Frequently Asked Questions about Little League

If you have Questions you don't see answered here, please send an email to one of our Board Members using the "Contact Info" page.

(The following information was last updated on February 5, 2013)

 

Basic Information

1. What equipment does my player need?

• Each player needs their own mitt and cleats although tee ball players can play in regular sneakers.

• Bats and batting helmets are provided by MHLL, however many players prefer to have their own.

• MHLL provides socks, hats and uniforms for all levels except Tee Ball. Uniforms (jersey & pants) are assigned to players at the beginning of the season and returned at the end. The players keep their hat and socks.

• Tee ball players receive a t-shirt and hat that they keep.

2. Who can sign up for Murrayhill Little League?

• Players who are league age 5-12 years old and live within MHLL service area are eligible to play. MHLL serves families in the Fir Grove, Hiteon, Nancy Ryles, Scholls Heights and Sexton Mountain grade school attendance boundaries.

• If your child attends another school, but lives within the boundaries for one of these schools, you are welcome to register.

3. What is league age?

• Children ages 5 to 12 are eligible to play little league. Players who are 13 to 14 years old will play in the Juniors program. Tee ball is co-ed and little league baseball league ages apply. Please see the “League Age chart” on the MHLL website.

• Generally boys play baseball and girls begin softball starting at the Coast level. League ages differ for softball. Please see the Softball link on the MHLL website for softball league age information.

• League age for baseball is the age the player is on April 30, while league age for girls is the age they are on December 31. For example, if your child will be 5 years old on or before April 30, 2013, they are eligible to play Tee Ball this season.

Quick reference chart on League Age:

League Age 5 if born (May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008)

League Age 6 if born (May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007)

League Age 7 if born (May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006)

League Age 8 if born (May 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005)

League Age 9 if born (May 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004)

League Age 10if born (May 1, 2002 to April 30, 2003)

League Age 11 if born (May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2002)

League Age 12 if born (May 1, 2000 to April 30, 2001)

League Age 13 if born (May 1, 1999 to April 30, 2000)

League Age 14 if born (May 1, 1998 to April 30, 1999)

4. What size bat does my child need?

• MHLL provides a selection of bats for each team, however if your player prefers to have their own bat, please make educated choices when selecting a bat.

• Bat size depends on the ability level and the size of the player. Please consult with your child’s manager or visit websites that discuss appropriate bat sizes to choose a bat that fits the player. The biggest mistake is getting a bat that is too big for the child to swing effectively.

 

Information About Practices and Games

1. When do practices start?

• Practices for Tee ball, Coast and Farm begin two weeks before opening day (opening day is April 6, 2013). Tee ball and Coast will usually practice 2 times per week. For Farm, there are usually 2-3 practices per week.

• Practices for Minors and Majors begin right after teams are drafted in early March. There are usually five practices per week until games begin on April 3.

2. How many games and practices are scheduled each week during the season?

• Tee ball and Coast teams play two games each week and may or may not have any practices once the season starts (depending on field availability).

• Farm teams play two games each week and usually have 1-2 practices as well.

• Minors and Majors teams have three games per week and 1-2 practices depending on field availability.

3. How long do games and practices last?

• Tee ball games last one hour.

• Coast games can go 90 minutes.

• Farm, Minors and Majors games usually go two hours.

• Practice last 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours depending on the coach’s preference and field availability.

4. How many games do the teams play each season?

• The tee ball season ends before Memorial weekend. There are usually 14 games scheduled. Rain outs may not be made up.

• Coast and Farm teams are scheduled for 18 games. Rained out Coast games may not always be made up. Farm games that are rained out are often made up.

• Minors and Majors teams play 18 regular season games and then have an end of season tournament. All rained out games are made up at this level.

 

Levels of Play

T-Ball: This division is for 5 and 6 year olds. This is coach pitching or having the player hit a ball off a batting tee. Players will learn the fundamentals of the game.

Coast: Usually 7/8 year olds. A player, who is 5 or 6 MUST have completed at least one year of T-BALL before moving up to Coast. This is all coach pitching.

Farm: Usually 8/9/10 year olds. This is for the developing player. Pitching machines are used for 4 innings per game and player pitching 2 innings per game. It is recommended that a player wishing to play in this division have completed at least one year of COAST.

Minors: 9/10/11 year olds. Players are selected to teams through a draft system. This level is all player pitching.

Majors: 10/11/12 year olds. This division is for the more experienced player. Players are selected to teams through a draft system. Player pitching is used exclusively.

Juniors: 13/14 year olds. This division is for the players who have aged out of Little League. Player pitching is used exclusively.

