​
​Dear SCAA Community Member,
​
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2022, and to invite you to visit the facility-we have a lot to share with you and much of it needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.

In 2022, SCAA hosted, sponsored, and supported 15 different teams playing in 7 different leagues, playing both Spring and Fall Seasons. Our facility hosted 158 home games and our teams played in at least an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Tinicum. The total number of home games and teams is up from 138 in 2021. The number of increased games is a testament to improvements in field maintenance, our volunteers’ dedication and multiple playoff runs.

Silver Creek is always working to identify both league and recruitment opportunities to bring more games to Springtown and to our families. In 2022, our facility hosted games played in PAYB-the successor to Penn-Jersey, Greater Easton Area Baseball League (GEABL), PA District 20 Combo Little League, Eastern Lehigh Valley Softball, Bushkill Valley League, National College Baseball Association, and Lehigh Valley Men’s Senior Baseball League (MSBL).

In March, Lehigh Valley IronPigs Charities awarded Silver Creek a $5,000 Game On! Facility Improvement Grant. On May 25th the IronPig’s staff toured Silver Creek to review our Grant Goals of improving the infield grade of SC#1. On June 8th, the IronPigs Director of Field Operations, Andy Gossel led a group of front office staffers and operations staff to Springtown for a day spent consulting on field grade, material, best practices, and an evaluation of ways that we can improve play throughout the complex. This advice has proven invaluable and is helping to guide our plans. Additionally, they coordinated a surprise for our Spring players-a Play Ball Event at Coca-Cola Park that provided motor coach transportation- hosted by Ferrous, FeFe and several of our Coaches- from Springtown to the Stadium. The players received t shirts, hats, a facility tour and scrimmaged one another on a beautiful night on a fantastic baseball diamond. Seeing themselves on the jumbotron never seemed to get old for the kids or for the parents!

As 2022 closes want to invite you to participate in a Capital Campaign to renovate the infield of SC #1. Past projects have worked to correct outfield drainage while creating improved infield crown. The formation of lips of sandy soil around the arc and the interior have created a bowl effect that causes the puddling that can be seen after even a small rainstorm. We have calculated that the number of man hours and fuel used to restore the field is a cost that we need to address. We're also working to improve on field access to water so that we can better address dry, cracked conditions as well as mound restoration between games.
Additionally, we're budgeting further out to acquire purpose-built infield groomers that will prevent these drainage lips from reforming. Maintaining the playing skin of all 4 of our Baseball, Softball and Tee-Fields is a priority. The ABI Force Z-23 is a machine that we've seen in action and we're always trying to streamline our fuel, equipment, and storage options. Our goal is to combine multiple grooming tasks on one engine that delivers faster recovery for all of our fields. 

In June, Silver Creek A.A. Father’s Day Car Show celebrated its 20th Anniversary. Local businesses, our longtime supporters and alumni helped to make a full color, Anniversary Program a huge success that was dedicated to Jay Szakacs and Kenny Stryker: two members of our community who we lost and who were always close to any event featuring cars. The weather was clear and warm; this Anniversary Edition of the show was record breaking!
In September, our longtime client and sponsor, The Gasket Goons worked with Lower Saucon’s Fire Rescue’s Leithsville Station as an offsite spectator parking location. Thanks to our drivers from Krapf Bus Company, this arrangement made for an even more successful Hot Rod Bash.

In October, Silver Creek’s teams decorated and rode in Palisades Regional Fire and Rescue’s Halloween Parade. We were honored with the 2nd Place Overall Float Award and we are grateful to Coach Anthony Renner for loaning us his Hay Wagons Tractor and straw bales.

Reunions, Memorial, Birthdays, Graduations and Weddings were all celebrated in our Picnic Grove this year. And our perennial clients hosted successful car shows, charity events and motorcycle runs. We are grateful to everyone who hosts their events in Springtown and to our neighbors.

Improvements to the facility that were completed or begun in 2022 include:

• Insulation, drywalling, new door/window, cabinet installation in the Fieldhouse
• Painting the interior of the Fieldhouse Training Room
• 2 New ½ Horsepower garage door openers
• Right hand retaining wall of the SC#1 Snack Stand
• Approximately 18 Ash Trees removed throughout the property
• Replacement of 340’ of bleachers on SC #1’s Grandstand and rear framing
• Installation of turf surface in the new Training Room and the Batting Cage
• Will Oldford’s Eagle Scout Project identifying species, location and logistics for future trees
• Design and fabrication of base hangers and shed door for Snack Stand #2

2023’s Major Volunteer and Development Events and Available Volunteer Shifts are:

• 21st Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday, June 18th, 2023

• NE Regional Shelby American Automobile Club, Sunday, September 24th, 2023

• Annual Cornhole Tournament is Saturday, September 30th, 2023

 
Projects Under consideration for 2023 pending finances and volunteers:

• Painting the exterior of the Fieldhouse/Training Room/Team Room-Garage
• Grandstand sponsor positions, concrete and high fence
• Installation of SC#1 Scoreboard
• Masonry repairs on SC#1 3rd Base Dugout and in the Picnic Grove
• 6 vinyl windows for Picnic Grove Restrooms, 2 vinyl windows for Snack Stands
• Painting Restrooms and Stalls

 
Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for sale for $25 and Field Banners hung between late April and November for $200 new and $84 annually to renew yearly or $300 for 3 years for New Sponsors to help subsidize our plans.
​
SCAA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Thank you to everyone for your hard work to make “a place for the kids and for all our families” the unique experience that is Silver Creek.

SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association            
2943 Route 212                                    GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055              
P.O. Box 165                                         silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                          www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840                                       www.linkedin.com/company/scaaspringtownpa

Dear SCAA Community Member,
​
Happy New Year-6 weeks in! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2021, and to invite you to visit the facility-we have a lot to share with you and much of it needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.

In 2021, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 10 different teams playing in 5 different leagues. Our facility hosted 138 home games and our teams played in at least an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Springtown. The total number of home games and teams is down from 192 in 2020.  The decrease is largely due to our client teams being able to return to their own facilities due to easing COVID 19 restrictions.

On July 28, 2021, James “Jim” L. Balliet passed from this Earth. On September 25, 2021, Jim was joined in death by his younger brother, Glenn L. Balliet. Also, on September 25th, seven baseball and softball games were played at Silver Creek, and the access road through the property was dedicated and signed as Balliet Way. Glenn went to his reward knowing that his and Jim’s family name would now greet all players entering our facility-players and families from the Poconos, New Jersey, the Lehigh Valley, Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Silver Creek is always working to identify both league and recruitment opportunities to bring more games to Springtown and to our families. In 2021, Silver Creek A.A. fielded 2 Majors and 1 Minors team in the Greater Easton Area Baseball League (GEABL). Our Rookies and Co-Ed Tee Ball teams continued to compete in the local league, PAYB-the successor to Penn-Jersey. Our Fall Baseball Opportunities have grown and our Teener, Majors, Minors and Rookies programs played in District 20 Little League and GEABL through October.

In September, Gasket Goons returned to Silver Creek after canceling their event in 2020. It was a very successful and busy day that highlighted the need for multiple improvements for spectator parking and alleviation to road congestion. Gasket Goons have worked to secure offsite spectator parking and transportation from Lower Saucon Fire Rescue’s Leithsville Station to Silver Creek. Incidentally, Leithsville also hosts an outstanding annual Car Show of their own. Gasket Goons’ Hot Rod Bash will be on Saturday, September 10th at Silver Creek!

In October, Silver Creek’s teams decorated and rode a float in Springtown Volunteer Fire Company’s Halloween Parade. We were honored with the Judges Award and our Coaches, Players and Parents agreed that the parade should be a new tradition for Silver Creek A.A.
​
Picnic Grove and Property Rentals began booking in January and ran through December. In recent years we have had opportunity to work with many new clients such as The Foodies of Bethlehem, Safety First Private Club, the Nam Knights of the Lehigh Valley and Bikers Against Bullies.
​
Improvements to the facility that were completed or begun in 2021 include:

• Prioritize Additional Ash Trees to be removed throughout the property
• Replacement of SC#1’s 1st Base Dugout Roof with Rolled Rubber Roofing
• Deployment of 3 Donated Sets of Bleachers to SC#2 and SC#4
• Removal of the entrance speed bump to improve Car Show Traffic
• Restoration of SC#3, SC#4 and the facility following Hurricane Ida
• New Metal Roof for the Silver Creek Garage Built in 1972
• New Aluminum Capping for all Doors
• Upgrades for the New Training Room, Tractor Bay and Team Room

Each of this year’s projects relied on Silver Creek A.A.’s longstanding relationships with local businesses such as Dave’s Services LLC, WES Paving & Concrete Construction, A. Teachen Contracting, LLC., Hollander Roofing, Pennsylvania Site Contractors Inc., and Anytime Services. Each of these firms along with so many of our Volunteers has contributed their time and expertise to continuing Silver Creek’s dedication to youth athletics and to this community.

