Anyone who is above the age cut-off for DAAA Tee-ball (generally 7 years old) is eligible to participate in the Delmont Fast Pitch Softball Program. As shorts are the uniform at all ages, sliding pants and/or pads are strongly recommended for each athlete. Registration for spring is in early February and fall in mid August.
9&U PROGRAM
The Pinto Division is an
instructional division for girls who are 9 years of age or younger as of
January 1, 2006. This is a coach’s-pitch
league, with a heavy emphasis on fundamentals.
The girls in this division are introduced to fast pitch softball and the
skills necessary to play well with a smaller (11”) incredi-ball. Each girl has an opportunity to learn how to
play a number of positions, and will play in the field for a minimum of 3
innings per game (unless a game is interrupted or shortened). Each girl will be in the batting line-up for
the entire game. It is an instructional
league and being competitive is of secondary importance. Delmont teams participate in a league with
FRAA teams. For the 2005 season the
league consisted of two teams from Delmont and four teams from FRAA, and play
ran to the end of June.
12&U PROGRAM
In the 12 and under age group the player or player’s
family has a choice between two different leagues in which to play. One is the Ponytail League (a more
instructional league) and the other is the Eastern Fastpitch Softball League (a
more competitive league playing many other communities). It is recommended players acquire one or
more years experience in the Ponytail League before moving to the Eastern
League.
The Ponytail Division is an in-house developmental
division for girls who are 12 years of age or younger as of January 1, 2007. The purpose of this division is to continue
the development of the girls’ skills and to field a competitive team. Pitching, bunting and stealing aspects are
introduced, as it is a girl’s-pitch league with a 12” regulation ball. Each girl will play in the field a minimum
of 3 innings per game (unless a game is interrupted or shortened). Each girl will be in the batting line-up for
the entire game. This is an instructional
league and being competitive is of secondary importance. For the 2006 season, three Delmont Teams and
four FRAA teams made up the league, with play running to the end of June.
Again this year Delmont will offer a team of 11-12
year olds playing in the Eastern Girls Fastpitch Softball League. This is a competitive/instructional
girls-pitch league, which requires away game travel to communities in the east
suburbs of Pittsburgh. Each girl will
play in the field a minimum of 2 innings per game (unless a game is interrupted
or shortened), and be in the batting line-up for the entire game. As there are additional costs associated
with this league (league registration fees, ASA certified umpire requirements,
etc.) the registration fee for this team is more than for the Ponytail
Division. Try-outs may be required if
the number of sign-ups exceeds the carrying capability of the team. Multiple teams will be fielded if there are
sufficient athletes. Anyone not making
this team is eligible to play in the Ponytail Division. Games typically run from mid May until mid
July.
15&U PROGRAM
This is a competitive team for girls who are 15
years of age or younger as of January 1, 2007.
It is the responsibility of the coach to field the best team possible in
his or her opinion. There is still a
minimum playing time requirement. There
may be tryouts to make the team if the number of applicants exceeds the
carrying capability of the team. This
team will play in the Eastern Girls Fastpitch Softball League, and therefore
does travel to other communities to play their away games. Games typically run from mid May until mid
July.
18&U PROGRAM
Following Delmont’s return to this age group in 2004,
we will again field a team within the Eastern Girls Fastpitch Softball league for
the year 2007. It will be for girls who
are 18 years of age or younger, as of January 1, 2007. It is the coach’s responsibility to field
the best team possible. Tryouts may be
necessary if the number of applicants exceed the team capacity. Refunds will be provided if there are not sufficient
girls to field a team. Girls cannot be
double rostered with any other league play, but this does not conflict with
tournament team competition. Games will
run from approximately mid May to the third week in July. Both
the 15U and 18U game schedules do not commence until the High School and Middle
School schedules are complete. There is
no conflict.
TOURNAMENT
PROGRAM
As an outgrowth of the spring
program, Delmont fields tournament teams which are dependent on the
interest. These community teams have
competed at the PAL tournament in mid July, where the emphasis is on community
based teams competing in a tournament atmosphere. Additional tournaments could be played if community oriented
tournaments are located and there is sufficient interest among the Delmont
players and coaches. While there is
financial support from DAAA, typically tournament participation will require
additional payment from the athlete, her family, and/or coaches.
The 10U age group has had a
tournament team for the past four years.
This team is made up of age eligible athletes from the12U program
(mostly Ponytail players), and if necessary to make roster numbers, from
selected individuals from the 9U program.
Cuts could be required if the number of interested athletes exceeds the
carrying capability of the team.
Delmont has offered a 12U tournament
team for the last three years. Due in
part to the short amount of time typically between the end of the Eastern
season and the PAL tournament, athletes already participating on the 12U
Eastern team are given preferential treatment towards joining the tournament
team. Any remaining roster positions
would be filled from the 12U Ponytail teams.
If sufficient player and coaching interest were to exist to field a
complete additional team, the DAAA supplied funds would be split evenly.
Delmont has not offered a 14U
tournament team in the recent past, due to a lack of interest. Delmont would offer a 14U tournament team in
2007 provided there is sufficient player and coaching interest.
FALL
BALL
PROGRAM
Delmont participates in the Eastern
fastpitch fall ball league. The age
groups and number of teams depend on the interest. Delmont teams register in early to mid August and practice at
Delmont, with games played at PT, Plum, or PAL. Games are exclusively on the weekends, with 10U and 12U games on
Saturdays and 14U and 18U games on Sundays.
For the fall of 2006 Delmont fielded two 12U teams and one 14U
team. A 10U team is a possibility with
sufficient interest. High School age
players typically participate through their respective high school team. Games were played in 2006 from the second
weekend in September to the third weekend in October.
NON-COMMUNITY
TOURNAMENT TEAMS
As a member of the Eastern Girls
Fastpitch Softball League, Delmont encourages athletes with the desire to play
more competitive tournament ball to do so as a member of the Eastern
Evolution. The Evolution is the
organization that represents the Eastern Girls Fastpitch Softball League at
various tournaments throughout the playing year. It is made up of girls from all the various Eastern communities
that have successfully gone through the Evolution tryout process, and they generally
play on their respective community team.
The Evolution currently fields teams in the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U
age groups. Tryouts are typically in
the late summer or early fall of the preceding year.
In addition to the Evolution, there
are other tournament organizations playing at a high level which encourage or
require continued participation on a recreational (community) level. These include the Vipers East, the Heat, the
Power, and the Hurricanes.
Delmont does not facilitate player access
by any of the various tournament teams that either discourage or ban players
from recreational ball participation. Similarly we do not encourage players or their families to play
within those types of organizations.
WINTER
CLINICS
Players are strongly encouraged to
participate in off season skills clinics.
The pitching clinics can be especially important in providing instruction
as well as an indoor environment to pitch during the winter months. Fastpitch delivery requires proper mechanics
with repetitions beyond what can occur if a player waits until the practice
season begins. General skills are
normally offered by the Franklin High School softball team, as well as local
colleges, such as WCCC, Seton Hill, and Pitt Greensburg. Pitching clinics are also generally offered
by the same colleges, as well local instructors. The Evolution is also offering a six week pitching beginning Jan
14 and ending Feb 18, located at CCAC Boyce campus. The cost of this clinic is $75.
Questions for this clinic can be directed to evolution@easternfastpitch.com. Information on clinics can be obtained on
the sponsoring organization’s website as well as watching for information in
the local newspaper.
Jw softdes12-28-06