FAQ
No. We welcome players from everywhere.
Each league is based on the player’s current grade level.
T-ball – Pre-K and Kindergarten (Age 4 before September 1)
Instructional – 1st or 2nd grade
10U – 3rd or 4th grade
12U – 5th or 6th grade
14U – 7th or 8th grade (high school freshman if not on a high school team)
Softball – Kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade
Softball – 3rd or 4th grade
Softball – 5th or 6th grade
Softball – 7th or 8th grade
League – resident / non-resident
T-ball – $135 / $155
Instructional – $145 / $165
10U – $190 / $210
12U – $200 / $220
14U – $215 / $235
Softball: 1st or 2nd grade – $135 / $155
Softball: 3rd or 4th grade – $170 / $190
Softball: 5th or 6th grade – $180 / $200
Softball: 7th or 8th grade – $200 / $220
Practices normally start in March or April depending on the coach and the weather. Games start towards the end of April and last until the end of June.
T-ball is played on Monday and Wednesdays starting at the end of April and going through the end of June. Games are played at the fields outside the Lincolnwood School starting at 6pm. Players are expected to arrive 30 minutes before game time. The first half of the season has practices on Monday and games on Wednesday and players will hit off a batting tee for these games. The second half of the season will play games on Monday and Wednesday with coaching pitching 5 pitches. If the player does not hit the ball, the ball will be placed on a tee for the player to hit. During games, all players hit every inning and games are 4 innings long or about 1 hour. There are no playoffs at this level and all players will receive a trophy at the end of the season. Rain out games and practices will be rescheduled usually for the Sunday of the same week at 4pm.
Buddy Baseball is an inclusive baseball program for players aged 6-22 with special needs. Games run an hour and are played at the baseball field nearest to the playground at Prosel Park. Players will be paired with a teen buddy for each game. Games take place on Saturday mornings starting in June and run through July. Each game is three innings and every player gets a chance to bat each inning. Hitting will be coach pitched or off a tee. There are two teams and every player gets a trophy at the end of the season.
Instructional is played on Tuesday and Thursday starting at the end of April and going through the end of June. Games are played at the fields outside the Lincolnwood School starting at 6pm. Players are expected to arrive 30 minutes before game time. The first half of the season has practices on Tuesday and games on Thursday and players. Hitting will be conducted with coach pitch. The second half of the season will play games on Tuesday and Thursday. There are playoffs at this level and the first place team will receive a trophy.
10U is the 3rd and 4th grade level for Lincolnwood Baseball. This is the next progression toward big league baseball. This is the first level where the kids are pitching, getting walked, and stealing bases. To keep the game moving, there is a 1 hour and 45 min time limit, as well as a 7 run limit per inning. Games are played at Proesel Park and surrounding communities at 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The 12U division, consisting of 5th and 6th graders, not only play against the other Lincolnwood teams at our fantastic fields at Proesel Park, but also get to compete against teams from other suburbs such as Skokie, Morton Grove, and Niles at their fields. Proesel Park is equipped with lights for the fields so the kids will thoroughly enjoy the experience of playing under the lights. Practices start the beginning of April with the season starting the end of April running through the end of June. The league will generally schedule 15 games, with additional playoff games. Games are 6 innings long but will last no longer than 2 ¼ hours.
At this level, the pitching rubber is placed at a distance of 48 feet and bases 70 feet apart. Baserunners are allowed to lead off from any base and steal 2nd and 3rd base. In order to protect pitchers arms, an innings limit is in affect and no curveballs are allowed to be thrown. All players will bat and play the field and coaches are encouraged to rotate players to play different defensive positions throughout the game.
Games are played throughout the week with some weekend games played due to rescheduling rainout make-up games. There is a season ending playoff tournament, consisting of all the teams involved, with a team that can call themselves the champion of all the suburbs.
The 14U division consists of 7th, 8th graders and high school freshman (only if not on the high school team). The team(s) plays against the other suburbs such as Skokie, Morton Grove, Evanston and Niles at Proesel Park or away at other communities’ fields. Practices start in March or April with the season starting the end of April running through the end of June. The league will generally schedule 13-15 games, with additional playoff games. Games are 7 innings long.
