Intro
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
Practices Saturday and Sunday
Games held once a week on Monday,
Tuesday or Wednesday
WHERE THEY PLAY
Central School
McKenzie School
Teams will play one game at Roemer Park
K* - 1st GRADE
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• Teams will be formed using the buddy system.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
• Teach the program’s youngest players the
proper fundamentals of baseball and to establish
a foundation of fundamental skills, where, if
practiced regularly, will result in increased skill
development as a player progresses through
the program.
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• Hitting is coach pitch.
• Base running (correct direction and order).
• Throwing (point-step-throw).
• Catching (alligator hands).
• Fielding (fly balls and grounders).
• Positioning (where is each position).
Additionally, the cognitive aspects of baseball will be
introduced and taught via coach controlled games.
QUESTIONS
[email protected]
*WBA welcomes kindergarteners with baseball
experience such as one year of tee ball or a class
through the the Wilmette Park District or Illinois
Baseball Academy. If not, we recommend starting
your kindergartener with a class through the
Wilmette Park District or Illinois Baseball Association.
Pinto
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
Generally Tuesday or Thursday
and Saturday
WHERE THEY PLAY
Thornwood Park
Hibbard/Rec Center
One game will be played at
Roemer Park.
2nd GRADE
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• Teams will be formed using the buddy system.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
• The primary objective of second grade baseball
is to introduce “live” game play to participants
while continuing the development of their
fundamental skill.
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• Hitting (balanced stance, level swing, elbow and
bat position, watch ball, don’t swing at bad pitches,
improve contact throughout season).
• Base running (tag up on fly, sliding, taking direction
from base coaches).
• Throwing (point-step-throw in one motion).
• Pitching (balanced stance and delivery,
4-steps to pitching).
• Catching (alligator hands, butterfly hands).
QUESTIONS
[email protected]
• Fielding (higher fly balls and grounders to left and
right, foot positioning to field between your feet).
• Positioning (understand area responsible for
covering with each position).
Additionally, “real” baseball games are played with
umpires, rules, and scorekeeping.
Pinto
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
Generally Monday or Wednesday
and Saturday
WHERE THEY PLAY
Thornwood Park
Hibbard/Rec Center
One game will be played at
Roemer Park
3rd GRADE
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• Teams will be formed using the buddy system
and by using player experience to form
competitive teams.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
• The primary objective of third grade baseball
is to expand “live” game play to participants
while continuing the development of their
fundamental skill.
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• All Kid pitch
• Hitting (balanced stance, level swing, elbow and
bat position, watch ball, wait for good pitches,
improve contact and power throughout season).
• Base running (tag up on fly, sliding, taking direction
from base coaches, stealing).
• Throwing (improve accuracy and speed/distance).
• Pitching (balanced stance and delivery, 4-steps to
pitching).
• Fielding (higher fly balls and grounders to left and
right, foot positioning to field between your feet,
pull-in and turning properly to throw).
QUESTIONS
[email protected]
• Positioning (understand area responsible for
covering with each position, start to specialize in
2-3 positions including infield and outfield).
• Summer travel team by tryout only.
Additional rules are added such as all-kid-pitch,
stealing, etc.
Mustang
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
Games Tuesday or Thursday and
always Sunday
Practices throughout season
on Saturday
WHERE THEY PLAY
Hibbard/Rec Center
with a few games at Roemer Park
4th GRADE
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• The coaches will draft players based on player
evaluations.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
• The primary objective of Mustang is to incorporate
improved fundamentals through weekly practices
and games into a true “season” of baseball,
culminating in playoffs and a World Series,
based on standings.
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• Hitting (improve contact and power throughout
season, bunting, count awareness and choking up).
• Base running (learn signs from base coaches,
rounding bases properly, running through first base,
sliding and secondary leads).
• Running (proper running technique to increase
speed and quickness).
• Throwing (improve accuracy and speed/distance,
stress repetition in motion).
• Pitching (develop accuracy and power, stretch vs.
windup).
QUESTIONS
[email protected]
• Fielding (position properly to come up throwing
(grounders and flyballs), cutoffs, rundowns).
• Positioning in field (adjusting position for batter or
circumstance).
• Summer travel team by tryout only.
Bronco
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
Generally Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
WHERE THEY PLAY
Roemer Park
Elam Field (behind WJHS)
Pomona Field (behind Highcrest)
5th - 6th GRADE
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• Combined house league of 5th and 6th graders,
with separate A and a B League.
• Players interested in A League must attend a single
evaluation. A League managers then conduct a
draft to build their team.
• Players not selected for A League will be placed
on a B League team after a subsequent B league
draft.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
• Bronco is the highest level of baseball in
the “Little League” age group.
• Players, particularly in the House A Leagues and
travel leagues, will learn how the game is played
with substantially the same rules as MLB.
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• Coaching signs for hitting, running and pitching.
• Situational defensive strategies and positioning,
turning the double play.
QUESTIONS
[email protected]
• Advanced outfield and relay techniques.
• Hit & run, and directional bunting.
• Pitching - develop change-up pitches
and precise location targets.
• Summer travel team by tryout only.
Pony
PRACTICE/GAME DAYS
7th - 8th GRADE
Blue Division
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
HOW TEAMS ARE FORMED
• There is a Blue and a Green Division. Placement of
Players is determined by an evaluation session and
a subsequent draft by coaches for each Division. Green Division
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Sunday
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
WHERE THEY PLAY
The Wilmette Pony House League teams
participate in the North Suburban Pony Baseball
League which is comprised of 7th and 8th graders
from the Evantston, Glencoe, Northfield, Wilmette
and Kenilworth-Winnetka Baseball associations. Fields are throughout the Northshore
WHAT THEY’LL LEARN
• Continued development of fundamental throwing,
pitching, fielding and hitting skills.
QUESTIONS
[email protected]