Suncook Valley Cal Ripken Baseball League

The league consists of these surrounding towns: Alton, Barnstead, Chichester, Epsom, Gilmanton, Loudon, and Pittsfield. Practices are held at Carpenter Park. Games will be played at Carpenter Park for home games and players will travel to surrounding towns for away games.. Practices start in early to mid-April depending on the division and games start the last Saturday in April through mid-June.

CYA provides uniforms to all players. Athletes should bring glove, cleats (only necessary for Minors and Majors), and water bottle to all practices and games. Bats and helmets are available for players.

Your child will be expected to participate in practices. Repeated, unexcused absences may mean your child sits during the next game. You should make every effort to inform the coach before a missed practice.

The placement of your child on a particular team will ultimately be determined by the coaches and will be based on providing your child with a level of play that will enhance their athletic ability and provide them with a safe playing environment.

Click Here for Suncook Valley League Rules

Tee Ball (ages 4-6)

Practice is one weekday night, games on Saturday. Learn hitting and fielding fundamentals in a supportive team environment. Young athletes hit the ball from a batting tee which is height-adjusted for a level swing, batting in order through the line-up for the entire game. In order to participate, players must be age 4 as of April 30, no exceptions are allowed. 

Minimum Required Skills: None

Ready for Rookie division when: The player will still likely miss more balls than they catch, but there should be some ability to catch a ball thrown from a short distance directly at the player.

Rookie Division (ages 7-9, team selection based on evaluation )

Practice or Game on two weekday nights, games on Saturday mornings. The Rookie division is coach pitched to allow for more hittable balls at the plate and more action in the field. The Rookie league emphasizes learning the rules of baseball and provides competition against other towns to prepare them for the next level.

Minimum Required Skills:
Catching - First year players will miss or drop most thrown balls. Second and third year players should show improvement and catch 50% of accurate thrown balls.
Throwing - None
Batting - None

Ready for Minor division when: Demonstrates ability to catch most thrown balls, stands at the plate with confidence, and has consistent success against a coach pitcher. The player should have adequate focus and attention during games from all positions.

Minor Division (ages 8-11 as of April 30, team selection based on evaluation)

Practice one weekday, games Tuesday and Saturday. Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork. Features a 46' pitching distance and 60' base paths. Games are pitched by players.

Minimum Required Skills: 
Catching - 50-60% of thrown balls
Throwing - From second base position to first base with accuracy and enough quickness to beat a runner.
Fielding - Should be able to field most direct ground balls. May still have difficulty with catching and tracking fly balls.
Batting - Correct stance and approach to the plate. Has general knowledge of the strike zone. Does not back out of batters box on every thrown pitch.

Ready for Major division when: Demonstrates ability to catch all thrown balls. Shows solid fundamentals in fielding, throwing, and batting. Has confidence batting against any Minor division player pitcher.

Major/60 Division (ages 9-12 as of April 30, team selection based on evaluation)

Practice one weekday, games Monday, Thursday, and Saturday. Features a 46' pitching distance and 60' base paths.

Minimum Required Skills:
Catching - Catches all thrown balls.
Throwing - From third base position to first base with speed and accuracy.
Fielding - Should be able to field all direct ground and fly balls. Tracking fly balls may still be difficult for some.
Batting - Correct stance and form. Shows confidence facing player pitchers throwing 45+MPH

Baseball Commissioner is Sarah Buzinksi- [email protected]