BASEBALL PROGRAMS
Minors Baseball (Ages 6-8)
"A" Baseball - Age 7
“A” baseball is the first level of our instructional Minors baseball programs – it’s for players who have at least one year of T-ball experience. “A” Ball is geared toward teaching sound baseball fundamentals such as proper throwing, fielding and batting techniques. The “A” program is your child’s first opportunity to hit a pitched baseball (an adult pitcher will pitch to your child). Your child will play in all of the defensive innings and will bat in all innings of a regular game.
We will attempt to place players on teams grouped roughly by neighborhood elementary schools. If you would like to request a “buddy” for your player to be assigned on a team with, please coordinate with the other family and both include the buddy request with special instructions while registering as we can only guarantee mutual buddy requests.
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TEAMS: “A” Ball teams are made up of 10 to 13 players.
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AGE: Team are comprised of athletes age 7 by August 31, 2021 (generally 1st grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PLAY-UPs and PLAY-DOWNs: 7-yr olds in Kindergarten may choose to play T-Ball. 7-yr olds in 1st grade may play AA by parent written request, subject to SLL approval. SLL’s baseball Level of Play policy provides specifics (see policy HERE).
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PRACTICES: Teams typically practice one afternoon each week for about 90 minutes. Weekly practices start in early March.
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GAMES: Teams will play 8 games on Saturdays during the season. Games are 3-4 innings and typically last 1 ½ to 2 hours. Games are played from early April through early June.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Field Preparation, Team parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
“AA” Baseball - Age 8
“AA” baseball is the second level of our instructional Minors baseball programs – it’s for players who have at least one year of “A” Baseball experience. “AA” Ball features a more aggressive style of play and is designed to help your child make the transition from Minors (instructional) baseball to the more competitive Majors baseball. “AA” focuses on good baseball fundamentals. An adult pitcher will pitch to your child from a distance of at least 36 feet with a flat overhand pitch. There are strikes and strikeouts, and outs are recorded (three outs will retire the side). Your child will play in at least 3 of the 4 defensive innings (more defensive innings if more innings are played), but may not necessarily bat each innings since outs are recorded.
We will attempt to place players on teams grouped roughly by neighborhood elementary schools. If you would like to request a “buddy” for your player to be assigned on a team with, please coordinate with the other family and both include the buddy request with special instructions while registering as we can only guarantee mutual buddy requests.
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TEAMS: “AA” teams are made up of 10 to 13 players.
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AGE: Team are comprised of athletes age 8 by August 31, 2021 (generally 2nd grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PLAY-UPs and PLAY-DOWNs: 8-yr olds may play-down (“A”) with written request. They also may play-up (“AAA”) if they attend the 9-yr old skill evaluations and score in top 25% in the skills assessment and demonstrate an ability to pitch. SLL’s baseball Level of Play policy provides specifics (see policy HERE).
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PRACTICES: Teams typically practice one afternoon each week for about 90 minutes. Weekly practices start in early March.
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GAMES: Teams will play 8 games on Saturdays during the season. Games are 4-6 innings and typically last 1 ½ to 2 hours. Games are played from early April through the middle of June.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Field Preparation, Team parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Majors Baseball (Ages 6-8)
“AAA” Baseball - Age 9
“AAA” baseball is the first level of our Majors baseball programs. Players will expand on the skills taught at “AA”. This is the first year of “kid-pitch” (they’re always excited for this change). Players should be able to throw from third-base to first-base in the air and agile enough to avoid being hit by a pitch. They should be able to properly catch a ball. There is a tournament at the end of the year.
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TEAMS: “AAA” teams are made up of 11-12 players. Teams are created by a skills evaluation and draft process in early February.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes age by August 31, 2021 (generally 3rd grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PLAY-UPs and PLAY-DOWNs: Players may play up or play down if they would otherwise be separated from their grade level due to their League Age per policy. Players may also be given the option to play down if they score in the bottom 15% of the Skills Assessment for their age. Both options require special request. SLL’s baseball Level of Play policy provides specifics (see policy HERE).