2022’s Major Volunteer and Development Events and Available Volunteer Shifts are:

• 20th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday, June 19th, 2022

Sunday, June 19th 8:00am-Noon                     Sunday, June 19th 11:00 am- 3:00pm

• NE Regional Shelby American Automobile Club, Sunday, September 25th 2022

Sunday, September 25th 8:00am-Noon             Sunday, September 25th 11:00 am- 3:00pm

• Annual Spring Cornhole Tournament is Saturday, October 15th, 2022

Thursday or Friday, October 13th or 14             Saturday, May 15th 11:00 am-3:00 pm   
                                                                           Saturday, May 15th 2:00 pm-6:00 pm
Projects Under consideration for 2022 pending finances and volunteers:

• 2 New ½ Horsepower Garage Door Openers
• Painting the exterior of the Fieldhouse/Training Room/Team Room-Garage
• Right Hand Retaining Wall of the SC#1 Snack Stand
• Replacement of 340’ of bleachers on SC #1’s Grandstand and Rear Framing
• Painting of Grandstand, Sponsor Positions, Concrete and High Fence
• Red Stone for Space between Grandstand and High Fence on SC #1
• 6 Vinyl Windows for Picnic Grove Restrooms, 2 Vinyl Windows for Snack Stands
• Painting Restrooms and Stalls

Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for sale for $25 and Field Banners hung between late April and November for $200 new and $84 annually to renew yearly or $300 for 3 years for New Sponsors to help subsidize our plans.
 
SCAA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Thank you to everyone for your hard work to make “a place for the kids and for all our families” the unique experience that is Silver Creek.

SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association            
2943 Route 212                                  GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055              
P.O. Box 165                                      silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                        www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840                                     www.linkedin.com/company/scaaspringtownpa

Dear SCAA Community Member,
​
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2020, and to invite you to visit our website, www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com and our social media sites - Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn.

In 2020, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 10 different teams playing in 5 different leagues. Our facility hosted 192 home games and our teams played in at least an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Springtown. The total number of home games is up from 177 in 2019, but the number of teams and leagues is down.

Silver Creek continues to work to identify both league and recruitment opportunities to bring more games to Springtown and to our families. In 2020, Silver Creek A.A. fielded Rookies, Minors, Majors and Teener Baseball teams at a time when no other Palisades-based organization did. The cancellation of the Penn-Jersey Spring Season provided us the opportunity to work with District 20 Little League, and Eastern Lehigh Valley Softball to deliver Baseball and Softball to U12 players in the Palisades area.

Cooperating with the Riegelsville Recreation Board and using SC#3 and the newly restored SC#4, 80 Eastern Lehigh Valley Softball Games were played. Additionally, Elite Championship Tournament Baseball and multiple Softball Tournament Teams rented our facility. Silver Creek #1 was also selected as a playing location for St. Luke’s Lehigh Valley Baseball Tournament.

Picnic Grove Rentals were booked beginning in May and running through October. Many of our longstanding customers such as Springtown Rod and Gun Club, Portuguese American Club and the Gasket Goons were forced to cancel their events due to COVID-19 and the associated Pennsylvania Restrictions.

COVID-19 not only delayed the start of any Spring season, but it also meant many of our coaches and volunteers took advantage of quarantine to complete multiple projects throughout the facility.

Improvements to the facility that were completed or begun in 2020 include:

• Restoration of Field #4’s Infield skin and foundation
• Painting of the Silver Creek Flagpole
• Painting Field #2’s Dugouts, Snack Stand and Bleachers
• New stone and surface of Field #2 Home and Away On Deck Areas
• Construction of a 60’ Backstop Wall Below our 26’ Net Backstop
• Landscaping and Mulch for Backstop and Playground
• Replacement and Reconfiguring of Fencing between Backstop and Dugouts
• Purchase of 15 4' by 4' pads identifying the facility for SC#1 Backstop
• Red Stone spread throughout Snack Stand #1 and Dugout Areas
• Painting Field #3’s Benches and Bleachers
• Trimming and Removal of Diseased Ash Trees throughout the Picnic Grove
• Purchase of a New Portable Public Address/Radio System

A $2.200.00 unbudgeted expense was incurred for the removal of 2 Emerald Ash Bore infected trees behind the Picnic Grove Kitchen and the Cell Tower Enclosure. Both Trees required a Bucket Truck from Dave’s Services LLC, owned by Dave Gerstenberg. His fee was very generous compared to all other quotes that we obtained. Dave was also kind enough to donate the tent used during the Cornhole Tournament. There are at least four more EAB infected trees to remove that threaten pavilions and the stage. And more throughout the property that will be easier to remove.

2021’s Major Volunteer and Development Events and Available Volunteer Shifts are:

• Second Annual Spring Cornhole Tournament is Saturday, May 15th, 2021

Thursday or Friday, May 13th or 14 Saturday, May 15th 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Saturday, May 15th 2:00 pm-6:00 pm

• 19th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday, June 20th, 2021

Sunday, June 20th, 2020 8:00am-Noon Sunday, June 20th 11:00 am- 3:00pm

• NE Regional Shelby American Automobile Club, Sunday, September 26th 2021

Sunday, September 26th 8:00am-Noon Sunday, September 26th 11:00 am- 3:00pm

Projects Under consideration for 2021 pending finances and volunteers:

