Bronco baseball (11-12U) provides a fun, competitive baseball experience for committed players and their families. Teams generally play one weekday (Tuesday/Thursday) and one weekend game each week. Teams may also practice at least once a week. The season ends with a week-long tournament involving all of the teams to determine the league championship.
Field size and rules are appropriate to players this age. Seven-inning games are played on a diamond with 70-foot base paths and a 50-foot pitching distance. Bronco baseball is played according to full baseball rules, which include leading off base, pick-off throws, base stealing, bunting, and the dropped third strike rule. All players on a team participate fully: The batting order consists of all players in attendance, and each player plays defensively in the field at least three innings per game.
Each team has about 12 players. An experienced coach and assistant coach leads each team. We ask parents to take a strong role in helping out with critical support activities, from organizing carpools to scoring games. Games and practices are generally held at E3 field in Mountlake Terrace but we also use Cypress Field for practices once games start.
Teams are selected through a draft conducted at the beginning of the season. We have found that this process creates a sense of community among all of the players and coaches in the league and provides for balanced competition. All players will attend a skills assessment to allow the coaches to evaluate their ability and experience.
Team selection will be made by the coaches and team assignments are announced by the end of February. The skills assessments are not tryouts: Every registered child will be placed on a team.
