Founded in 1952, La Grange Little League offers baseball, softball and Challenger programs every spring. LGLL is affiliated with Little League International, and all players reside or attend school within the league boundaries (click here to see if you live within league boundaries). LGLL's post-season teams compete against other little leagues every summer, and we also offer a fall ball program every autumn.
We are focused on player development - we start in winter with off season clinics for players and coaches in January and February, followed by regular access to indoor practices at White Sox Academy and Diamond Edge Academy in March and April, and regular practice times through the season. After the season ends, we offer summer clinics to our younger players to further instill the fundamentals.
Everyone loves winning, of course, but our job is not done unless we've done everything we can to instill a love of the game that lasts beyond the little league years.
We recognize that our program is a snapshot of what our players will experience throughout life - working as a team toward a common goal, developing relationships, and overcoming challenges in order to achieve success. Our aim is not to create major leaguers, but to build community and help to develop future pillars of the community.
LGLL offers the following opportunities for boys and girls in our community:
Little league baseball: From age 5 through 12, we offer a wide-range of programs, starting with T-ball (primarily pre-schoolers and kindergarteners), coach pitch (mainly 1st graders), Farm League/machine pitch (2nd graders), C league (3rd graders), B league (4th-5th graders) and A league (5th-6th graders).
Little league softball: We offer a variety of age-based programs, including peanuts (ages 7-9), minors (ages 9-11), majors (11-13) and juniors (ages 13-15).
The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in the sport worldwide. Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players. LGLL Challenger games are t-ball or coach pitch. One of the benefits of having a Challenger Division is that it encourages the use of "buddies" for Challenger players. The buddies, who are typically older, assist the Challenger players on the field but whenever possible, encourage the players to bat and make the plays themselves. However, the buddy is always nearby to help when needed. Please contact Sean Naddy at [email protected] for further information about our Challenger Division.
BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL DIVISIONS
Below, we provide a general description of all our baseball and softball divisions. Practices generally begin in late-March/early-April and games begin in the second half of April. For non-draft divisions, games continue through mid-June. For draft divisions, the season will end with a playoff format (playoffs begin Father's Day weekend and end the following weekend). In non-draft divisions, we aim to keep classmates together, where possible. Although Little League International sets the age requirements for each division, we allow your child to play with his/her grade level so they can play in the same division with their classmates.
We recognize that each player advances their baseball and softball skills a bit differently, and our coaches are prepared to challenge each player no matter what their ability level. We do not advance kids into divisions above their age level, as it's critical to us that players play the game with their classmates, knowing that our little league can offer a challenging and rewarding experience even for those who are advancing a bit faster than others.
After our spring season ends in late June, we also offer a fall baseball and softball season beginning the weekend after Labor Day weekend for a six-week period.
At ALL TIMES, our goals are simple but so important -- we seek to develop your kid's love of the game, their sense of teamwork and fair play, and to help them work together to reach a goal!
Baseball
T-Ball (Non-Draft) (Generally open to pre-k). Year one (pre-K) will focus on a typical t-ball experience. Players hit a safety ball off of an adjustable batting tee. No score is kept. Basic game rules are taught and players are rotated among the different fielding positions. The full batting order will bat in a half inning. Typically, outs are not recorded; base runners do not advance on overthrows.
T-Ball typically practices for a short period of time, 20-30 minutes, prior to the start of games. Coaches are then allowed to remain on the field to coach and instruct during games. Due to the age and attention span of children, parents are asked to help monitor the kids while at bat, on the bench, or in the field. The T-ball division generally plays its games at Waiola Park, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game.
Coach pitch (Non-Draft) (Generally open to kindergarten). Players hit a safety ball pitched by their coach and will continue to hit until they hit the ball fair, though an adjustable tee will be used when there has been a number of swings without contact. Typically, outs are not recorded but players forced or tagged out leave the playing field. Each time will bat through their order, and base runners do not advance on overthrows. Basic game rules are taught and players are rotated among the different fielding positions.
The coach pitch division generally plays its games at Waiola Park, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Each team may also have some additional practices throughout the season.
