What is my player’s Little League Age?
The Age Determination Date for a Little League Baseball player is the actual age of a child on August 31 of the current year. Please refer to the Little League Age chart for Reference - available at: League Age Determination - Little League
What Division does my player belong in?
Little League has suggested ages for each division. However, skill set can also help determine the appropriate division for your player. T-ball is very much an introductory division where players learn the basics of the game and develop a love for the sport. Coast division is a coach pitch division which focuses on skill development and introducing the rules of the game. Farm division is the first step into player pitch and umpires are introduced. Minors and above play the game directly from the Little League rules. Minors and Majors are divisions where players are divided evenly across teams by skill set. To ensure that occurs, all players in Minors and Majors MUST attend a tryout.
Our league is built so that each division builds on itself and introduces your player to different skill sets and fundamentals of baseball knowledge. Once your player enters our program, they should track within the system without skipping divisions. Some divisions may require more than one season to master.
T-Ball: 4 – 6 years old. (4-5 is the average age) : Meant for players who are true beginners, but age-limited due to safety concerns for the youngest players.
Coast: 5- 7 years old (5-6 is the average age): Players generally cannot consistently catch a ball or throw to a target, but they are ready for trying to hit coach-pitch balls.
Farm: 7 – 10 years old (7-8 is the average age): Some skills have developed, but players are still working on consistency. Hopefully by now players can catch fairly well (but maybe not consistently). This level does include some “kid pitch” innings each game.
Minors: 8 – 11 years old (9-10 is the average age): This is where “true baseball” starts to take form, meaning kids pitch the entire game and perform all aspects of the game. Players should be able to catch somewhat consistently. This is also the first level where players can qualify for postseason All-Star play. Get ready for pitchers who can throw more than one pitch!
Majors: 9 – 12 years old (11-12 is the average age): Players in this level can sometimes throw at speeds reaching the low 70s—that’s the equivalent of a 95+ mph pitch from major league distances. And balls can be hit at speeds of 80+ mph. Be ready! Players in this level should be able to consistently throw to a target, catch a ball and have a working understanding of how the game is played.
Generally speaking, if your child is on the upper end of the age range for a division shown above, that means we’re doing some catch-up in terms of experience and that your ball player may fit best with a younger group of players. But we’ll get there! And if your child is on the lower end of the age for a division, please think through whether he or she is ready to play up at a more advanced level. Some are ready to play up, but that is the exception (especially in Minors and Majors).
Can we make friend and/or coach requests?
We can honor friend and coach requests Tee Ball through Farm baseball. We ask that you make these when you register your child and suggest only making a couple friend requests that you know your player would like to be placed with. If you make several, we may only be able to honor one or two. Once rosters are released it is very difficult to make changes.
Once your player enters Minors/Majors baseball we can no longer honor any requests for coaches or friends. These teams are drafted based on the skills assessments to build rosters with equal skill sets and adequate pitching/catching to promote growth of the entire program and the individual players. Priority shifts from keeping friends together towards building better baseball players. We find that kids that are open to playing for a variety of coaches and with a variety of kids in the younger divisions sometimes find the transition to Minors baseball easier.
What is a draft? Why can’t we just keep our teams together in Minor/Majors?
As your player gets older and their skill set develops to a place where they can enter the drafted levels of play, it is important that we build those teams with as close to equal skill sets as possible. If the draft is conducted correctly every team should experience wins and losses throughout the regular season.
Towards the beginning of February MHLL will conduct player assessments for all draft eligible players. The coaches of those levels, board members, and volunteers from the greater Murrayhill baseball community will be present at these assessments to assign scores to different skills. Your player will have the opportunity to warm up with a peer group and then go on to field, play catch, field grounders, field pop fly’s, pitch and hit the ball while being evaluated. This may sound like an intimidating process, but the coaches and players keep it a fairly relaxed environment. Everyone there wants to see your player succeed. The point of these evaluations is not to set some players apart from others, it’s just to inform the draft. Every player that registers to play with Murrayhill Little League (and attends an evaluation) for Minors and Majors will be placed on a roster. We do not cut anyone from our program, your player may however be offered a different division than they originally registered for. Not all players will be drafted at the level they registered for.
After all the scores from the skills assessments are recorded the coaches from that division will meet with their player agent and members from the board to conduct the draft. Coaches will select players one at a time until all players are rostered. Sibling sets are always kept together. Once the teams are formed the Player Agent and President check to make sure that all teams have adequate coaching, pitching, and catching. Sometimes trades are made to even these areas out.
If your player registers for Majors and does not make a Majors team, they will be entered into the Minors draft. Majors Coaches, Board members will provide the Minors Coaches feedback from tryouts and present their scores from the skills assessments. Players will be drafted one at a time until all players are rostered.
Once teams are posted for Minors and Majors there are absolutely no changes made to rosters, and no refunds can be issued at that time.
