Babe Ruth League
Babe Ruth Division
• Prep 13 (13-15 Prep)
• Prep 14 (13-15 Prep)
At age 13 players move from the Cal Ripkin division to the Babe Ruth division and play on regulation size fields. (Babe Ruth Division games are played primarily on local high school fields.) Formation of the Prep League was approved by the International Board of Babe Ruth in 1976 as the result of studies showing that young players lose interest in baseball due to lack of playing time. With the Babe Ruth Baseball Prep League, the 13-year-old player now has that chance to play, avoiding the possibility of his losing interest in playing baseball. In addition, it has been found that players have expressed fear of competing with 14 and 15-year-old players who have already experienced one to two years playing on the standard 90-foot diamond.
Prep 13: Areas will make every attempt to field a team of twelve (12) thirteen year old players at this level (National/League Charter Guidelines apply. A minimum of 12 and a maximum of 15 players shall be on the roster. Note (1): Twelve (12) year-old players of appropriate skill level, or no more than four fourteen (14) year-old players (for areas unable to field an upper level teams) may participate at this level as by national rule. Note (2): Under no circumstances, will a fifteen (15) year old player be allowed to participate at this level. Note (3): A variance for twelve (12) year-old players playing up shall be approved by the Executive Board. In the circumstance of additional fourteen yea old players playing down, variance consideration by the Executive Board will be given on a case by case basis. Only players age thirteen (13) years old, which participate in this division, may be considered for 13U All Star competition.
Prep 14: Areas will make every attempt to field a team of twelve (12) fourteen (14) year old players at this level (National/League Charter Guidelines apply). A mini,um of 12 and a maximum of 15 players shall be on the roster. Areas may add up to five (5) fifteen (15) year old players to this roster by national rule. The Executive Board will automatically approve a variance for exceptional 13 year old players either wishing to play at this level or to fill out a roster. Note (1): Areas that have any combination of five fourteen (14) year old players or a single fifteen (15) year old player will be required to play at this level.
Willamette Valley Babe Ruth is organized according to local area high school boundaries. Currently, the following areas for Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth include Pleasant Hill, Cottage Grove, Creswell, Lowell and Oakridge school boundaries. Players are required to register and attend the Pleasant Hill Babe Ruth tryouts.
*Age is determined by players age on April 30th of the current year.
