Shetland league does not meet on Mondays, in order to allow our players to also enjoy WAYSC Tiny Kickers/Kinder Kickers.

Our Shetland league is designed for Pre-K through K age (5 & 6 years) boys and girls interested in playing baseball. It is a coach pitch league wherein each team’s respective coaches pitch overhand to their own team, while the opposition plays the field. Shetland uses a safety ball during all play and practices.

Shetland is designed to initiate the players with the elements of baseball in a fundamentally sound way. Shetland covers such topics as throwing and catching, hitting, fielding positions, bases and base running, batting order. Most importantly, outside of beginning fundamentals we aim to teach the kids team play and sportsmanship.

Shetland is a non-competitive league. Scores are not kept and a continuous batting order is utilized. Teams are chosen by the league VP and the Director of Baseball.

Due to the number of kids and sibling pairing policy the LYAA cannot guarantee friend requests will be honored. The baseball season begins with practices in early April then 16 games from late April through June. There are typically 2 games per week, one during the week and one on a Saturday. Shetland League only plays games against other LYAA Shetland teams.

At the end of the season, the league VP will organize a “Special Event All Star Game” for all kids in the entire league.

Our Pinto League is designed for 1st and 2nd grade kids who have an interest in playing baseball.  

It is a kid pitch/coach pitch league wherein players pitch overhand to the opposing team with the hitting team’s coach on the field positioned behind the pitcher calling strikes and balls. Batters can be called out on strikes, but walks are not permitted. Once ball 4 is called, the coach then pitches to the batter for the remainder of the at maximizing the batter’s opportunity to hit successfully.

Pinto uses a safety ball for all games and practices. Pinto is designed to continue teaching the players the beginning elements of baseball building from Shetland and covers such topics as fielding, positions, batting order, base running, throwing and catching, base running, hitting. Most importantly, outside of continuing to build fundamentals we aim to teach the kids team play and sportsmanship. 

Pinto is a non-competitive league. Scores are not kept and a continuous batting order is utilized. Teams are chosen by the league VP and the Director of Baseball. Due to the number of kids and sibling pairing policy the LYAA cannot guarantee friend requests will be honored but the league will try and accommodate as much as possible.

The baseball season begins with practices in early April then 16-20 games from late April through June. There are typically 2 games per week, one during the week and one on a Saturday.

At the end of the season, the league VP will organize a “Special Event All Star Game”.

The Mustang League is a competitive league comprised of 3rd and 4th graders.

Building from Pinto, the players are now introduced to deeper skills at pitching, catching, infield, outfield, base stealing, tagging up, while still focusing on strengthening core fundamentals. Play also moves to a larger field.

The goal of the league is to teach the players teamwork, the responsibilities of being a team member, respect and sportsmanship as well as to begin developing their competitive baseball skills, all in a positive environment. Players are introduced to umpires at Mustang level. Good sportsmanship and skills development are emphasized over winning. 

Each player entering or in the league must be evaluated. Evaluations dates can be found on the calendar at www.LYAA.org. The teams are formed through a player draft based, in part on evaluation data.

Outside of sibling pairings, requests to pair players is generally not accepted; this is done in an attempt at creating a competitive balance across the league. 

Based on the player’s evaluations, they may also be invited to participate in the N60 “part time” travel program as a supplement to their house league experience. N60 teams practice and play exclusively on Fridays and Sundays, when the house teams are inactive. N60 provides the players with slightly more competitive baseball and an opportunity to play an additional 10-15 games. There is an additional fee for the N60 league. Please see N60 information page. 

Teams will be selected around mid-March, and players will be notified by their manager shortly thereafter.  House league practices will start in early April. Teams typically play about 20 games during regular season, scheduled to start on Opening Day which is in April. Weather permitting, the regular season will conclude in late-June. A playoff tournament follows the regular season to determine league champion. The playoffs usually last about a week and a half.  

Teams from nearby communities may be included in the league (Grant, Lake Zurich etc.). While we do our best to stick to this tentative schedule, changes may occur because of weather, field conditions, and other events outside of league control.

