Fall Ball Registration ends July 31st
Fall Ball registration end July 31st. Below are links to registration forms for both Softball and Baseball
District 9 Tournament Schedules
Below are direct links to all of the District 9 tournament schedules. Please remember these schedules are subject to change so check them often.
Baseball
Softball
Rock Cats Discount Tickets Available
For those that attended the Rock Cats Haddam Little League Family Night, thank you for your support! It was a great evening for a ball game, and we got to see a fantastic game right to the end. For those that could not make it that evening, you have a second chance to go see the Rock Cats play and also support our League. We have for sale vouchers that are good for 2 Reserve Seats for any home game that seats are available. Just take the voucher to the sales window at the Stadium to obtain your seating tickets. Haddam Little League is selling these vouchers for only $10. Normally 2 Reserve Seats would cost a total of $16. So save, support our League and have a fun evening. Please call Pam Scully at 860-685-0720 to obtain a voucher.
Do you know what to do when a thunder storm approaches?
Lightning is one of the most underrated killers, causing more fatalities annually than all other natural disasters except flooding. Florida is the top state for lightning strikes, but all states share the risk. Click here for more information.
Throat Protector Required on All Catcher's Masks
Recently the question has been raised if a throat protector is required on a hockey-style catcher's mask. That answer to that question is yes. Rule 1.17 of the 2009 Little League Baseball rules states "All catchers must wear a mask with a dangling type throat protector." Regardless of the type of mask, a throat guard is required. The dangling throat protector protects the catcher's throat while he/she is looking upward.
2009 Hit, Run & Throw
The New Britain Rock Cats held the annual Hit, Run and Throw competition on Saturday May 16th at the Great Hill Athletic Complex . A Total of 10 league players participated. The top three were Ty Schuler, Matt McDonald and Markus Trahan. Ty will go on to compete at New Britain Stadium later this summer against other Little League winners.
Little League Rules Myths
MYTH #1: "The hands are part of the bat."
If a batter is hit on the hands while swinging at a pitch or while his hands are in the strike zone, it is a strike. OTHERWISE it is a hit batter and he gets first base. In all cases, the ball is dead and no runners may advance.
MYTH #2: "He held the ball for 2 seconds before he dropped it. That's a catch."
The length of time the ball is held has nothing to do with the determination of a catch. The release of the ball must be VOLUNTARY and INTENTIONAL. The fielder must prove that he had complete control of the ball before releasing it.
MYTH #3:"The catch was made on the outfield grass hump, that's not an Infield Fty."
Infield is a judgement call by the umpire(s). It is based on whether the ball can be caught with ORDINARY effort.
MYTH #4: "He gets 1 plus 1 on an overthrow."
There is not such thing. Awards of bases can be 1, 2 or 3 bases depending on the circumstances. The award can based on where the runners physically standing or in most cases where they are at the time of the pitch.
MYTH #5: 'The batter turned to the left after crossing first, he's out when tagged "
The runner is out only if the umpire judges that he made an ATTEMPT to go to second. No place in the rule does it say that a runner must turn to the right.
MYTH #6: "The ball is dead on a foul-tip."
A foul-tip is a ball that goes SHARP and DIRECT from the bat to the catcher's glove, AND IS CAUGHT. If it is not caught it is a foul ball and the ball is dead. If it IS caught, it is a STRIKE and the ball is alive.
MYTH #7: "The ball is dead when a balk occurs."
When a balk is called, if the pitcher does not pitch, the umpire will call "Time." If the pitch is thrown, it is a delayed dead ball. That means the ball is alive until any play is completed.
MYTH #8: "On that throw to home, the catcher was blocking the base path before he caught the ball. Call Interference!"
When the defense blocks the base path without having possession of the ball, or is not "in the act of fielding a ball", it is called OBSTRUCTION, not interference. If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position in order to receive the ball, he may be considered "in the act of fielding a ball."
Little League Bat - 2009 Rule Change
For the last 10 years, bat manufacturers have only been producing non-wood bats for play in Little League Baseball that do not exceed the 1.15 BPF. Most of these bats are already printed with the BPF of 1.15, but beginning in 2009, all bats used in Little League Baseball must be imprinted with the BPF.
The BPF essentially measures how fast a baseball exits the bat when hit. To quantify the BPF, a standard wood bat has a BPF of 1.00. A very good wooden bat's BPF is 1.15.
Non-wood bats approved for use in Little League have the same 1.15 BFP, and as of 2009, that designation is required to be shown on the barrels of all Little League-approved non-wood bats.
Any bat without this imprint will be consider illegal.
New Meeting Location
Starting with the January meeting, all Little League Board of Directors meetings will be held on the 2nd floor of the Town Hall Annex Building located on Jail Hill Road. All meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month and start at 7:00 p.m.