REDDING BASEBALL

Redding Baseball has offered one of the greatest youth sports traditions in town for more than 70 years.  Our Baseball programs provide all Redding youth players from ages 5-12 the opportunity to have fun and learn the game of baseball as part of the international Cal Ripken Youth Baseball Organization (http://www.ripkenbaseball.com/ripken-way).  Locally we run our programs under the charter of the Jesse P. Sanford Boys & Girls Club of Redding-Easton (BGCRE).
 
Our in-house spring & fall programs are organized into several divisions outlined below, each of which has its own unique skills development objectives. We also offer summer All-Star, Travel & Friendship teams, which are described below.
 
How do I register?
Our online registration process is simple and should not take you more than 5 minutes to complete. To get started, simply click the "Register Online" tab at the top of the column to the left of this page (the tab is only available when registration is open). The process is self-explanatory from there.
 
If you have any questions about Redding Baseball or for which division to sign up your child, please do not hesitate to contact us at   or please call 203-938-3166.

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Determining Cal Ripken Age Group

We follow Cal Ripken Baseball's age group designations. How old your child is on April 30, 2023 determines his/her "baseball age" for the 2023 Spring & Summer seasons. See chart below.

BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC.
BIRTH CHART FOR 2023 – BASEBALL DIVISIONS

Majors/70
Age Eligibility (12/11): This division will be for 12U players who are ready to play on the Intermediate 50/70 field and will represent our highest level of Cal Ripken league competition. 
 
Skill level and objectives: The 50/70 Division is a bridge to transition from the traditional 46/60 youth field with 46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths to the modified baseball field using a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths. This helps the players with their future transition to the 60-foot 6-inch pitching distance and 90-foot bases. 50/70 baseball also allows for the full baseball experience, playing under the same rules of play used on the big field (such as leading and pickoffs). Advanced pitching mechanics, hitting, base-running and situational game strategies will be taught.
 
Minors AAA/60
Age Eligibility (10/9): This division will be for our 10 & 9 year-old players to play on the traditional 46/60 youth baseball field. 
 
Skill level and objectives: Player development at this level builds on baseball skills learned at AA with the expectation that players meet the needed requirements for hitting, fielding, and base running to be able to compete in standard Cal Ripken league level games. Coaches continue to focus on the mechanics of pitching, hitting and defensive game play to prepare players for the jump to 50/70 baseball. All players bat in a continuous line-up.
 
Minors AA/60
Age Eligibility (8U): This division will be for any players at the 8U level moving up from Rookie ball to player-pitch for the first time on the traditional 46/60 youth baseball field. 
 
Skill level and objectives: This division is focused on heavy instruction while incorporating the first elements of game competition. This is our beginner level for player-pitch baseball and will focus on developing pitching mechanics and the basics of game play. Games are played with outs, walks, strikeouts, and some limited stealing. Score is kept; however, modified game rules are used such as walk, stealing and run limits. Also, “coach rescue” pitching is typically used for games early in the season until pitchers develop proper technique and gain enough game experience. Players focus on skill development in hitting, fielding, throwing, base running and the ability to field standard positions. All players bat in a continuous line-up.
 
Rookie
Age Eligibility (6-7): This division is open to any 7U players learning the fundamental skills of baseball (generally ages 6 and 7, as well as any 8 year olds not yet ready to move to player-pitch).
 
Skills objectives: This division is coach-pitch and serves as the transition for young players from T-Ball to traditional baseball. Players learn the fundamental skills of hitting, fielding, throwing, and running the bases (but stealing bases is not permitted). Rookie is a fully instruction level, so we do not keep score and each batter hits once per inning. Also, all players are in the field at all times to learn defense. Coaches are typically on the field giving instruction during the game. We continue to use the soft-core baseball at this level. Rookie ball is typically played on Friday nights and Saturdays at set times. 
 
T-Ball
Age Eligibility (K & Pre-K/Ages 5-6); This division is generally structured for our Pre-K & Kindergarten players.  Pre-K 4-Yr olds are eligible to play if they are entering Kindergarten in the Fall 2023 as a 5-yr old.
 
Skills objectives: This division is designed to introduce players to organized baseball. T-Ball is a completely instructional program with a focus on learning the basics of hitting, throwing and catching a baseball, running the bases and HAVING FUN! A soft-core baseball is used for play, and players hit off a stationary batting tee. Each player hits every inning and gets to run all the bases, as well as score a run. Coaches are on the field during play to assist the players in learning each part of the game. There will be skills instruction each session, followed by a game that generally goes 2 innings. T-Ball is typically played on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings at set times. Please Click Here for our T-Ball Philosophy and T-Ball FAQ.

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Playing Up: Please note that requests for players seeking to “play up” a level must be reviewed by the Player Agent and will be based on an evaluation at most levels where the player can demonstrate the necessary skills requirements to compete against older players, as well as meet Cal Ripken League player development and safety requirement policies. 