Players at the Bronco level are in 5th and 6th grade.

The goal is to build upon what was learned in the Minor League in a competitive and learning environment. Play moves to a bigger field once again. Here players are introduced to some of the finer points of baseball; dropped third strikes, delayed stealing, leadoffs, pickoffs etc. Good sportsmanship and skills development are emphasized over winning. 

Each player in the league must be evaluated. Evaluation dates can be found on the calendar at www.LYAA.org. The teams are formed through a player draft based, in part on evaluation data. Outside of sibling pairings, requests to pair players is generally not accepted; this is done to create a competitive balance across the league.  Teams will be drafted around mid-March. Players will be notified by their managers of their team affiliations later that month.

Based on the player’s evaluations, they may also be invited to participate in the N60 “part time” travel program as a supplement to their house league experience. N60 teams practice and play exclusively on Fridays and Sundays, when the house teams are inactive. N60 provides the players with slightly more competitive baseball and an opportunity to play an additional 10-15 games. There is an additional fee for the N60 league. 

House league practices will start in early April. Teams typically play about 20 games during regular season, scheduled to start on Opening Day which is in April. Weather permitting, the regular season will conclude in late-June. The regular season is followed by a playoff tournament to determine league champion. The playoffs usually last about a week and a half.  

Teams from nearby communities may be included in the league (Grant, Lake Zurich etc.). While we do our best to stick to this tentative schedule, changes may occur because of weather, field conditions, and other events outside of league control.

The Pony League is designed for 7th and 8th grade boys who wish to learn the complete game of baseball and to prepare for the next level of play in High School.

Players will cover such subjects as balking, dropped third strikes, pick off plays, etc. as well as the intricate strategies of the game. 

Pony will play about 20 games during the regular season schedule.  After the regular season, the top teams compete for the league championship.  Games may be played against Pony teams from nearby communities.  

8u softball is designed for girls in 1st and 2nd grade.

This is a developmental introduction to the game of softball. The girls are taught how to throw, catch, pitch, base running and hitting skills. This level is all coach pitch during games, to begin the season, with player pitch being introduced later in the season as skills develop.

Score is kept at this level although there are no playoffs. The goal at this level is to teach the girls the fundamentals of the game, to learn teamwork, and to have fun!

11-inch safety softball is used; a face mask is required for all infield positions.  The mound is 30 ft.  The bases are set at 60ft. 

10u softball is designed for girls in 3rd and 4th grade.

At this level we continue the development of throwing, catching, pitching, base running and hitting skills. The girls are pitching in games, with coach assistance after 4 balls are pitched.  There are no walks, which creates a fun fast passed environment. 

We do keep score at this level and it is a higher level of play. There are playoffs at seasons end, and an opportunity to make an all star team, allowing for extra games after the regular season has ended. 

An 11-inch hard ball is used; a face mask is required for all infield positions.  The pitcher’s mound is set at 35 feet. The bases are set at 60 ft. 

12u softball is designed for girls in 5th and 6th grades.  

We continue the development of throwing, catching, pitching, base running and hitting skills. We start to introduce stealing, dropped 3rd strikes, and the strategies of softball.
 
Score is kept and the level of competition is higher. There are playoffs at seasons end, and an opportunity to make an all star team, allowing for extra games after the regular season has ended.

A 12-inch hard ball is used; a face mask is required for all in-fielders. The pitching mound is at 40 ft. The bases are set at 60 feet.  

14u softball is designed for girls in 7th and 8th grade.

We stress getting them ready to play high school ball at this level. We continue to develop their skills set in throwing, catching, pitching, base running, and hitting skills. We start to add more strategies to the game. Girls are starting to concrete the positions that they will be playing moving forward. 

This is a very competitive level of play. There are playoffs at seasons end, and an opportunity to make an all star team, allowing for extra games after the regular season has ended.

A 12-inch hard softball is used; a face mask is required for all in-field positions. The pitching mound is set at 43 feet. The bases are set at 60 feet.