• Prioritize Additional Ash Trees to be removed throughout the property
• Paving Bypass of the speedbump entrance to improve Car Show Traffic
• New Roof for the Silver Creek Garage Built in 1972
• 2 New ½ Horsepower Garage Door Openers
• Right Hand Retaining Wall of the SC#1 Snack Stand
• Wood Trim for Field #1’s Home and Away Dugouts
• Replacement of 340’ of bleachers on SC #1’s Grandstand and Rear Framing
• Painting of Grandstand, Sponsor Positions, Concrete and High Fence
• Red Stone for Space between Grandstand and High Fence on SC #1
• 6 Vinyl Windows for Picnic Grove Restrooms, 2 Vinyl Windows for Snack Stands
• Maintaining/Replacing 2000 John Deere 445 and 2000 John Deere Gator

Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for sale for $25 to help subsidize our plans.

SCAA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Thank you to everyone for your hard work to make “a place for the kids and for all our families” the unique experience that is Silver Creek.

SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association
2943 Route 212 GPS: Please use Hellertown, PA 18055
P.O. Box 165 silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081 www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840 www.linkedin.com/company/scaaspringtownpa

Dear SCAA Community Member,
​
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2019, and to invite each of you to keep up with us by visiting our website, www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com and our Facebook Page.

In 2019, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 15 different teams playing in 11 different leagues. Our facility hosted 177 home games and our teams played in at least an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Doylestown. The total number of home games and teams is up from 85 in 2018. We continue to work to identify both league and recruitment opportunities to bring more games to Springtown and to our families.

Having nearly 30 young Tee-Ball players, playing on 3 teams was a highlight of 2019. An organization like ours become stronger from the bottom up, and the sponsorship of these 3 teams by our longtime rental client-The Gasket Goons PA-is something that we appreciate greatly.  

​In early June, Field #2 was the site of the Palisades Area Youth Baseball Association’s All-Star Game. Our Coaches, their spouses and volunteers worked to make it one of the most successful days for baseball that the former Penn-Jersey League has had in the past decade. Players from across Palisades School District enjoyed great weather, even better baseball and plenty of cooperation across the District’s six boroughs and townships.

In early October, Silver Creek A.A. was formally certified as a 501(c)3 Accredited Non-Profit Organization. This opportunity and responsibility was achieved through the excellent advice and hard work of our Certified Public Accountant. Additionally, our Board codified and amended our bylaws as part of the application process. Our goal is for this status to make donating to Silver Creek even easier for our already generous community. This status also aids us in writing and applying to grants.

Picnic Grove Rentals remained strong in 2019, kicking off in May and running through October. Silver Creek A.A. was able to forgive the rental costs for an outstanding event hosted by Palisades High School’s Baseball Coaching Staff in late October. It was very satisfying to see so many people come out to support the Pirates goal of traveling to Florida for Spring Training.

Please check our website calendar if you are interested in hosting an event this year. We’re always interested in volunteers who are available to help with these events-often on Saturday and Sunday Evenings when we need to prepare the facility for the next rental.

Online player registration for Spring of 2020 is already underway on our website. For the first time, we are offering a payment option using a Credit Card. Our goal, as always, is to recruit players, form teams and work with our leagues to begin practicing and scheduling as soon as possible.

Improvements to the facility that were completed or begun in 2019 include:
*Repair of the Silver Creek Flag Pole
*Replacement of Field #1’s 57 year old Backstop
*Replacement and Reconfiguring of Fencing between Backstop and Dugouts
*Residing Field #1’s Home and Away Dugouts
*Trimming and Removal of Trees at SC#1 and SC#4
*Painting Field #1’s Dugouts and Snackstand
*Purchase New Bases for Field #2
*Purchase Movable Pitching Mounds and Foundations for Fields #2 and #3
*Purchase an additional Field Template that includes multiple Batter’s Box Sizes
 
Silver Creek has enjoyed a successful partnership with a local Carnival Company during the past 4 years. Changes within that company and our year over year analysis of the events led the Board to authorize the development of a new fundraising event. Under the leadership of our younger coaches, we will be hosting a Cornhole Tournament on May 16th. The Tournament along with our perennial fundraising leader, The Father’s Day Car Show on June 21st are days when we’ll need lots of Sunshine and Volunteers.

