Baseball Divisions
Tee Ball Division (Age 4-5)
The Tee Ball division is for boys and girls 'baseball' age 4-5 years old who want to learn the fundamentals of throwing, hitting, fielding, sportsmanship and teamwork. Players learn how to hit a ball off a batting tee, run the bases and learn what the positions on the field are called. Tee Ball is an instructional program which allows for equal playing time for all players in attendance. A softer baseball is used during practices and games. Rules of the game may be varied to encourage instruction. Rosters may be composed of between 7-10 players, but MELL usually has teams with 9-10 players. Practices will be scheduled 1-2 times per week and the schedule will vary based on the coaches calendar and field availability. You will not know the practice day or time until rosters are formed. This will be based on how many teams are in each division and who is coaching your team. Each team will play a 10-game season consisting of 1-2 games per week. Each game consists of a maximum of 3 complete innings and each game will be one hour. Game times will be 6:00 pm and 7:05 pm.
Jr Machine Pitch Division (Age 5-6)
The Coach Pitch (Jr Machine Pitch) division is for boys and girls 'baseball age' 5-6 years old who are developing skills to hit a pitched ball at a lower speed (approximately 25 mph). The goal of this division is to develop hand-eye coordination & confidence by hitting a consistent pitch while promoting defensive development in traditional fielding positions. Because players are still learning the fundamentals of baseball, and to allow them to experience the value of teamwork, no standings are kept. Players league age 5 must have completed one season of TeeBall.
All players are on the field on defense and all players will bat every inning. Batters will be given 5 pitches and if they are unable to get a hit, a hitting tee will be provided for the batter.
Rosters may be composed of between 8-12 players, but MELL usually has teams with 9-10 players. Practices will be scheduled 1-2 times per week and the schedule will vary based on the coach's calendar and field availability. You will not know the practice day or time until rosters are formed. This will be based on how many teams are in each division and who is coaching your team. Each team will play a 10-game season consisting of 1-2 games per week. Games will be approximately 1-hour and 15 minutes long, with game times of 6:00 pm and 7:20 pm.
Rookie League (Machine Pitch) Baseball Division (Age 7-8)
The Rookie League (Machine Pitch) Baseball program is for players 'baseball age' 7-8 years old. Most of the games will be played using a "Blue Flame" Pitching machine. This pitching machine format has proven to develop players defensive skills and provide more enjoyment versus a player pitch format. This division will also serve as an introduction to kid-pitch baseball and competitive play, while continuing to build upon the fundamentals taught in the Coach Pitch division. The Rookie division is an instructional program which allows for equal playing time for all players in attendance.
The diamond uses 60-foot base paths and the pitching distance is 46 feet.
Minor League Baseball Division (Age 8-10)
The Minor League Baseball program is for players 'baseball age' 8-10 years old. Player evaluations are held so that fair teams can be drafted. There will be 9 defensive players in the field and substitutions will be made for players on the bench. Continuous batting order is used so all players on the roster will bat and the diamond will use 60-foot base paths and the pitching distance is 46 feet.
Rosters may be composed of between 10-12 players, but MELL usually has teams with 11-13 players. Practices will be scheduled 1-2 times per week and the schedule will vary based on the coaches calendar and field availability. You will not know the practice day or time until rosters are formed. This will be based on how many teams are in each division and who is coaching your team. Each team will play a 10-game regular season consisting of 1-2 games per week. Games will be approximately 1-hour and 30 minutes long, with game times of 6:00 pm and 7:35 pm. Scores and standings are kept and there will be a playoff consisting of a single elimination bracket based on regular season standings.
Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this level of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Major League Baseball Division (Age 10-12)
The Major League Baseball program is for players 'baseball age' 10-12 (10 yr old roster spots are not guaranteed), who have demonstrated a more advanced skill level through tryouts and a draft. The Major League Baseball program is the first introduction to competitive baseball, where a premium is placed on wins and losses, and equal playing time is not guaranteed.
Typically, roster spots are limited; not every League Age 10 player that registers and attends tryouts for the Major League Baseball will be drafted. Those 'baseball age' 10 year old's who tryout and are not drafted are placed in the pool of draft eligible players in the Minor League Baseball Division.
Players of league age 10-12 who participated in the Major League Baseball Division during the 2022 spring season and register for the 2022 Spring season are automatically returned to the same team unless a request is made prior to tryouts. All other players of league age 10-12 and who are not currently on a Major League Baseball team are required to tryout for the program. If a league age 10 player tries out and is drafted, he or she must play for that team or forfeit his or her registration and will not be allowed to participate in that season. The diamond used is 60-foot and the pitching distance is 46 feet.
Intermediate League Baseball Division (Age 11-13)
The Intermediate League Baseball program is for players 'baseball age' 11-13. The Intermediate League utilizes a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths. The league offers a transition for players between the standard Little League field size (46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths) and the Junior/Senior League field size (60-foot pitching distance and 90-foot base paths).
Players having attained 'baseball' age 11 are welcome to tryout for the Intermediate division, however there is no guarantee the player will be drafted. If a 'baseball' age 11 year old is not selected in the Intermediate draft, he/she will be placed in the pool of draft eligible players in the Majors division. The Intermediate division is a competitive league, where a premium is placed on wins and losses, and equal playing time is not guaranteed. Many of the Junior/Senior League rules will be used such as runners being permitted to lead off bases, runners may attempt to steal at any time and allowing an on-deck batter.
Junior League Baseball Division (Age 13-14)
The Junior League Baseball Division is for players 'baseball age' 13-14. If there is enough interest to field teams in these divisions, players will be accepted from the wait list and registration fees would need to be paid at that time. The Junior division is a competitive league, where a premium is placed on wins and losses, and equal playing time is not guaranteed. The diamond used is a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Modified diamond dimensions may be used during the regular season. Parents are strongly encouraged to become involved in this teenage division of Little League. After completing a Little League volunteer application and passing a required national background check, parents may become involved in practices, and be eligible as coaches, managers, umpires, local league board members and other volunteer positions within the league.
Senior League Division (Age 15-16)
The Senior League Division is for players 'baseball age' 15-16 years old. Registration will be by wait list only and if there is enough interest to field teams in these divisions, players will be accepted from the wait list and registration fees would need to be paid at that time.
The Senior Division is a competitive league, where a premium is placed on wins and losses, and equal playing time is not guaranteed.The diamond uses 90-foot base paths with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Modified diamond dimensions may be used during the regular season.