RELATED LINKS
Things To Do
Snook's Dream Cars
Automobile history comes alive in Snook’s Dream Cars Automobile Museum, fittingly located adjacent to one of America’s first cross-country highways, U.S. 6, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Your journey in the “past lane” begins as you step into an authentically recreated 1940s-era Texaco filling station, featuring an extensive collection of “automobilia” – everything from hood ornaments and window cranks to seat covers, bug remover and backseat touring games. You will continue past an operational, four-bay mechanics’ area where vintage vehicles are repaired, and into a working museum of coin-operated amusements, ranging from pinball and slot machines to a Model-T Kiddie Ride (bring along your quarters!). You won’t want to miss the antique pedal cars, Texaco promotional gimmicks or the classic collection of automobile decanters, some still holding their original Jim Beam brew. When you’ve had your fill of these “time machines” wheel into a spectacular showroom of dream cars from the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. The Snooks’ eclectic collection reflects the elegance of years past. Displayed in authentic settings, these vintage vehicles will take you back to a 1930s general store, a 1940s stroll throught downtown Bowling Green, a 1950s diner, and a 1960s Sebring raceway pitlane. A collection of classic military vehicles completes the living museum, where all the cars are running, reliable and ready to show. Before you leave, be sure to stop in the gift shop, and take a little bit of history home with you. PLEASE CALL FOR WEEKEND AVAILABILITY.
Wood County Museum
The Wood County Museum is the site of the former County Infirmary, which operated from 1869-1971. The building was repurposed into a Museum, which re-opened in 1975. The Museum has public events throughout the year and the Museum is open daily with the feature exhibit “For Comfort & Convenience”. This exhibit features documentary photography coupled with interpretive information about all 88 county poor farms in Ohio, up until the 1930s when public charity transitioned into the modern ideas of social work. This exhibit was made possible by the Ohio Arts Council and the Ohio Humanities. Photography by Jeffrey Hall. #WoodCountyMuseum
Simpson Gardens Park
What an amazing secret garden right in our backyard. We’ve lived about 15 minutes away for over 6 years and never knew of Simpson Garden Park until researching things to do on trip advisor. My husband and I both said it was so much more than we expected. It’s absolutely beautiful and hidden in a neighborhood you would never otherwise know was there. There are several distinctive sections. A children’s garden, hosta garden, and Japanese garden just to name a few. Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area and looking for a relaxing stroll.
Wintergarden Nature Preserve
The park is well maintained and offers an interesting view of many plants and herbs. There are also explanations on many of the exhibits. There are good walking paths where you can walk for your health or just saunter and relax.
BGSU Ice Arena
You will just love to skate here and check out all the past players and people who have been here from former Olympians to Scott Hamilton (where he grew up and got his start). I can played hockey here and I just love this place. I would get off I-75 and step in just to breath the air!
Local Businesses
TRYOUTS FOR 2021 DIAMOND CATS TEAMS
Tryouts for 2021 Diamond Cat TeamsBirthday cutoff is May 1, 2021Please wear a shirt with a number on the back 8u: August 2nd, 6pm, North Diamonds. Tony Iler, 419-350-2477, mailto:tony@tensouth.com 9u: August 13th and 16th, 6pm Diamond 2 Beth Snyder, 419-575-2034,...
Equipment
WHAT IS NEEDED FOR YOUTH BASEBALL?
As a parent, you’re often presented with challenges when raising your kids. Having a baseball player in the family can be an exciting time. For parents, it can also be a little confusing when it comes to buying equipment Parents new to little league don’t need to worry about their child’s equipment needed for baseball. The biggest question that needs answering is “What equipment is really important to have?” Let’s try to answer that question by taking a look at some Baseball Parenting Tips for Essential (Green) vs Optional (Red) Equipment for Your Baseball Player. Equipment that could be either depending on the situation is highlighted in yellow.
SAFETY FIRST – PROTECTIVE GEAR FOR YOUNG BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL PLAYERS
As a parent, the only thing more frightening than your kid coming home with detention is them getting hurt. In the early stages of baseball, children need the best protective gear they can get. When a child is new to a sport, especially at a young age, collisions are going to happen. Providing the most protection for your child as they play should be your number one priority.
