The NEP Board of Directors accepted the resignation of President Paul Burleson when a work conflict prevented completion of his term. The Board elected Michael Doss to complete the 1999 term which expires in September 1999.

More Park Enhancements Planned

The NEP Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Escambia Parks and Recreation Department, is pleased to announce plans for more enhancements to the NEP complex. Mark Thornton and Trey Goodman of the County Parks and Recreation Department have been working closely with the Board for the past two seasons and have approved work on several new projects to include:

Construction of a storeroom that can be used for meetings.

Pavement at the park entrances and paved access throughout the park.

Construction of restrooms and a mini-concession area at the center of the field 9, 10, 11, and 12 quad.

New perimeter fencing to restrict vehicular traffic and facilitate flow of foot traffic.

Enlargement of Freshman (11-12) fields.

The park also intends to construct four batting cages for the 1999 season if the Board can get help from park membership.

NEP's relationship with the Escambia County Parks and Recreation Department has been very good for the park and for the community. Mr. Thornton's and Mr. Goodman's positive can-do approach will continue to be instrumental in helping the Board accelerate its plan to develop NEP as a great place for our youth to play ball as well as make the Complex an excellent tournament location.

1999 League Structure Approved

The NEP Board of Directors approved three key measures for the 1999 season at its July 15th meeting.

One League Structure

-- Beginning with the Farm League, NEP will shift from a two-league to a one-league structure to draw the park in line with other programs in the area, provided the park does not reach the threshold whereby two leagues are mandated by Dizzy Dean rules. There will be one All Star Team selected from each league in each tournament age level (one 9 year old team, one 10 year old team, etc.). Upon the concurrence of a majority of the league's managers and approval of the Board of Directors, an Invitational All Star team can be formed, provided the tournament structure allows two teams from one league to compete. The criteria for the formation of the second team will center on whether a "credible" all star team can be formed from remaining league players.

UNDER REVIEW1999 Sophomore League Player Selection

-- The Sophomore League will be in its second season in 1999 and with the anticipated addition of two or three more teams to the league, there is a possibility that there will be an imbalance with regard to age distribution among teams. It appears, however, that the imbalance will not be such that it demands a redistribution of players from existing teams throughout the league and that normal player selection and draft procedures which give credit to undermanned teams will lend parity to the league. The Board is reluctant to tamper with the league and thereby disrupt established teams when it appears that the problem will soon sort itself out.

UNDER REVIEW1999 13-14 Year Old Hosted Teams

-- NEP hosted the Ransom League in 1998 in order to provide teams that would normally compete as "one-team leagues" a home field with facilities and board administration for a flat fee. These teams were affiliated with Dizzy Dean Baseball along with the NEP teams. However, with the difficulty in determining the evolution of Dizzy Dean's definition of a "select" team, NEP will no longer host Dizzy Dean teams that are not a part of the normal NEP league structure. In 1999, NEP will host teams and, as a part of the hosting package, purchase a non-Dizzy Dean franchise affiliation with insurance for hosted teams and encourage them to purchase additional affiliations to give them greater post-season tournament options.

Next NEP Board of Directors meeting November 4th at the Ensley Fire House on Highway 29 at 6 PM.

Visitors since 8/18/97

This page was last updated on
10/30/98