Dear Stuyvesant Baseball Parents, Players, and Alumni,

Welcome back to another school year!

As I walked past Pier 40 last week, I saw a group of ball players warming up — preparing, no doubt, for their high school team tryouts. It was a bittersweet sight, since this is the first season in four years that my own son won’t be heading out to the Parade Grounds for the Stuyvesant tryouts. I’ll miss the excitement of hearing about the new players, the goals he’s set for the year, and, especially, the camaraderie of the Stuyvesant Baseball parents I’ve gotten to know over the years.

Even though our sons have graduated, I know that Mark and I (and, I’m sure, many other FSB Alumni parents) haven’t attended our last Hitmen ball games. We’ll be back to cheer from the stands — and to say “hello” to fellow parents, alumni, and, of course, Coaches Carlesi, Hahn, and McCarthy.

Many of last year’s Executive Board members will be continuing to serve this year — including Melina Sfakianaki (P’15), Mary Jo Messito (P’16), Mike Schneider (P’16), Mariela Archer (P’17), Abigail Bedrick (P’17), John Ostlund (P’17), and Judy Scherzer (P’17), and this will ensure a smooth transition to a new year. Although Webmaster Lee Mandell (P’14) has also “graduated” to alum status, he will continue to oversee our online operations while training a new group of parents in web / WordPress skills. There are several open positions, however, and I encourage both new and returning parents to consider volunteering; it’s an incredibly rewarding, and fun, way to become involved at Stuyvesant, while also helping your son’s team.

Once tryouts are underway (see Coach’s message, upper right), we’ll post information about the pre-season JV – Varsity Scrimmage (tentatively scheduled for the last Friday night in October, “under the lights” at the Parade Grounds), as well as the Parents and Coaches Information Meeting (mid-November, date TBD).

In the meantime, on behalf of Friends of Stuyvesant Baseball, I’d like to extend a heartfelt welcome to the many new families who will be joining the “Friends of Stuyvesant Baseball” family. I know that our returning parents (as well as “alums” like me) are happy to help you with questions and concerns as you navigate the transition to a huge high school like Stuyvesant. I know that the advice and helpful information I got from the “seasoned” parents in the stands was invaluable — so, seek us out and ask away!

Looking forward to seeing (and meeting) you all at the Fall Scrimmage . . . GO STUY!

—Tracey Sydel, Co-President 2012-13, 2013-14