Challenger Division

The Highlands Little League Challenger Division offers mentally and physically disabled children and youth on the North Shore, the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of Little League Baseball in their very own division.   Challenger baseball is all about fun!  Able-bodied "Buddies" are assigned "one on one" with the Challenger participants.  These Buddies provide mentoring, friendship, and safety presence for all the Challenger participants during the season.  No scores are kept ... every participant is a winner in the Challenger Division!!"

T-Ball Division-Kindergarten & Grade 1 (ages 5 & 6)
T-Ball, an instructional division with teams ranging from 4 to 7 players, is played on a small diamond – 40 feet from home plate to first base – and uses a special “soft” official size and weight ball.  We will use a form of the Rally Cap program in T-ball.

In T-ball, as the name implies, the ball is hit from a stationary batting tee.  Coaches are allowed on the field and parents are encouraged to participate in letting players know where and when to run.  In the Rally Cap Program, three teams arrive at the field to play.  While one team practices in the outfield, the other teams play one inning--approximately 20 minutes.  Teams then rotate and another is practicing while the other two play an inning.  This continues until all teams have had one session of practice and two innings of play.  The season begins in early/mid-April and continues until mid- June.  Games are played at Delbrook Park in the early evenings during the week and during the day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Team jerseys and baseball caps are provided but players must have their own baseball glove.  It is also recommended that players purchase their own batting helmet.

Please note:  Insurance concerns dictate that players must be 5 years old as of December 31 of the past calendar year to qualify.

Farm Division-Grades 2 & 3 (ages 7 - 9 years)
Farm is an instructional division for 7-9 year olds.  A soft version of the official size and weight ball is used.  The diamond is larger than T-Ball, with home plate to first base extending 50 feet.  There are approximately 12 players per team.  Players hit against a pitching machine.  An inning ends when either three outs have been recorded or six runs scored.  All players are rotated through the infield and outfield positions and the use of three “extra” outfielders is allowed.  

The season, beginning in early April, consists of approximately 15 games played at Delbrook Park weekdays, in the early evening or on Sundays.  Practices are held on Saturdays.
    Team equipment, jerseys and caps are provided, but players must have their own gloves and boys must wear athletic support and cup if playing catcher.


Minors AA Division (Ages 9, 10 & 11)
This division is confined to players aged 9, 10 and 11, and offers the player’s first taste of competitive ball.

All players in the division must attend an evaluation day and are assigned to teams in a manner which will balance the division as much as possible.  Parents should realize that a balanced division takes precedence over player team preferences.

The diamond is the same size as for Farm, with 50 foot base paths.  For the first time, batters face player pitchers throwing an official baseball.  No pitcher may pitch more than two innings per game.  Each of the six innings end when either three outs have been recorded or a maximum of 5 runs have been scored.  Individual game and team standings are recorded and at the conclusion of the regular season, there is a post-season tournament to determine the division championship.

The season, beginning in early April, consists of approximately 17 games played at Delbrook Park in the early evening or on Sundays. Full team uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball glove, helmet, athletic support and cup and if desired, their own athletic shoes with rubber cleats.


Minors AAA Division (Ages 9, 10, 11, & 12)
This division includes players aged 9, 10, 11 or 12.  Players aged 12 year olds who do not play in the Majors Division are granted automatic admission to the Minor AAA Division.  Nine, 10 and 11 year olds gain admission provided they demonstrate they are ready at the Minors Evaluation Days.

All players in the division are assigned to teams in a manner which attempts to balance out the division.  Parents should realize that a balanced division takes precedence over player team preferences.

At this level, teams field a standard 9 player roster and the diamond is the size of an official Little League field – 60 feet from home plate to first base.  An official size and weight ball is used and with a few exceptions, official Little League rules prevail.  Each of the six innings end when either three outs have been recorded or a maximum of five runs have been scored (except for the final inning in which there is no scoring limit).  Each player is guaranteed a minimum playing time of three consecutive defensive innings.  All players take a turn batting, even if they are not in the 9 player fielding line-up.  A team has limits on the number of 12 year olds who may pitch during a given week.

Individual game and team standings are recorded and at the conclusion of the regular season, there will be a post-season tournament.

The season, beginning in early April, consists of approximately 17 games played at Delbrook Park or other parks on the North Shore in the early evening or on Sundays.  Full team uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball gloves, helmet and athletic support and cup.  Athletic shoes with rubber cleats are recommended.

Majors Division (Ages 9, 10, 11 & 12)
This is “official” Little League Baseball and represents the premier level of Highlands Little League Baseball.  Players are drafted into the Majors after they have successfully attended try-outs where coaches will evaluate each player’s skill level and maturity.       Within each of the 6 inning games, each selected player is guaranteed a minimum of three consecutive defensive innings and, major teams will bat through the order as in minors. Each Majors team must have no more than eight 12 year olds.

The season, beginning in early April, consists of approximately 20 games played at Delbrook Park or other parks on the North Shore in the early evening or on Sundays. Strict guidelines governing innings pitched are enforced for all players and teams.  Several practices a week will be scheduled for Majors teams.

At the conclusion of the regular season, there will be a post-season tournament to determine the league championship.  Players at the Majors level are eligible for All-Star try-outs for the sanctioned Little League post-season play.  The All-Star Team participates in our District Tournament, and may earn its way to a Provincial Tournament, a National Tournament or the Little League World Series Tournament in Williamsport Pennsylvania. 

Uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball glove, helmet and athletic support and cup.  Athletic shoes with rubber cleats are mandatory.

Junior League (Ages 13 & 14)
Junior League is for players aged 13 and 14.   Regular baseball rules apply except for a reduced diamond size – 80 feet from home plate to first base instead of 90.  Lead offs, unrestricted base stealing and pitching balks all come into play at this level.  Games are played throughout the North Shore.

Team uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball glove, helmet and athletic support and cup.  There are two levels of play at Juniors:  Tier One (rep level) and Tier Two (house or recreational level).

Please note:  All players wishing to compete at the Tier One level must be successful at a try-out.


Senior League (Ages 15 & 16)
Senior Division consists of 15 and 16 year old players. 

Games are played throughout the North Shore on full size diamonds – 90 foot base paths.  All regular baseball rules apply.

Team uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball glove, helmet and athletic support and cup.

There are two levels of play at Seniors - Tier One (rep level) and Tier Two (house or recreational level).

Please note:  All players wishing to compete at the Tier One level must be successful at a try-out.

Big League (Ages 17, 18 & 19)
Big League is for players 17, 18 & 19 years old.

Games are played throughout the North Shore on full size diamonds with all regular rules in effect.

Team uniforms and baseball caps are provided.  Jerseys and pants must be returned at the end of the season.  Players must supply their own baseball glove, helmet and athletic support and cup.