Overall, there are a lot of great youth leagues in the area. And many of those leagues have travel teams which are a great way to allow those more skilled players the chance to compete with other kids at their same competitive level, thereby improving their own abilities.

However, over-burdening players' schedules with too many practices, games, and tournaments can also end up having a detrimental effect on players and their families.

• Tournament fees, general admission, facility rental fees, over-night tournament stays (including hotel rooms and travel expenses) all add up and can be a financial burden on families. Many travel teams either require a high registration fee, require fundraising by the families, or both, to cover these expenses.
  
  
• Hyper-focusing kids on one sport doesn't allow them to take a physical and mental break, or to play another sport and allow them to come back to baseball refreshed and excited all over again. 

At Huntertown, our travel league provides a more competitive environment for more skilled kids while still allowing them to be a kid and not over-burdening the family.


Age Groups and Requirements (for 2023-24 Travel Season)

We have opportunities for travel teams for players ages 8-13 (next season runs August 2023-July 2024):

• 9U: Player must be 9 years of age or younger as of April 30, 2024
  
• 10U: Player must be 10 years of age or younger as of April 30, 2024
• 11U: Player must be 11 years of age or younger as of April 30, 2024
• 12U: Player must be 12 years of age or younger as of April 30, 2024
• 13U: Player must be 13 years of age or younger as of April 30, 2024
  

Schedules

• Tryouts are typically held the 2nd half of July with team rosters being finalized soon thereafter.
  
• Teams will typically use the remainder of the Fall to schedule some practices, team functions, and possibly even a few games to allow the players, coaches and families to get to know each other and develop bonds.
  
• Over the winter months, teams may choose to use indoor facilities to hold periodic practices to keep players’ skills sharp.
• Once the weather breaks and fields are playable, practices will be held outdoors and the frequency will start to ramp up.
• Games typically start in early-April and continue until early-July. Many travel teams play one or two games during the week with tournaments or double-headers on select weekends. All in all, you can expect to play around 25-35 travel games during the season (fewer for younger divisions, more for older divisions).

Locations

• Home games will be played in Huntertown or LaOtto, and road games are typically played around the region - Warsaw, Columbia City, Ft. Wayne, Kendallville, for example - typically no further than 1.5 hours away in order to minimize or eliminate overnight stays (and the added expense that come with them).
  
• Periodically, a team may decide to attend tournaments further than 1.5 hours away, and possibly even more “prestigious” tournaments, potentially even out of state or longer than a weekend. The additional cost and time commitment for such tournaments is up to the team to discuss and decide on as a group.

Fees

• Fees vary based upon the teams, but are typically 3-4x the house ball registration fee. As part of the registration, the league covers the cost for uniforms, standard tournament team fees, umpire fees for single games and doubleheaders, and provides the use of the facilities for practices and home games.

• Families should not have to pay for anything out of the ordinary and fundraising should not be required (unless deciding to attend the more “prestigious” tournaments noted above, or if decided on by the team for other items, such as matching helmets, etc.).

Additional Commitments

• In return for covering team fees and expenses, players are required to also play in the Huntertown Spring “house” league. This benefits both the travel player and the house players in multiple ways:

• Travel players are typically the "all-star" of their house team which helps to bolster their confidence, self-esteem, and provides an opportunity to take on a leadership role with their house ball teammates
• Travel players are able to play additional positions on their house team, like pitching or catching, that they may not have the opportunity to play on their travel team
• House players tend to improve quicker and “play up” to the skill level of the travel players

•  The house league plays 12 games over 8 weeks in May and June and games typically do not conflict with travel schedules. Players might end up playing 3 times or more per week (house ball + travel ball) during the May through June timeframe.

• Finally, in return for keeping costs low, each travel ball team will have two “Service Days” per season at the Huntertown Lions Baseball and Softball diamonds.

• One service day at the beginning or end of the season to help get the diamonds and the facilities ready for the season or closed for the Winter.
• This other day is during the Spring, Summer, or Fall seasons where each team will help to pick-up trash along the fences, under the bleachers and around the park, empty all trash cans, and wheel all the recycling bins to the road for pick-up.

Tryouts for Travel Teams:

All tryouts for 2023-2024 11U Travel Baseball Season will be held at Huntertown Lions Baseball and Softball diamonds.

9U
   - July 23 from 5-7 on Diamond 3
   - July 26 from 5-7 on Diamond 3

10U
   - July 23 from 3-5 on Diamond 3
   - July 27 from 5-7 on Diamond 3

11u
   - July 24 from 6-8 on Diamond 1
   - July 31 from 6-8 on Diamond 1

12u
   - August 2 from 6-8 on Diamond 1

13u
   - July 30 from 6:30-8:30 on Diamond 1

Eligible players must be the age group specified or younger as of April 30th, 2024. For example, if your player is 10 years old as of April 30th, 2024 they are eligible for the 10U team (but can "play up" on an older team if they choose to tryout for and are able to make the older team).

• Register with the coach on site, no pre-registration required.
• Players and parents are responsible to bring appropriate gear (gloves, helmet, optional catchers equipment, etc.) and something to keep hydrated.
• Your player only needs to attend one tryout date per team, but you may try out for multiple teams as long as you are under the age cut-off. 
• Please arrive 15-20 minutes early for registration and warm-ups.
• NOTE: We have coaches at all age groups EXCEPT for 9u. I am still planning on holding a tryout, but if you are interested in helping to coach the team please let Travel Baseball Director, Dan Sparling know.

 
Additional Questions
Email Travel Baseball Director Dan Sparling at [email protected] with questions.

For any additional questions, please feel free to email [email protected]

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Thank you, 

Huntertown Lions Baseball and Softball