Baseball 8U Juniors

Juniors is designed to build on the fundamentals attained in T-Ball within a fun and safe environment.  Teams will practice one to two times each week and play one game a week.

Game play is coach pitch, with rules designed to foster age-appropriate player engagement and skill development.  Game score and win/loss records are not kept and coaches serve as umpires.

• Gender: Boys & Girls
• Ages: 6-8 years old
• Cost:
  • $105 Early Bird registrations prior to February 1st
  • $115 for registrations after February 1st
  • Refunds will require a $10 surcharge for all leagues
• Season: May – June
• Days of Play per Week: 2 - 3 (Monday, Wednesday, Saturdays)
  • Teams will alternate practicing twice weekly on Monday and Wednesday, with practicing once weekly on Wednesday
  • All teams will play a game against another team every Saturday
• Location: Bernabi Elementary School, American Legion Fields (691 Trimmer Rd.)
• Awards: Participation trophies presented to all athletes

The primary objective at this level is to ensure that each player has a positive experience with baseball, desires to play again the following year, and has learned the following skills:

• Advanced warm up techniques (throwing warm up)
• Ground ball fielding techniques
• Uses both hands to catch the ball vs. one handed or trapped catches
• Understands where to make the defensive play
• Proper base running
  
• Relaying the ball from the outfield to the infield
• Batting stance
• Communication (calling for a fly ball)
• Backing up plays
• Difference between a force play and a must tag
• Good sportsmanship

April - Mid May

• Monday/Wednesday/Saturday: Practice only

Mid May - June

• Monday/Wednesday: Practices followed by 2-3 inning scrimmage
• Saturday: Practice only

June

• Monday/Wednesday: 6 inning game
• Saturday: Practice only

**Throughout the course of the season, Saturday will serve as a "flex" date for rainouts and/or additional practice.    More information regarding this will come from your Head Coach closer to the start of the season. 

Game/Scrimmage Expectations (Spring Season):

• Games and practices will be played on Fields 5, 6 & 7 located at Bernabi Elementary
• No Wins/Losses
• Coach Pitch
• Players will rotate through most field positions throughout the season unless there is safety or other concerns
• Players will rotate within the batting order from game to game
• The coach that is pitching will serve as the umpire, but may defer calls to the base coaches
• Coaches are encouraged to be on the field for instruction
• Coach Interference with the ball or a player will result in a dead ball and all runners advance one base
• 10 fielders max in the field (6 infielders, 4 outfielders)
• Outfielders cannot enter the infield to make a play
• No player will play in the infield longer than 4 innings per game
• 4 swings and misses is an out
• No bunting, no leading off, no stealing, no sliding into first base
• Runners cannot advance on overthrows
• On hits to the outfield, runners may continue to advance until the ball gets to the infield.  The ball does not have to be controlled by a player for runners to stop
• It is encouraged to utilize a player at the catcher position, but is not required.  If a player is a catcher, a coach should stand behind the catcher to throw past balls back to the pitcher to ensure good game speed
  
• Juniors is coach pitch.  Pitches may be thrown over or underhand and within a reasonable distance from the pitching rubber
• 4 swings and misses equals and out.  Players will have unlimited foul balls
• A "swing and miss" shall be called on players who do not swing at strikes
• No walks allowed
• Any batted ball that hits the pitcher will be a live ball
• Base Length is 60 feet