White Bear Baseball Association

The WB Baseball Association conducts tryouts in two phases.  The first phase will occur indoors on a specified date.  Players will do their fielding tryouts in the North Campus Gym and hitting at the Line Drive facility in Lino Lakes.  In fielding, players are graded on their form, throwing strength, and accuracy.  Footwork and positioning are both considered when trying out.  Hitters are graded on their stance, power, and location of hits.  Independent graders, NOT coaches of that age group, grade each player based on the information provided above.  Grades are determined using the following breakdown: Hitting - 40%, Running - 10%, Infield and outfield positioning/footwork - 15% each, and throwing power and accuracy - 10% each.  We have an independent individual who enters and calculates these scores and delivers them directly to our President.  No one is privy to these scores except for the head coaches themselves.  Assistants cannot be named until the teams are selected.

Phase 2 will occur once the weather gets nice and players are able to get outside.  The indoor grades, as well as the players performance outside, will aid coaches in making their selections.  ALL players (except for the 10 & under group) go outside for this.  We take the top 30 players from the 10 year old indoor tryouts outside for this added tryout.  The outdoor phase will be conducted on a 2-3 day schedule.  Players will be evaluated on their fielding, hitting, as well as their pitching and catching skills.  Each player will get the same opportunity to be evaulated in the same situations.  We ask that all families be ready as we try and squeeze these in on the first nice days available.  The head coach of the "AAA" team will select his/her team followed by the head coach of the "AA" team.  All players not being selected for one of these teams, will be drafted on to a "A" team.  Any 10 and under player not selected, will be placed on a Little League team based in the area in which they live.  The "AAA" and "AA" teams play in the Gopher State Traveling league through MYAS.  The "A" teams play in the North Suburban league.  Each group plays 14-16 league games and all guaranteed one playoff game.  There are playoffs for each group with champions crowned.

All players signing up for the Little League portion of our program, are placed on teams based on the geographical location of where they live.  We do not form teams based off of schools attended.  We do work to keep friends together, provided they live close by.  Coaches are selected after the completion of an application and background check.  All players receive full "major league style" uniforms and baseballs and equipment are provided for the team.  Age groups are 7&8 year olds with coaches pitching, and 9 & 10 year olds, with the players pitching. 

All games are played within the WB School district boundaries.  Each team plays approximately 16 games followed by a Fun Day for the 7&8 year olds, and playoffs for the 9 & 10 year olds.  These dates are announced at a later date.