The Baseball Program
Recommended League Sign-Up for Baseball
Use the chart below as a guide to determine what league your child should sign up for.
Age as of April 30th
The Leagues
The T-Ball League:
The main goal of our T-Ball League is to have fun. We try to teach some basic baseball skills such as catching, hitting, fielding, and team sportsmanship. Our young players need coaches to help organize, provide guidance to parent assistants, and teach basic instruction to players. We will hold a coaches clinic in April. If you have a child in our T-Ball Program, or one just signing up this year, consider being a coach or assistant coach, we guarantee a smile on your face. Children will usually play twice per week. Players in this league are typically either in kindergarten or will be entering it in the fall. There is no tryout for this league.
The Rookie League:
We are looking forward to another successful year with our Rookie League. In this league, players are assigned to teams with whom they practice and play a full game schedule. A pitching machine is used instead of live pitching. Scores and won/lost records are downplayed in this league in favor of concentration of basic skill development. Games are played on a regular youth baseball diamond with 60 foot base paths. Children will practice or play a game 2-3 times per week. Most of the players in this league are in first or second grade and are, therefore, baseball age 7or 8. There is no tryout for this league.
The Minor League:
Our very successful Minors program is an important step in the development of our youth baseball players. Most players come to this league in the third grade after two years in Rookie League. They are ready to leave the pitching machine behind and face their friends on the mound. In order to keep games under control, we limit the number of steals and runs allowed and, as they become ready, players get a chance to pitch as well. All players see between 4 and 6 innings per game in the field so there is plenty of action to go around. There will be a tryout for placement of players in this league. No second graders will be allowed to play in this league.
The 60 Foot Major League:
In recognition of the big jump from the controlled environment of our Minors program to the free wheeling 70 foot game we have in the Majors, we will be offering the "60 Foot Majors Program". We expect that the typical player will enter this league after two seasons in the Minors. We hope that most players will spend one season in this league on their path to our Major's Program. Most of the players in this league will be baseball age 10 or 11 and in the 5th grade. There will be a tryout for placement of players into this league. No baseball age 9 year olds players will be allowed to play in this league.
The 70 Foot Major League:
This league is designed for players who are baseball age 11-12 (typically sixth and seventh grade). We play on a 70 foot baseball diamond, which has a 50 foot pitching distance. HYBSA implemented this new program in our 2007 season and met with much success. The rules in this league are designed to help bridge the gap between youth baseball and "real" baseball as it is played when children reach or Prep and Babe Ruth Programs. Therefore, we introduce leading, pickoffs, and stealing "on the pitch". While baseball age 10 year old players may try out for this league, we would recommend that they try the 60 Foot Majors Program. If you are unsure if you should register for the "70 Foot Majors" or maybe try our "60 Foot Majors", please check with your coach from last year for a recommendation. There is a tryout for players entering this league.
Prep:
Our Prep Program is designed for players baseball age 13 and is played on a 90 Foot baseball diamond. They play "real baseball" on a 90 foot diamond. This program is run through Tri-County Baseball and includes the towns of Marlborough, Andover, Colchester, East Hampton, and Lebanon. Play begins in early May and runs through the end of June.
Babe Ruth:
Our Babe Ruth Program is designed for players baseball age 14 and 15 and is also played on a 90 foot baseball diamond. This program starts in mid May and continue through the end of June.
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