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Players will usually have three (3) “events” per week; three practices until the regular season begins, then two games (1 weekday and 1 weekend) and one weekday practice each week. Practices typically last 2 hours and games are 3 hours; including warm-ups. Games are 6 innings in length with three outs per inning. Practices start in early March and games are played through mid-June.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Coast Baseball - Age 10 -11
Coast baseball is the second level of our Majors baseball programs. Players should have past success at the “AAA” level and be ready to start hitting pitching of different speeds. Must understand the defensive end of the game and hit successfully at this level. League standings may be maintained and there is a championship tournament at the end of the year.
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TEAMS: Coast teams are made up of 11-12 players. Teams are created by a skills evaluation and draft process in early February.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes age 10-11 by August 31, 2021 (generally 4th-5th grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PLAY-UPs and PLAY-DOWNs: Players may play up or play down if they would otherwise be separated from their grade level due to their League Age per policy. Players may also be given the option to play down if they score in the bottom 15% of the Skills Assessment for their age. Both options require special request. SLL’s baseball Level of Play policy provides specifics (see policy HERE).
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Players will usually have three (3) “events” per week; three practices until the regular season begins, then two games (1 weekday and 1 weekend) and one weekday practice each week. Practices typically last 2 hours and games are 3 hours; including warm-ups. Games are 6 innings in length with three outs per inning. Practices start in early March and games are played through mid-June.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Majors Baseball - Ages 11-12
Majors baseball (the level) is the third level of our Majors baseball Division (Yes, this is confusing – we will be making changes to our program names and groups next year). All Little League eligible 12-year-olds will play in Majors. For those 11-year-olds wishing to play in Majors, they will be selected based on Skills Evaluation. This is necessary so that balanced teams can be created and your child can experience a balanced, enjoyable, competitive environment. Those players not assigned to a Majors team are automatically entered into the Coast level. Players must be ready to hit a variety of pitching. Defensive awareness includes where to make the play and how to run the bases. League standings are maintained and there is a tournament at the end of the year.
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TEAMS: Majors teams are made up of 12 players. Teams are created by a skills evaluation and draft process in early February.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes ages 11-12 by August 31, 2021 (generally 5th-6th grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PLAY-UPs and PLAY-DOWNs: There are no play-up options for 12-yr olds. They may also be given the option to play down if they score in the bottom 15% of the Skills Assessment for their age. SLL’s baseball Level of Play policy provides specifics (see policy HERE).
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Teen Baseball (Ages 13-16)
Intermediate 50/70 Baseball - Age 13
The Intermediate 50/70 baseball division is a program for 13-year olds and is an introduction to big field baseball where players can add more skill and strategy to their game. The base path distance increases to 70 feet and the pitching distance increases to 50 feet. Defensive awareness along with knowing where to make the play and how to run the bases becomes a more critical part of the game. Base stealing, sliding, and lead offs are allowed starting at this level. 2-5/8″ diameter big barrel bats are used and 2-1/4”diameter bats may still be utilized if approved for use in Majors and lower division play with the exception of 100% composite bats which must be BBCOR certified. It is our understanding that existing BESR rated bats are still approved for use during the 2014 season. Metal or molded rubber cleats depending upon fields utilized.
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TEAMS: Intermediate 50/70 teams will typically have between 12-14 players.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes age 13 by August 31, 2021 (generally 7th grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Players will usually have 4 to 5 “events” per week. 3 practices until season begins, then 2-3 games per week (weekday and weekend) and 2 practices (one field and one batting) each week. Practices typically last 2 hours and games are 3 hours; including warm-ups. Practices start in early March and games are played through June. There will be approximately 22-25 games during the season and games are 7 innings in length with three outs per inning.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Juniors Baseball - Age 14
The Junior League baseball division is a program for 14-year olds and is an introduction to the conventional 90-foot diamond with 90 feet base paths and a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Bat size is a maximum of 2-5/8″ diameter although 2-1/4”diameter bats may still be utilized if approved for use in Majors and lower division play with the exception of 100% composite bats which must be BBCOR certified. It is our understanding that existing BESR rated bats are still approved for use during the 2014 season. Metal or molded rubber cleats depending upon fields utilized and no metal cleats on artificial pitching mounds.