Sponsorship Opportunities for local companies and individuals are already available for purchase via credit card on our website. Please visit this area of our website to learn more:

www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com/cornhole-2020

2020’s Major Volunteer and Development Events and Available Shifts are:

First Annual Cornhole Tournament is Saturday, May 16th, 2020
*Saturday, May 16th 11:00 am-3:00 pm    *Saturday, May 16th 2:00 pm-6:00 pm
*Saturday, May 16th 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
​
18th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday, June 21st, 2020
*Sunday, June 21st, 2020 8:00am-Noon *Sunday, June 21st, 2020 11:00 am- 3:00pm

Under consideration for 2020 pending finances and volunteers:
*Purchasing 2 Tandem loads of infield mix to be spread throughout our 4 fields
*Reconfiguring storage at Snack Stand #2 to include a Dugout Closet for equipment storage
*Planting at least 60’ of landscaping to serve as a buffer between Field #1’s Backstop and Stands
*Construction of 60’ of 48 inch high 2” by 12” pressure treated lumber to anchor
SC#1’s new Net Backstop
*Wood Trim for Field #1’s Home and Away Dugouts
*Painting of the Silver Creek Flag Pole
*Repairs to the Stage Pavilion’s Gutters
 
Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for sale for $25 to help subsidize our plans. Any parent who sells 10 calendars by April 15th, 2020 will receive one player’s tuition FREE.
 
SCAA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Thank you to everyone for your hard work to make “a place for the kids and for all our families” the unique experience that is Silver Creek.

SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association            
2943 Route 212                                         GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055              
P.O. Box 165                                              silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                               www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840                                            www.linkedin.com/company/scaaspringtownpa 
                           

Dear SCAA Community Member,
 
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2018, and to express our appreciation to all of you for helping to bring Silver Creek another year of success.
 
In 2018, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 13 different teams playing in 8 different leagues. Our facility hosted 85 home games and our teams played in at least an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Warminster. The total number of games and teams is down from last year and we’re working to identify both league and recruitment opportunities to bring more games to Springtown and to our families.
 
SCAA maintains memberships and relationships with multiple leagues for players ranging from 4 to 45+. All of these leagues are run by adult community volunteers, most of them parents of current players. More often than not, our league representatives are also Coaches. These leagues make their rules, contract their umpires, and publish their game schedules. Our strongest leagues are those with parent involvement across their players' team, league and  home field. Our facility is a source of great pride, and everything about it begins and ends with Volunteers..
 
SCAA is an unsubsidized, private facility. Our operations are not funded by any municipality. Home Game snack stand operation by hard working parent volunteers is a way for everyone with a child on the team to help contribute to our facilities maintenance and improvement. Please help your kid's Coach focus on the game rather than whose turn it is to work a shift in the stand.
 
In spite of rain on three of its four days, the Spring Carnival was a modest success. Cancellation of Friday Night’s Fireworks was a difficult decision by the Board, but it provided the opportunity for the event to not operate at a loss. Our Parent Volunteers were very patient when it came to shift cancellations driven by the bad weather and the Carnival Company’s safety rules.
 
Because of a beautiful day and our moving the Carnival’s Basket Raffle to it, the 16th Annual Father’s Day Car Show had a fantastic attendance that has us even more hopeful for this year’s show. Good weather remains the most critical ingredient not only for great games, but also for events hosted in the Picnic Grove. 2018 was one of the wettest years on record, but our volunteers and supporters made the most out of every opportunity for the kids.
 
Improvements to the facility that were completed or begun in 2018 include:
 
*Continued Replacement and Refitting of Fencing at Field #1
*Spreading Infield Mix at all Fields
*Siding and re-shingling Field #1’s Dugouts
*Improvements to the Electrical Service in the Picnic Grove and the Garage
*Installation of Yellow Fence Topper for Field #1’s Perimeter
*Spreading Road Millings the length of the access road
*New Field Drags and Prep Equipment
*Removal of Picnic Grove Outbuilding to increase parking
 
SCAA is always in need of various household items and garden tools. Please let us know if you are replacing refrigerators, freezers, long handled tools or other housewares that you think can be used in any of our snack or kitchen facilities. It’s a great feeling to see something from your home provide a few more years of benefit to the facility.
 
In 2015, we established the Up To Bat Foundation as a campaign to not only brand our fundraising efforts, but also to recognize the generosity of our community. Local Businesses make it happen for our kids and for our programs. Let us know if you or your employers are interested in working with us on sponsorships and website marketing throughout the year.
 
In addition to our website, SCAA operates Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn sites to help us not only stay in touch with but also to grow our community. We’re always looking for photos not only from Silver Creek’s past, but also of our alumni playing for their college teams. Please email us if you are interested in having us scan your original photos or with updates on your child’s continued playing careers.
 
Picnic Grove Rentals remained strong in 2018, kicking off in May and running through October. Please check our website calendar if you are interested in hosting an event this year. We’re always interested in volunteers who are available to help with these events-often on Saturday and Sunday Evenings when we need to prepare the facility for the next rental.
 
