At 11:00 AM on Saturday (tomorrow), we will hold a special moment with a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new park installed along the left field of Community Park Field #2, in memory of GCAA Board Member Timothy A Gewert.
Tim was a lifelong resident of Garden City and the spark that ignited the GCAA Softball Program as we know and love it today. Just over ten years ago, there was no room for another sport in Garden City, and softball had dwindled to fewer than 40 participants.
In the first year that I agreed to help and coach, Tim’s oldest daughter, Megan, played alongside my oldest daughter as a player on my first team. Tim was determined to ensure the program’s survival and was the perfect person for the task. A proud veteran of the Armed Services, Tim’s approach was always on the offensive, always moving forward, always acting first and figuring out the details after the dust settled. This is where Tim’s story intertwined with the town’s softball program. As we began experiencing hard-fought success, Tim would often repeat (with a smile, and only half-jokingly), “They’re going to build a statue of us in Community Park when we succeed in rebuilding softball.”
Tim loved the program, loved softball, but most of all, he loved what is now “Softballapalooza,” which began as a simple Parents vs. Players season-ending event when we lacked enough players to host games against one another.
With well over 300 players enrolled annually in our program, we are not only thriving but also the most exciting sport in all of Garden City, and now the largest town softball program in Nassau County. We lost Tim, the self-anointed ‘CEO of Softball,’ in the summer of 2018, but we will always keep Tim’s memory and spirit alive.
Tim is survived by his wife Kerry and two amazing daughters, Megan and Kiera, who all continue to reside in town and have been instrumental in the growth and continuation of our program. Kerry, who has quietly and diligently designed ten years of our GCAA Softball logos, will conduct the ribbon-cutting at tomorrow’s event. Having led all the volunteers and fundraising efforts to make this park possible, Kerry will have the honor of opening our beautiful new park in memory of our beloved Tim.
Coach Drew
Little League International Summer 2024 Tournamant
Beginning approximately the third week of June, Little League International begins the Annual Summer District All-Stars Tournament that ends in August with Softball 12U Championship games played at Greenville, NC. 10U and 14U Championships stay within the State of NY, and ending towards the end of July:
https://www.littleleague.org/news/category/softball/
GCAA will be submitting a 10U All-Star Softball team, a 12U and a 14U team. Little League has strict eligability regulations regarding players age, residency and Spring league participation. Parents must be aware that players MUST play in at least 8 Spring in order to participate in the Summer Tournament.
As in prior years, each team will hold Player and Coach vote for which players on their team to be Nominated for considerstion on the 2024 All-Star team. Additionally GCAA Administrators will nominate eligible players. Nominated players will be invited to a Private tryout the first week in June, for Final Selection to the All Star team.
It is imperative parents:
1) Ensure their Daughter actively partakes in the 8 game minimum requirement
2) TeamSnap availability is always and accuarately updated for all Games,
Practises and events.
Lets!
Play!
Ball!
The Coaches
This Summer there are a few exciting opportunities for GCAA Players:
1) GCAA will again host the Annual Summer Sizzle Tournament for 10U,12U, 14U teams games and weekends TBA. Additionally we will have 8U Summer Scrimmage schedule on Monday nights at Tullamore. Registration will open in JUNE:
2) Adelphi Summer Camps run by Firstpitch Spftball are fantastic and highly recommended, right in our back yard, registration is OPEN These will sell out register early please note GCAA in notes /team when registering
https://www.firstpitchsoftball.com/camps
3) MXE Summer Camps for Baseball and Softball will be offered AT OUR OWN Garden City Fields:
Important Little League Parent Guidelines
Remember parents: come, have fun, cheer for your team, stay in designated fan areas, help keep the kids in the dugout or bench areas, and above all focus on FUN!
https://www.littleleague.org/downloads/parent-code-conduct/
Donates tons EVERY year to Softballapalooza !!! Indisputably the best Chicken Fingers (among many other items) in Garden City!
Can you say HOT DOGS? How about hundreds of Hot Dogs donated annually to Softballapalooza! AND TOP NOTCH BBQ at the TAG Awards
Donated generously to last year’s TAG awards, games and picnic. Offered all GCAA families significant discounts when dining in-house during the entire charity event weekend.
