Fall 2023

Dear Benjamin,

Welcome to the inaugural issue of the Falcon Post! This electronic newsletter is intended to help our families stay informed with seasonal updates from around the Sandy Spring Athletic Association (SSAA).

Here's what's new for the Fall of 2023...

Congratulations to all new and veteran players joining us for the Fall baseball season! Twelve teams will be competing in the Fall, ages 8U to 18U. We also want to thank the 9u, 11u and 12u families who spent a full day cleaning up weeds and spreading dirt at Falcon Field last month. We couldn't do this without you!

September Sluggers 2023

The annual SSAA September Sluggers Tournament will take place September 15-17th. Volunteers are still needed at each age level to supply balls and payment for umpires and drag fields between games. Student Service Learning (SSL) hours are provided.

Contact Baseball Commissioner Jon Kadi for more information: jon.kadi@gmail.com



SSAA is pleased to welcome two new 12U Softball teams this Fall (12U Gold & Blue).

12U Gold will be coached by Tim Colbert and 12U Blue will be coached by Chad Hoffman, who writes, "we are going to be playing in the Central Maryland League and will be focusing on developing individual and team skills, as it’s all the girls’ first year on a select travel team." Wishing lots of fun and good luck to these girls!

Congratulations to our 16U Showcase Team!

The first softball team of the Sandy Spring Athletic Association completed the 2022-23 season with an impressive 39-24 record in their first year at the 16U level. The team—with players who represented Sherwood, Magruder, Walt Whitman, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Clarksburg and Holton Arms high schools—finished the season as a top 5 team in Maryland under Head Coach/SSAA President Benjamin Corb. They won the 2022 Love for Lauren and USSSA 2023 Summer Sizzler tournaments, and were finalists in the 2023 Hot Shots Stars and Strikes and 2023 USSSA Charm City Challenge tournaments.

Our inaugural travel basketball team finished a great four-year run this past winter! The team included athletes from grades 5 through 8, and we’re certain a number of them will earn spots on their respective high school JV teams this year.

The rising 8th grade Falcons will play in Montgomery County’s Rising Star league again this winter. We wish them another season of growth and success!

Sandy Spring Travel Basketball is looking to expand!

The program is seeking players and coaches at the 5th-7th grade levels for the coming Winter season (typically starts in November). SSAA Basketball Commissioner Gary Duvall can support teams with renting MCPS gym space, and has a vendor lined up to help with team uniforms.

Interested basketball players and potential coaches please contact Gary Duvall: gsduvall@verizon.net // (240) 305-2247.

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Association is pleased to announce Michelle Ellis as the new SSAA Communications Director. Michelle has two decades of non-profit communications experience with the BCTGM International Union, and currently serves as their Director of Digital Media. Son Anthony is a proud 3rd-year baseball athlete with Coach Evan Chipman's 10U Falcons.

WEBSITE: Development of a new website for the Association has begun, and will continue throughout the Fall season. The new design and URL will be shared once completed.

SOCIAL MEDIA: The Association launched brand new social media accounts at the end of last month. If you haven't already, please follow them to ensure you're receiving the most current updates!

• Facebook: facebook.com/SSAAFalcons
• Instagram: @ssaafalcons

We’re also looking forward to growing engagement in our existing SSAA Facebook Group. Please share the stories of your teams and athletes generously in this space! Not only do they bring us together, they could be featured in a future SSAA Falcon Post or social media story!



VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Ron Simon, Head Coach, 11u Falcons Baseball

“Volunteering with Falcons Baseball ensures my son and his friends have an opportunity to participate in a sport they enjoy. My son and I reap many benefits of being a part of this community - a community our entire family is proud to be a part of."

Check out Ron's full testimonial on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

Have ideas for future SSAA Falcon stories? Contact Michelle Ellis at bighurt6683@hotmail.com.

* Follow SSAA on Facebook and Instagram! *