DEEP RUN NEWSLETTER
Volume IX, No. 3 September, 2003
www.drsva.org
SOCCER OPENING DAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH BASKETBALL REGISTRATION DATES SET
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL WRAP-UP
Opening Day Soccer – Saturday, September 6th
Where did the summer go?! Hard to believe, but the 2003 Soccer Season gets under way on Saturday, September 6th promptly at 9 AM. This year the festivities will be moved to the Senior Baseball Field. Opening Ceremonies include team introductions, the fund raising raffle (don’t forget those tickets!!!) and the presentation of the David R Nyman Volunteer Award. We are honored to have Roy Andersen and a group from Calvary Church sing the National Anthem. Deep Run President Jon Kutzner will be offering the prayer. As always (repeat after me) parking is at an extreme premium on Opening Day. Please plan on coming early and if at all possible carpool with a neighbor!!
S M I L E!!! Picture Day – Sept 13th
Intramural Soccer Pictures will be taken on Saturday, September 13th. We will try to do our best to work around game schedules. Please plan to have your child in uniform with his/her completed picture envelope at Deep Run 15 minutes prior to his/her scheduled time. This will assist in moving the teams through smoothly and avoid having your child miss his/her team photo.
Travel Soccer Teams will have their photos taken on Thursday evening, Sept 11th. Again please have your children there 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time to avoid missing pictures or delaying the process.
NO TRESPASSING!!!!
You need to be aware that we were not able to come to terms with our neighbor regarding his property located on the far side of our complex. Although this hinders us significantly for space, efforts are under way to find replacement fields and revise schedules to accommodate the changes. What is important to remember is that that property has been posted with NO TRESPASSING signs. Players, members and Deep Run guests are not permitted on his property. Coaches please advise any visiting teams of these changes to avoid any problems. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and ask that you respect these changes.
BASKETBALL REGISTRATION
The intramural basketball program is open to boys and girls ages 6-17 and the travel program ages for Boys are 9-14 and Girls, ages 10-14. Registration will be held at the Deep Run Clubhouse as follows:
Friday, September 12th 6:00 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, September 13th 9:00 am - 12 noon
Friday, September 19th 6:00 pm - 8 pm
Friday, September 26th 6:00 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, September 27th 9:00 am - 12 noon
Friday, October 3rd 6:00 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, October 11th 9:00 am - noon**
**October 11th is our late registration date. Players are subject to a $25.00 late registration fee and available openings on this date.
New registrants must bring a copy of their birth certificate.
TRAVEL SOCCER NEWS!!!!
U-14 Deep Run Rattlers Spectacular Fundraising Year
All the hard fundraising for the Deep Run Rattlers U-14 boys has paid off. In January, we headed to Iceland. Icelandic children play soccer all year round from the moment they can walk. Needless to say, they are skilled, and it was exciting to play against them. We played 3 teams from Fjoelnir at their spectacular multi-million dollar Eguilshoellin Indoor Stadium designed to allow for full-field play even during their long, dark winters. We also played a team from Keflavik at their indoor stadium located near our American military base, in which some Americans came to cheer us on. Deep Run did well against such great players, winning 2 and losing 2. One of the Icelandic teams hosted a pizza party in which we got to exchange e-mail addresses. We were also invited to watch the REK Cup, and Icelandic professional soccer match.
When we weren't playing soccer, we were able to shop in Reykjavik, visit a volcanic crater lake, see Gulfoss (a spectacular waterfall), watch geysers explode into the air, and swim the Blue Lagoon, which is a geothermal lake in the middle of a lava field (air 30 degrees, water 88). Rooming together at our Icelandic hotel was also the best. It was an experience of a lifetime. But watch out Iceland! In the near future, we're all coming back!
Then in July we flew to the 19th Annual International USA Cup. It is the largest soccer tournament in the Western Hemisphere and is held at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota or Minesot-ah as they say. What an experience! Opening night the spectators were treated to an Olympic-style parade of athletes onto the field with all the other 1,100 competing teams. There was also an aerial show of the Red Baron biplane, skydivers and the lighting of the Tournament Torch.
It was an action packed week of soccer, soccer, and more soccer. Talented teams from all over the world competed. We played teams from Kansas City, Mexico, Omaha, and 2 Minnesota teams, in which we won 2 and lost 3. Friendly 3v3 tournaments were also played with one Deep Run group winning their bracket. Best of all, we were able to meet players from all over the world at events planned for us such as 2 dances and a night at the wave pool.
