T-BALL DIVISION

Baseball skills for players who will be 5 or 6 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season. The emphasis here is on FUN FUN FUN! The fundamentals of baseball are introduced. The proper way to throw a baseball, holding and swinging a bat, running bases plus many more skills your child will use for a lifetime are introduced to the kids in a fun and informative manner.  During the season, parents will play a big part in assisting the coaches with the development of their child's skills.  All T-Ball games are played at Patterson Field in the Maplewood Subdivision.

JUNIOR ROOKIE DIVISION

Recreational baseball for players who will be 7, 8 or 9 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season. Utilizing all the skills and rules learned from T-Ball, Jr. Rookie level baseball introduces league play.  Coaches pitch and provide adult catchers for all games.  Great start for players who are new to baseball.  Also for players who have played before but haven’t quite mastered some of the basics (infrequently catches a ball when thrown to them; infrequently catches a fly ball when thrown or hit to them; doesn’t make consistent contact when a ball is thrown to him at bat; throwing is a bit erratic).  Teams in this division will play against themselves. The field for all regular season games TBA. 

SENIOR ROOKIE DIVISION

Recreational baseball for players who will be 7, 8 or 9 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season.  Sr. Rookie is designed for those players who have played at least one year of Jr. Rookie or two years of T-Ball.  Players can stop most ground balls hit at them; can catch most balls when thrown at them; can catch most fly balls when thrown or hit to them; can throw a ball with reasonable accuracy and speed; can hit a baseball when a good pitch is thrown to him at bat; has a basic understanding of baseball (scoring, outs, positions, etc.).  Pitching machines are used during game play (fed by umpire) and each team provides their own catcher (a player who wears full catching gear).  Player pitching will be introduced in Sr. Rookie to prepare them for Mosquito.  Teams in this division will play against themselves and may decide to compete in a couple tournaments during the baseball season. All regular season games (1-2 games/week) are played at the Uplands Park field in Hammonds Plains.

MOSQUITO (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be 10 or 11 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season.  The concept of base stealing with no "leading off" is introduced at Mosquito level and players do all the pitching. Mosquito rep teams (see note at bottom) compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. All regular season home games are played at Eisenhauer (Hammonds Plains) and Uplands Park (Hammonds Plains) fields.  Mosquito house teams generally play in the HPBA House League. Mosquito house regular season home games are played on Eisenhauer (Hammonds Plains), Uplands Park (Hammonds Plains) & Allen Heights (St. Margaret’s Bay) fields. Mosquito house teams may decide to compete in a couple tournaments during the baseball season.

PEEWEE (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be 12 or 13 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season. The concept of stealing bases is in full force at this level by allowing base runners to "lead off". Pitchers are also called for balks. Rep teams compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. All rep team regular season home games are played at the Highland Park field. Pee Wee house teams play in the HPBA House League. All house league home games are played at the Allen Heights field in St. Margaret’s Bay.

BANTAM (Competitive & Recreational - See bottom of page for explanation)

Baseball for players who will be 14 or 15 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season.  All the rules of baseball are in full effect. Rep teams compete in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League. Bantam house teams generally play in the HPBA House League. Both generally participate in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. All regular season home games for both house league and rep are played at the Highland Park field.

MIDGET LEVEL BASEBALL

Competitive Baseball for players who will be 16, 17 or 18 years old between Jan 1 and Dec 31 of each season. There are generally no "house league" teams at this level. Midget baseball is competitive with the entry level being ranked as an A team (See Competitive "Rep" Baseball below). This team competes in the Baseball Nova Scotia Bluenose League and generally participates in 3-4 tournaments during the baseball season. Midget AAA teams are in their own separate league.

COMPETITIVE VERSES RECREATIONAL BASEBALL

Competitive Baseball:

These teams represent (hence the term "rep") Hammonds Plains in all major tournaments in the province, Atlantic region, and Canada (if successful in the National Play downs for our area). This is generally very competitive baseball requiring cooperation and commitment from both the players and the parents (guardians). Rep teams are ranked as Triple A (AAA), Double A (AA), or A with AAA being the most competitive for the age group. Rep teams are selected by the coaching staff from a list of players in each division who registered to tryout for competitive baseball. The coaches’ selections are generally based on several factors including, but not limited to, desire, attitude and various skills and abilities depending on the requirements of the team. Players who are not selected for the AAA team are given the opportunity to tryout for the AA team, and so on until all rep teams are selected. Any remaining players, after tryouts are completed, are selected by the house league teams. The number of rep teams in each division depends on the skill level and number of players registered to try out in each season.  There is generally team fundraising at the rep levels to offset the costs of tournaments. HPBA's Fair Play policy is in effect for all "regular season" games in competitive baseball, but coaches are free to play "as required" for national play downs, nationals,  provincial tournaments and playoffs. All tournaments are at the expense of the individual teams. 

Recreational (House League) Baseball:

House league teams are comprised of players who did not register for competitive tryouts, as well as players who did tryout but were not selected for a rep team. House teams are formed after a skill rating process is conducted in an attempt to make all house league teams in each division somewhat equal in strength. There may be some team fundraising if teams decide to compete in tournaments. Teams may compete in district play downs and Provincial tournaments (at their own expense) but it is not required or expected, as these types of tournaments are typically very competitive by nature. HPBA house league teams generally avoid those events as we consider house leagues to be purely recreational baseball. However, teams may enter if players, coaches and parents are willing to do so. HPBA's Fair Play policy is in effect for all games including tournaments and playoffs (as well as districts and Provincials if entering) for recreational baseball.