Sandlot Baseball

Pick-up style baseball open to current 1st and 2nd graders (rising 2nd and 3rd in the Fall).  This is a one night per week program that will run for 6 weeks at McCarthy Park.  Each session will consist of 30-to-40-minutes of skills, then players will be broken up into two teams to play a three-inning game.

MYBS understands that Summers are extremely busy for families, therefore we are keeping the registration fee low ($25) to encourage participation when families are able to do so, but without a significant financial commitment.  So to keep costs low we will not be distributing hats or uniforms.  Each week teams will be formed based on who attends ("Sandlot Style"). 

 

Friendship League

This will be players introduction to travel baseball as part of the "Friendship League".  All current 2nd graders (rising 3rd graders in the Fall) are eligible to play.  The registration fee includes a new uniform with the players name on the back (uniform is good for the next few seasons).  Medfield will typically have two balanced teams participate in the league.

The Friendship League is a terrific introduction to competitive, travel baseball and offers organized kid-pitch baseball with umpires. Games are played on weekdays (2 games per week, and days of week vary) with the season starting in late June. Teams play to qualify for an end of season playoff tournament held in late July, and typically play around 10-12 games (regular season & playoffs).

Teams may enter into a weekend tournament(s) in June/July, beyond the Friendship League, which could add several more games to the season schedule.  Games will be played at McCarthy park and also travel to other towns  (e.g. Westwood, Wellesley, Needham).  For more details about the program, please visit their website (Friendship League).

 

SuburBan Youth Baseball

Starting in 3rd grade (rising 4th graders), all Summer programs use the Little League age levels. The Suburban Youth Baseball League (SYBL) runs four different age groups with both A and B divisions for ages 9 thru 12 (Little League).

Little League 9-12

Medfield Youth Baseball offers opportunities to play for select travel teams in the 9, 10, 11, and 12 year old age brackets.   Primarily these teams will play in either the Suburban Youth Baseball league or the Barnstormers league: 

Suburban A:  This league is a very competitive league.  Players selected for the A team must have played in the spring.  There are generally 5 home games and 5 away games held on weeknights. The top players identified in the selection process (described below) will play for this team.  It starts the last week of June and continues until the end of July.  Playoffs start in early August (if applicable).  Typically this team will also play at least two outside tournaments. In this event, the kids are expected but not required to participate and parents will incur additional tournament fees.  
 

Suburban B:  This league mirrors the “Suburban A” league in terms of time and commitment and league games.  This league is comprised of players who did not make the “A” team.  Pending the numbers, Medfield will submit one or two entries in this league.  If two teams are entered, they will be balanced teams.  The schedule runs from late June to early August with a playoff tournament in early August (if applicable).

SELECTION PROCESS 

Each age bracket (9’s, 10’s, 11’s, & 12’s) will have a tryout in May.  The selection process will consist of the following factors: 

• Performance during the actual tryout.  
• Performance during the in-town seasons (including spring and fall) 
• Performance during last summer’s travel season (if applicable).  

Each Spring in-town coach will be provided a standard MYBS evaluation form.  On this form, the in-town coach will be asked to rank all players trying out for the Summer program based on 5 criteria recommended by Little League (running, grounders, fly-balls, throwing, hitting).  This form will must be turned into the one of the Summer or Grade coordinators. 

Each age group will have a 1.5 to 2 hour tryout.  Each spring in-town team will have an evaluator present at the tryout OR there will be a group of independent evaluators.  The tryout will also be attended by a MYBS board member (who does not have a child trying out, this may be an evaluator).  At the end of the tryout, each evaluator will turn in his/her selection of 12 names (in order) for the “Suburban A” team.  The grade coordinator, the summer coordinator (if applicable), the independent board representative, with the help of the Spring Coaches input will help pick the "A" team. 

The evaluators will also comprise a second list of players for the “Suburban B” team(s).  This list could consist of 13 to 26 players (in order), depending on how many “B” teams will be entered in that age group.  If there are two “B” teams, the “B” coaches will draft the two teams creating two balanced teams.  The number of “B” league teams will be dependent on the total number of players trying out in a particular age group as well as the availability of openings in the Suburban B league. 

SELECTION OF SUMMER COACHES 

The “Suburban A” coach for each grade will be picked by the grade coordinator and Summer coordinator.  The coach will also have to be approved by the Medfield Youth Baseball Board on an annual basis. 

