Horizon Little League: Welcome

This season teams will be fielded for players ages 4 – 14 as defined by the player’s age on April 30, 2012.

The early registration 10% discount has been extedned through this weekend! Fees for the spring season are $90 for the 4 year old division, $126 for 5-6 year olds, $144 for 7-8 year olds and $180 for 9-14 year olds (there is a $350 cap per family for registration fees). For more information contact playball@horizonlittleleague.com or see the flyer posted on the website.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SPRING 2012 SEASON

REGISTRATION NOTES

• Confirmation of residency and age documents at one of the in-person events is required for all players. Details of documents required can be found in the registration checklist.  Copies of the residency documents should be submitted at the in-person event.
• Please enter all family e-mail addresses as requested on the registration form to receive e-mail communication from the league during the season.

JANUARY 2012 REGISTRATION EVENTS

The final registration event will be held at the following locations:

• January 28, 2012, 2pm - 4pm at Yogurtology (Hayden Peak Crossing, 20511 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale and 3pm - 5pm at Zipps Sports Grill (6501 East Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale) 

At these events you can register and pay for the 2012 season or you can complete your online registration by showing proof of age and residency (don’t forget your copies of the residency documents!). 

DATES TO REMEMBER

• Online Registration Opens:                November 28, 2011
• In person Registration Events:           December 17, 2011; January 14, 21 and 28, 2012
• Tryouts                                                February 4, 2012 (make-ups on 2/7)
• Practice Begins:                                  February 20, 2012
• Games Begin:                                     March 31, 2012
• Regular Season Ends:                         May 25, 2012
• Playoffs                                               May 29 – June 9, 2012
• All Star Tournaments                          June 22 – July 6, 2012

Tryouts for the 2012 spring season will be held at Grayhawk Park (South Field) on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5. Tryouts are required for all players with a league age of 7 and older. Below is the schedule based on the tryout ID you received at registration.

Tryouts for each child will last approximately 3-5 minutes with then players demonstrating batting, baserunning, ground ball fielding, throwing and popup fieeding skills.

If you are unable to attend tryouts during your assigned time, make-ups will be held on Tuesday, February 7 beginning at 5pm at Grayhawk Park (South Field). This will be on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions about the schedule or your tryout ID # please contact us at playball@horizonlittleleague.com.

DICK’S SPORTING GOODS SPECIAL OFFERS

Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering some great deals to stock up on apparel and equipment for the upcoming season. These coupons can be used at any Dick’s Sporting Goods location. Follow the link to download your coupons. http://app.dcsg.com/couponsheet/?s=79056

Also, enter to win $500 in gift cards by entering Dick’s Sporting Goods MVP of the Week contest at http://www.dicksmvp.com.

20^th ANNIVERSARY MOLINA FINE JEWELERS CELEBRITY BASEBALL GAME

Join Horizon Little League and Arizona Baseball Charities for the 20^th anniversary Molina Fine Jewelers Celebrity Baseball Game on Sunday January 29^th at Scottsdale Stadium. Arizona Baseball Charities will donate $27,000 to 40 Arizona Little Leagues at the game. You can help support Horizon Little League by attending this game for FREE. All Little Leagues that have 50 or more people in attendance will receive a $300 donation and the chance for a $5000 donation. The first 1000 kids through the gates will also receive a free gift. To obtain your free tickets, stop by one of our in-person registration events on January 14^th, 21^st or 28^th or contact Patrick O’Hara at playball@horizonlittleleague.com.

Event Details:

WHEN: Sunday, January 29, 2012

TIME: 1:00pm (gates open at 11:00am)

WHERE: Scottsdale Stadium (corner of Osborn and Drinkwater Blvd.)

