T-Ball
2012 Fee: $80

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap
Equipment To Return At Season End: None

Offered to 5, 6, and 7 year-olds who are completing kindergarten or 1st grade. Players must be at least 5 years old by April 30. Kids are placed on school area teams. Usually starts with hitting from tee, then may move to coach pitching. 1-2 practices per week with a game on Saturday. About 10 games for the season. No score is kept and the emphasis is on having fun. Baseball is a complex and at times slow game. We cannot expect to keep the attention of these, our youngest and least experienced kids, for very long. We can only try to get them excited about the activities associated with the game so that they want to continue with baseball/softball next year.

Historical AA Team Composition: The 2005 & 2006 breakdowns were 100% of all 5's play T-Ball. In 2005 84% of the six-year-olds played T-Ball and 75% did so in 2006. About 15% of the 7's (mostly girls) played T-Ball

Baseball - A
2012 Fee: $110

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap, and Socks
Equipment To Return At Season End: None

Mostly 7 & 8 year-olds, but any player with average or better skill development and one year of T-Ball should be ready. The kids, both boys and girls, are placed on school area teams. This is normally the last level of coed play. Primarily Coach pitching. A Safety-Soft ball is used throughout season. 1-2 practices per week and generally 2 games per week. About 15 games for the season. Like T-Ball no score is kept. We try and concentrate on the fundamentals of catching, throwing, fielding and hitting. Skill positions such as catcher and pitcher are not the emphasis. Everybody should play equal time (as much as possible) and at all the positions.

Historical A Team Composition: In 2005 and 2006 roughly 75% of the sevens played here. In 2005 the A-Ball rosters were 11% sixes, 45% sevens, 38% eights and 6% nine’s (many of the 9s were girls). In 2006 it was 19% sixes, 68% sevens, 9% eights, and 4% nines. For some reason last season (2006) there was a big drop of 8’s at this level (59% of the 8s in 2005 played A-Ball and only 10% in 2006) which is not the historical norm. One reason might be that more kids are starting at 5 years old now instead of 6 or 7.

Baseball - AA
2012 Fee: $155

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap, Socks, and Pants
Equipment To Return At Season End: Pants

Normally mostly 9 year-olds with quite a few 8s. In the past this level has been dominated by 9s and with 8s making up the balance, but that dynamic may be flipping. There are usually a few 7s and 10s depending on experience and skill. Placed on school area teams. Machine pitching (to encourage hitters and liven up fielding) with some player pitching as the year moves along (with coaches pitching to avoid walks). A regulation hard baseball is used throughout season. 1-2 practices per week and 2 games per week. About 18 games for the season. The focus is still on player skill development and enjoyment- a score is kept for the purpose of monitoring the 5-run per inning rule, but winning and losing is not stressed (except perhaps in the heads of the coaches and parents ). At this level the work begins to develop basic pitching and catcher skills.

Historical AA Team Composition: In 2005 67% of the 9s played at this level and in 2006 it was 58%. The big difference was in the 8s, 41% played AA Ball in 2005 and in 2006 that number was 82%. The roster breakdowns in 2005 were 3% sevens, 33% eights 51% nines and 13%10s. By 2006 it was 10% sevens 52% eights, 35% nines, and 3% tens.

Baseball - AAA
2012 Fee: $165

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap, Socks, and Pants
Equipment To Return At Season End: Pants

Mostly 10 and 11 year-olds with some 9's. At this level, players attend a tryout in February to determine their skill level. Fundamental fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting are the key skills being evaluated. Players who show the skills needed to be successful at this more advanced level will be placed onto an AAA team. Players are placed onto teams using a player draft, with the primary goal being balanced teams. Teams usually practices 2 times per week and play 2 games per week. About 20 games for the season with an end of year tournament.

AAA is the first year in which the scorebook is maintained and the win loss record is recorded. The goal of the coaches should still be to move the boys around to various positions, but by the end of the season those boys showing an aptitude for specific positions over their teammates will be spending more time in those spots. Development of pitchers and catchers is a coaching focus.