 

Tryouts and Evaluations

1. When are tryouts and who needs to go to them?

• Try outs are for players wanting to play Minors or Majors.

• They are held February. Please check the website for the dates.

• ALL players league age 9 to 12 should attend a try out. Players wishing to play Minors and Majors MUST attend a try out.

• All players who played at the Coast level last year and who wish to play Farm this season, MUST attend one of the Farm evaluation sessions.

• The Farm evaluations are held at the same time as the Minor and Major try outs.

• Players who played Farm last season and who are planning to play Farm again this season do not need to come to the Farm evaluations.

 

Formation of Teams

1. Can parents choose the team their child plays on?

• MHLL will try to honor all requests from parents who register online for Tee Ball, Coast or Farm.

• We cannot guarantee that your child will be on a team with requested players or a specific coach, however we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

• Minors and Majors teams are drafted, so players are selected by team managers. No requests may be made at these levels.

2. Why are Minors and Majors teams drafted?

• Once all players who want to play Minors or Majors have tried out and been evaluated, a draft is held. By drafting players at this level, the idea is that the players will be more evenly distributed by ability. Since MHLL teams play other MHLL teams during the season, we hope this draft will even out teams to enhance competition.

 

What is a Parent Option?

A parent can designated the highest level their child can play. This applies to players’ league age 10 and below. For example, if you have a son who is nine years old and playing minors, you can request that he plays no higher than the minor’s level. This request is done when you check in for try-outs.

 

What if players have to move during the season?

This rule applies to players playing in minors and farm levels. If a team at a higher level loses a player due to injury or quitting, then the manager will give the Player Agent a list of players who could move up to replace the missing player. All major and minor level teams must have 12 players.

 

What's all this about Post Season?

1. Who is eligible to play on Honors and All Star teams?

• All players who played at the Minor or Major level during the regular season may choose to be considered for post-season play.

• Not all players will be chosen for post season teams, however MHLL will try to put together enough teams to assure that a majority of those interested in being on a post season team are selected to play.

2. What commitment does the player need to make for post-season play?

• If a player puts his name in for consideration for post season play, he MUST be available to attend ALL practices and games if he is selected for a team.

• Please do not put in a form committing to post season play if your player has to miss any of the post-season.

3. What is the time commitment for post-season play?

• MHLL participates in both the District 4 Honors tournaments and All-Star tournaments. Please check the websites for tournament dates.

• Practices for All Stars and Honors begin the week of June 17, 2013 immediately following the end of the regular season. Teams practice several times each week until their respective tournaments begin.

• Honors tournaments for ages 9/10, 10/11 and 11/12 are at the district level only. These tournaments usually end by July 7.

• All Star tournaments begin in late June at the district level. All Stars teams that win their district tournaments move on to state tournaments that end in mid-July. For 9/10 and 10/11 All Stars teams, the state tournament is the last tournament of the post season.

• If our 11/12 All Stars team wins the district and state tournaments, they advance to the Northwestern Regional tournament in San Bernadino, CA immediately following the end of the state tournament. This is a 12-day tournament in early August. Little League pays for the players and coaches travel, meals and lodging expenses during the tournament.

• If the 11/12 All Stars win at regionals, they advance to the World Series tournament in Pennsylvania. The players would fly directly from the regionals tournament to the World Series tournament. The World Series ends in late August. Little League pays for the players and coaches travel, meals and lodging expenses during the tournament.

 

What Other Baseball & Softball Programs are in the area?

Beaverton Area Little League 503-641-4053

School Boundaries (Aloha Park, Cooper Mt., Chehalem, Errol Hassell, Hazeldale, Kinnaman) 

Cedar Mill Little League 503-672-9665

School Boundaries - (Cedar Mill (all),Findley (all),Forest Park (the portion north of NW Thompson, north of NW 53rd and west of Skyline Blvd.), Skyline (the portion south of Johnson Rd, south of Logie Trail Rd, and west of the Willamette River [including Sauvie Island, but not the St. Johns neighborhood]), Terra Linda (all). West Tualatin View (all), Cedar Park, Stoller and West Sylvan middle schools)

Raleigh Hills Little League 503-641-7455

School Boundaries - (Greenway, McKay (E. Of Hwy 217), Vose, Raleigh Park, Raleigh Hills)

Sun Creek Little League 503-645-4774, Box #3

School Boundaries - (Lenox, Rock Creek, Bethany, Oak Hills)

Tualatin Little League 503-293-5371

School Boundaries - (Montclair (south of Vermont))

Wolf Creek Little League 503-731-9234

School Boundaries - (Beaver Acres, Barnes, Elmonica, Cedar Park, Holy Trinity, McKinley, Meadow Park, Five Oaks, William Walker, Ridgewood)