1. Why charter with Little League?
Chartering a Little League allows us to build on Saline Area Youth Baseball and Softball’s rich history in community-based baseball and softball programming while providing new and exciting opportunities for our youth. Little League provides the framework, resources, and support to enhance our baseball and softball offerings. We look to utilize these, along with the Little League brand, to grow our numbers within Saline Little League and provide our players with opportunities to learn and grow in the game both inside and outside our community. Simply put, we believe chartering a Little League will provide Saline youth with a local option and access to a great organization, coaching, and competition.
2. How does this change what was SAYBS “House Baseball and Softball?
The SAYBS mission remains the same, the age brackets will remain the same and the “community feel” will remain intact. There will be some minor changes with rules, equipment regulations, and age cuts, but we aim to maintain the SAYBS feel while growing into our new affiliation.
3. Does this turn SAYBS into “travel” now?
No, Little League gives each league the option of how they schedule games. Divisions with high participation (Tee Ball and Coach Pitch) will be able to play all of their games locally in Saline. If a league has lower participation, we have the option to schedule “interleague” games with neighboring communities that are also Little League members. This gives us the option to grow into the new setup while still providing our current teams with a great experience. Our scheduling options include but are not limited to: YpsiArbor (Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor), Lincoln, Milan, Tecumseh, Clinton, and Jackson. We can pick and choose who we schedule with and who hosts the games. The need to interleague will be determined by registration numbers for each level and season. The exception to this is if your child is nominated for and accepts an invitation to the post-season all-star team.
4. Will my child/team have an opportunity to play in the postseason tournament?
Yes, more information can be found in the Little League guides. However, each division will have an All-Star team following each regular season. The all-star team is determined by coach nominations and will be based on play in Little League games. If the family accepts the invitation to the all-star team, that team enters the postseason tournament. The “Little League (10-12)” division ends in Williamsport and is televised on ESPN. The other divisions compete at the state level.
5. What does my player need?
Players will receive a hat and jersey with their registration fee. Parents are responsible for providing pants, socks, belt, athletic cup, and baseball glove. Each team is supplied with a set of team catcher's gear and batting helmets to share. If you’d like your child to have their own helmet, please purchase one.
6. What days are practices and games?
Teams are required to play 12 games under Little League. Around 15 games will be scheduled to accommodate rain outs to ensure the 12-game minimum is met. Due to the length of season each team will play 2 games per week. Each coach will determine if they would like to hold a practice as well. All practices and games will be on a weekday.
The 2026 season will also offer a 6-week clinic run by Michigan Sports Academy (MSA). This will be a combined baseball and softball clinic (open to all ages) Mondays from 4:30-6:00 May 4 through June 8.
7. How long is the season?
The season will run from mid-April through the end of June.
More information on rules, equipment regulations, etc. can be found at this link: https://www.littleleague.org/university/parents/