SOM Cougars - 9U Travel Program
Expectations for Participation
The travel program is a three season commitment, and it is expected that families will participate in all three seasons. Having said this, we will consider exceptions on a case by case basis for kids who have other commitments.
Parent Coaches
All of the parent coaches who were involved in 2024 will be returning to run the program in 2025. Coach placement will depend on player placement between the teams. For questions, contact Paul Hastings at pablohastings@gmail.com.
Tryouts
Tryouts for 9U 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.
- Time, Date & Location: Day 1 of tryouts will be the entire session from 5:15 pm - 6:30 pm on Monday, December 9th @ The West Orange Armory. Day 2 of tryouts will be a 20 minute hitting evaluation between the hours of 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Thursday, December 12 @ DINGERS.
- Age Eligibility: 9u Players must be born between May 1st, 2015 - April 30th 2016
- 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.
Winter Training
Winter training will be led by Coach Raul Ortega and will be held at DINGERS.
- Duration: January 6 - March 24 (12 weeks)
- Schedule:
- Tuesdays: 4:30 - 6:00 PM @ DINGERS
- Thursdays: 6:30 - 8:00 PM @ DINGERS
- Coach: Coach Raul Ortega
- Cost: ~$550.00 (please note this cost assumes we have a full 25 participants. It may be slightly more if we have less participants)
Spring Season Travel
For the Spring Season, the Red team will play in a league while the Black team will focus on practices but also play in a series of scrimmages and a tournament. The Red team will either participate in a USABL or Town Travel Baseball Association (TTBA) league. TTBA is a newly created baseball association, and unlike USABL is exclusively for town travel teams. The Black team’s scrimmages will be with local towns and/or intrasquad. Tournaments will either be with USABL or TTBA.
- Teams: 1 or 2 teams depending on numbers. Red and Black teams, 12-13 players each)
- Schedule:
- Practices: Once per week for Red team, 1-2 per week for Black team
- Games: Red Team: Typically one game per week on Sundays. Black team: scrimmages will be on Sundays when scheduled.
- Season Start: Late March / Early April
- Season End: Early June
- Coaching: Parent volunteer coaches with training support from Coach Raul Ortega
- Cost: ~$350 if your player plays on a team playing in a spring league; ~$250 if your player plays on a team mostly practicing (Registration through SOM Boosters)
Spring Rec Baseball (Required for Travel Players)
- Registration will begin in January through South Orange Rec
- All 9U players will participate in the Minors division
- Games on Saturdays and likely on Mondays, plus up to one practice per week
Summer Travel Season
- League: New Providence Green & Gold League
- Teams: Red (likely in the Gold League) and Black (either in the Green or Gray League)
- Red Team: Participates in Cal Ripken Tournament
- Black Team: Participates in another USABL or TTBA tournament
- Schedule:
- League Start: ~June 9
- League End: As late as July 27
- League games are typically Monday-Friday at 6 pm, not on weekends
- Tournament games may be on weekends
- 2-3 Games per week + 1 practice minimum
- Coaching: Parent Volunteer Coaches
- Cost: ~$250 (Registration through SO Rec)