Tidewater Titans Baseball

Earlier this year the coaches of several recreation baseball teams here in VA Beach, and the parents of the players on those teams came together and decided to investigate how (and where) we could get our top tier players involved in a more competitve baseball setting.  As a group we wanted to find a way to not only play a higher level of baseball, but also provide a higher level of coaching, instruction and development.  Some of us have tried other Travel and AAU teams and organizations, and countless others have looked into joining existing Travel and AAU teams; but the same "elephant in the room" kept reappearing...the cost. Existing organizations have start up fees that in most cases exceed $300, in addition to a monthly fee of $175-250 per month!  Where does all that money go?  What expenses are so great that a parent would have to pay over $2,000 a year out of pocket, in addition to countless volunteering hours and fundraiser's aimed at...you guessed it, generating even MORE MONEY!  The Board of Director's for the Tidewater Titans LLC, have come up with a way to minimize costs passed on to the parents, while not shortchanging the development of the children.  First, we decided not to pay our coaches, coaching youth baseball should be about the love of the game and passing it on to kids (believe it or not, coaches are usually in the top 2 when it comes to monthly expenses for an AAU team).  Second, we decided that we want to keep parents' out of pocket expenses to a minimum, as a board we are absorbing ALL costs assciated with the 2014 fall season, and in future seasons will keep monthly dues under $50 for team members.  Due to the savings this institutes, we have to turn to heavy fundraising in order to get the funds needed to enter local tournaments, participate in pitching and hitting clinics, pay umpires, and "rent" a local ball field to call home.  We've put together 2 teams made up of 9-11yr old boys, and have absorbed all costs up to this point and will continue to write the checks...but we need your help!  Any donation will help, and all funds raised go to the team.  The rewards associated with certain donation levels are extremely unique; team pictures, autographed baseballs and bats...what would be a better gift for a friend or family member than a autographed item from your very own Tidewater Titans, or a team picture to hang in your home or office?  We appreciate your help in making this venture work; finding a cost effective measure that provides the level of baseball that these kids deserve is our #1 goal.