Horizon Little League is proud to announce a formal partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks and their Lil’ DBacks program with the 2012 Spring Season. Our league membership provides great benefits for the league and all members including:

• One ticket for every player to the Little League Day game on 4/22 at Chase Field between the Diamondbacks and the Atlanta Braves (included in registration fee)
• Free seat upgrade option for players with family purchased tickets to this game.
• Parade on field prior to the game.
• Discounts to DBacks Academy camps and clinics.
• Membership for players to No Chew Crew and APS Renewables Kids Club (free Sunday tickets available for players through these clubs, see booth at Chase Field for details).
• Autographed Diamondbacks memorabilia, Diamondbacks suites, View Batting Practice Experience and premium seats available for purchase at the Opening Day auction.

The sale of tickets to the Little League Day game also generates funds for the league through our arrangement with the Diamondbacks. More information about tickets sales will be available after the start of the season.

Major League Baseball and the Arizona Diamondbacks have been long standing sponsors of Little League Baseball and we are pleased to deepen the relationship and the value it provides to our membership.

In an effort to provide timely information on bat rules, Little League International today announced the bat specifications and standards for the 2012 season. Here are the highlights (the actual text of the 2012 baseball bat rules can be found here):

• For the Little League Major Baseball Division and below: The moratorium on composite-barreled baseball bats remains in effect. However, some composite-barreled baseball bats that have been proven in laboratory testing to meet the BPF (Bat Performance Factor) standard throughout the life of the bat, through the Accelerated Break-In (ABI) process, have received waivers. That list is here: Licensed/Approved Composite 2 1/4 Bats.

Note that in the Little League Majors Baseball Division and below, there is no limit on the “drop” weight of any bat.

• For Junior League Baseball: The rule was updated to reflect the changes that were anticipated and published two years ago regarding bats with 2 5/8 inch barrels. As a result, composite-barreled baseball bats in this division, regardless of barrel size, must meet BBCOR (Batted Ball Co-Efficient of Restitution) standards, and must be so labeled. Note that all composite-barreled baseball bats that meet the BBCOR standard have a “drop” of no more than “minus-3.” However, in the Junior League Baseball division, bats that do not have composite materials in the barrel (i.e., all metal, all alloy, all wood), and meet all other applicable standards, can have ANY drop weight. Bats with a barrel of less than 2 5/8 inches also can be used in the Junior League Baseball Division, but must still comply with all other specifications noted.

• For Senior League Baseball and Big League Baseball: The rule was updated to reflect the changes that were anticipated and published two years ago regarding bats with 2 5/8 inch barrels. As a result, all bats with non-wood barrels must meet BBCOR (Batted Ball Co-Efficient of Restitution) standards, and must be so labeled. Because all BBCOR bats have a “drop” of no more than “minus-3,” this means all non-wood bats in these divisions must have a drop of no more than minus-3.

• Tamper-Evident Bats: Because the technology to create bats that show evidence of tampering is not yet available, this aspect of the rules that was anticipated and published two years ago, and again last year, will not apply in 2012.

• Penalty for Use of an Illegal Bat: Previously, the penalty for the use of an illegal bat was simply to remove the bat from the game. In 2012, the penalty has been increased as noted in the rules below.

• Definition of an Illegal Bat: To narrow the definition of an illegal bat, a new entry was added to Rule 2.00, specifically describing an illegal bat for the purposes of imposing the penalty. As a result, the definition includes altered bats, but excludes a bat that: is no longer smooth because of normal use; is cracked or dented because of normal use; has a handle that has a smaller diameter than the measurement noted in the specifications; or, has material on the grip (or no material) that does not meet the specifications.

• Softball: All rules regarding bats in all softball divisions remain the same as in 2011. The moratorium on composite-barreled bats does not apply to softball.

• Licensed Bats: As it has for decades, Little League is publishing a list of licensed bats, all of which have a barrel diameter of 2 1/4 inches. This is not a list of all bats that can be used. As long as the bat meets all the specifications and standards for the specific division of play in question, it need not carry the Little League trademark. (Note that Little League does not license any bats with a diameter of 2 5/8 inches.) The list of licensed 2 1/4 bats can be downloaded as a PDF here: All Licensed 2 1/4 Bats.