HELMETS
DEPENDS:
The first piece of safety equipment you’ll need is a youth baseball helmet. Helmets will protect your child’s brain from trauma. There are several different styles of helmets you should consider for your child. First, there’s open face helmets. These helmets offer protection to the upper head, but leave the face exposed. Second, there’s helmets with jaw guards. These helmets protect the batting side jaw from getting hit. Finally, there’s fastpitch softball helmets. These helmets protect the lower portion of the face. The good thing is that in most programs the teams have several helmets that adhere to safety regulations & standards set by baseball organizations and Little League Baseball to share amongst players. The bad news is that due to COVID19 They may or may not be able to use those helmets so you may be required or prefer to purchase your own. Ask your players coach for more information on this topic. Also if you do decide to purchase one make sure that the helmet adheres to the same regulations & standards set by Little League Baseball or your player’s league. You should also know whether your league requires a facemask or if your player would prefer to have one.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RIGHT BASEBALL CLEATS
ESSENTIAL:
Cleats are important to baseball. Could you imagine making those tight base turns without good traction? You may end up looking more like a cartoon than a baseball player. A good pair of cleats can make all the difference when your child is making their way around the bases.
Baseball cleats should fit snugly but not too snug. This will prevent them falling off in the middle of a game or practice. Good youth cleats also need to comply with your child’s particular league. Each league may have different cleat requirements, so it’s better to ask around before purchasing a pair. Cleats are essential and will prevent injuries. A player who plays in sneakers will run the risk of injury due to unintentional slipping or sliding. Baseball cleats are different than soccer cleats since they have a toe cleat so make sure you get baseball cleats.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT BAT FOR YOUR PLAYER
OPTIONAL:
A good bat will not only help your child perform better, but it also will help them develop their skills. Youth baseball bats come in two varieties: metal alloy and composite. Choose the right youth baseball bat so you can see your child shine on the field.
If your child plays fastpitch, they’ll need a specific kind of bat. Fastpitch bats are also constructed out of alloy or composite. The difference between these bats and youth bats is that they are a little smaller and easier to handle. Bats can be very expensive and really don’t have to be a priority purchase. Most recreational league teams will have bats available. Also, if your baseball player wants to take batting practice at the local batting cage then they usually make practice bats available for people who do not own bats. Travel players and players who are getting more serious about the sport will want their own bat so they get practice reps with their game bat.
WHICH GLOVE IS BEST FOR MY LITTLE PLAYER
ESSENTIAL:
Another essential part of youth baseball equipment is the glove. Of course, a glove is absolutely essential. It is also essential that the glove is well broken-in before the first practice. Purchase a glove that is the correct size for your player this season. Buying a glove that is too big will just give them difficulty fielding.
Gloves protect the hands from high speed baseballs and may even help prevent your child from picking the grass in the outfield. There are four types of youth baseball glove: batting gloves, catcher’s mitts, infielder gloves, and outfielder gloves.
Your child will need a batting glove when they go up to bat. Batting gloves can give your child a better grip and reduce the sting from making contact with the ball. Catcher’s mitts are position-specific gloves used only by the catcher. They offer the most padding of any glove to deal with fast pitches. Infielder gloves have less padding than outfielder gloves because infielders need more hand dexterity. Outfielder gloves have more padding so the hand is more protected when catching fly balls. You may be surprised to see batting gloves on the list of essential equipment. Many players do not use batting gloves regularly, but find them useful in plenty of situations such as during adverse weather conditions like cold or light rain. At the very least buy an inexpensive pair for such an emergency.
SLIDING SHORTS, ATHLETIC SUPPORTERS AND CUPS
ESSENTIAL:
People play their entire baseball careers without using any of this protective gear and, luckily, without serious injury. As a catcher, I was a little smarter. The advances they have made since then would have saved many injuries from bad hops and sliding.
MOUTHGUARD
ESSENTIAL:
The mouth guard would be more for the infield positions. Even if your baseball player isn’t an infielder, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have one just in case they were asked to play an infield position.
CLOTH FACE MASK
DEPENDS:
As a result of COVID 19 many leagues are requiring the use of cloth face masks in order to limit exposure in an effort to help decrease the spread of the virus. Consult with your players coach or league in order to find out if you need these or not.
SUNGLASSES
ESSENTIAL:
Even an inexpensive pair of sunglasses is a good investment. Some players will play almost their entire baseball career without needing them. However, there will be that one day that the sun is in just the right spot and sunglasses will be essential, especially outfielders and first basemen. Keep an inexpensive pair on hand for such an emergency.
WATER BOTTLE
ESSENTIAL:
When participating in a physical activity like baseball, it is very important to stay hydrated. The water bottle would be great for anytime water is not available or not easily obtainable.
EQUIPMENT BAG
OPTIONAL:
An equipment bag can also be an expensive purchase that can wait or may not even be necessary. Many players opt to use their school book bag as an equipment bag.
