Oregon District 9 Little League Baseball & Softball: Welcome

Following reference and links to the current leagues (below), additional information specific to the "divisions" of play across Little League! Overlapping ages allow the Player Agent a 'best means' of placing each child in the best division for their age, experience, and toward skill development.  Little League required all players (league age 9 and up) participate in a player evaluation process which provides tools for the Player Agent toward placement of these ages in specific divisions of play.    

 

Tee-Ball is generally ages 4-7. If a child is League Age 6 or 7 and has had one year of Tee-Ball, parents may request their child be moved up to the Minor Division/Coach Pitch.    

Minors is generally ages 7-11.  Players League Age 8 will automatically be placed on a team in the Minor Division.  For Players ages 9 and up, the leagues run an 'evaluation' pre-season that assists the Player Agent in placing the child on the team best suited for their current skill AND development in the sport.  The goal of each league is creating teams balanced in skill for the most fun and the most educational format for each child.   The "Minors" for both Baseball and Softball is chartered as a fully instructional division.   Our leagues have had a 'coach pitch' and a 'player pitch' Minors program.  To-date, we have not had a "coach pitch girls' softball" program and have merged the girls into the baseball program, advancing them to player pitch minors when age-appropriate.  Within the next couple of years, we are hoping to develop a program specific to coach pitch minor Softball so the softball program has an earlier development stage. 

Players ages 9 and older are ALL 'evaluated' pre-season toward placement on teams to help the Player Agent create the best balance of skills across all teams within each division as possible.  Little League emphasizes Fun while Developing Skills, and believes the most fun and positive environment is one where every team has the potential to win or to lose ... thus the focus on teams that are as 'even' and balanced in skill as possible where these ages are involved.

The "Major" division continues "instructional" play with a more competitive environment and is most-often open to youth League Ages 12.  Returning league-age eligilble Major players are automatically placed on a Major team.  All 12 year olds are on a Major Team*.   The Junior (13-14), Senior (13-16), and Big League (16-18) divisions are even more competitive.  * Players/Families may request their "League Age" 12 year old be given the opportunity to "tryout" for placement on a Junior level team.  Not being placed on a Junior team does NOT make the child ineligible for Majors.    Girls' Softball has a slightly different age structure for ages 13 and up. 

For Baseball, as players move to the Junior division, the basepath changes from a 60' to a 90' basepath with a longer pitching distance.  There is a "pilot program" optional to each league that would have a 'graduated' advancement to a 70' basepath and a 50' pitching distance, but, through the 2010 and 2011 seasons, it is strictly a pilot program.  This is a "potential" pilot for the 11/12's and 12/13's.  Some leagues are reviewing the option.  There will be no 'post-season tournament' for this program, at least through the 2011 League Year.  Changes may come into play toward the 2011 or 2012 season  Check back with us for any updates.  For Girls' Softball, the basepath remains at 60', but the pitching distance and size of ball used changes slightly as the girls advance - with a maximum 60' basepath, and a 12" softball. 

A child's "league age" for participation in Tee-Ball and Baseball is determined by the child's age on April 30th of the current playing year.  For Girls' Softball, in line with other softball programs, the players "league age" is that of the player on the immediate prior December 31st.