Time to Play Ball

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer and soon parks throughout New Baltimore and Chesterfield will be filled with the sound of bat cracks and cheering parents as T-ball and baseball season gets into full swing.

The New Baltimore Recreation Center and Chesterfield Township Parks and Recreation offer kids in the Anchor Bay area the opportunity to participate in organized teams.

“The rec league is an inexpensive outlet to play as opposed to being on a traveling team that goes all over Michigan,” said Carlos Aprea, assistant director of the New Baltimore Recreation Center. Through the local league, games are played on two New Baltimore diamonds and three diamonds at local schools. “This league is a way to give players exposure to America’s greatest pastime.”

New Baltimore Recreation Center has five divisions, T-ball for ages 5-6, pitching machine ages 7-8 and player-pitch for age groups 9-10, 11-12 and 13-15. The cost is $40 for the season for T-ball and $60 for all other divisions. The cost includes the games and a full uniform.

The games are played twice a week on weekdays after 6 p.m. In previous seasons, more than 300 Anchor Bay kids have participated in the league.

“The coaches for the teams are basically the parents. They are neighbors. They all know each other,” Aprea said. “It’s a lot of community fun.”

Chesterfield Township offers spring and summer sessions of baseball. Spring session registration for the 12 and under players has closed, the 15 and under league runs through April 15. Practices begin April 11 and opening day is Saturday, May 14. The division for players 15 and under begins practicing May 9 with games running May 30 through July 31.

Registration for the summer session runs from April 1 to April 29. Team practices will start July 1 and games will run through Sept. 2. Opening day will be held on Saturday, July 23.

Both sessions offer T-ball for ages 5-7, pitching machine for 7- to 9 years-olds, and player-pitch teams for players 9-years-old through the teens. The divisions are broken down by age and the divisions rotate practices days and games.

The Chesterfield Township baseball games are played at Pollard Park and behind the Chesterfield Township Municipal Offices. Some games may be played at Memorial Park in New Baltimore.  

The cost for the Chesterfield Township teams varies. There is an extra fee for nonresidents. The costs include any necessary team gear. Consult the Chesterfield Township Parks and Rec brochure for exact pricing along with detailed practice and game information.

In New Baltimore, it isn’t just kids who are invited to get in on the action, parents are invited to serve as coaches for some of the teams. Aprea said it gives parents and children a chance to be involved in the same activity and enjoy it at a different level.

While the online registration has closed, the New Baltimore Parks and Recreation is accepting walk-in registrations until the end of March. The rec center, located at 50976 Washington Street, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Registration for the Chesterfield Township teams can be turned into the Department of Parks and Recreation, located at 47275 Sugarbush. Forms also can be downloaded from the department website and mailed in to the Parks and Recreation office. After-hours registration may be left in the drop box outside of the Chesterfield Township Municipal offices.