area and players that are 23 years old or older.
To ensure the comfort and enjoyment of players of all skill levels, pitches are thrown at batting-practice speed from behind a protective L-screen. There are no called balls or strikes and we do not suit up a catcher, but place a ninth fielder in foul ground behind the plate to cover home and chase after foul balls. The rest of the game is baseball as you know it.
Staff will be on hand to collect information from visitors new to the league who may wish to play next season. It is free to play in The VLB during the regular season, which runs from May to September. For more information, visit www.thevlb.com or contact The VLB organizer Matt Veto at vetoleague@yahoo.com.
Night game set for Aug. 24 at Modern Woodmen Park
Posted on 22 July 2009 | 8 responses
By Matt Veto
Minor League lights will shine on sandlot ballplayers for a second season.
Veto League Baseball will again play its annual night game under the bright bulbs of Modern Woodmen Park — home to the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits. The sandlot league, in its 11th year, will play its fifth night game in history, this chapter to play out on Monday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.
In the case of rain, Aug. 31 has been secured as a rain date.
And for the second season the VLB will be playing to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the River Bend Foodbank, which helps to service the nutritional needs of those battling hunger in the Quad-Cities area and 22 surrounding counties. In difficult economic times, the management of the River Bend Foodbank says they are in great need of donations.
Please invite family and friends to watch us play, and please ask them to bring a non-perishable food item, or two, or more, in exchange for a raffle ticket. Raffles will take place each half inning.
The night-game roster will be filled by invitation, with 24 players receiving an invite based on the number of regular season games played. For ease of setting the roster and creating the programs, invites will be sent out after the Aug. 16 contests. Games played after that date will not count toward night-game participation.
Players who earn a night-game invite are asked to obtain a VLB jersey and contribute a donation to cover the cost of the lights and field rental. Please see Josh Paul to complete these transactions. We are, of course, very thankful to the River Bandits for allowing us to play this contest in such a venue.
Night-game participants are also asked to wear long pants and a hat, though the hat does not have to be a VLB hat. Those, however, can also be obtained through Josh Paul.
Howard Zimmerle, the VLB director of special events, will be creating a roster of volunteers to fill certain game-night positions — including concessionaires, a grillmaster and greeters. Ideally I wish those VLB members that do not make the cut fill these roles. Otherwise, friends and family have been gracious with their time.
Jason Nunn, director of promotions, will be acquiring prize donations. If you have helpful leads, please see Nunn. Those who donate may have their name, slogan and other brief information read during their prize draw.
Jeff Kilgard, concessions manager, will be collecting food donations and concession area materials, such as coolers, tables, etc. Please considering purchasing a pack of hot dogs and buns. Condiment, beverage and baked goods donations are also greatly appreciated. Concession funds go back to the league for equipment purchases.
If there are any ideas, or questions, please contact Matt Veto.
Thank you for making this the most successful season in VLB history.
June 6-7 weekend rained out
Posted on 6 June 2009 | No responses
By Matt Veto
The first VLB weekend of 2009 was washed away by rain.
Douglas Park has been an unusually dry gem in the past, but after two days of rain and no sunshine, the infield skin was too spongy to navigate a game upon.
Check back often as the VLB may be arranging for a weeknight game beginning at 5:30 p.m. at a location to be named.
Home field dis-advantage on display over weekend
Posted on 31 May 2009 | 28 responses
By Josh Paul
So much for “home field advantage.”
Ridgewood Field was less than accommodating for consensus No. 1 pick Bob Zerull and his teams this weekend, which yielded another great Veto League Baseball player turnout for a three-game weekend. On Saturday, 22 players arrived at the field and another 18 made it out for Sunday’s nine-inning contest. Read more
May 16-17 contests to be played at Douglas
Posted on 14 May 2009 | No responses
By Matt Veto
A quick check of Ridgewood on Wednesday, May 13 led to a change in venue for the May 16-17 contests. Those games will now be played a Douglas Park due to tall grass at Ridgewood.
The move likely will be additionally beneficial as the Douglas Park infield drains beautifully, and rain is again in the Friday forecast. We hope to be back at Ridgewood the following weekend pending field conditions.
If you have not already done so, please email vetoleague@yahoo.com with your weekend attendance plans. Please include whether or not you will be able to make Saturday’s or Sunday’s game. When you respond to roll calls, we know you are coming, and therefore in instances like last week where we had to move to Douglas at the last second, you will receive a call. Thank you for your help.
Also, see VLB Director of Promotions Jason Nunn for info on the Sunday, May 24, Veto League Baseball Friends and Family Day. Nunn has organized a cookout and all players are invited to bring their friends and significant others for a potluck-style meal.
