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 / $145

Instructional – $145 / $155

10U – $190 / $200

12U – $200 / $210

14U – $215 / $220

Softball: 1st or 2nd grade – $135 / $145

Softball: 3rd or 4th grade – $170 / $180

Softball: 5th or 6th grade – $180 / $190

Softball: 7th or 8th grade – $200 / $210

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 5^th and 6^th 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 2^nd and 3^rd 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 7^th, 8^th 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.

In 3-4 softball, girls for the first time begin playing real softball games.  The teams keep score, playoffs are held, and for the first time girls pitch.  This is perhaps the biggest step up in development.  Each team plays a 12 game schedule against teams from neighboring communities, with home games played on Proesel Park field #4.  Games are played on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and last 6 innings or two hours, whichever comes first.  The girls continue to work on developing their fundamental skills, but add game strategy.  In order to encourage hitting, there are no walks.  If a pitcher throws ball four, the hitting team’s coach comes out to throw a maximum of three pitches to the batter.  Playoffs are held at the end of June.  A handful of girls will be selected to play in all star games at the end of the season.

In 5-6 softball, the level of competition increases as the girls develop more skills and the rules change to bring the game closer to high school rules.  Batters can walk and there is no coach pitching, making development of pitching skills even more important.  Base runners can steal second and third base, making base running and development of catching skills more important.  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 and become part of the team.  Like in 3-4, teams play a 12 game schedule, with half of the games played at Proesel Park field #4 and the other half played in neighboring communities.  Games last 6 innings and are typically played on Mondays and Wednesdays.  A playoff tournament is played at the end of June, and a handful of girls will be selected to play in all star games at the end of the season.

Grade 7-8 softball brings the game closest to what you see in high school, college and the pros.  The quality and level of play improves, as the girls continue to develop more skills.  Base runners can now steal home, as well as second and third base, and batters can advance on dropped third strikes, making the development of catching skills even more important.  The pitching mound moves back to 43 feet, the regulation high school, college and pro distance.  The girls find the game more exciting and challenging.  Still, we have had beginners join at the 7-8 level who succeed and have a lot of fun.  It is not too late to start at 7-8.  Teams play a 12 game schedule, with half of the games played at Proesel Park and the other half played in neighboring communities.  Games last 7 innings, and and the game days vary.  A playoff tournament is played at the end of June, and a handful of girls will be selected to play in all star games at the end of the season.

Please visit out Summer and Fall Information page.

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 [email protected]

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 [email protected]

You can reach us at [email protected]

Check out our Rain Out Page