6U (Ages 5- 6) – Must be at least 5-6 years old by September 1, 2023. This is a recreational league with an emphasis on introducing the game of softball for players who wish to play softball regardless of past experience. Players will hit off of a tee. The 6U season begins with a couple weeks of outdoor practice at the end of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of June. The cost to participate is $65 per player & includes a t-shirt (jersey) that the player keeps.

8U (Ages 7, & 8) - Must be 7 years old by September 1, 2023. This is a player pitched/coach pitch league with emphasis on equal participation and basic softball rules. Girls are introduced to pitching, hitting and throwing techniques and good sportsmanship is emphasized. The 8U season begins with a couple weeks of practice in the middle of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of June. 8U participates in the Northern Hills Softball Association and plays games against Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche and other Spearfish teams. There is a possibility of U8 teams playing in our local Spearfish hosted tournament. The cost to register is $65 per player & includes a t-shirt (jersey) that the player keeps.

10U (Ages 9 & 10) – Must be 9 or 10 years old by September 1, 2023. This is an instructional league where players continue to learn basic softball fundamentals and begin to pitch. The 10U season begins with a couple weeks of practice in the middle of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of June. 10U participates in the Northern Hills Softball Association and plays games against Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche and other Spearfish teams. If desired, teams begin to participate in recreational / sportsmanship Northern Hills League tournaments. The cost to register is $80 per player & includes a jersey that the player keeps. 

12U (Ages 11 & 12) – Must be 11 or 12 years old by September 1, 2023. This is a recreational league with a competitive emphasis for player who wish to play softball regardless of past experience. More strategic softball fundamentals are introduced. The 12U season begins with a couple indoor practices in at the beginning of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of May and June. 12U participates in the Northern Hills Softball Association and plays games against Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche and other Spearfish teams. Teams are encouraged to play in local tournaments hosted in Northern Hills Softball communities. The cost to register is $80 per player & includes a jersey that the player keeps. 

14U (Ages 13 & 14) – Must be 13 or 14 years old by September 1, 2023. This is a recreational league with a competitive emphasis for players who wish to play softball regardless of past experience. The 14U season begins with a couple weeks of indoor practice at the beginning of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of June. 14U participates in the Northern Hills Softball Association and plays games against Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche and other Spearfish teams with tournaments in surrounding communities on weekends in May and June. The cost to participate is $80 per player & includes a jersey that the player keeps. 

16U (Ages 15 & 16) – Must be 15 or 16 years old by September 1, 2023. This is a recreational league with a competitive emphasis for players who wish to play softball regardless of past experience. The 16U season begins with a couple weeks of indoor practice at the beginning of April and then games start the first or second week of May and continue through the month of June. 16U participates in the Northern Hills Softball Association and plays games against Sturgis, Lead-Deadwood, Belle Fourche and other Spearfish teams with tournaments in surrounding communities on weekends in May and June. The cost to participate is $80 per player & includes a jersey that the player keeps.

10U, 12U and older Tryout Teams

·       Goal: To provide an opportunity for girls who want to play more competitive softball. Tryout teams are required to participate in the Northern Hills League and have the option to participate in the Rapid City League. Additionally, the tryout team may choose to play tournaments outside of the Northern Hills league, albeit the Spearfish tournament will be required.

·       Northern Hills Season: April-July, with games beginning in May. Tryout teams are required to participate in 1-2 games a week during the Northern Hills League season. 

·       Dual League Option: The Rapid City summer league has two season options; full season (Late April-July) or half season (June 1-July). Rapid City League games are played in Rapid City. Registration into the Rapid league is the responsibility of the parents/coaches of the tryout team.

·       Practice: Starts at the beginning of April. The tryout team will practice in Spearfish.

·       Tryouts: Team(s) will be formed by tryout coordinators, this may include SYBSA board members and past coaches however, no parent of an actively participating child will be involved in team selection. Tryout dates will be announced soon. Player must be registered into SYBSA in order to participate in tryouts.

18U (Ages 17 & 18) - Must be 17 or 18 years old by September 1, 2023. Players who register for the 18U division are eligible to participate in the 18U Tryout Team. The 18U team has the option to participate in the Rapid City League and tournaments. This age group is not eligible to participate in the Northern Hills League. The $40 cost includes a jersey and league insurance.

Rookie Tee-Ball DIVISION (Ages 5 & 6) Tee ball is for boys that are 5 and 6 year olds, this is league age- some children might be only four but their league age is 5. It will start with practices the middle of May and will end before the 4th of July, when your child's team starts depends on the coach for the team. Their games will be on the south field (grassy area) behind the concession stand. This division is to teach children to play with other children and to teach them the basic fundamentals. They will receive a t-shirt which they will keep after the season is over.

 

A MINORS (coach pitch) AND AA MINORS (player pitch) is for boys 6 - 9 years old. They will start the beginning of May and end before the 4th of July. A and AA MINORS BASEBALL WILL HAVE ASSESSMENTS FOR TEAM PLACEMENT This division will expose the boys to actual game play. They will pitch to each other and play all positions. They will have a tournament at the end of the season. They can buy their own pants and will get baseball shirts and matching hats that they will keep at the end of the season. 

 

AAA MINORS DIVISION (player pitch) (Ages 8-10) Minors is for 8 year olds ready to play baseball up to 12 year olds. They begin in mid-March to early April, and end before the 4th of July. AAA MINORS DIVISION WILL HAVE ASSESSMENTS FOR TEAM PLACEMENT  They play 2 games a week and travel to Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis and Lead-Deadwood. They will have a tournament at the end of the season. Tryouts will occur in Late February to Early March. 10 year olds and 11 year olds can tryout for majors. We would like all boys to come to tryouts so the teams can be evenly selected. Times for tryouts will be posted on the website in January. 

 

MAJORS DIVISION (Ages 10-12) Majors is for 10, 11 and 12 year olds. They will start with tryouts the end of February- beginning of March, and will start practices the week after tryouts. IF YOU WANT TO PLAY MAJORS YOU MUST BE AT A MAJORS TRYOUT. Tryouts will occur in Late February to Early March. 10 year olds can tryout but the teams will mainly comprise of 11 and 12 year olds. This division travels to Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis and Lead-Deadwood. Tournaments are TBD.