For the 2019 Baseball Season, the SYBA’s goal is to field 12U and 14U MBL Traveling baseball teams. The 12U team will comprise of eleven to twelve 5th and 6th graders (2018-19 school year) who are 12 years old or younger as of May 1 while the 14U team will be made up of eleven to twelve 7th and 8th graders (2018-19 school year) who are 14 years old or younger as of May 1.
Tryouts will be held October 13 in the Middle School Gym at the following times:
· 12U 1:00 - 2:30 pm
· 14U 2:30 - 4:00 pm
The tryouts will be conducted by the Somerset High School baseball coaching staff. Players trying out will be evaluated on hitting, fielding, throwing and pitching. The SYBA board, along with input from the High School coaching staff, will determine if competitive teams can be assembled at these levels. If not, there will be consideration if a 11U or 13U team could be competitive based on the players at the tryout who would be eligible to play at those levels. In the case where none of these options are available, the SYBA will not sponsor a team in the MBL and those players will participate in our Little League or Babe Ruth programs.
The MBL season runs from April 1 – mid July. These MBL teams will meet approximately three times per week (excluding tournament weekends) but is dependent on the regular season schedule. The regular season is made up of a 16 game schedule and we would participate in a minimum of 2 weekend tournaments throughout the season. The hope is to participate in one tournament in May and the other in June. Potential tournament sites will be kept as close to Somerset as possible and could include New Richmond, Woodbury, River Falls and other east metro locations.
While we cannot be 100% certain on opposing teams each level will play, the divisions could look similar to the following based on the 2018 season:
12U – New Richmond, Baldwin, River Falls, Hudson, Woodbury, Prescott, Stillwater, St. Croix Central
14U – New Richmond, Ellsworth, St. Croix Falls, St. Croix Central, River Falls, Baldwin, Hudson, Menomonie
Your players attendance at the tryout signifies your player is interested in participating on the MBL Traveling Baseball Team if they are selected.