Rookies (Non-Draft) (Generally open to first grade). Players will make the transition this year from coach pitch (at the beginning of the season) to coach and player pitch (the second half of the season). Coaches also may incorporate machine pitch to maximize hitting fundamentals. But no worries -- if your child isn't ready to hit off of player pitch, we will adjust to ensure their success. Typically, outs are not recorded but players forced or tagged out leave the playing field. Each time will bat through their order, and base runners do not advance on overthrows. Basic game rules are taught and players are rotated among the different fielding positions.
The Rookies division generally plays its games at Gilbert Park, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Each team may also have some additional practices throughout the season.
Farm league (Non-Draft) (Generally open to second grade). Farm league is the first level played with balls, strikes, and outs along with kids pitching and playing catcher. The coach pitches if a batter gets three balls or is hit by pitch (there are no walks but there are strikeouts). The inning ends when a team gets 3 outs or scores 5 runs. Players will play all positions over the course of the season. The season ends with managers selecting players to play in the farm league All-Star Game (selection based on overall achievement and sportsmanship) on the final weekend of the season, and these teams also will be entered into a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
The farm league division generally plays its games at Spring Ave, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time, particularly early in the season.
C league (Draft) (Generally open to third grade). C league continues the development from farm league, and is the first year your child will be drafted onto a team. Scores count, and standings maintained. The season ends with a playoff in middle to late June. Managers will select players to play on two C league tournament teams, which will play in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
C league generally splits its games between Gordon and Sedgwick, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week.
B league (Draft) (Generally open to fourth and fifth grade). B league consists of 10 and 11 yr olds. Beginning in this division, players will begin stealing bases, and additional rules are enforced to keep even the level of play. The season ends with a playoff in middle to late June. Managers will select players to play on district and tournament teams, which will play in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
B league generally plays its games at Sedgwick and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30 or 7:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week.
A league (Draft) (Generally open to fifth and sixth grade). A league consists of 12 year olds and some 11 yr olds who are drafted to play up in A league. Any 11 year old not drafted into A league will play in B league. The season ends with a playoff in middle to late June. Managers will select players to play on district and tournament teams, which will play in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
A league plays all its games at Sedgwick and the commitment usually involves one or two week night games (5:30 or 7:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week.
Softball
T-ball and coach pitch (Generally open to pre-K and kindergarten - see information in baseball section above)
Peanuts (Non-Draft) (Generally open to first, second and third grade). Peanuts is focused on the fundamentals and mechanics of hitting, throwing and fielding, ultimately preparing them for the more competitive play in minors softball. The more experienced players typically will pitch while fundamentals are being developed with newer players.
Peanuts generally splits its games between Gordon and Spring Ave, and the commitment usually involves one week night (5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week, particularly earlier in the season.
Minors (Draft) (Generally open to fourth and fifth grade). Minors games consist of 6 innings in which scores are maintained and standings kept. The division is entirely player pitch with some assistance at times from coaches. Pitchers are allowed to pitch up to two innings per game and are monitored by pitch count for game-to-game usage control. Players will rotate between the infield and outfield to promote development. The season ends with a playoff in middle to late June. Managers will select players to play on district teams, which will play in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
Minors generally splits its games between Gordon, Spring Ave, and Sedgwick, and the commitment usually involves one week night (typically 5:30pm start) and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week.
Majors (Draft) (Generally open to sixth and seventh grade). Majors games consist of 6 innings in which scores are maintained and standings kept. Similar to minors, the divisions is entirely player pitch. Pitchers are allowed to pitch up to two innings per game and are monitored by pitch count for game-to-game usage control. The season ends with a playoff in middle to late June. Managers will select players to play on district teams, which will play in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
Majors generally splits its games between Gordon and Sedgwick, and the commitment usually involves one or two week night (5:30 or 7:30pm start) games and one weekend game. Coaches often will schedule a separate practice time each week.
Juniors (Draft) (Generally open to eighth grade and freshman). At the juniors level, our players typically play teams from other villages in Little League District 9. Managers will select players to play on a district team that plays in a local tournament in early- to mid-July.