CATCHERS EQUIPMENT
OPTIONAL:
The catching position doesn’t always get the recognition it deserves, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on the gear. Catcher’s equipment can be an extremely expensive purchase. Catcher’s equipment will usually be made available by most recreational league teams. If a parent decides to buy their child catcher’s equipment then it is usually because the child is a catcher and has made a commitment to that position for years to come. Catchers are in a dangerous position because they are the target of each pitch. Catcher’s gear helps protect vulnerable areas while receiving a pitch.
Catcher’s gear has three main pieces: a catcher’s mask, a chest guard, and leg protectors. You can find all three pieces sold in sets known as catcher’s gear sets. Most sets have matching colors, so your little one will be quite the looker on the field too
CHEST PROTECTOR
OPTIONAL:
A relatively new safety device on the market is a chest protector players wear under their uniforms. It is a compression shirt with protection pad over the chest area. It gives the player extra protection from chest impact. Players who have experienced an injury or are nervous about getting injured sometimes feel more confident wearing it and it gives parents piece of mind
SHIN GUARDS, ELBOW PROTECTORS, SLEEVES & OTHER PROTECTIVE GEAR
OPTIONAL:
Kids will see their Major League Baseball heroes wearing all kinds of different protective gear, modified gear and protective sleeves. It is normal for kids to want to emulate their heroes, but this protective gear in most cases does not help performance. The gear is made to help the big leaguer deal with a specific injury or condition and can hinder a player who is not used to wearing it.
OTHER ACCESSORIES
OPTIONAL:
You will never make friends quicker than the day you bring eye black to a baseball game. Players really enjoy the accessories because they enjoy looking and feeling the part.
TRAINING AIDS
OPTIONAL:
A training aid can help a player learn new skills by giving them a tool specifically designed to teach a concept. There are a lot of good training aids out there, but they tend to be expensive. Check what your team or private instructor have before purchasing an expensive training aid you don’t anticipate using a lot
NOW THAT YOU KNOW
Baseball equipment can be very expensive so it’s important to establish what is really needed versus what can wait or what is not necessary. When in doubt, it is always a good idea to check in with the coach and see what they have to say before purchasing baseball equipment for your baseball player. There’s a lot of equipment that goes into youth baseball, but that shouldn’t deter your child from enjoying themselves. Having the necessary equipment means your all star will not only be prepared but also protected. One last thing to keep in mind is that many of the things you purchase this year will be used for years to come.
HOW TO BREAK IN A BASEBALL GLOVE
HOW TO BUY A BASEBALL BAT
A Great Guide to Purchasing Baseball Bats
HOW TO BUY A BASEBALL GLOVE
A Great Guide to Purchasing Baseball Glove
HELMETS
CLEATS
BATS
GLOVES
SLIDING SHORTS, ATHLETIC SUPPORTERS AND CUPS
MOUTH GUARDS
SUNGLASSES
WATER BOTTLES
EQUIPMENT BAGS
CATCHERS GEAR
CHEST PROTECTORS
CLOTH FACE MASKS
SHIN GUARDS, ELBOW PROTECTORS, SLEEVES & OTHER PROTECTIVE GEAR
OTHER ACCESSORIES
TRAINING AIDS
Building A Better Pitcher
Want to Throw HARDER?
Reduce risk of career ending injury?
Earn yourself a scholarship?
Pitch Profesionally?
Then this is the program for you!
Increase Pitching Velocity - 3x Pitching
Pitch-plane dominator
Are your hitters still struggling to hit with more repeatable power?
Hit with more repeatable power guided by a simple but revolutionary program
Trying to hit with more repeatable power isn’t nearly as easy as they make it seem,
But There is Good News!
Elite Swing Mechanics
If you are using swing cues like…
- Stay back.
- Get your foot down early.
- Keep your head still.
- Take your hands/knob to the ball.
- Be quicker.
- Stay short.
- Squish the bug.
… then there’s a huge chance you are going down the wrong path with mechanics. Don’t waste another day working on a swing that isn’t helping you become your best.
Youth Baseball Parents
Discover The Secrets Which Professional Baseball Veterans Tell Their Friends Who Are Youth Baseball Parents.
Address
Carter Park
401 Campbell Hill Road
Bowling Green, OH 43402
BG Ambulance
BG Police
Grounds Supervisor
Dave Schumacher
419-304-0505
Reach out to us to become a part of our baseball team. We practice four times a week and we'd love to have you as a part of our team, whatever age you might be. If you would like to volunteer please contact a board member.