MSHYB Travel Program - Overview & Team Selection Guidelines

*** Updated January 2026 ***

Registration is now OPEN: Please click the link to register

Tryouts scheduled for Saturday, March 21st @Gero Park between 9am-12pm. Specific times, by age groups, will be shared as we get closer to the date for those that have registered.

Objective: 

The program seeks to provide those who participate in MSHYB spring league an opportunity to play competitive baseball in the summer and fall in order to further advance their skills and build camaraderie amongst the members of our community.

Commitment Expectations:

Minimum of 2 practices per week and 2 games per week; can increase based on team and coaching availability. Attendance is expected and playing time can be impacted based on commitment levels.

Starting this summer, we will offer two types of of opportunities for summer baseball: "Fully Committed" and "Ripken Only"

Each family will be required to sign a pledge should their child make an MSHYB Summer Travel Team so that the level of commitment required of players (and their families) is made clear and forms the basis for their acceptance of an invitation to join a MSHYB Summer Travel Team. There will be different requirements for these two different types of players. As a result, MSHYB is emphasizing upfront communication and agreement to that understanding in an open and clear manner. The two types of players are as follows.

  • Fully Committed: Players are committing to, and prioritizing, their summer travel team from mid-May through the end of the 3rd week of July. Families are expected to ensure players are available for all practices, games, and tournaments during this time period. They are fully pledged to the team even after the Ripken tournament “Districts, States, Regionals) is over. There will be a total of 10-12 rostered spots per team of Fully Committed players.
  • Ripken Only: Players are pledging their commitment to Ripken Districts in the month of June. Should their team advance, they are required to participate in Ripken State (which typically runs through the first week of July) and Regional tournaments (which typically runs through the second or third week of July). These are highly selective spots designated for players who otherwise cannot fully commit to MSHYB summer travel. There will be a minimum of zero (0) and a maximum of three (3) rostered spots per team of Ripken Tournament Only Committed players. Ripken Only players may not switch to another MSHYB team after the Ripken tournament.

Signing up to try out as a Fully Committed player provides players with a substantial advantage of making the summer team. MSHYB may elect not to invite any Ripken Tournament Only Committed players for particular teams or it may elect to invite less than the maximum reserved. Overall roster size will not surpass 13 players in total.

Team Structure & Competition:

Summer Teams: 5 teams (8u-12u); 1 team per age group.

Summer Competition: Teams will compete in tournaments (including districts) and/or league play.

Fall Teams: 5 teams (8u-12u); 1 team per age group with potential for additional teams based on demand.

Fall Competition: Teams will compete in tournaments and/or league play.

Additional Teams: Subject to Board approval, additional teams can be formed in both summer and fall, based on demand and availability of qualified players. These teams would need to be administered and coached by parents.

Coaching:  

Primarily a professional coach, additional support from hired assistant coaches or 2-3 parents. All coaches will have to go through the MSHYB coaching certification process.

Eligibility:

Who Can Tryout: Players 12 and under who participate in 50% of their MSHYB spring team’s games as well as anyone who moved to town during or after the MSHYB spring season and, as a result, did not get to play in MSHYB’s spring league.

What Team Can My Child Try Out For: Baseball age is defined as a child's age as of 4/30. Each child can try out for the team that is their baseball age as well as one year older than their baseball age, but a player can only be rostered on one team.

  • 12-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 12U or 13U summer team and/or 13U or 14U fall team - NOTE the larger field dimensions for 13U (60/90) in both summer and fall
  • 11-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 11U or 12U summer team and/or 12U or 13U fall team - NOTE the larger field dimensions for 13U (60/90) in fall only
  • 10-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 10U or 11U team summer team and/or 11U or 12U fall team
  • 9-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 9U or 10U summer team and/or 10U or 10U fall team
  • 8-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U or 9U summer team and/or 9U or 10U fall team
  • 7-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U summer team and/or 8U or 9U fall team
  • 6-year-olds as of April 30 will be able to try out for the 8U summer team and/or 8U fall team

Try Out Process:

Signups: MSHYB will post signups for tryouts as well as send league wide messaging.

Evaluations: Evaluations will allow participants to show their skills across fielding (infield and outfield), throwing (power and accuracy) and hitting (power and contact). Most participants will take between 5-10 swings during batting practice, field 5 ground balls and throw across the diamond, and 3-5 fly balls.

Evaluators: 2 or 3 per age group - an evaluator for an age group cannot have their child trying out at that age group. Evaluators will be looking at overall outcome, but also incorporate mechanics into their scoring. Qualitative characteristics can also be taken into consideration. 

Selection Process:

Selection to a team will be based primarily on the player’s tryout (both their initial and any call back that is requested). MSHYB has the right to solicit feedback from MSHYB coaches to achieve a more holistic view of a specific player. Please keep in mind that the role of the committee is to put together a competitive team with the appropriate balance of skills (which means a roster may not include all of the top players at a particular position).  All rosters will be approved by the MSHYB Board of Directors.

Communication Protocols:

Primary communication via email

Please contact Travel@mshyb.com with any questions