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Welcome to Salem Youth Baseball’s 2010 season. As the introduction to organized baseball, we hope you and your child will have a very enjoyable season. Our program will stress fundamental baseball in a positive atmosphere, where the main goals are learning the game and having fun.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
For Farm League and Grapefruit League, practices will begin at 5:45pm and will end about 7:30pm. Practices will be run in a “campstyle” format organized by the Farm Director, Eric Deminico. Parent volunteers are welcomed to help at any and all practices. All practices will be held at Michele Park, behind Mary Queen of Peace church. Farm League will practice on Tuesday nights starting April 21st @5:45pm. Grapefruit League will practice on Thursday nights starting April 23rd @ 5:45pm.
For all other levels, practice dates and times will vary throughout the week, and will be posted on the web site under your team's "calendar" section. Your team's manager will also let you know when these dates will be.
GAME SCHEDULE
For Farm League and Grapefruit League, all games will be played on Saturday mornings beginning on May 3rd. The Farm League group will play 8:30am and Grapefruit League will begin at 11:00 am. We ask that you try to get to the field at least 15-20 minutes before game time. Games will last about an hour and a half. All games will be held at Michele Park. On Saturdays, two teams will play at Veterans Field at Michele Park.
For all other levels, game times will vary, and will be posted on the league's web site under your team's "calendar" section. Just click "2010 Season" on the menu bar above, and select your team. Then, select "Calendar" from the left-hand menu.
TEAMS
All teams will have 10-14 players. All teams will have a manager and at least two assistant coaches. Parents interested in Managing or Coaching are asked to contact your league's director. Every person who coaches on the field during a game must have completed both a coaching application form and a state CHRI form. Both of these forms are located in the "Documents" section linked to the left. All children will get a team hat and shirt during the first week of practice. Children are expected to have a glove. Cleats are optional, and will help the players get better footing in the grass. Baseball pants are recommended. And a cup is required for all boys aged 9 or older. At the T-Ball, Rookie and Single-A levels, we will try to team players by neighborhood and/or school. At all advanced levels (Double-A and above), players will be drafted by their managers. You should receive a phone call from your team's manager by the second week of April.
FARM LEAGUE (aka T-BALL) (AGES 5-6) RULES
All players will bat (off a tee) each inning, and will reach base regardless of whether they are put out. There are no strikeouts or walks. The last player to hit in each inning will circle the bases, along with the runners on base. All players will play defense, usually rotating positions during the game. Helmets must be worn by batters and base runners at all times. There is no on deck area. Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended for parents watching the games, when the games are held at Michele Park. No score is kept, and no playoffs are held. Every participating child will receive a trophy at the end of the season.
GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE (aka ROOKIE BALL) (AGE 7) RULES
Rookie Ball rules are the same as T-ball, with a few exceptions. Managers will pitch to the hitters until either the ball is struck or the batters earns three strikes. After three strikes, the batter will hit off the tee. Later in the season (at the discretion of the managers), batters will face pitchers from the opposing team, and outs may result in the player leaving the base (although every batter will continue to hit each inning.)
SINGLE-A (AGE 8) RULES
In Single-A, hitters will be called out (including strike-outs), and three outs will normally signal the end of an inning (except in cases where not enough players were able to bat in a game.) Children will pitch from in front of the mound. When four balls are thrown, or when a batter is hit, the opposing team's manager will continue pitching to that batter. Defensively, 9-14 players may be on the field at any time, and coaches may also take the field for in-game instruction. No score is kept, and no playoffs are held. At the end of the season, each player receives a trophy.
DOUBLE-A (AGES 9-10) RULES
Double-A is the earliest level where a score is kept and playoffs are held. The players on the team pitch, unless the bases are loaded and four balls are thrown or a batter is hit with the pitch. In which case, the opposing team's manager completes the at-bat. When a ball is hit to the outfield, and the ball is thrown back into the infield, all base runners must stop. Base stealing is allowed only once per inning, and runners may not advance on a passed ball or wild pitch. Strict pitch counts are enforced at the Double-A level and above -- all the way through Babe Ruth 15/16.
TRIPLE-A (AGES 10-11) RULES
Triple-A rules are the same as Double-A, except that base runners may advance as many bases as possible on a play, and may advance on a passed ball or wild pitch (unless the runner is at third.) Base runners may also advance on an overthrow. Managers/coaches do not pitch at the Triple-A level.
MAJORS (AGES 10-12) RULES
Majors rules are the same as Triple-A, except that runners may score from thid on a passed ball or wild pitch.
BABE RUTH (AGES 13-16) RULES
Beginning with age 13 (as of April 30th), all players will move to the Major-League-standard 90-foot diamond. The rules are the same as MLB, including leading off bases and running to first on a dropped third strike, balks (though including a warning at the age-13 level.)
PARKING
SYB greatly expanded our parking lot several years ago, but in those rare cases where the lot is full, we ask that when you park at Mary Queen of Peace you please leave the first 10 spots in each row for patrons of the church. The church allows us to park at the church with the understanding that we leave those spots open. Please continue to demonstrate consideration for our neighbors.
OPENING DAY
All teams are invited to participate in our Opening Day Parade. This is currently scheduled for Sunday, April 18th @ 12 noon. Your manager will have all the details when he meets with you. For questions regarding cancellations or general league questions, please call (603)974-0800.
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