The “A” coach helps run the tryout with the Coordinator, assists with the selection process of the “B” team, and has the responsibility to enter the “A” team in preseason tournaments.  Therefore, the board wants that coach identified well in advance of the tryouts.  His son must clearly be a projected top 12 player as determined by the league coordinator and summer coordinator. 

The “B” coaches will be determined after the selection process or if a qualified coach volunteers in advance.  His son/daughter would have to be a projected top 25 player. 

COMMUNICATION OF RESULTS 

Team assignments will be posted to the website or via email within a week of the tryout.

UNIFORMS 

MYBS will designate a standard Medfield Summer Baseball uniform with the objective that all players in a specific age have the same uniform regardless of what team they are playing on.  The only exception to this will be the 12A team representing Medfield in the Williamsport Tournament (if they so chose).   Summer coaches are prohibited from purchasing uniforms on their own and must have their players wear uniforms that are designated by MYBS.

FAQs ON 9-12 YEAR OLD SUMMER BASEBALL 

Why do I have to commit to summer baseball so early? 

• SYBL requires a financial commitment in early May and therefore we must know how many teams (i.e. one or two “B” teams) to enter based on our signups.  In addition, there is a significant amount of coordination to make sure each and every player who signs up has a place to play.  Therefore, we cannot guarantee a spot for a child who signs up after the deadline.  They will go on a waiting list to see if other children decide to opt out.  There will not be any exceptions to this policy. 

Why can’t I just sign up the day of the tryout? 

• Unlike other towns, Medfield tries its best to have a “No Cut” policy for summer baseball.  We have to know the numbers well in advance so we can enter the proper amount of teams and coordinate coaches, uniforms, etc. 

What if our family is going away during the Summer and will miss multiple games?  

• Since each team carries 12 players, it is difficult to miss multiple games.  We recommend that players who are knowingly going to miss a portion of the season play on the B team; this will allow another player who is more committed the opportunity to play up with the A team (don't take their spot basically).  The spirit of the "B" league is to replicate the same experience as the “A” league (i.e. playoffs, umpires, standings), so we hope that players are also committed to the "B" team.   We can find replacement players from other age groups as necessary to fill gaps.

What about playing time? 

• Suburban Youth Baseball requires that a player play at least three innings and get one at-bat per game.  The Medfield Board feels that fair play is an important component of our philosophy.  We also recognize that the summer travel season is very competitive.  We instruct each coach to attempt to exceed the playing time minimums as established by SYBL and have each player play at least 4 innings per game (if the mercy rule is not invoked). 

What about playing time during the 12 year old Williamsport Tournament? 

• Little league playing requirements are changing in 2023.  All players will bat (continuous order), but they are no longer required to play defensively, please visit LittleLeague.org for official rules.  During the tournament the Medfield Board will allow a coach to adhere to this policy. As noted above:  The team selected as the 12A Suburban team will represent Medfield in the Williamsport Tournament. 

What can I do if I disagree with the placement of my son? 

• It is very difficult to turn a subjective process into an objective result.  However, many evaluators are at each tryout (including an independent source).  The results will be final, but you may request constructive feedback from the board member at the tryout.

Babe Ruth
 

Medfield participates in the Tri-Valley Baseball (TVB) League. The number of teams at each level depends on registration numbers. Unlike Little League/Suburban baseball, there is no "A" team or "B" team, and there are no tryouts. Each town in the TVB enters balanced teams. For example, If there were 24 players signed up for Babe Ruth/TVB in Medfield, MYBS will create two balanced teams with 12 players each.   For more information on the league, go to the Medway Youth Baseball site. There are two division levels:

• Summer Babe Ruth Minors is for current 7th & 8th graders (13-14 year olds)
• Summer Babe Ruth Majors is for 15-17 year old boys

Babe Ruth Rules on Bats:

Minors
The bat may not exceed 34" in length and the bat barrel may not exceed 2 5/8" in diameter.  All aluminum/alloy barrel bats and all composite handle (only) aluminum/alloy barrels are allowed. Bats certified and marked BBCOR  0.50 will be allowed. Wood barrel bats conforming to the specifications of Official MLB Baseball Rule 1.10 are allowed.

Majors
The bat must be 2 5/8" in diameter and be a Drop -3 length to weight ratio. Only bats certified and marked BBCOR 0.50 are allowed. Wood barrel bats conforming to the specifications of Official MLB Baseball Rule 1.10 are allowed.