6 YEAR OLDS - For 6 year olds, we will offer a program that is dependent on number of registrants with options we are considering at this time:
· The highly skilled 6 year old may possibly qualify to "play-up" with 7 year olds (if approved by commissioner and League President). See link to "Playing Up Policy & Procedure" above.
· Creating a fundamentals program with weekly instructional clinics on running, hitting, throwing and catching or creating a league teaching these basic fundamentals through practices and non-competitive games.
We will firm up our program immediately following evaluation day. All 6 year olds must register online and must attend the evaluations for the Bantam 7 year olds during the last half hour (2 PM to 2:30 PM) as there are no separate evaluations held for 6 year olds. For more information about the 6-year-old program, contact the bantam commissioners Mike Shullman at mshullman@russellspeeders.com.
BANTAM LEAGUE - This league is divided into separate leagues for players who are 7 years old and players who are 8 years old. The schedule is usually 8 to 10 games played on Saturday mornings. There is usually one practice session a week held at the discretion of the coach. Games are played primarily at Country and South schools and at the field located down the right line of Conner field at Saxe school. Parent coaches pitch to the players. For more information about the Bantam league, contact the 7-year-old commissioner Mike Shullman at mshullman@russellspeeders.com or the 8-year-old commissioner Chas Abate at charlesabate@msn.com.
CUB LEAGUE
Cub-9 League - The parent coaches pitch for the first part of the season and then players begin pitching. The schedule is usually 8 to 10 games played on Saturday mornings and a few weekday nights played at Mead park, Saxe school and Conner field. For more information about the Cub-9 league contact Dan Donnelly at daniel.donnelly@willis.com.
Cub-10 League - Teams play 8 to 10 games on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. Games are played at Mellick and Gamble fields in Mead Park. The teams compete for a league championship and an all star team plays in tournaments in June and July. For more information about the Cub 10 league contact Chip Toth at chip.toth@ge.com.
Majors–60 (Ages 11 & 12) - For the spring 2007 baseball season we will continue with the traditional Cal Ripken Majors 60 league. The teams will have no more than 8 twelve year olds per team with the balance being eleven year olds. The teams will be drafted by the league commissioner(s), head coaches, the all star commissioner(s) and the league president.
All games will be played on the traditional baseball diamond with the pitching rubber at a distance of 46 feet and base pads at 60 feet. Players will not be allowed to lead off the bases and pitchers will not be called for balks when they do so. All other rules and regulations will be described in the 2007 Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth rule book. A single or double elimination playoff tournament will be held at the end of the regular season with all teams participating. The Majors 60 will have two all star teams that will be selected by the all star commissioner(s), tournament team coach and league president. The league will have both a Majors 60 eleven and twelve year old all star team. The Majors 60 eleven and twelve year old all star teams will participate in tournaments during the months of May, June, July and possibly August. For more information about the Majors-60 contact Chris Robustelli at chris.robustelli@rcsltd.com or Rick Gould at rgould@informationsg.com.
Majors-70 (Ages 11 & 12) - This was a new National Cal Ripken league for the spring 2007 baseball season. The teams will have no more than 8 twelve year olds per team with the balance being eleven year olds. The teams will be drafted by the league commissioner, head coaches, the all star commissioner(s) and the league president.
All games will be played on a baseball diamond with the pitching rubber at a distance of 50 feet and base pads at 70 feet. Players will be allowed to lead off the bases and pitchers will be called for balks when they do so. All other rules and regulations will be described in the 2007 Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth rule book. A single or double elimination playoff tournament will be held at the end of the regular season with all teams participating. The Majors 70 will have one all star team that will be selected by the all star commissioner(s), all star team coach and league president. The Majors 70 all star team will be made up of only twelve year old players, the Majors - 70 eleven year old players will be eligible to play on the Majors – 60 all star team. The Majors 70 twelve year old all star team will participate in tournaments during the months of May, June, July and possibly August. They will also participate in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament during the week of July 26th, 2008. For more information about the Majors-70 contact Bob Hamill at RBrewsterH@aol.com.
SUMMER AND FALL BASEBALL - programs are offered for players who are 9 through 12 years-old. For more information regarding Summer Baseball contact Chris Cody at chris.cody@americas.bnpparibas.com or Tom Cordes at tcbc1@optonline.net. For more information regarding Fall Baseball contact Fred Ryon at fcryon@hotmail.com.
