Orono Baseball Association

 IMPORTANT NOTE

• Grades:  Currently in pre-school and Kindergarteners with limited previous experience
• Schedule:  This program is scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday in May and June.   The first two weeks will be practices only.  The next two weeks will be one practice and one game.  The final four weeks will be two games each week.  On June 9, this league will have a Jamboree up at the Lee Carlson complex.  This will be a fun and festive event up at the “big kid” fields.
• Program:  The basic aim of instructional ball is to introduce beginners to the game of baseball by teaching fundamental skills and rules of the game. No scores will be recorded or standings kept. We do expect to play the players at normal baseball positions and teach them how to hit, catch and throw as well as what constitutes an out or a safe hit and what counts as a run.  The players would start out hitting from tees and then move on to a coach-pitched ball as they are ready.  Parent instruction will be provided so you can start working with your players at home.
• Cost:  $115

• Grades:  Kindergarteners with two years of t-ball experience or with basic throwing, catching and batting skills, all 1st graders, and 2nd graders who are new to the game.
• Schedule:  This league is scheduled for every Tuesday and Thursday in May and June. The first two weeks will be practices only.  The next two weeks will be one practice and one game.  The final four weeks will be two games each week.  On June 16, this league will have a Jamboree up at the Lee Carlson complex.  This will be a fun and festive event up at the “big kid” fields.
• Program:  The basic aim of the Rookie League is to teach the fundamental skills and rules of the game. The coach will pitch to each of the batters on his own team using a mechanized Louisville slugger manual pitching machine. Scores will be kept, but no records of the standings are kept.  We will stress teamwork and good sportsmanship no matter the result of the game.  Parent instruction will be provided so you can be building skills with your players at home.
• Cost:  $135

• Grades:  2nd graders with solid throwing, catching and batting skills, most 3rd graders, and 4th graders who are new to the game and don’t feel they’re ready for Kid Pitch level.
• Schedule:  This program is scheduled for weeknights and potentially some weekends in May and June, with a season-ending tournament.
• Program:   The basic aim of machine pitch is to allow more hitting and defensive plays while building on the fundamental skills and rules of the game. Machines do the pitching. In this league, outs are recorded and standings are kept.  Player evaluations will take place on April 14th so that teams of equal skill levels can be achieved.  The leagues follow rules essentially the same as the more familiar Little League that is played nationally. 
• We are unable to have players select coaches or teammates.
• Cost:  $195

• Grades:  3rd graders with strong throwing, catching and batting skills (basically tournament team-level 3rd graders), all 4th and 5th graders not ranking in the top 25-30% during evaluations on April 14-15.
• Schedule:  This program starts with practices in mid-April and is scheduled for weeknights and weekends in May and June with a season ending tournament the last week June.  This league is meant to provide more development opportunities for those kids not playing at a tournament team level.  Players will be given more opportunities to development pitching, catching, and fielding skills.
• Program:  Players begin pitching in this league. The league follows rules essentially the same as the more familiar Little League that is played nationally.
• Cost:   $260

• Ages/Grades:  4th and 5th graders ranking in the top 25-30% during evaluations on April 14-15 (generally players with a tournament team skill level).
• Schedule:  This program starts with practices in mid-April and is scheduled for weeknights and weekends in May and June with a season-ending tournament the last week in June. 
• Program:  The league follows rules essentially the same as the more familiar Little League that is played nationally.  Note that players are not required to participate on a tournament team to qualify for this league.
• Cost:   $260
   

• Program:  From the group of 12 year olds who choose to be evaluated for the Metro teams (the most intense, competitive team), players will be selected for the teams (and will also automatically be placed on the age group’s tournament teams, 12AAA or 12AA(level TBD),  These teams will not play in the CRYB.  Games are played on fields with 52-54-foot pitching mounds and 75 to 80-foot base paths.
• Schedule:  The Metro program starts with practices in mid-April and is scheduled to continue through June for the regular season, with playoffs continuing through State Tournament time---mid July.  Information and costs for the 12AAA and 12AA Tournament teams (including dates of the tournaments) are found in the next section of registration.
• Cost:  $455 for the Metro Team(this includes tournament costs)

• Program:  The remaining 12 year olds will be placed on teams via a draft process and will play on the Crow River Youth Baseball league playing against other 11/12 year olds in nearby communities (Corcoran, Delano, Rockford and other area towns). Half of your son’s games will be played in these communities.  Games are played on fields with generally 50”6’-foot pitching mounds and 70-foot +/- 5 feet base paths. 
• Schedule:  This program starts with practices in mid-April and is scheduled for weeknights in May, June, and mid July. Each team will play12-14 games.  The season-ending tournament will take place the weekend of July 21-22 at a host location TBD.
• Cost:   $285 for the CRYB team.