Can baseball players “play down” a division?
We take very seriously the well-being of the players at Murrayhill Little League, and we do understand that all players' abilities do not progress at the same speed. While it is our desire to see our players move through the various divisions at MHLL as per their Little League age, there are occasions when it is clear that for safety reasons this is not in the best interest of the individual child. We believe that objectively evaluating the player's skill level relative to their Little League peers is an important part of the decision-making process, and so require that all players participate in tryouts as per the standard MHLL guidelines. If after tryouts are completed, it is determined that there is a meaningful safety risk associated with the player staying in the division with his Little League peers, MHLL will work with the families involved to find an alternative divisional placement if one exists.
What if my child can't make the scheduled tryout?
It’s preferred and recommended that your player attend a live tryout, however if you’re not able. You can submit a video tryout that we will distribute to the coaches. It will be more limited in scope than a typical tryout--we'd like to see them play catch, field a few grounders, field a few pop-flys, pitch a few balls and take a few swings (soft toss will do). You can send directly to Player Agent. Player Agent will send to appropriate division coaches for their review prior to the draft.
When will rosters and schedules be released?
Majors and Minors rosters will be released in late February. Schedules for those divisions come in two pieces. The March practice schedule comes out closely follow the roster release. Games for all divisions start at the beginning of April. We work hard to have the entire Spring schedule for Minors and Majors finalized by the end of March, but sometimes pieces outside of our control keep that schedule from dropping until April.
Farm, Coast and T-Ball rosters are released mid-March every year. We try to give families every opportunity to get their player registered and often find ourselves still recruiting volunteer coaches well into March. We cannot finalize rosters until we have a full coaching staff and know exactly how many teams we can roster. Once rosters are set, we allow coaches to pick their practice days. The full Spring Schedule for these divisions is released a week to two after rosters are posted.
What day(s) will my players practices and games be?
This varies from level to level, and coach to coach. We try to accommodate our volunteer coach’s schedules as best we can by allowing them to pick their practice days. Once that selection has been made your player’s schedule will be communicated by the coach. If practices/games get rained out we try to change location or time, but never both if we can help it.
Where will practices and games take place?
We have use of several fields throughout the season. Fir Grove, Nancy Ryles, Hazeldale Park, Cooper Mountain, Hiteon, Sexton Mountain and Errol Hassel. Your players will see a combination of these fields during practices and games.
Majors/Minors
Farm/Coast
T-Ball
What color pants/belt/socks does my player need?
Grey pants are a safe bet. Belt and Sock color will depend on what team your player is on. That information will come in the welcome email from your coach shortly after rosters are released. Jersey and hat will be provided by the league.
What gear does my player need? What gear does MHLL provide?
Your player will need their own baseball glove at every level of play. Most players prefer to have their own helmet, but one or two will be provided to every team. In T-ball, Coast and Farm there will be bats provided for the team, but as your player grows, they will likely prefer to have their own bat that is properly sized to them. Dicks Sporting Goods have knowledgeable staff that can help you find the correct bat size for your player. Catcher’s gear is provided to every team.MHLL has gear available for the season. If you need additional gear for the season, please let your coach know.
Guidelines for gear needed by Division:
T-Ball/Coast
And that’s it! The rest—baseball pants, batting gloves, eye black, cleats, thumb guard, sliding mittens, pocket radar, Hit Trax, Tom House instructional videos, etc.—are all extras. Each team will have a team bat, but feel free to purchase one if you’d like it for practice or for use at home. Buy all the extras your heart desires, but know they aren’t necessary for T-Ball or Coast baseball. Just keep your player (and yourself) warm, dry, and happy!
Farm
You might also consider trying out an athletic cup if you anticipate playing Minors in 2024. We’d suggest having your own baseball bat, too, but each will have a team bat for use in practices and games. In addition, in Farm there is no need to have color-matching socks or belts. The rest is all up to you.
Minors/Majors
Can you explain the cost?
Our registration fees are the result of a combination of factors, however equipment costs and our field permitting expenses drive our fees. Field permitting cost have increased year over year. Your registration fees also pay for the jersey and hat that your ballplayer will receive.
Who do I contact to resolve an issue or concern throughout the season?
We always suggest that you start with your coach if the question/concern is specific to your player and their skill development. The volunteers that fill these roles do so because they are invested in seeing every player succeed throughout the season. If you don’t feel the problem is being resolved, you can contact the Player Agent for your division. MHLL has a large volunteer board, and while we accept all questions via Facebook/Instagram and our league web address – each of our volunteers are listed on our website alongside their position. If you have questions about our fundraisers, sponsorships, fields, fee structure – directing your question to the appropriate volunteer may result in a quicker answer.
What All-Star baseball teams will be formed and when will teams be announced?
