Based on results and feedback from the 2019 tryouts, OBA will be continuing with the structure of a two-day tryout for travel baseball. 

The first day of tryouts for ages 9-14 will be Sunday, March 8th, 2020 at the Maple Grove Dome. Day 2 player evaluations will be held at the Orono Activity Center on Monday, March 16th. Both sessions will be required for all Travel & Tournament Players ages 10-14. Any player that is unable to attend tryouts must inform OBA prior to tryouts at President@oronobaseball.org. Guidelines regarding players that are unable to attend tryouts are listed in our Travel and Tournament Handbook.

Ten-year olds that will only be playing In-House/Major League and all 9-year olds are exempt from Day 2.

Day 1 Tryout Times

Please check-in at least 15 minutes before your assigned time. Allow time after the tryout for uniform fitting & order:

March 8 at Maple Grove Dome
8 - 9am: 9 year-olds (3rd graders)
9 - 10am: 10 year-olds (4th graders)
10 - 11am: 11 year-olds (5th graders)
11 - 12pm: 14 year-olds (8th graders)
12 - 1pm: 13 year-olds (7th graders)
1 - 2pm: 12 year-olds (6th graders)

15 year-old Tryouts will be Sunday, March 15 at 3:30pm at Orono Activity Center.

Day 2 Tryout Times 

All players should check in at the Orono Activity Center Main Entrance.

March 16 at Orono Activity Center
6:00 - 7:00pm: 10 year-old Tournament Team players only
6:30 - 7:30pm: 13 year-olds
7:00 – 8:00pm: 11 year-olds
7:30 – 8:30pm: 14 year-olds
8:00 - 9:00pm: 12 year-olds
 

Tryout Details

Day 1 tryouts will again be evaluated by Pitch2Pitch. OBA will provide volunteers to help execute the evaluations, but those volunteers will not evaluate players. The stations for Day 1 will include:

• Infield Defense - Players will be evaluated on glove work, footwork, arm strength and accuracy.
• Outfield Defense - Evaluations will include form, footwork, throwing accuracy and arm strength.
• Pitching - Players will have 6-7 pitches to warm-up, then will throw 7-8 pitches for evaluators. Players will be evaluated on mechanics, arm speed, poise and accuracy.
• Hitting (front toss) - Players will receive 8 pitches from a volunteer throwing front toss. Players will be evaluated on stance, load, bat speed and contact.
• Hitting (machine) - Players will receive 6-7 pitches from a pitching machine. Players will be evaluated on mechanics, bat speed and contact.

Day 2 tryouts will be evaluated by OBA-provided evaluators. These evaluators will not have a direct relation to any of the tryout participants. The stations for Day 2 will include:

• Defensive Specialty Station (player to choose 1 of the 3 below):
  1. Catching - evaluation to include positioning, blocking and throwing.
  2. Infield - evaluation to focus on ability to catch thrown ball, footwork, quickness of release and accuracy of throws.
  3. Outfield - evaluation will focus on footwork, long toss arm strength and long toss accuracy.
• Live Hitting - Players will see 7-8 pitches from a volunteer throwing live. Players will be evaluated on mechanics, bat path and exit velocity.
• Bunting - Players will have 6-7 pitches from a machine. Players will be evaluated on bunting form, contact and control
• Quickness shuttle station - Players will have 2 chances to complete a quickness shuttle station with the best time being recorded.

Travel & Tournament Teams will be announced the evening of Friday, March 20 and posted on the Travel Teams page.