SOM Cougars - 12U Travel Program

 

Tryouts

Tryouts for 12U will be held over two days. Your child is required to attend both tryout days. The first day will focus on fielding and the second day on hitting.

  • Dates: Monday, December 16nd (4:00 to 5:30) and Tuesday, December 19th (you will sign up for a specific slot.)
  • Location: Monday, December 16 at West Orange Armory. Tuesday, December 19th at Dingers
  • Ages of Eligibility: 12U Players must be born between May 1st, 2012 - April 30th 2013
  • What to Bring: Glove, bats, helmets, water, tennis shoes (baseball pants optional)
  • Sign-Up: Here is the link to the sign up form
  • Tryout Fee: Free
  • Not all players who try out are guaranteed places on a travel team.  We will offer spots to as many as 12-13 players if there are enough players for one team, and up to 24-25 players if there are enough players for two teams.

TENTATIVE Winter Training Plan

  • Duration: January through March
  • Schedule:
    • One day at Dingers, either Thursdays 5:30-6:30 with Coach Pete or another day of the week to be announced
    • One day at Seton Hall with Coach Sheppard and other SHU coaches, likely from 6:30-8:00 on Tuesdays. 
  • Cost: ~$550-$600 (please note this cost assuming full participation. It may be slightly more if we have fewer participants)

Spring Season Travel

For the Spring Season, the 12U teams will either participate in USABL or Town Travel Baseball Association (TTBA). TTBA is a newly created baseball association, and unlike USABL is exclusively for town travel teams.

  • Teams: Red and Black teams
  • League: Either USABL or Town Travel
  • Schedule:
    • Games: Usually one game per week on weekends (typically Sundays) if USABL; if TTBA, doubleheaders every other weekend
    • Practices: 1x per week
    • Additional Training: TBD (focused on hitting and/or strength and conditioning)
    • Season Start: Late March / Early April
    • Season End: Early June
  • Coaching: Coach RJ Devish will coach the Red team. Coaching for the Black team is TBA.
  • Cost: ~$600 (Registration through SOM Boosters)

Spring Rec Baseball (Required for Travel Players)

  • Registration will begin in January through South Orange Rec
  • All 12U travel players will play in the M70 division 
  • Games on Saturdays and one midweek game, plus up to one practice per week

Summer Travel Season

  • League: New Providence League NPGL Baseball (likely in the Gold League for the Red team, likely in the Green League for the Black team)
  • Schedule:
    • League Start: ~June 9
    • League End: As late as July 24th
    • Games are Typically Mon-Friday, not on weekends
    • 2-3 Games per week + 1 practice minimum
  • Tournaments:
    • Cal Ripken Tournament: TBD whether the Red team participates (mid- to late-June)
    • Capstone Experiences: One for each of the Red and Black teams. May include the Ripken Aberdeen Tournament (3-4 day, 3+ game overnight tournament) in late June or July or another overnight tournament.
    • Possible Memorial Day Tournament: local USABL
  • Coaching:  Parent Volunteer Coaches, plus possible involvement with professional coaching

Cost: ~$350, with separate fundraising for capstone experience