Who is ready for Spring? Let's Play Ball!
New Updates as of 3/26:
1) Rosters for Cal Ripken are due tomorrow. We have full or close to full teams for nearly all groups which is great! We are still welcoming anyone who wants to join Softball Majors (their roster due date is further out) as we have just barely enough to make a team.
2) I have updated practice schedules for all teams. Game schedules will not come out until rosters have been submitted to league and the league have come back to us with the game schedules which they create. Please note that I have created a general practice schedule that starts in the gym for April and then transitions to outside fields. Both the start date for practices and the date to change to outside are completely up to your coaches and the coaches will communicate the specifics for those dates.
New Update as of 3/13:
Baseball Majors, Baseball Minors, Rookies and T-ball are all going to be part of Cal Ripken this season. Cal Ripken said they'll be doing Saturday only games for both Rookies and T-ball.
I'm excited to have them (Rookies and T-ball) back with Cal Ripken as it is a known factor and they are happy to welcome Rookies and T-ball back to their league.
Next year (in the fall) I will work to get Rookies and T-ball into the local Little League (the goal being to have them playing towns that are closer). It didn't work out this year with our timing.
When it comes to baseball and softball, Thetford and many other towns are part of the Cal Ripken, and now Little League for Softball. These leagues are very established. They have boards that run local chapters. They are very specific about their rules and safety measures. All coaches and any adults that are going to help with a team need to go through the league's specified specific background check and training. The league determines which towns play each other within your state.
Please note:
- When considering ages for this sport, the birthday cut-off for these teams is May 1st.
- Some or all of the teams will start indoors in the TES gym during April. Details to follow.
- ***For softball, please read all descriptions and sign-up for the one that fits best. There are overlapping ages in some of the groups. Experience/skill matter more than age in this case. Also, we are not sure that we will have enough kids for 2 softball teams so the teams may be combined.
- If we have enough players for two teams, Softball majors and minors players may be shifted between the two groups depending on skill level observed by coaches on the first few days of practice.
- League games will likely start at the end of April. End of season tournament ends in early June.
- Older teams: After the season tournament, they hold tryouts for the All Star tournament which is only for players who qualify.
- Non Thetford residents please email me if interested in signing up.
- Practice schedules to be posted soon. Games schedules to be posted after the leagues give them to us.
- Non-Thetford Residents - please join teams only when given specific permission/invitation.
Cal Ripken T-Ball: co-ed ages 4-6 (location TES field and gym)
- Practices and games
- Schedule Saturdays 9am at TES
- Children learn hitting and fielding fundamentals in a supportive team environment.
- Children will hit the ball from a batting tee.
UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Borrowed Performance T stretchy shirt (to be returned to Rec when season is complete). Please only request one if your child needs one. Same shirt as soccer season.
Cal Ripken Rookies: co-ed ages 7-8 (location TES field and gym)
- Practices and games
- Scheduled Wednesdays at 5 pm and Saturdays 10 am at TES
- Parent/Guardian helpers are great to have involved.
- UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Borrowed Performance T stretchy shirt (to be returned to Rec when season is complete). Please only request one if your child needs one. Same shirt as soccer season.
Little League Minors Softball: Ages 7-12 (location TES field and gym)
- Players need to be at least 7yo and can be up to age 12 as long as their skill level matches that of the minors team.
- Practices and games tentatively scheduled Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at TES. T/Th time 5:30 (Sat will be games)
- UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Uniform shirt (same as last year) available for purchase if needed. You can pay with a check once we have the info for you.
Little League Majors Softball: Ages 9-12, skill level dependent. (location TES field and gym)
- Majors softball is skill level dependent. If you are not sure, please send and email to me and I'll check with our coaches.
- Schedule M/W/F at 5 pm at TES (no Wednesdays until outside)
- UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Uniform shirt (same as last year) available for purchase if needed. You can pay with a check once we have the info for you.
Cal Ripken Minors Baseball: 3rd and 4th graders (and 2nd graders who played
minors during Fall Ball) (location Post Mills field)
- Schedule Tuesday, Thursday at 5pm in Post Mills (once outside - start in TES gym).
- Games Saturdays
- Minors baseball is kid-pitch and has a full season of games against teams throughout the area.
- Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork.
- UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Uniform shirts ordered through coach. Same shirt as last year if you have it.
Cal Ripken Majors Baseball: 5th and 6th Graders (location Post Mills field)
- Scheduled M/W/F 5 in Post Mills (once outside - start in TES gym)
- Gym schedule is M 5pm, W 6pm, F 5pm.
- Please note: practice time is often different during April.
- Games Saturday
- Majors plays a full season of games against teams throughout the area and ends the season with a competitive tournament.
- UNIFORM: Blue T baseball hat (buy one now if you don't have a blue T hat). Uniform shirts ordered through coach. Same shirt as last year if you have it.
- Sign-up is set to accept 4th graders but that is ONLY in situations where they have been invited to join this team.
- The Coach Line-up (thus far)!
- T-ball:
- Lead Coaches: Jeff J & Shawn T
- Assistance Coach: Josh D
- Helper Parents: Paula L, Tim H & Tori B
- Rookies:
- Lead Coaches: Calah B & Josh D
- Softball Minors:
- Lead Coach: Adam H
- Assistant Coach: Lauren L
- Softball Majors:
- Baseball Minors:
- Lead Coach: Chris L
- Assistant Coaches: Nic C & Jeff J
- Helper Parent: Lauren L
- Baseball Majors:
- Lead Coach: Jake E
- Assistant Coaches: Nick D & Lee L
- Helper Parent: Jeff J
Want to coach?
Required for Coaches/Assistants/Helpers:We encourage you to coach or help out as well! Please fill this form out if you intend to coach, assist coach or be a helper.Link to FormImportant notice:
Baseball Hats $10.00 (for all teams)
If you have a blue T hat, no need to buy a new one.
Please remember if you want a hat you must select the hat, and click add to cart in the upper right hand corner or it will not add it. Adding the hat comes after signing up for the sport but before you pay.
Edit to add: Some people have issues trying to order a hat. You can order a hat from me directly by bringing a check for $10 to the Rec office at Town Hall and specifying in the memo who the hat is for. ** Please make the check out to Town of Thetford. Thanks!Please reach out with any questions.
~Rachael Cook (she/her)
Thetford Recreation Director