Murrayhill Little League expects to field at least three All-Star teams each summer – (1) a 12-year-old team (the “Williamsport Team”), (2) an 11-year-old team, and (3) a team comprised of 9 and/or 10-year-old players. Teams are announced late May or early June of each year and are put together from eligible players based on coaches’ evaluations. To be eligible for an All-Star team, players must reside within the MHLL Boundary.
All Stars is a bigger commitment and is what you see on ESPN at the Little League World Series. All Star teams practice daily for 3-4 weeks before their first tournament, and at many levels the District and State tournaments are not scheduled until mid to late July. The 10u and 11u All Star teams can play through the State tournament, while the 12u (Majors) squad can play to Regionals and even the Little League World Series (which happens in late August).
It's also important for everyone to understand how All Stars selection works, because it varies by level.
At the 12u level, Major Managers will vote (unonymously) to select the (12) Players to fill out the Major All Star Team roster.
At the 10u and 11u level, all players are anonymously selected by Minors (10u) and Majors (11u) Managers. Once again, each player must be unanimously selected.
HONORS – How it works?
Honors is a roughly two-week commitment that starts immediately after the regular season ends--there is one week of practice, followed by a week or so of games located around District 4 (Wilsonville, MHLL, Cedar Mill). We try to place everyone who signs up for Honors on a team, however that also requires we have enough volunteer coaches to do just that. Honors is broken down by age groups--Minors (8-10u) and Majors (11-12u). It is meant to be a relatively low-commitment and casual experience that exposes players to tournament play.
Post Season Registration
In the registration process, parents have three options to choose from: Honors-only (meaning they don’t want to be considered for All Stars); Honors or All Stars (meaning they want their child to play Honors if not selected for All Stars); and All Stars-Only (meaning they don’t want their child to be placed in Honors if not selected for All Stars).
In addition, you will have to choose the age group(s) where your child will be considered for postseason selection. Usually that’s pretty straightforward—a 10-year-old player often only wants to be considered for the 10u All Star team. But technically that player is also eligible to be considered at the 11u and 12u levels, too, if they are capable of “playing up” with older kids. That’s your call—some players would rather play with their peers rather than playing up with the older kids.
Lastly, it’s also important to keep in mind that the 11u and 12u All Star teams typically draw from the Majors division, while the 10u All Star team most often draws from Minors. On the other hand, the 11-12u Honors team will pull from both Minors and Majors.
MHLL FALL 2025 FAQs:
When does registration open for the Fall 2025 season?
Registration period runs 8/1/25 - 8/27/25.
What level should I sign up for?
Generally, we recommend signing up for a level HIGHER than your child played in the Spring, with the goal being that this will help prepare your child for playing in that level come 2023 Spring baseball.
Which levels are available?
Farm (for players who will be 7u and 8u next Spring), Minors (9/10u), and Majors (11/12u)
If my child was a 12u player in Spring, can he/she play Fall baseball?
Unfortunately, no, but there are other fine local organizations to help you continue your child's baseball career.
Are there tryouts?
No. Your child will play in the chosen level unless the league determines issues with safety dictate a lower level of play.
When are games played?
Games are generally played throughout the weeknights and on weekends--just like Spring baseball, although with a lighter schedule (2 games per week).
When does the season start?
The season generally lasts from late August until mid-October.
Are there practices?
Maybe only a couple--ultimately it will depend on the coach. But most will prefer to have a refresher before the season begins and then a practice here or there during the season.
How does Fall baseball compare with Spring baseball?
Hopefully it's played in drier weather!! But seriously, Fall baseball is a much more casual atmosphere than Spring baseball. If you must miss a game here or there, no big deal. More focus is on player development to help prepare players for the next Spring season.
Can I request specific teams or teammates?
You bet. There is no draft in Fall baseball, so we'll do our best to accommodate team/coach/teammate requests.
How do I Volunteer? Coach, Umpire, Scorekeeper?
Visit our website, mhllbaseball.com. Click the Registration tab, then select the Volunteer tab for the current season you would like to Volunteer.
Note that you will receive a separate email from JDP (our background check provider)/Little League International at a later date requesting additional information to complete our mandatory yearly background checks. This is different than just registering your interest to volunteer. If you are over 18, you MUST complete that background check process before you're allowed to participate in any league activities involving children. As a coach/volunteer of MHLL you will be required to complete 2 federally required certifications: Concussion Training and Abuse Awareness. These will be sent out separately once registered.
Can I donate to Murrayhill Little League or be a Sponsor?
Yes. Please contact our Sponsorship Board member at sponsorships@mhllbaseball.com. These donations will be used offset registration cost, to help support general operations at MHLL, or to support specific items or initiatives. Donations and Sponsorships are a great way to support baseball at MHLL, and we thank you in advance for your support!
Still have questions?
If you have been assigned to a team, then check with your team's Head Coach. Otherwise, we have a plethora of volunteers who serve on the Board and in various committees which cover every facet of baseball. You can find them all HERE. Check the list and see which person would be most appropriate to provide more information.