• Program:  The 13 and 14 year olds who choose to be evaluated for a Metro team (the most intense, competitive team) for their age group, will be evaluated for the 13 year old Metro teams and 14 year old Metro teams (and will also automatically be placed on the age group’s Tournament teams).  These teams will not play in the CRYB league. The remaining players will be placed on a 13/14 team to compete in the CRYB league. Games for 13 year olds are played on fields with 54-foot pitching mounds and 75 or 80-foot base paths.  Fourteen year olds will play on a full-size field.
• Schedule:  The Metro program starts with practices in mid-April with the regular season scheduled to continue through the end of June / mid July.  Playoffs continue until State Tournament time.  Information including State Tournament schedule is found in the next section of registration.
• Cost:  $455 for the Metro team(this includes tournament costs)

• Program:  The remaining 13 and 14 year olds will be combined and placed on teams via a draft process and will play in the CRYB, playing against other 13/14 year olds in nearby communities(which includes Corcoran, Delano, Mound, Rockford, Waconia and other area towns.) Half of your son’s games will be played in these communities.  These players will not play on a weekend Tournament Team.  Games are played on fields with generally 54-foot pitching mounds and 80-foot base path +/-5 feet.
• Schedule:  This program starts with practices in mid-April and is scheduled for weeknights in May, June, and mid July.  The season-ending tournament will take place the weekend of July 21-22.
• Cost:   $285 for the CRYB

• Program:  The top twelve 15 year olds will play on the 15 Metro team and the AA tournament team.  If there is sufficient interest, a second Metro team may be formed (14/15U) that could include some 14 year old players.  In the event we have the second Tournament Team, the schedule can be found in the Tournament Team section)
• Schedule:  TBD
• Cost:  $210 (Includes cost for tournaments)

• Program:  The top twelve 16 year olds will play on the 16 Metro team and tournament team.  If there is sufficient interest, a second team may be formed. In the event we have the second Tournament Team, the schedule can be found in the Tournament Team section)
• Schedule:  TBD
• Cost:  $210 (Includes cost for tournaments)
   

• For 9-11 year olds the fees below are in addition to the league program fees above  This amount will be refunded by the OBA if the player does not qualify for a travel team.
• Tournament schedule is subject to change.  Tournaments are played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  It is expected that players who choose to play a second sport make baseball practices and games their first priority.
• If your child qualifies for and chooses to play on the Metro team for ages 12-14, he is required to also participate in the respective weekend tournaments for that age level.  However, if your child would prefer not to play in the weekend tournaments, they will play in the CRYB League. 
• Teams that play in weekend tournaments must qualify for state tournaments.  OBA covers the entry fee (not including gate fee) of one state tournament.  It is up to the coaches to decide which state tournament (if there is an option) to participate in. Some teams choose to participate in more than one state tournament---this is at the coaches discretion.

• Ages/Grades:  10-11 Year olds (and 9 as needed to fill teams or make additional teams)
• Cost:  $190 (plus $260 Kid Pitch registration fee)

• Cost:  Incorporated in the Metro costs ($455)

• Cost:  Incorporated in the Metro costs ($455)

• Cost:  Incorporated in the Metro costs ($455)

• Ages/Grades:  15 Year olds
• Program:  The top twelve 15 year olds will play on the 15 Metro AA  team and the AA tournament team.  If there is sufficient interest, a second Metro team will be formed (14/15U) that could include some 14 year old players.
• Cost:  Incorporated in the Metro costs ($210)

• Ages/Grades:  16 Year olds
• Program:  The top twelve 16 year olds will play on the 16 Metro(level TBD)  team and the tournament team. If there is sufficient interest, a second Metro team will be formed.
• Cost:  Incorporated in the Metro costs ($210)