At this level, the pitching rubber is placed at a distance of 54 feet and bases 80 feet apart. Baserunners are allowed to lead off from any base and steal. All players will bat and rotate in the field.
Games are played throughout the week and weekend. There is a season ending playoff tournament, consisting of all the teams involved, with a team that can call themselves the champion of all the suburbs.
Since this is the first softball experience for most girls, 1–2 softball focuses on developing basic softball skills, sportsmanship and team work. The girls will typically play on teams of 8 -10 girls against teams from neighboring communities. Games are on Tuesday nights, and practices are typically held on Thursday nights. Home games will be played at Proesel Park field #4. There will also be four games played at neighboring communities. Each game lasts approximately 90, or until dark. Because the focus is on learning, no scores are kept and there are no playoffs. Coaches pitch to the players. Each girl gets seven swings against the coach pitched ball or, if they choose at the beginning of the season, off a tee. Girls take turns fielding different positions to give everyone a chance to try their hand everywhere. A handful of girls will be selected to play in all star games at the end of the season.
At the 3/4 level, the girls begin playing actual games. The teams keep score and for the first time the girls pitch. This is the biggest step up in development between levels. The girls continue developing their fundamental skills of throwing, catching, and hitting. We begin teaching plays and expose them to a variety of positions. In order to encourage hitting, there are no walks. If a pitcher throws ball three, the hitting team’s coach comes out to finish the count until the batter strikes out or puts the ball in play.
Lincolnwood plays against teams from other communities in the Lakeside Softball League. In the Spring, girls sign up for their current grade level. Each team plays a 12-game regular season schedule with playoffs and a championship game. In the Fall, girls sign up for the for the upcoming school year. Each team plays an 8-game schedule, and the teams with the top two records play a championship game.
At the 5/6 level, the competition increases as the girls develop their skills and the rules change to bring the game closer to high school. Batters can walk and there is no coach pitching. Base runners can steal second and third base, making base running and development of catching skills more important. The girls will play in the infield and the outfield, but they will begin to learn how to play particular positions. For girls who have been playing at the lower levels, this presents exciting new challenges, and the chance to improve their skills. Newcomers to softball are also welcome and are usually able to pick the game up quickly.
Lincolnwood plays against teams from other communities in the Lakeside Softball League. In the Spring, girls sign up for their current grade level. Each team plays a 12-game regular season schedule with playoffs and a championship game. In the Fall, girls sign up for the for the upcoming school year. Each team plays an 8-game schedule, and the teams with the top two records play a championship game.
At the 7/8 level, the rules are almost identical to those used in high school, college and the pros. The quality of play improves as the girls continue to develop their skills. Base runners can steal home, batters can advance on dropped third strikes, the infield-fly rule can be in effect. The pitching mound moves back to 43 feet, the regulation high school, college and pro distance. Still, we have beginners at the 7-8 level who succeed and have a lot of fun.
Lincolnwood plays against teams from other communities in the Lakeside Softball League. In the Spring, girls sign up for their current grade level. Each team plays a 12-game regular season schedule with playoffs and a championship game. Eighth grade girls graduate from the Lincolnwood program at the end of the Spring season. In the Fall, girls sign up for the for the upcoming school year. Each team plays an 8-game schedule, and the teams with the top two records play a championship game.
Summer Softball is a non-competitive league we participate in through the Wilmette Park district. There are two different levels, grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. The grades are based on the players’ grade in
the coming fall school year. The season runs from mid-June through July and consists of seven games, no play-offs. Games are played on Mondays starting at 5:00 and ending by 9:00, with make-ups for rainouts on Thursdays as needed. All games are at Howard
Park in Wilmette. Girls should register for the grade level they will be in the Fall.
The 2025 season will run from June 16th– July 28th.
The league is always looking for head coaches, assistant coaches, dugout parents, event volunteers, board members and sponsors. If you are interested, please contact John Dreuth at jdreuth@lwbba.org
Sponsorships are at the Gold and Silver level. Click on the Sponsorship link on the left side of the screen for more information or contact John Dreuth at jdreuth@lwbba.org
You can reach us at info@lwbba.org