Nunn is providing hot dogs, but asks that folks wishing to participate bring a dish to pass. Flyers will be available at the next VLB contest.
Mother’s Day madness at Douglas Park
Posted on 11 May 2009 | 16 responses
By Matt Veto
Jason Nunn proved who wears the pants in his family. (At least, that’s what he’d like to believe).
No, in reality, first-year mothers Sarah Nunn, Lindsay Zerull and all of the mothers that allowed their Veto-League-Baseball-playing significants to enjoy a portion of Mother’s Day on the diamond are truly the most benevolent bunch — and your significants are thankful for your sacrifice.
Despite the holiday, the VLB drew 18 players for game one of a Sunday doubleheader at Douglas Park and held on with 13 players in game two. Saturday saw another 20-plus draw despite the late decision to stay away from Ridgewood Park.
Late-Friday rains proved troublesome, as did a long grass infield. It force a return to the west-end ball diamond, which saw inflated offensive numbers, not coincidentally due to the all-dirt infield. Read more
VLB Web site continues to take shape
Posted on 7 May 2009 | No responses
By Matt Veto
Frequenters to the VLB Web site will notice a new … new look.
This current theme is likely to be the permanent one, though some tweaking will be taking place. This theme was chosen as it provides a wider content column, which was a main concern expressed by VLB members.
Among the things to be tweaked includes the placement of pictures in posts. Currently this them does not allow text to wrap around photos. That will be fixed as time allows.
You’ll also notice there is a new link to the right of the main content column. The “Statistics” link will take you to the new stat page. A word of caution, I’m not entirely sure I’m sold on this program after spending time inputting stats last night. While the presentation is quite good, I found the inputting to be extremely time consuming. Perhaps there may be a similar, more user-friendly program out there. The search continues.
As for the old site, it’s still there. It can be found by clicking here.
Let us know what you think in the forums, and thank you for your patience as this continues to take shape. There has been a suggestion for a photo page as well. That is something that will be looked into, again, as time allows.
Enjoy.
A Veto League army on opening weekend
Posted on 3 May 2009 | No responses
By Matt Veto
That’s a record worth trumping.
Veto League Baseball opening day 2009 saw a record 34 players turn out for a doubleheader at Ridgewood Field, Saturday, May 2, 2009
On Saturday, May 2, 2009 — a full week earlier than any Veto League Baseball opener — the VLB saw a record 34 players wander onto the Ridgewood Field sandlot. The following day, 26 Veto Leaguers took the field.
The record-setting weekend welcomed 10 VLB rookies, including a foursome of Smith Brothers.
Ian Smith — bearing a striking resemblance to New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon — brought brothers Christian, Brian and Jonathan to Sunday’s doubleheader setting the record for siblings to play in a single VLB contest.
The Brothers Smith said household baseball gatherings have been common throughout the years. The VLB is happy to host these family gatherings for the foreseeable future.
The giant gathering of players hints at a successful 2009 that comes with high expectations and an ambitious 60-game schedule. Read more
Ridgewood is ready for May 2 opener
Posted on 29 April 2009 | 2 responses
By Matt Veto
There has never been more buzz for a season.
Veto League Baseball will open its 11th campaign on Saturday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. at Ridgewood Field in Rock Island. Expectations are high, and so may be attendance. Ideally, the league hopes to average at least 14 players a game, though 18 would be ideal, and anything above that will be icing on the cake.
Be prepared to play double headers on both Saturday and Sunday (also an 11:30 a.m. start) as Veto Leaguers anxiously shake off the winter cold and suit up for another year.
Ridgewood Field has been tilled and mowed -- ready for baseball -- as of April 17, 2009.
The first VLB roll call was sent out early Thursday morning. These roll calls were sent to those who have expressed a recent, active interest in playing this season. Response to these roll calls are extremely valuable in determining numbers for the weekend. Ideally, we begin presenting roll calls on the Web site, therefore acquiring attendance totals involuntarily should VLBers be so trained as to post their status before an email is sent. The purpose of the roll call is simple to be sure we’ll have enough players for the game. Read more
Web changes are coming
Posted on 30 March 2009 | 10 responses
By Matt Veto
As you can see, the Veto League Baseball Web home is undergoing some changes. In fact, what you see right now, will likely be quite different the next time you come back, and again the time after that.
In the meantime, click here to visit our existing Web site. Slowly, but surely, everything you can find on the old site will be shipped over here.
Let me tell you what you are seeing here, though (much, much credit to Jon Weber, our Webmaster, for helping us get things going). Read more