Batter Up! Middletown Little League Kicks Off Monday

Baseball season is just around the corner. Middletown Little League is wasting no time in getting ready, with 800 boys and girls already signed up and ready to play.

The first game, played by kids in the major division, takes place Monday. Baseball and Softball Opening Day is April 30 at Hubbard Park. Softball Opening Day is also on April 30 at the Snow School Fields. 

Majors and AAA go from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. AA, A and Farm League from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Opening ceremonies and dedication are at 12:30 p.m.

The youngest players that can join the league are 5-year-olds, and they start out in the Farm League, otherwise known as T-ball.

Once they have played in Farm League, the players then move on to A for 6- to 7-year-olds. Here they have moved beyond a ball on top of a tee and instead have coaches pitching to them. 

Next is AA for the 8-year-olds, then AAA for the 9 to 10-year-olds, before they move up to majors as 11- and 12-year-olds. 

In baseball there is also an optional Challenger League for 6- to 18-year-olds. Softball has a Junior League and a Senior League for 13- to 16-year-olds. These leagues are for the more advanced softball/baseball players.

The children have the opportunity of getting extra help in the form of clinics run by high school baseball coach Jason Serra.

The training director of the Middletown Little League works with Serra to schedule hitting and pitching clinics at the Middletown High School gym in January and February to help kids get ready for the upcoming season. High school players are there to help Serra and the children work on their skills.

One of the major problems leagues are dealing with this year is baseball bats. As of Dec. 30, 2010, there was “a moratorium on composite bats” said Don Brenchak, vice president of baseball. The suspension of composite bats only affects baseball, not softball. 

The structure of the bats was found to be unsafe and most of them recalled, making the league’s job a lot more difficult.

“They are really taking it seriously,” said Brenchak. 

Despite this setback, everyone is looking forward to opening day and the upcoming baseball/softball season.

“Kids who win their divisions can advance to regional and national competition later in the summer,” said Bob Nolan, vice president of softball for the league. 

The opening day ceremony will include a home run derby, scrimmages, individual and team pictures, and a Hit and Run contest hosted by Aquafina, as well as plenty of food, hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones and cotton candy.

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