Mars Baseball Association: Farm American & National News

Below is a letter from our Farm Commissioners to the parents of all players who have registered for the Farm National League for the upcoming spring season.  The changes outlined in this letter were approved at the March General Membership Meeting:

Hello Farm National Parents, Mars Baseball has been in discussions with Pine Richland Baseball about introducing inter-league play for the upcoming spring season.  Based on the current Farm registrations and the recent opportunity for the inter-league play with Pine Richland, the following age divisions will be made to the Farm National League only.  Farm American will have no changes.   

Farm National 8 Year Old Division 

Farm National 7 Year Old Division 

Farm American (6-8 year Olds) 

Why the change?:  We have a great community opportunity with Pine Richland to introduce inter-league play during our Mars in-house baseball this season. Traditionally, playing other communities is only done through Tournament teams at the younger age. Pine-Richland as well as Cranberry, Brad-Mar Pine, and several other organizations utilize a single age division.  If we do not have single age divisions, then inter-league play is not an in-house option for Mars this season.  In our experience, kids of all age levels enjoy the opportunity to play games against teams from neighboring communities. Farm Age Division will determined by players age on April 30, 2011 (Little League rules). Secondly, Kid Pitch will be introduced to 8 year olds early in the season (instead of traditionally later in the season) and may expand to three innings of Kid pitch. It is the hope of Mars Baseball that structuring the Farm Divisions in this manner and enhancing the amount of kid pitching will better prepare our 8 year olds for the transition to kid pitch leagues as 9 year olds.  The transition from coach pitch to kid pitch is a tough transition to make in playing baseball.  We anticipate that this change will help ease this transition for all 8 year old kids and reduce the large fall out rate that occurs between 8 and 9 year old baseball. Pitching an inning or two at the Farm National 7 year old division may be an option to introduce towards the end of season.  

Rules:  Farm National rules will apply to both age National Divisions. Example: hard baseball, strikeouts, single inning position rotations, etc. The only exception to the National rules is the introduction of kid pitch. Pitching at the 7 year old division may be an option as the season progresses.  

Season Play-up:  Recognizing that this change has occurred late in the process, Mars Baseball, a Farm National player may play up in the next age bracket, i.e. a 7 year old can play in the 8 year old division for this season.  If a 7 year old wants to play for the Farm National 8 year old Division, he may do so by sending the commissioner an e-mail request by March 18^th.  

Tournament Team Eligibility: When making a season play-up decision, please be fully informed that any 7 year old who plays up in the 8 year old division is not eligible to play on the 7 year old tournament team this summer and cannot play for a Farm National 7 Year old in-house team. Any 7 year old who plays in the Farm National 8 year old league is eligible to try-out for, and may play for an 8 Year Old Tournament team, if he makes an 8 year tournament old team.  While Mars Baseball is always willing to support as many tournament teams as there are interested kids and coaches, there is no assurance that a 7 year old will be selected to play on an 8 year old team.  Thus, by playing up you may potentially forfeit the opportunity for your child to play tournament baseball this summer.  This is policy at all other age groups within Mars Baseball. We strongly recommend players stay within the age bracket for team balance, inter-league play and tournament travel team. Most community baseball organizations have a no-play up policy.   

Call-ups: The Commissioners will maintain a Head Coach recommended list for players wishing to be call-ups at the older division when teams need extra players.  The Commissioners will monitor the call up list to make sure call-up opportunities are afforded to as many players as possible.  Based on the anticipated Farm rosters sizes, we believe there will be many opportunities for call-ups from Farm National 7 to Farm National 8, as well as from Farm American (6-8) to Farm National.    

Parent Action Needed:  Please e-mail brad.fuller@zoominternet.net only if you elect to have your 7 Year old child play-up at the 8 Year Old Division by Friday, March 18th.  If we do not receive a request, your child will be assigned a team in their Farm National Age bracket.  Thank you in advance for your support and cooperation as we continue to look for ways to enhance the youth baseball experience. You should be hearing from your head coach shortly. We look forward to a great season!  

Thank you,    

Brad Fuller & Brad Ray