Deep Run families attended a Minnesota Twins game at the Metrodome, visited the Mall of America, took a paddleboat trip down the St. Croix River and saw many other local Minnesota sites. One of our highlights was watching the U-17 National Soccer Team and seeing Freddy Adu play.
Have Fun future U-14 Deep Runners wherever you go, and thank you Deep Run for giving us the opportunity to play soccer and meet other soccer teams from around the world.
Second ranked Deep Run Rage Premier U-14 Boys Soccer Team competes in
PA State Snickers Cup Championship
The Deep Run Rage U-14 Boys Soccer team recently completed their run in the PA State Snickers Cup by playing in the State Cup Finals, held at the Philadelphia Soccer Club on Sunday May 18th. Currently the Rage is ranked #2 in PA, #5 in Region 1, which includes New England to Virginia, and #26 Nationally, in the U-14 Boys Division.
The Rage started Cup play by defeating East Brandywine 4-1 and in Round 2, their intra-club rival, the Deep Run Rattlers 3-0. In the Quarter-Final Round, the Rage took on Central PA based powerhouse, Super Nova. After a hard fought 2-2 regulation tie, the Rage came out and scored in the first of two overtime periods, securing a spot in the Semi-Final match, against the Nether Providence Mustangs, a strong DELCO League opponent previously ranked #1 in PA, #1 in Region 1 and #7 Nationally.
During the Semi-Final match, the Rage held NPAA scoreless in the first half, despite playing uphill and into the wind. During the second half, the Rage struck first and shortly followed their first goal with a successful penalty kick. NPAA scored late in the match for their only goal, an “own goal” by the Rage defense for a 2-1 final. In Sunday’s Championship match, the Rage took on the FC Delco Celtics, currently ranked #1 in PA, #1 in Region 1 and #7 Nationally. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half, the Rage found it hard to come back against the 18-player depth that FC Delco possesses and fell short by a 3-0 score.
During the last year, the Rage defended their Lassor Cup Championship in 2001, by again winning the George Pratt Memorial Tournament in Cape May, NJ, winning the highly regarded DELCO Division 1 Championship, going undefeated in both league and championship play, finishing in the Final-4 of the PA State Indoor Cup Championships this past February and finishing 2nd in PA in the recent PA State Outdoor Cup Championships. The team is currently playing in the Middle Atlantic Premier Soccer League in preparation for upcoming International match play this summer during a trip to England.
The Rage is coached by Head Coach Pat Lordi, currently a High School boys and girls coach. He holds a USSF B license and a NSCAA Advance National Diploma and level 2 Goalkeeping Certification. Pat also has 20+ years coaching experience, 25 years playing experience and has been involved in player development with a local soccer program for 8 years, developing a player curriculum for both intramural and travel players. Pat is also the founder and director of the Star Soccer Academy that currently runs summer camps in the Pennridge School district. Assistant coaches are Ray Unangst, Chuck Weaver and Nick Ciliberto.
A message from Michele Kokinda, Travel Coordinator
On behalf of Deep Run Soccer a lot of luck and success to all teams in their Fall season….. Also, congratulations to Pat Lordi, who was recently named the Pennridge High School Boys Soccer Head Coach. Good Luck, Pat, we wish you every success!!
DEEP RUN BASEBALL INTRAMURAL SEASON
The intramural baseball season went off with a splash, lots of them, as we had to play through some of the wettest conditions in years. Despite the rain and mud, the boys seemed to have fun, and they all look great in the new hats and shirts with Major League Baseball names. I would like to thank all of the Managers, Coaches, Team Parents and other Volunteers, which again pushed Deep Run Baseball to another level this year. Play at all divisions is improving dramatically as compared to past years and this can only be contributed to all of your countless hours of support for our players, your children. As we continue to put Deep Run on the map around the area regarding our baseball teams, training and atmosphere at our fine facility; I look forward to many more years of positive results from our teams.
