What is the commitment to travel baseball?
The travel baseball season starts indoors in January with tryout prep for our younger age groups or team practices for our older groups. Indoor practices should be secondary to your in-season sport. Indoor practices are either once or twice a week. Once teams are able to get outside teams will be on the field 2-3 times a week if there is no weekend tournament.
How long is the season?
SABA plays in the Gopher State Baseball league which runs mid-April through the end of June. Teams will also play in an end-of-the-season tournament. If your team continues to win games this could go through the month of July.
How much travel is involved in league play?
SABA teams primarily compete against associations in our high school conference, but some games will be in other areas of the metro. Gopher State determines who we play based on the number of teams in the league. This number can vary based on the level.
How many games are in a season?
9U teams have 12 games and 10U to 15U teams have 16 games during the regular season. Where and when we play are determined by Gopher State and the team's head coach. The goal is to have 8 home and 8 away games (6 home and 6 away for the 9U teams).
How many weekend tournaments?
Your registration fee includes up to 3 tournaments. The SABA board or coaches schedule tournaments, with a given budgeted amount from Team Fees, that can be in or outside of the metro area.
Do SABA teams play in state tournaments?
SABA teams can qualify for state tournaments based on how they finish in their weekend tournaments or where they place in league play. Teams can qualify for the Gopher State Tournament of Champions, MBT State Tournament or MSF tournaments.
Who can play SABA?
Players must reside within Stillwater Area School District 834 boundaries or be enrolled in a public school within Stillwater Area School District 834 boundaries and be between the ages of 9 and 15 years old or between 2nd grade and 9th grade. 10th graders are ineligible to play traveling baseball.
What age group should I register for?
Players are required to register to play with their grade level unless their age, by May 1st, necessitates them to play up. For example, all 5th graders normally play 11U baseball unless their age is 12 before May 1st.
What levels do teams play at SABA?
SABA places teams at the AAA, AA or A levels. The levels are determined by the number of players that tryout and the team’s tryout scores. SABA does our best to place players with their grade level, but mixed teams may be created in an effort to have as many kids as possible play competitive baseball.
How are tryout scores calculated?
SABA uses independent evaluators for tryouts. Players are evaluated on their skills in the infield, outfield, throwing and hitting technique. SABA then makes our teams based on the tryout scores with a goal of placing players at the right level for their development.
Who will coach my players' team?
SABA is a volunteer run organization and this includes all of our volunteer coaches. Our coaches are chosen after our teams are formed.
How can I become a coach?
When registering your player, select one of the many volunteer opportunities including being a head or assistant coach.
Do I need to have played a high level of baseball to be a coach?
Playing experience helps, but we have had many successful coaches that didn't play beyond little league. SABA's coaching and player development committees provide our coaches with learning and development opportunities throughout the year to help them develop players.
Where do SABA teams play home games and practice?
SABA rents fields from the City of Stillwater and Stillwater Area Public Schools. Fields include Jaycee Sports Complex, Stillwater Public Works, Milbrook Park, Lilly Lake Park, Stillwater Middle School North and Stillwater High School B field. SABA is proud to play in the Stillwater community as part of our mission statement is to make field improvements. Recently completed projects are updated batting cages, new fences at Public Works and Millbrook, and covered dugouts at Jaycees Sports Complex. Check out the Map to Fields page for location details.
What equipment will my player need?
Players will need a glove, bat, batting helmet and cleats. Player uniforms are included in the player fee. You can find more information regarding equipment regulations here.