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SUMMER BASEBALL

Our Summer program consists of District All-Star and Travel teams that offer players the opportunity to play baseball at more advanced and competitive levels and develop their skills against some of our region’s most experienced players within their age groups. We also offer Friendship teams for players to continue their development on a more instructional level, while playing inter-town summer baseball. All teams are based on Cal Ripken baseball age (as highlighted in the chart above).

District teams

District teams are the most advanced and competitive level of play and require the biggest commitment of players, families, and coaches. Players selected for District teams must fully commit to being at all games and practices, which can typically be at least 5 times per week from mid-June through approximately the first weekend in August. These teams will play the top all-star teams across our District and are competing to advance to regional and state level Cal Ripken tournaments. Redding is in Connecticut’s Cal Ripken District 4, which includes: Redding, Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford, New Fairfield, Easton and Danbury. Teams playing in the District tournament will continue playing in the Travel leagues when tournament play concludes.

Travel teams

We offer Travel teams across the different age levels and expect to play in competitive local summer leagues for players ages 9-12. The schedule generally runs from mid-June through the first weekend in August, and is typically up to 25 games, including playoff and championship tournament games (which begin the last week of July). Players should be prepared to play at least 4 days per week for games and practices, and will travel across Fairfield County, Litchfield County, New Haven County and neighboring New York state counties.

Friendship Teams

We also run Friendship teams (typically for our 9U and 8U players), which offer the opportunity to play summer inter-town league baseball, but with a more developmental and instructional approach to the season. These teams play a schedule similar to the spring, generally 12-14 games (approx. 2-3 games per week and practice time). Travel is typically concentrated more locally to surrounding towns across mostly Fairfield County. Friendship teams depend on how many players in the different age groups we have interested in summer baseball.

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Please note: Evaluations are used as part of the team selection process to determine District and Travel teams based on the skill levels coaches believe is needed to compete in the Cal Ripken tournament and other competitive summer leagues. Additionally, District & Travel teams will have a set number of roster positions to offer. Roster spots for specific summer teams cannot be guaranteed.

 Also, please consider that the Summer season requires a significant commitment from our players and families at most levels, given summer league rosters sizes and travel schedules.

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BASEBALL FOR PLAYERS 13-YEARS OLD AND UP

Where do players 13-years old and up register to play baseball?

Redding/BGCRE Youth Baseball programs only run through age 12.

Once players are 13-years old, they are eligible to play at the Babe Ruth Baseball level on the traditional 60/90 baseball field (the “big field”). 

The BGCRE also hosts the Easton-Redding Falcons Baseball Program, which is managed jointly for both Redding and Easton players, who play together starting from age 13. The Middle School teams (13/14U Junior Falcons) are coached by current and former Joel Barlow High School coaches, and typically play in Babe Ruth Baseball League or the Greater Hudson Valley Baseball League (GHVBL). 

Players who played last Spring as a 12-year old will receive a separate email from the ER Falcons.

For mor information please go to our web site - http://www.leagueathletics.com/Default.asp?org=ERFALCONS

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OTHER FAQ’s

When do the seasons begin and end?
 
The Spring season begins in early April and ends in mid-June. Winter skills clinics will also be offered in February & March.
 
T-Ball & Rookie are on set days and times (usually Friday evenings @ 5:45 and Saturday mornings or early afternoon).

Other division game days and times will vary, due to field assignments and occasional inter-town games; schedule typically consists of at least 2-3 games per week plus practice. 
 
The Summer season generally runs from mid/late June through the first week of Aug, depending on whether teams advance to the final rounds of playoffs.
 
Summer teams have full travel schedules, as described above under our program descriptions.
 
The Fall season begins in mid-September and will run through the last week of October.
 
The Fall schedule typically consists of 10-12 games, which are played on weekends. Schedules will be a mix of in-house games played at the BGCRE, as well as games against our neighboring towns, so there will be some travel for a handful of games. The Rookie division will be all in-house and focus primarily on skills clinics, with games at the end of each session. T-Ball is not offered in the Fall.
 
 
How do I sign-up to become a coach, assistant coach or team manager?
There is a section on the registration form. If you have questions about coaching, please contact Chris Rotondo at    or Mike Dobbins at

How do I become a Sponsor?
Sponsorship can be completed directly online under the Sponsors tab on the left hand nav bar on the Baseball Home page, or a sponsor form can be found and downloaded under the Documents tab. There are four sponsorship opportunities.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS 2022 SEASON

$350 Dream Team Sponsor

• Business name displayed on a spring teams’ uniforms
• Acknowledgement on Redding Baseball League Website “Sponsors” page
• Thank you email with Team Photo

$350 Go Yard Banner Sponsor

• 3’x 6’ Banner advertisement at The Boys & Girls Club Fields
• Acknowledgement on Redding Baseball League Website “Sponsors” page

$750 Both Dream Team & Go Yard combined package

• Acknowledgement on on the Boys & Girls Club home “Sponsors” page​

$1,000 Program Sponsor

• Business name displayed on Jersey for fall/spring season in 1 year
• 3’x 6’ Banner advertisement on the BGCRE field
• Opportunity to use 2022 Redding Baseball League Program sponsor in all of your company advertising
   

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at