Summer Baseball/Softball Goals and Purpose

The goal of summer baseball and softball is to develop the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play for players from ages 9 to 19 in a highly competitive and demanding schedule of games.  Baseball teams frequently play 3 or 4 games per week and softball teams normally play 2 games per week against teams from other towns in the greater Boston area.  Additional practices are held at the discretion of the manager.

BBRBS strives to place teams in leagues where players will be challenged, enabling them to develop their playing skills to their full potential.  All players are required to try out for the teams, the rosters are limited, and playing time is not guaranteed or equal, but is dependent on many things including attendance at practice.  Summer baseball and softball requires a serious commitment by players and parents.

Overview
The summer schedule can run from late June through mid August depending on the specific league a team is in and whether the team qualifies for post-season tournament play.  Overall, when both practices and games are included, the summer is a relatively intensive program. Recognizing that this is the vacation season, we do make modest allowances for family vacations without jeopardizing a youngster's roster spot. However, the commitment to the leagues is a significant one, and we request that longer vacations be reserved for later in August when the season has ended. Parents and players are asked to be realistic about the significance of this commitment. Summer ball isn't for everyone.

Player Selection
Players are selected for summer teams based on the following:

• Overall Spring season performance as observed by coaches
• Season evaluation and/or statistics submitted by the spring coaches
• Observations at the all-star game
• Summer tryout held in middle of spring season
• Commitments to other teams or activities
• Vacations

We try to accommodate as many children who want to play as possible. But we cannot guarantee a spot for every child in the summer.
 

2017 Eligibility – Baseball – Age as of April 30, 2017

Baseball 16-21 year olds:

          Lou Thompkins Senior Division

               Born between 5/1/1995 and 4/30/2001

BBRBS policy is to place 16 year olds in LT-A Div

Baseball 15-16 year olds

Lou Thompkins A Division

            Born between 5/1/2000 and 4/30/2002

Baseball 13-14 year olds

Lou Thompkins B Division

            Born between 5/1/2002 and 4/30/2004

Baseball 11-12 year olds

Bay State A Division / Cal Ripken 12 year old District

            Born between 5/1/2004 and 4/30/2006

Bay State B Division / Cal Ripken 11 year old District

           Born between 5/1/2005 and 4/30/2006

Middlesex 11-12 Division

           Born between 5/1/2004 and 4/30/2005

Baseball 9-10 year olds

Bay State C Division / Cal Ripken 10 year old District

            Born between 5/1/2006 and 4/30/2007

Bay State C Division 2nd Team or Middlesex 9-10 Division

            Born between 5/1/2006 and 4/30/2008

Cal Ripken 9 year old District – only if sufficient number of available 9 year old players

            Born between 5/1/2007 and 4/30/2008

2017 Eligibility – Softball – Age as of December 31, 2016 (10U allows 9 year olds)

Softball 18U

    18 yrs old or under as of 12/31/2016

Softball 14U

    14 yrs old or under as of 12/31/2016

Softball 12U

    12 yrs old or under as of 12/31/2016

Softball 10U

    10 yrs old or under as of 12/31/2016

Fees

The cost of our summer programs is $190 for baseball and $165 for softball, with a family maximum of $425. Based on interest, Bedford Babe Ruth may have a Bay State D division (9 yo only) at a reduced cost.
 

More Information

More detail on 12 and under baseball programs

Links to some of our summer leagues

Baseball 9-12 - Bay State Baseball

Baseball 13-17 - LTA Baseball

Softball U10-18 - Middle Essex Softball

Summer Baseball Descriptions

BayStateBaseball

BayState Baseball is "travel" baseball, including towns ranging geographically from Ashland to Marblehead. 11 and 12 year-old teams play every Tuesday and Thursday and most Saturdays and Sundays. 9 and 10 year-old teams play every Monday and Wednesday, many Saturdays and some Sundays. Ends August 6, with postseason play carrying on through August 20.

Middlesex Baseball

Offers "travel" baseball on a more relaxed schedule. Middlesex games take place two weeknights per week, no weekends (except practice). Leagues are broken into 9/10 and 11/12 age groups. Ends around August 15, with no postseason play.

District Baseball

Members of the District teams represent Bedford in competition with other towns which are part of Eastern Massachusetts Cal Ripken District 1. There are no guaranteed minimum playing requirements for players on this team. Inclusion in the District team requires 100% commitment to all practices and games. Practices will begin immediately following the regular spring season. District tournaments begin in late June or early July, and last roughly one week. If the team wins its District, it will move on to the Eastern Massachusetts State Tournament in mid-July.

Minuteman Summer League

A recreational baseball league for players of ages 13 and older