Team Structure

How teams are formed

• Each year, we host try-outs in the summer for the upcoming year

• Every player must try-out, and is assigned to a team by the MISB.

• More information on try-outs here, on the “Try-Outs” page

Age levels offered

We currently have teams at each of these age levels: 8U (2nd grade), 9U (3rd grade), 10U (4th grade), 11U (5th grade), 12U (6th grade).

Select age is different than Little League age. Select age largely goes by grade. As a rule, MISB does not have players “play up” or “play down” outside their grade level unless there is a specific need to form teams.

See try-outs page (here) and Little League + Select FAQ section (here) for more detail on these topics.

Team types

We typically have two teams of 11 to 12 players at each age level, but can have one or three depending on participation. Each team requires a commitment to select baseball and their teammates (see pledge below).

Players who are selected for higher tier teams may request to join lower tiers teams for a variety of reasons, for example, because of level of commitment or team chemistry. These requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Maroon Team

This is our most competitive level of play, for players serious about committing and prioritizing baseball.

• Player composition: Typically the top performing and competitive players in their age level. However, some adjustments may be made by coaches and MISB program to consider other factors such as depth at specific positions, team chemistry, and the level of player development needed.

• Playing time: This is a competitive team, so players will start to specialize in positions and, particularly in tournaments, players may not have equal playing time. Unlike Little League, MI Select Baseball is a select program designed to provide our most capable players with the opportunity to compete successfully at the highest level possible. Coaches will focus on player development in practice, but in games, playing time at specific positions will be based on relative ability and fielding the strongest competitive team.

• Travel and expenses: You can expect travel for an average of five (?) tournaments per season and potentially extra training than the averages in the travel and expenses sections below.

• Time commitment: Could be more than listed below, and could expect that baseball is prioritized year-round, over other sports.

White Team

This team is still competitive, for players interested in development and high level of play, but with slightly less time commitment to travel and training.

• Player composition: Typically the next tier of skilled, committed players interested in development toward competitive play. This team will spend more time on skills building and repetition than Maroon.

• Playing time: This typically focuses on development, so for at least the beginning of the season, you can expect more equal playing time. As the season progresses, this team may take on more competition and playing time may be uneven. Individual White team players may be asked to play in specific Maroon team games if an opportunity arises.

• Travel and expenses: This team will travel for an average of two (?) tournaments per season, and focus on local games within an hour of MI, with skill-matched teams instead. Expenses should be on-par with the averages below.

• Time commitment: Consistent with the averages below. Multi-sport athletes are encouraged and this team is more flexible to working through conflicts.

Silver Team

This team is an entry-level team, for both players and families. It focuses on skill-building to be able to make the Maroon or White level next year, and less competitive play and time commitment, particularly during the regular season.

• Player composition: Players that have not played baseball before and have not yet developed fundamental skills of baseball. In order to fill dedicated Silver teams, these teams may be mixed age (no more than a span of 3 years together). We can have mixed age teams for this team tier because they are not going to play in league games.

• Playing time: This team will have fewer games, with other developmental teams, and they will not be league games. Because of this, players can expect equal playing time in the games they have. Individual Silver players may be asked to participate in specific White team games if an opportunity arises.

• Travel and expenses: This team will likely not travel. They may do more development training with external programs, and have slightly higher expenses than the average below.

• Time commitment: Consistent with the averages below. Multi-sport athletes are encouraged and this team is more flexible to working through conflicts.