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TEAMS: Juniors teams will typically have between 12-14 players.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes age 14
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by August 31, 2021 (generally 8th grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Players will usually have 4 to 5 “events” per week. 3 practices until season begins, then 2-3 games per week (weekday and weekend) and 2 practices (one field and one batting) each week. Practices typically last 2 hours and games are 3 hours; including warm-ups. Practices start in late February to early March and games are played through June. There will be approximately 22-25 games during the season and games are 7 innings in length with three outs per inning.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Seniors Baseball - Ages 15-16
The Senior baseball division is a program for ages 15-16, using a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Bats must be 2-5/8″ diameter and must meet BBCOR performance standards not weighing, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (drop -3 only) (e.g. a 32 inch long bat must weigh 29 ounces). BESR rated bats are not be allowed. Metal or molded rubber cleats depending upon fields utilized.
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TEAMS: Seniors teams will typically have between 12-14 players.
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AGE: Teams are comprised of athletes ages 15-16 by August 31, 2021 (generally 9th-10th grade). Our 2021 Baseball Age Chart doc provides specifics.
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Players will usually have 4 to 5 “events” per week. 3 practices until season begins, then 2-3 games per week (weekday and weekend) and 2 practices (one field and one batting) each week. Practices typically last 2 hours and games are 3 hours; including warm-ups. Practices start in early March and games are played through June. There will be approximately 22-25 games during the season and games are 7 innings in length with three outs per inning.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.
Challenger Baseball (Ages 6-18)
Challenger Division - Ages 6-18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in high school
SLL’s Challenger Division is a baseball program for children and youth ages 6 to 18 years who have physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. Our program provides these kids with a unique opportunity to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation at a level structured to their abilities. More importantly, our program allows them to be part of a team and develop their social skills and build their self-esteem. Players from our regular program act as buddies to assist the Challengers throw, catch, run the bases, push wheelchairs, etc. Although our Challengers benefit from their assistance, the buddies are winners too as the enthusiasm and spirit the Challengers bring to the game is infectious.
Here’s a link to SLL’s Challenger Division program flyer. You can also contact the Division VP Jason Innes at jasoninnes@comcast.net. Little League, Inc. also has a web page for this program, which you can find HERE.
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AGE: Ages 6-18, or up to 22 if still enrolled in high school
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SEASON: The season runs from April to June with games being played on weekend afternoons with other teams from Redmond and Woodinville.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is essential for the Challengers Division.
Summer Baseball (Ages 7-12)
Summer Baseball (Rookie, Coast, Majors) - Ages 7-12
Summer Baseball is a fun summer program that lets kids take advantage of nicer weather and continue playing baseball during summer. For our summer baseball programs, the emphasis is on HAVING FUN and less about skill development and competition. Registration is open to Little League players who are age-eligible for the programs we offer, including players within the SLL boundary as well as players who live in other Little League boundary areas. More details are available here
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TEAMS: Team size will vary depending on number of registrations; they’re typically between 10 and 12 players each.
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PRACTICES & GAMES: Teams will play 8 games over a four-week season. The summer season will run Monday-Thursday evenings during the month of July (no games July 4). Exact schedule is yet to be set; in past years, Majors and Rookie have played Mon/Wed evenings, and Coast has played Tues/Thurs evenings.
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VOLUNTEERS: Parent participation is necessary on many levels from Coaching, Umpiring, Field Preparation, Score Keeping, Team Parent, etc. Please indicate your interests when registering your child.