BABE RUTH BASEBALL
PREP LEAGUE is for 13 year-olds only. New Canaan teams play in the Norwalk Babe Ruth league competing against teams from Darien, Norwalk, Weston, Wilton and Westport. The schedule runs from mid April to early June and includes about 14 regular-season games played on Saturdays and Sundays as well as one weekday night. A Norwalk league championship single elimination tournament is held at the end of the season with the top teams in regular season play competing. A New Canaan only Commissioners Cup tournament follows the Norwalk tournament in early June. The league is competitive and players are expected to make a commitment to their teams and attend all games and practices. Home games are usually played at Coppo Field in Waveny Park or Mead Park. For more information contact Mike Connors, Prep 13's Commissioner at mconnorsllc@aol.com.
BABE RUTH LEAGUE is for 14 and 15 year olds. New Canaan teams play in the Norwalk Babe Ruth League competing against teams from Darien, Monroe, Norwalk, Weston, Westport and Wilton. For the players who are not playing on the New Canaan High School baseball teams, the “spring season” starts in early April. Games are played on weekends only. As the high school program winds down, the high school players will join their teams in the league around mid-May. The regular season extends through late June and includes about 12 games played on Saturdays and Sundays as well as one weekday night. A league championship tournament is held at the end of the season. A tournament team competes in a district tournament after the league tournament. The league is competitive and players are expected to make a commitment to their teams and attend all games and practices. Home games are played at Mead Field in Mead Park and Coppo Field in Waveny Park.
In the past years we have found that there are always some players who do not sign up for Babe Ruth because they are playing in high school. Most of these players want to continue to play after the high school season is over so please sign them up during the regular registration so that they are assured a spot on a team. These programs do not interfere with each other and by playing in the Babe Ruth League, the high school players will get to continue their play in game situations and develop their baseball skills. For more information please contact Chris Cody at chris.cody@americas.bnpparibas.com.
SENIOR BABE RUTH LEAGUE - is for 16 to 18 year-olds. The New Canaan team plays in the Fairfield County Senior Babe Ruth league competing against teams from Bridgeport, Fairfield, Monroe, Norwalk, Stratford and Trumbull. The schedule runs from early June to early July and includes about 18 games played on Tuesday and Thursday nights and a doubleheader each Sunday. A league championship tournament is held at the end of the season. Two tournament teams are formed, one each from the East and West divisions of the County league, to play in the Senior Babe Ruth state tournament in July. The league is very competitive and players are expected to make a commitment to their teams and attend all games and practices. Home games are played at Mead Field in Mead Park. For more information contact Bob Pares at bobpares@hotmail.com.
SUMMER AND FALL PROGRAM is also offered for players who are 13 through 15 years-old. The summer program starts the last week of June and runs through the first week of August. There is usually one game during the week and a game on Saturday and a game on Sunday. The fall program starts in early September and runs through late October. For more information regarding Summer Baseball contact Chris Cody at chris.cody@americas.bnpparibas.com or Tom Cordes at tcbc1@optonline.net For more information regarding Fall Baseball contact Fred Ryon at fcryon@hotmail.com.
BABE RUTH SOFTBALL
BAMBINO DIVISION - for 2nd and 3rd graders. Teams have one practice and one game a week. Bambinos have clinics for first half of season with NCHS varsity softball players and then play abridged games on Saturday mornings. After the NCHS clinic is over, Bambinos play regular two hour games.
MINORS DIVISION - for 4th and 5th graders. Minors have one practice a week and up to 12 games. Games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with the possibility of one night game during the season.
MAJORS DIVISION - for 6th through 8th grades. Majors have one practice a week and up to 12 games. Games are played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons with one night game during the season. There will also be a season ending tournament/playoff.
An 8th grade travel team, where try-outs are required, plays in a Norwalk league.
No experience is necessary at any grade group, except 8th grade travel team. NCHS girls softball varsity players umpire all games. Based on try-outs, we field 10 & U, 12 & U, and 14 & U post-season All-Star teams that compete in a Fairfield County league and attend tournaments. For more information, contact Bob Persico at alp142@hotmail.com.