Historical AAA Team Composition: In 2005 23% of the 9s, 69% of the 10s, and 50% of the 11s played AAA ball. In the 2006 season 37% of the 9s 71% of the 10s and 48% 11s played at this level. The shift seen between 2005 and 2006 was that more 9s were at this level and for the first time in memory three 8s choose to play up also. The roster breakdown in 2005 was 23% 9s, 52% 10s, 23% 11’s and 2% 12s. By the 2006 season the rosters were 7% 8s, 30% 9s, 41%10s, and 22% 11s.

Baseball - Majors
2012 Fee: $165

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap, Socks, and Pants
Equipment To Return At Season End: Pants and Jerseys

Mostly 11-12 year-olds, with a few 10s in most years. At this level, players attend a tryout to determine their skill level. We evaluate fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting to determine if the player has the skills to be successful at the Majors level.

Like AAA, teams are not put together based on school or neighborhood friend groupings. Players are placed onto teams using a player draft to assure a fair balance of talent among all Majors teams. Teams practices 2 times per week and play 2 or 3 games per week. About 24 games for the season. This is the most competitive level of traditional Little League. Hopefully no player is a substitute for more that 2 or possibly 3 innings in any game (discipline issues aside). Boys will play the majority of their time at the positions they are best suited for and there is less shuffling around. Pitchers are decided upon based on experience.

Historical Majors Team Composition: The team compositions at the majors level between 2005 and 2006 remained pretty consistent. In 2006 there were more 10s (three in 2005 vs. six in 2006) playing up, but other than that things were pretty much unchanged. In 2005 9% of the 10s 50% of the 11s and 95% of the 12s played at the Majors level. In 2006, 22% of the 10s, 52% of the 11s, and 100% of the 12s played Majors. Roster breakdowns in 2005 were 9%10s, 33%11s, and 58% 12s. In 2006 the rosters were 18% 10s, 33% 11s and 49% 12s.

Baseball - Juniors
2012 Fee: $190

Equipment Provided By League: Jersey, Cap, Socks, and Pants
Equipment To Return At Season End: Pants and Jerseys

For players league age 13-14. This is the most recent addition to the traditional levels of Little League. It is designed to offer a place to play for the middle-school aged players. In the event that we have less than 12 players register for this level, we will refer those that do register to Murrayhill Little League (neighboring league).

Softball - A
2012 Fee: $110
Mostly 8 year-olds (7s with T-ball experience and parental approval). Coach pitching for the season. Use of safety ball throughout the season. 1-2 practices per week and 2 games per week. About 15 games for the season.

Softball - AA
2012 Fee: $155
Mostly 9 year-olds. A few 8s and a few 10s. Player pitching, machine pitching, and some coach pitching with a real softball. At this level, players have 2 practices per week pre-season, with 1 practice and 1 or 2 games per week during the season. Approximately 12-14 games for the season.

Softball - AAA
2012 Fee: $165
Mostly 10 and 11 year-olds. A few 9s and a few 12s. Players pitch the entire season. At this level, players have 3 practices per week pre-season, with 1 or 2 practices per week and 2 or 3 games per week during the season, totaling 4 softball events per week. Approximately 18-21 games for the season.

At this level, players attend a tryout in February to determine their skill level. Fundamental fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting are the key skills being evaluated. Players who show the skills needed to be successful at this more advanced level will be placed onto a AAA team.

Softball - Majors
2012 Fee: $165
Mostly 11 and 12 year-olds. Very few 10s. At this level, players have 3 practices per week pre-season, with 2 practices and 2 or 3 games per week during the season. Approximately 20-25 games for the season.

At this level, players attend tryout to determine their skill level. We evaluate fielding, catching, throwing, and hitting to determine if the player has the skills to be successful at the Majors level.

Softball - Juniors
Ages 13-14 year olds. Players have 3 practices per week, pre-season and 2 practices per week and 2-3 games per week during season. About 20-25 games per season.

Softball - Seniors
Ages 14-16. At this level players have 1 practice per week pre-season and 1 practice with 2 games on Saturday. There also might be 1 or 2 weekday games at Alpenrose. About 12 games per season.

Families registering three or more players for RHLL programs are eligible for a $75 discount. If you have three or more players registered, please contact the league to receive a $75 refund. The new registration software does not accommodate this discount.