As we all experience the shock and heartbreak of losing our beloved Teo, several things have become clear over the last few days. One, is that he was profoundly loved and held by his friends, as well as by the vast network of aunties and uncles and cousins who helped raise him. From the moment he was born, Teo knew how much he was loved. And from that same moment on, he generated immense love and laughter for too many of us to count.
In the midst of unspeakable loss, it has been healing to hear his friends share with us what he meant to you, and the ways he changed your lives. Our hearts break for you as much as they break for us.
Teo once offered a prayer at Shabbat at our home. “I’m grateful for my friends,” he said. “They make life worth living.”
We feel nothing but immense gratitude to each of you who loved him. He had an extraordinary childhood, and you all made it so.
The second big thing is that, while we will not know for some time, if ever, exactly what happened, we are confident that this was a terrible and tragic accident… likely a combination of factors that might have been survivable for someone else, but which proved fatal for him.
Teo was happy and upbeat the night before it happened, and he was in the middle of a number projects. But for those of you who know him, you know that the happy jokester kid we knew and loved, sometime during his senior year, started to struggle with anxiety.
He sought help and was receiving professional care and medication. For a while he shut down Instagram. He also had an incredible group of friends who loved and cared for him deeply and were looking out for him. We were all on his team.
It is likely that prescription and nonprescription drug interactions, and possibly a pre-existing health condition, all combined to produce this unthinkable outcome. We do know that he died peacefully and quietly, at home, in the room he loved where he would play PS4 and hang out with so many of you.
We know that all that matters right now is love–receiving the love you are sending our way and appreciating the love generated in the world. Please be healthy and happy and care for each other and find the fun and laughter in your lives, in any ways you can, in honor of Teo. If you are struggling, and so many of us are during this time, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
We are truly all in this together.
—Teo’s parents, Cecilie and Carolyn
Dear NOLL/SOLL families,
We hope you and your loved ones are healthy and doing well during this very challenging time.
Even with the easing of some stay at home restrictions in a few California counties, things are still very much up in the air here in Alameda County. As a result, the NOLL/SOLL Board of Directors has voted to cancel the 2020 spring season. We are open to resuming baseball in the Fall, if possible.
In order for a Fall program to happen, Alameda County’s stay at home order would have to be lifted to allow small groups of 15-30 people to safely gather in public. Oakland schools and public parks would also have to be reopened, field permits secured, and we’d have to reconfirm coach and player availability based on a new timeline.
Although we weren’t able to play any Spring games due to Alameda County’s stay at home order on March 16th, 75% of NOLL/SOLL’s annual expenses had already been incurred for uniforms, equipment, field permits, field preparation, etc. Due to expected budget shortfalls at OUSD and Oakland Parks and Rec (OPR), we don’t anticipate receiving any refunds from those organizations.
As you know, NOLL/SOLL is a volunteer-driven non-profit, not a billion dollar for-profit youth sports business. Our mission is simply to provide a positive youth baseball experience for Oakland and Berkeley families. We intentionally maintain fees lower than other Bay Area youth sports programs to remain inclusive. In fact, registration fees only cover 67% of our annual operating budget. The balance is raised through donations from individuals and small businesses during our annual fundraising drive, which we are not able to conduct this year. Our annual fundraiser typically raises over $100,000.
Due to the cancellation of the Spring 2020 season, the NOLL/SOLL Board has approved a refund policy that we believe is amenable to our families’ needs, while ensuring the sustainability of our league to provide youth baseball to our community in the years to come.
The NOLL/SOLL Board would have liked to have been able to refund 100% of your registration fees. However, the way in which this crisis has impacted organizations like ours, it’s simply not possible.
NOLL/SOLL understands that this pandemic has hit some harder than others and we are open to providing additional relief to those truly in need. If your family is experiencing hardship, please contact us at info@nollsoll.com.
If you are in a position to financially support NOLL/SOLL’s mission (we sure hope to be playing baseball at some point this year and next!), please consider making an additional donation. Click here (scroll down to the DONATE button under the picture of the Cal player signing autographs) and make a donation through PayPal. You may also send a check made out to NOLL/SOLL, PO Box 11087, Oakland CA 94611.
Please be on the lookout for further communications from NOLL/SOLL. We plan to send out a survey in the coming weeks to learn more about your child’s interest and availability for a potential Fall Ball season, provided we are permitted to safely play.
Until then, we hope you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe, and eagerly look forward to a time when we can gather as a community, rooting for kids playing baseball.
Sincerely,
NOLL/SOLL Board of Directors
NOLL/SOLL families –
Starting Friday March 12th, NOLL/SOLL will be suspending all activities until April 6th. Do not hold practices, games or scrimmages until at least April 6th and official notice from the league about when we will resume activities.
Following the recommendations of Little League International, District 4 and state health officials we are suspending activities to support social distancing in light of the continuing outbreak of Covid-19 in California.
The health and safety of our players, volunteers, and families are our highest priority. We encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the recommended guidelines from the CDC and California Department of Public Health and to follow local municipal and school district communications for information that directly affects our community.
Thanks, NOLL/SOLL Executive Board
Spring Training Clinics for NOLL/SOLL players!
Sundays in February (2/2, 2/9 and 2/16)
Ages 6-11 (Farm, AA, AAA) 11:00am – 12:30am
Ages 11+ (Majors, Int, Juniors) 12:30am – 2pm
Sign up here
Only $10 per player (per session)
What to Bring:
During our Spring Training clinics, we focus on baseball development, speed-work and fitness fundamentals. We will work in small groups to develop and improve player techniques and ability.
What to Expect:
Spring 2020 Registration is open for all divisions! If you are new to NOLL/SOLL please visit http://www.nollsoll.com/new-to-noll-soll/
An early bird registration discount of $25 off is available through November 8th. Please note that registration will close on December 20th for players age 9 to 14. Registration for TBall and Farm divisions will close on January 17th.
You can find more information and register now at http://www.nollsoll.com/registration-information/. We are open to boys and girls age 5 thru 16 in Oakland, Piedmont, Emeryville and Berkeley (south of Virginia St). If you are interested in coaching please sign up as a coach by following the ‘Register a Coach’ link in Sportability.
2020 LEAGUE AGE CHART
Please see https://www.littleleague.org/downloads/2020-baseball-age-chart/
for the latest chart with the age cutoff information for 2020.
CHALLENGER DIVISION
If you know someone with players age 6-22 with disabilities, let them know that we would love to have their player and family participate in our Challenger Division. Find out more at http://www.nollsoll.com/challenger-division/ .
SCHOLARSHIPS
NOLL/SOLL offers scholarships to families in need of assistance. If someone you know families with a financial need which prevents them from signing up, encourage them to use our scholarship form at http://www.nollsoll.com/registration-information/
SHARE WITH YOUR SCHOOL
If your school or other local organization has a weekly newsletter, please consider sending an announcement that registration is open for the Spring and let other families know about it.
You can reach out registration page directly at Sportability by going to http://www.sportability.com/spx/leagues/Client.asp?ClientID=2
