Please tell us what your think about our league
Mr. Reyes and the NWINABA family –
Thank you for taking the time to speak to me a few weeks ago. As the Founder and Past President of the Hoosier Baseball League (HBL) of Northwest Indiana, I wanted to address congratulations to your players, staff and yourself for promoting adult baseball in the Northwest Indiana area and being the “Premier Adult Baseball League of Northwest Indiana”.
Each league provides the same services to its members, but there is only one key difference that separates the NWINABA and the HBL: it is called LEADERSHIP.
Mr. Reyes, your leadership is not only impeccable and second to none within your organization, but in the community as well. Your players are respectful, the professionalism of each player’s demeanor is a testament to the uniform they wear every Sunday and they hold true and abide by the rules set forth by your Board of Directors.
It is hard to admit it and I question myself daily as to why the HBL is still in existence. The HBL has gone from being a professional, competitive, fun, family environment and successful adult baseball league in NWI to the rites of passage through the bowels of hell.
Mr. Ortiz has made a mockery of this league that I created from the ground up and I am sickened that the Direction, Dedication, Balance and Integrity of the foundation of the league as set forth by me as guidance through my Articles of Declaration to Mr. Ortiz was not taken seriously.
Mr. Ortiz and his many negative actions as the President of the HBL, has caused a climatic, catalytic disorder within the HBL and from what has been said through social media or on the street is probably true, but I would like to set the story straight from fiction to facts.
FICTION: Bob Wright chose Mr. Ortiz to succeed him as President of the HBL.
FACT: No. Mr. Ortiz was not appointed by myself to succeed me as the President of the HBL - unfortunately, he was elected by his peers to lead the HBL and prosper – which he has failed immensely. If I had chosen my successor, it would have been both; Mr. Dave Brock and Mr. Dennis Christlieb – prior members of the NWINABA.
FICITION: Mr. Ortiz was thrown out as the President of the HBL without reason.
FACT: No. At my last meeting as President of the HBL in September 2009, I incorporated three (3) Articles of Declaration, one of which was appointing Mr. Jason Lammertin as the Executor of the HBL.
Mr. Lammertin would have complete and executive power over the presiding President without recourse from the Board of Directors if any of the foundations (Direction, Dedication, Balance and Integrity) were ever to be compromised – and YES, each of them were abused by Mr. Ortiz as noted below:
a. In three years as the President of the HBL, he failed to grow the HBL and he continually decreased retention of teams from 2010 - 2013.
b. It is the responsibility of the President to verify player ages – however Mr. Ortiz willingly allowed players to enter the HBL that did not meet the 28 year old or older Age Requirement, thus allowing a 19, 22, 24 and 26 year old players to participate on teams in 2013.
c. Mr. Ortiz continually manipulated his teams’ schedule of games to become make-up games when he did not have enough players to participate.
d. Mr. Ortiz willingly conducted a misappropriation of league funds; on or about $350.00 dollars to a player that was injured in 2013 to pay his medical bills – as well as the NWINABA, both leagues are required to acquire and retain insurance for all of its players and is a requirement to be provided to the Field Owners to play on their property.
e. Mr. Ortiz did not annually provide the HBL Rules and Regulations to the Managers of the HBL. The last edition provided was in 2009 during my tenure.
f. Mr. Ortiz allowed players to participate in the league that did not meet the Uniform Requirements.
g. Mr. Ortiz failed to organize and hold an annual election for the office of President.
h. Mr. Ortiz failed to step down as Manager of the Munster Braves after being elected President of the HBL.
FICTION: The Region Red Sox did not want to “prove” they could beat the Munster Braves.
FACT: Mr. Ortiz (President of the HBL & Manager of the Munster Braves) conceded to Mr. Jason Lammertin (Co-Manager of the Region Red Sox) two days before the game, because he did not have enough players.
Shortly thereafter, Mr. Ortiz contacted Mr. Lammertin and notified him that he would have some players, but only 7.
Then again, Mr. Ortiz contacted Mr. Lammertin and explained that he had 9 players – but they are not his best players.
Each team in the HBL is allowed to have a maximum number of 18 players – the Munster Braves have always had 18 players on their roster – in which Mr. Ortiz could pick and choose those players to participate in a scheduled game; if it was a big game like against the Region Red Sox, then his best players would show – if it was just a game against a weak team like against the Lake Area Dodgers, then he would have his alternate players to show.
This is how Mr. Ortiz works his manipulation – when he could not get the best players on his team, he conceded and then when the word hit the street (solely manufactured by himself) that they are not playing – everyone jumps into the Ortiz camp to console his ego and place blame against the Region Red Sox for not playing the final championship game.
To break it all down to the final denominator: Mr. Ortiz used his position as President of the HBL to improve and assure the Munster Braves would continue to win championships, Mr. Ortiz ignored the best interests and needs of the league and conspired “backdoor“ negotiations with Managers against the established Rules and Regulations of the HBL.
Mr. Lammertin is the Acting President of the HBL and as you know from taking the helm after Mr. Rosario, that he has a large mess to contend with just to bring the HBL back to the level where the NWINABA is.
Lastly, as in the past, I did not have the best relationship with Mr. Carpenter or Mr. Rosario because both organizations were vying for the same agenda: more teams, but what I do know from the time you and I spoke, is how dedicated and passionate you are to the game of baseball and the NWINABA and I wish you the best of success and many years of leading the NWINABA and I hope one day, that both leagues can merge and become one for Northwest Indiana.
Respectfully-
Bob Wright
Founder of the Hoosier Baseball League (HBL) of Northwest Indiana.
