4-Year Old Instructional Division (Co-ed) - Open to 4 Year Olds ONLY

This is a very popular and successful division at Smithville.  This is the time when kids (both girls and boys) get their first taste of baseball and begin to develop a love of the game.  Every kid has an absolute blast while learning the very basics. The season will consist of eight, one-hour sessions.  The first portion of the season will focus on the basics of hitting, throwing and catching.  The second portion will combine the basics with things such as base running and positions.  The last two to three weeks will be non-competitive "games".  We keep the sessions moving and the kids never get bored.  It is encouraged that parents participate.  The kids love to have someone out there with them during the practices and games learning with them. Everyone will have a blast!  The season will consist of eight scheduled sessions for each team, one per week, beginning on the Jamboree day (Saturday) April 13th.  Each session will last 1 hour.

Baseball Divisions

5/6 Baseball

In this division, we will continue to focus more on the fundamentals of youth baseball.  The kids will get their first experience of competitive baseball.  The games will have umpires and score will be kept.  While we do keep score, we place much more emphasis on learning the game and having fun.  We feel we have created a great environment for 5 and 6-year-olds to learn baseball.  This division is "coach pitch" as we feel that it is very important for kids to learn to read the ball leaving a pitcher's hand at an early age.  We use the "incredi-ball" baseball at this age which is a lighter and softer baseball.  We continue to focus on the baseball fundamentals of hitting, throwing, catching and fielding.  In addition, we will begin to develop an understanding of baserunning and situational plays, etc.  All kids play each inning and each team will bat the full roster.  Games are limited to 4 innings or 60 minutes.   

7/8 Baseball

This is a competitive division of youth baseball and is played on a 38/60 field.  The objective of this division is to expand the players basic fundamentals of the game and to increase the understanding of the game.  We will strive to promote teamwork, sportsmanship, and execution.  This age group is "coach pitch" from 38'.  We feel it is important for the player to continue to develop the skill of reading the ball from the pitcher's hand and learning to discern good from bad pitches.  We will place emphasis on letting players learn several positions throughout the year.  All kids will play each inning and each team will bat the full roster.  Games are limited to 6 innings or 1 hour 30 minutes.  USA Bat standard has been adopted by Smithville Diamonds.

9/10 Baseball

This will be the player's first taste of "kid pitch" baseball.  This is a competitive division with player pitchers.  It provides the first opportunity for players to participate in a division requiring more advanced baseball skills.  This division is played on a 46/60 field setup and base stealing is allowed. Player pitching restrictions are strictly enforced.  Games are limited to 6 innings or 1 hour 45 minutes.  USA Bat standard has been adopted by Smithville Diamonds.

11/13 Baseball - 50/70 (50' pitching distance and 70' basepaths)

Teams in this division will play on a field with a 50’ pitching mound distance and 70’ base paths. Baseball age kids 11-13 will be eligible.  This division offers a field size in between what they have played on since age 9 (46’ pitching distance and 60’ base paths 46/60) and what they will play on beyond age 13 (60’ pitching distance and 90’ base paths 60/90 also used by High School and Major League Baseball). This Intermediate division will "bridge the gap" for players who have "outgrown" 46/60 baseball and for those who wish to play baseball into high school or beyond. This division will follow "real" baseball rules by allowing base runners to lead off.  In turn, this will require pitchers to learn to hold runners on base and attempt to pick them off. Games are limited 6 innings or 1 hour 45 minutes.  USA Baseball approved bats and wood bats are the only approved bats per Little League regulations.  This will be enforced.