2019’s Major Volunteer and Development Events are:
 
Spring Carnival 5/15/19-5/18/19
*Wednesday, May 15, 2019 6-10pm  
*Thursday, May 16, 2019 6-10pm  
*Friday, May 17, 2019 6-10pm – Fireworks
*Saturday, May 18, 2019 4-10pm  
 
17th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday 6/16/19
*Sunday, June 16, 2019 8-Noon
*Sunday, June 16, 2019 11:00am-3pm
 
Under consideration for 2019 pending finances and volunteers:
 
*Replacement of the Backstop at Field #1
*Retaining Wall at Field #1’s Garage
*Repair/Restoration of the Silver Creek Flag Pole
*Multiple Drainage and Landscaping Projects
*Concrete Repairs throughout the Picnic Grove
*Grass repair in the Picnic Grove because of the wet year
 
Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for $25 and Field Banners to advertise your business for $150 to help subsidize our plans.
 
SCAA meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month, January through October. Thank you to everyone for your hard work to make “a place for the kids and for all our families” the unique experience that is Silver Creek.
 
SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association
2943 Route 212                                      GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055
P.O. Box 165                                           silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                            www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840                                         www.linkedin.com/company/scaaspringtownpa 

Dear SCAA Community Member,
 
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2017, and to express our appreciation to all of you for helping to make our 50th year a success.
 
In 2017, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 14 different teams playing in 8 different leagues. Our facility hosted 114 home games and our teams played in an equal number of away games at facilities as far north as Upper Mount Bethel and as far south as Warminster. In a return to a former tradition, The Palisades High School Baseball Team used Field #1 for several home games in late March and early April while the High School Field’s renovations were being completed.
 
Our Spring Carnival’s Second Year was a Success and our Father’s Day Car Show continues to be an outstanding family event. Please join us for both events as attendees and volunteers. Also, let us know if you have suggestions for music or entertainment.
 
Picnic Grove Rentals were very strong in 2017, kicking off in May and running through October. SCAA is an unsubsidized, private facility that relies on renters who return year after year. We appreciate them and their business!
 
Improvements to the facility that were completed in 2017 include:
 
*Prep and Painting of Grove Buildings including the kitchen and restrooms
*Re-siding the Beverage Cooler Pavilion
*Purchase of Yellow Fence Topper for Field #1’s Perimeter
*Aeration of all Outfields and Sidelines to improve grass and evaporation
*Year End purchase of 48 tons of Infield Mix
 
Items that are continuing to be worked on include:
 
*Increased Signage to identify the facility-the new fence topper will help to make the facility more visible form the road when we install it in the Spring, and we’re evaluating different sign options too.
*Installation of 2 restored park benches at the playground
 
Declining School Enrollment is a continued challenge that faces Youth Athletics, Palisades and other area school districts. There are fewer kids living in the area, and we work hard to connect with as many as we can to deliver a quality experience. Please spread the word about SCAA and our leagues so that we can continue to field teams at all ages. Online Player Registration for this Spring can be found on our website.
 
There are some important volunteer positions that we need to identify for the 2018 Spring Season. We need shoppers/suppliers for both snacks stands and a coordinator for team pictures. Please reach out to us if you can help with these important tasks. Additionally, we need all of our player’s parents to recognize that shifts in the snack stand are how we pay umpires and drive facility development.
 
2018’s Major Volunteer and Development Events are:
 
Spring Carnival 5/16-5/19
*Wednesday, May 16, 2018 6-10pm  
*Thursday, May 17, 2018 6-10pm  
*Friday, May 18, 2018 6-10pm – Fireworks
*Saturday, May 19, 2018 4-10pm  
 
16th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday 6/17/18
*Sunday, June 17, 2018 8-3pm
 
Under consideration for 2018 pending finances and volunteers:
 
*Continued Replacement and Refitting of Fencing at Field #1
*Siding and re-shingling Field #1’s Dugouts
*Improvements to the Electrical Service in the Picnic Grove
*More Prep and Painting around the facility
*Both our drag tractor- the 2000 John Deere 445 and the Gator continue to run, but we’ll begin budgeting for their eventual replacement and or major repairs
*New Field Drags and Prep Equipment
*The Garage’s roof is something that we need to plan on replacing in the near term
 
Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for $25 and Field Banners to advertise your business for $150 to help subsidize our plans.
 
The SCAA Board meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month. We’re looking forward to the next 50 years of Silver Creek, and we’re hoping you and your family will be a part of it.
 
SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association
2943 Route 212                                 GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055
P.O. Box 165                                      silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                       www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840

 ​Dear Silver Creek Community Member,
 
Happy New Year! We wanted to take this opportunity to review 2016, and to invite each of you to keep up with us by visiting our website, www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com and our Facebook Page.
 
In 2016, SCAA hosted, sponsored and supported 14 different teams playing in 7 different leagues- Penn Jersey, Palisades Area Girls Softball, Bushkill Valley, Connie Mack, the National Club Baseball Association, Eastern Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley MSBL.  Our facility hosted 114 home games, our teams played in at least the same number of away games and many practices were hosted in Springtown.  Our teams included players ranging from 5 years old to 45 and over.
 