Some of the results you will read about below, but let me highlight them for you. Our 10 year old Deep Run Thunderhawks All –Star team captured the District 30 Championship. They then finished as runner-up in Section 5 (1 game away from the state L.L. tournament) the furthest any Deep Run team has ever gone. Won the Fleetwood baseball Tournament and finished 4th at our own Deep Run Field of Dreams Tournament. This is the second time in 3 years that one of our 10-year-old teams has won District 30. Our 12 year old Thunderhawks won the Inter-Community Senior Round Robin for the second time in 3 years. Finished as runner-ups in District 30, finished 4th in the Deep Run Field of Dreams Tournament and had a strong showing in Cooperstown Dreams Park where they competed against teams from around the nation. Our 11’s finished second at the Pennridge tournament, 3rd in the Inter-community Junior Round –Robin and had a strong performance at many other tournaments. Our 9-year-old developmental team participated in four tournaments and progressed nicely as they learned how to compete at a higher level of play.
These accomplishments are shared by us all and hats off to these players and their Coaches.
Thank you for another great season!!!
Mark Zickler, Baseball Commissioner and Scott Seiz, Player Agent
HOME RUN DERBY WINNERS
These players will represent the Deep Run Thunderhawks at the Philadelphia Phillies 2003 Home Run Derby competition. Good Luck to them all.
7-9 yr. Olds 10-12 yr. Olds 13-15 year olds
1st place- Scott Hunsberger –25 pts. 1st place-John Finnon - 33 pts. 1st place-John Jefferson-25 pts
2nd place- Zachary Jarrett - 23 pts. 2nd place-Tommy Coyle-32 pts. 1st place-Jake Unangst - 25 pts
3rd place – Justin Roberts – 22 pts. 3rd place-Ryan Metzler-28 pts. 2nd place-Mike Knipe - 23 pts.
3rd place-Mike Trivino- 21 pts.
FIELD OF DREAMS TOURNAMENTS
This year we conducted four tournaments for our 9,10, 11 and 12-year-old Thunderhawk teams. We had over 30 teams from the area compete in the tournaments this year which were well received. These tournaments help support our baseball program and provided a fund raising tool for our Cooperstown Team each year. Check out the web site drvsa.org each year for tournament schedules and come out and support our teams and your friends. Thank you to all the parents and umpires that without your help these tournaments would not be possible.
UMPIRES
I would like to send out a special thank you to Bruce Knipe and Barry Ziegler for the fine job they did this year with our umpire staff. All of our umpires are volunteers who give their time to the youth of our community in a thankless job. We are very fortunate to have them let alone a staff of them to meet our game and tournament needs. Whoever leaves a game and says “WOW THAT UMPIRE WAS GREAT”. Well, they are and the next time you see one after a game next year let them know “ Thanks Ump” and they will smile and be back yet another day.
Thank you guys!!
Mark Zickler, Baseball Commissioner
Bill Snyder, Connie Mack Commisssioner
Scott Seiz, Player Agent & Majors Division Director
BILL SNYDER
This year was Bill’s last at Deep Run as he and his family will be moving to accommodate Bill’s new job. Bill was a tireless volunteer over the years. He helped organized the Junior and Senior programs, coached many teams, was the Connie Mack Baseball Commissioner the past 2 years and was active with the township in finalizing our expansion on the Senior field. He will be missed and we wish Bill and his family all the best in the years ahead.
Thank you Bill!!
10 YEAR OLD DEEP RUN THUNDERHAWKS ALL-STARS WIN AND WIN SOME MORE
When this group of 12 boys came together for their first practice; there was a quiet anticipation from the coaching staff that we could have something special and only time would tell. With 9 players back from last years 9 year old team and 3 who played up with the 10 year olds last year this team had some work to do to find the right combinations of talent. They quickly moved in the right direction and their first test was the Deep Run Field of Dreams Tournament in late June. The team played five games finishing 2-3 and capturing 4th place out of 10 teams. The table was set and these games helped fine tune the baseball team that was ready to be unleashed on District 30. We compete in this Little League District in each year. All of the teams that we compete against are south of us in Bucks County and there are 10 leagues in our district. The Thunderhawks went into the Round Robin by winning games against Warrington and Lenape Valley before losing a tight game to Council Rock Northampton at Deep Run. This placed them as a # 2 seed in the double elimination tournament where they finished 4-0 and swept through Langhorne, Council Rock Newtown and Upper Makefield before meeting Council Rock Newtown in the Championship game. This was a great baseball game that was attended by many of you and the boys truly appreciated the fans. Well, they won the game 10-8 and moved on to sections.