Baseball
Welcome to baseball on Mercer Island! We strive to provide a fun experience for our players: to learn the basics of baseball and foster a positive team environment, where they can build friendships and make their own Little League memories.
Our Divisions and FAQs listed below!
Our Divisions
Single A
Single-A is intended for 7 year-olds and 1st graders. No previous experience required, however most have already played a year of Sluggers. This division plays RapidBaseball™. Additional info about RapidBaseball™ can be found under Parent Resources. Our teams will have one weeknight practice and one Saturday game per week. Players hoping to play up an age (6s in A) must have completed a introductory level (T-Ball/Sluggers) and must be ready for the competition and structure of a higher league.
Double-A (AA)
This advanced machine or coach-pitch baseball is for most 8 year-olds, some highly skilled 7 year-olds, and some 9 year-olds seeking more development, or a lesser commitment, before playing in our Player Pitch divisions. This division plays RapidBaseball™. Additional info about RapidBaseball™ can be found under Parent Resources.You will have one weeknight practice and two games per week (a weekday & Saturday), and an end-of-season League Tournament. Players hoping to play up an age (7s in AA) must have completed Single-A.
Player Pitch:
Triple-A (AAA)
This is entry-level player pitch baseball for 9 and 10 year old players, as well as some highly skilled 8 year olds. In the first half of the season, Triple-A will play RapidBaseball™ games. In the second half, Triple-A will play typical baseball games. This division will practice once per week, and play one weeknight game and one Saturday game.
Player Pitch: Coast
This is intermediate player pitch baseball, primarily for 10 and 11 year-old players, as well as some highly skilled 9 year-olds. Coast teams will practice once per week, and play one weeknight game and one Saturday game. Typically players in Coast have played at least one year in our Single, Double or Triple-A Age Divisions.
Player Pitch: Majors
This is the most advanced and competitive division of Little League, which will include all 12 year olds, strong 11 year-olds and outstanding 10 year olds. Majors focuses on advanced skill development and preparation for all-stars and higher level play beyond age 12. Players will be drafted onto Majors teams based on ability.
Juniors
This is for 13-14 year-olds. Like Seniors, basepaths are 90’ and the pitching distance is 60’6’’. Players are eligible to compete in end-of-the-season tournaments and All-Stars. 13 year-olds are eligible for Juniors, but are encouraged to participate in Intermediate if possible.
Seniors
This Seniors baseball plays on a full size baseball diamond (60’6’’ pitching rubber, 90’ bases). 13-14 year-olds are eligible for Seniors baseball, but players are encouraged to participate in Juniors. Most seniors players are 14-16 years old.
All Stars
A select group of our players, ages 8+ will be a part of our 3 All Star teams, to compete against other teams in District 9 and beyond. All Star season begins once MILL season concludes.
Baseball FAQs
My 8 year old is a highly skilled ball player. Can he play up at the AAA level?
All interested 8 year-olds must contact the MIBGC at least two weeks prior to our Show Your Stuff evaluation day in January. The MIBGC and MILL VP’s will review each player and decide if the player can participate in SYS. However, an invitation to SYS is not a guaranteed spot in AAA. If the player receives high enough scores AND there is room in AAA, the player may be placed in AAA. If an 8 year-old is invited to SYS, he/she must attend Show Your Stuff to be placed on a AAA team.
My 9 year-old is a highly skilled ball player. Can he play in Majors?
No. MILL prohibits any player from playing up more than three years. E.g, 9’s can’t play in Majors. 8’s can’t play in Coast, 7’s can’t play in AAA.
My son was in Coast last season as a 10 year-old. Why didn’t he move up to Majors this year as an 11 year-old?
For Majors, the coaches do a live draft of their team. They select 12 players from all eligible players. There are some players that are guaranteed places in Majors. They are (1) League Age 12 year-olds. (2) League Age 11 year-olds in Sixth Grade (who played Coast last season) and (3) Players who played Majors the previous year. The rest of the remaining players are drafted by the coaches from the pool of eligible players.
How do I figure out my son’s League Age?
Baseball League Age is determined by your child’s date of birth. The age determination date is August 31st. For example, if your son turns 9 on August 31, he is League Age 10. If your son turns 10 on September 1, he is League Age 9. There are no exceptions to this rule. Please refer to the LL Baseball Age Chart to confirm your child’s League Age. Softball has a different League Age cutoff.
My league age 9 year-old did not get selected to AAA. Why is this?
At Show Your Stuff, we evaluate over 200 players in order to place them in the division that is most appropriate for them. We want your child to succeed and be confident. If your child was not placed in AAA we believe that AA was the most appropriate division for him.
My child is playing Player Pitch (Triple-A or above), can I request a buddy or a practice time?
No. We do not accept buddy requests or practice time requests for our upper divisions. We do not even consider schools when making teams. Our main priority is to create balanced teams that will make league games fun and competitive.
My child loves playing baseball. Does you offer any additional teams or programs aside from Little League?
Yes! The Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club runs a very popular select baseball program (8u-12u) that is designed for skilled ballplayers who are looking to play A LOT more baseball. Our Islander teams compete against other teams in the Seattle metro area and often play in out-of-town tournaments. The teams are highly competitive and tryouts happen in the early months of summer. More info. can be found on the MI Select Baseball Club website.
In addition, the Boys and Girls Club offers baseball (and softball) skills development and training programs at varying times throughout the year. Check out their website or our Events page for the latest offerings.