Our Picnic Grove was the site of 24 events hosted by private and community members including Springfield Township’s Community Day, our 14th Annual Father's Day Car Show and the return to a former Silver Creek tradition, the Spring Carnival.
 
SCAA was accepted by Palisades School District as an Authorized Agency in their Volunteer Service Experience Program. Our location and volunteer projects can be submitted by students to satisfy the school district’s graduate service requirements.
 
In addition to many hours spent coaching and planning, our volunteers hosted breakfasts, made hoagies, sold Lucky Lottery Calendars and worked our snack stands and central kitchen.
 
Improvements to the facility that were completed in 2016 include:
 
*Improvements to Fields #2 and #3 to improve drainage and infields
*New Dugout Benches for #1 and #2
*Painting and Restoration of our swing set to complement our new playground-finished in 2015
*Installation of 320 feet of split rail fence to serve as parking guides during
large events such as car shows and the carnival
*Installation of 620 feet of outfield fence on Field #1, “the Legion Field”
*Purchase and restoration of 2 new park benches during the UBCTS auction-to be installed this spring
 
In 2017, we will celebrate our “Official” 50th Anniversary. If you ask a hundred Silver Creek folks about the beginning, you will not only be thoroughly entertained, but you will also get a thousand answers about who, what, where, when, why and how it all started. Most importantly, you will hear about generous donations of time, expertise, money and hard work by generations of area families who made “a place for the kids and for our families” a priority during the last 50+ years.
 
2017’s Major Volunteer and Development Events are:
 
Spring Carnival 5/17-5/20
*Wednesday, May 17, 2017 6:00-10:00 pm  
*Thursday, May 18, 2017 6:00-10:00 pm
*Friday, May 19, 2017 6:00-10:00 pm – Fireworks Night
*Saturday, May 20, 2017 4:00-10:00 pm
 
15th Annual Father’s Day Car Show is Sunday 6/18/17
*Sunday, June 18, 2017 8:00-3:00 pm
 
Under consideration for 2017 pending finances and volunteers:
 
*Reinforcing 334 feet of posts and rails of Field #1’s Left Field Line, painting and installation of new anodized fencing
*Purchase of Yellow Fence Topper for the new outfield fence on Field 1
*Prep and Painting of Grove Buildings including the kitchen and restrooms
*Re-siding the Beverage Cooler Building and Pavilion
*Aeration of all Outfields and Sidelines to improve grass and evaporation
*Increased Signage to identify the facility
 
Please contact us with general questions at silvercreekaa@gmail.com to discuss how you might want to help with these projects. We also have Lucky Lottery Calendars for $25 and Field Banners to advertise your business for $150 to help subsidize our plans.
 
The SCAA Board meets every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Here is to a Bright New Year in 2017 and thank you for your family’s hard work-in the past, during the present and to serve the future.
 
SCAA Officers, Trustees and Coaches
 
--
Silver Creek Athletic Association
2943 Route 212                                 GPS:  Please use Hellertown, PA 18055
P.O. Box 165                                     silvercreekaa@gmail.com
Springtown, PA 18081                        www.silvercreekathleticassociation.com
610/346-6840
 

​Home games-I buy a cheeseburger. Away games-cheeseburger. If I’m coaching, a cheeseburger. If I’m watching a game-you guessed it, a cheeseburger from the snack shack of wherever I am is what I eat for dinner many evenings between April and June.
 
And it’s certainly not because it’s healthy or my physique can stand all that red meat, dairy and white bread. It’s because of the memories.
 
Two years ago, following a game that I can’t remember if we won or lost, my cell phone rang while we were dragging the field. It was someone who I knew just well enough that he had my cell phone number. “Hey, are there any burgers and dogs left from tonight’s game?” said the voice on the other end of the line. I peeked over and sure enough 2 parents were shutting down the grill and had a small stack of food wrapped in tinfoil under the warming lights. “Sure, c’mon up to Field #2, and get some” I told my phone call.
 
So this friend of mine, pulls down the lane at SC, parks and comes up the hill past the departing parents who are trying to carry their chairs, gather their kids and preparing to leave.  He gets to the stand, puts his money down and sits on the bleachers to watch the sun go down while he enjoys his 2 cheeseburgers. Just sitting there, watching us drag the field-the happiest guy you could imagine-smiling.
 
We finished up, and I asked him how his dinner was. He proceeded to tell me how much he likes a burger from the stand, not because it’s good for him either, but because somebody’s Mom or Dad made it. Somebody’s Mom or Dad shopped for it. And the money goes to benefit the Athletic Association where the game is played.
 
