Sting Baseball is the highest level competitive baseball for players under the Medina Youth Baseball Association affiliated programs.  This is club level baseball and we are looking for players from all communities who want to compete and develop at a higher level than where they currently are playing.  Sting teams compete in several different leagues within NE Ohio (CVBA, SSBL or OPL).  All teams compete in tournaments both local and out of state. 

If your player chooses to tryout and receives an invitation to play for a Sting team, below is an overview of costs and what to expect from the program.

Costs

• $750 registration fee - $375 is due by August 15th.  The remaining $375 is due by October 31st.  You will receive 30 $10 reverse raffle tickets in exchange for your second payment.  If you sell your 30 tickets you keep the proceeds and can recoup $300. 

• Uniforms and tournaments are in addition to the registration fee.  Uniforms will run around $160/player.  Tournaments average around $500 per team.  Some tournaments are local and some are overnight.  The head coach can let you know what the team is planning for the upcoming season.   

• Cooperstown (12U only) approx. $1,200/player. 

• Ripken (10U-14U) approx. $800/player.

• All teams fundraise to help offset costs.  Talk with your coach and find out how much was raised to offset expenses from the previous year. 

Games Played

• On average a Sting team plays a 15-20 game regular season, not including any scrimmages that might be played before league games start or during the season.

• Most Sting teams play between 3-7 tournaments in a season.  Most tournaments are 3-5 games. 

Training/Practices

• Beginning in January, Sting teams will begin winter workouts twice a week at Medina Sports Training Center.  The Sting program pays for the field time from registration proceeds.  There are no additional costs to the teams unless they choose to do something above and beyond what Sting pays for.

• Sting Trainers – Sting has independent paid professional trainers to work with the teams and players individually.  The program will pay the trainers to work with the teams during the preseason.  Each team or parent can individually utilize the program trainers at their own expense if they choose.

Cooperstown/Ripken Tournaments

• Sting carries a “Grandfather” bid for Cooperstown Dreams Park.

• The Sting program will make a one-time contribution to the 12U Cooperstown teams to help offset the costs of the trip. 

• The 12U teams do special fundraising to offset the cost of the trip.

• Some teams also participate in the “Ripken Experience” tournaments as an alternative to Cooperstown.  Ripken tournaments are played in either Myrtle Beach S.C, Pidgeon Forge TN, Orlando FL or Aberdeen MD.

Tryouts/Rosters

• There will be 2 teams for each age group (can be 3 teams) – Black (A) and Gold (B)

• Approximately 10-12 players will be on each team’s roster.

• Tryouts will be run by the program trainer and there will be 3-5 evaluators for each age group.

• Invitations will be extended during or after the tryouts.