Hopkins Area Little League: 2008 HALL Divisions
T-Ball - (ages 5-7)The Hopkins T-Ball program is for kids 5-6 years of age. While focusing on the basic skills our primary desire is to acquaint kids with baseball and the concepts of teamwork and sportsmanship.
Our T-Ball season runs from mid May to the 3rd week of June. We cap off the season with an "All-Star" game and award ceremony in which all players participate.
Minors B - Machine Pitch (ages 7-9)
At this level of play Hopkins Little League uses pitching machines to develop the kids hitting skills. Children ages 7-9 can participate at this level.
Teams are formed by the Division Coordinator with input from parents, coaches, and league officials. This is a non-competitive division. No-standings are kept. The focus is on fun and basic skills.
Teams play 3 outs or 7 run limit per inning. Players can strike-out but cannot walk.
Schedules consist of about 15 games between the first week of May and the 3rd week of June. Teams average 2 games per week.
St. Louis Park hosts a machine pitch tournament about mid July. All Hopkins machine pitch teams participate.
Hopkins hosts a season ending "All-Star" game in which all players participate.
Minors A (ages 9-12)
The Minors A Division is comprised of boys and girls ages 9 through 12.
Players ages 10-12 that tryout for the Majors Divsion and are not drafted will be drafted to a Minors A team. Players 9 must attend tryouts to be drafted onto a team. All players are encouraged to attend tryouts.
This division is the first level at which the players face live pitching. Skill development is most noticeable at this level.
Teams are composed of 13-14 players, 1 Manager, and 2 Coaches. A normal schedule consists of 15 intra-league games with Hopkins teams and 4 inter-league games with St. Louis Park teams.
The season runs from the end of April through the end of June. All six Minors A Teams participate in post-season tournaments. Apart from the in-house playoffs, St. Louis Park hosts a Minors Tournament.
Players from this division receive consideration for the 9-10 year old All-Star team that participates in the Minnesota District 1 Tourament in July.
Majors (ages 10-12)
The Majors Division is the oldest level of play in Little League. Children ages 10-12 may attend tryouts in March each year. Hopkins Majors Division is comprised of 4 teams, American Legion, Elks, Midnite Market, and Affordable Auto. Teams are formed through a draft process. Players remain with the same team throughout their years in this division.
Teams are comprised of 12 players, 1 manager, and 2 coaches. By little league rules a team can have no more than 8 players of any one age level.
Majors teams play 25 games during the regular season; 21 games within Hopkins and 4 inter-league games with St. Louis Park. All 4 Majors teams participate in post season tournaments.
12 Majors Players are selected for the Hopkins 11/12 year old All-Star team which participates in the Minnesota District 1 Little League tournament; Players from this division are also eligible for the 11 year old and 9-10 year old All-Star teams.
Challenger Division
The Challenger Division provides boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities, ages 5 to 18, an opportunity to play baseball regardless of their limitations. This is a non-competitive division.