This past Summer, this same guy-our “got anything left at the stand"-guy volunteered during 4 of the hottest weekends in the Summer to help build Silver Creek’s new playground. Not because he has any kids playing in the program or because he’s got nothing else to do over the weekend. Not because there were burgers, but because he wanted to help. Because he likes to eat a burger or a dog while the sun sets. Because he knows that by hitting the snack stand instead of McDonald’s he’s helping. When he’s pouring concrete and shooting elevations from a tripod, he’s helping.  At the moment when we’re laughing at how NOT handy some of us working on the project are, he’s helping. He’s a local business owner too-always buys a banner for the field. And when he swings by for dinner on his way home, he’s helping.
 
I lied. It’s not always a cheeseburger. I remember one year that Bridgeton had someone who made Sloppy Joes that were awesome. Another year, walking tacos were all the rage. Sometimes, it’s cold and they have coffee or breakfast sandwiches in Riegelsville for a 10:00  game.  Another year in Tinicum, we ate pizza while we waited for a rain storm to blow over so that we could play a game.
 
There are a lot of reasons why I get something at the stand. But it’s mostly because of great memories and even better people.

First question: We may or may not know who’s going to be coaching your child's team at this time. What we do know are some of the challenges that face that person, whoever they may be.

• They may be spending the first quarter of the year working extra hours, stacking their business travel, sitting in League Meetings after 7:00 PM, and booking extra jobs now and preparing for losing 4 hours of Spring daylight to work, when the season starts.
• They may already be coaching a Winter Sport while Planning for a Spring.
• They commute to work in New Jersey, Philly and KofP too.
• They may be a small business owner or an independent contractor who makes their own schedule but their work depends on good weather, and optimal outdoor conditions-so does Baseball.
• They very likely let some stuff at their house go until “after the season” because they need to make sure the fields are ready in April.
• They spend more time raking, dragging and liming fields than they do on their lawn.
• They have co-workers who wonder why they get special privileges to leave early, but who don’t realize that the "Coach in the Office" gets to work early, hosts evening conference calls and sends work email after 9:00 PM when everyone has left the field.
• They very likely have a spouse who is tired of hearing them talk about Baseball/Softball or Tee-Ball and the plan to perfect the 4-3 Putout and the 6-4-3 Double Play for the kids on their team.
• They know all the kids’ names in their child’s grade, who their kid hangs out with, who their kid doesn’t and they hope all of them come out for Spring Sports no matter what their situation is.
• They very likely have second and third kids who have activities of their own that happen away from the ballfield
• They do their best. And they can always use help.
• They’re volunteers and they are among the highest quality people you will meet and know in your life. But they're not perfect.

Second question: This has more to do with the weather, scheduling and the business side of youth sports.

• The leagues we participate in always need to know how many teams they can count on us for-because they have a schedule to make, and resources to secure too.
• Ever see dry ground in Southeastern PA before Tax Day-April 15th? Sometimes it works that way, most years it doesn’t.
• The facilities and the leagues have both spectator and player insurance that needs to be secured, renewed and calculated based upon the projected # of kids and therefor families who are participating.
• Uniforms are sometimes drawn from inventory and in other cases need to be ordered, paid for, printed and distributed.
• Indoor Practice Space is secured in January so that the kids can get some practice after Valentine’s Day and before April 15th.
• Some kids leave Basketballl or Wrestling and head to Baseball ready to hit homeruns and dazzle you on the mound. Most don’t. They need to practice.
• Some kids above 7th Grade play for Middle School or High School teams and that participation limits their eligibility to pitch for a Rec League. Pitching takes time to develop, especially if you're drafted into service so your team can play.
• Leagues work very hard to establish game schedules and facilities work even harder to accommodate those schedules once they are completed. And they’re usually late, because it too is a big job done by volunteers.
• The optimal size for a Baseball team for everyone to get playing time and to develop is 12-14 dedicated players who come to every practice or game.
• Some teams have 16 kids on them, because there’s little chance of getting 8 more kids to make two 12 person teams in Suburban Sprawl afflicted by declining school-age enrollment. Some kids sign up, and you see them only some of the time. Some teams will only have 10, and those kids show up every day and you dread it when someone gets the stomach bug and you have to forfeit.
• Sometimes it rains and the best laid plans are thrown into disarray and the fear is that the season will extend beyond the school year and the kids will leave on vacations their parents planned and then the team won’t be playing anyway because there are not enough kids.
• We open the window for registering very early, and close it very late because we're trying to form age- and skill-appropriate teams. It also helps us to determine how many Coaches, Assistants and Field Resources that we'll need. SCAA and our leagues always appreciate early bird registrations.

Finally, you will likely notice that the same families who coach Spring are there in the Fall, Winter and Summer-Soccer, Field Hockey, Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Tennis, Fire Co., EMS, The Band, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, 4-H, School Board, Classroom Parent, municipal responsibilities etc. They’re volunteers. They’re not paid and they’ll very likely be there next season too. And we appreciate everything they do for their kid and for all the kids.

An SCAA Community Member