Lake Zurich Baseball and Softball Association

At LZBSA we divide baseball into six different age groups, starting at age five and continuing until age 17.   The groups are separated into two year intervals in an effort to make the leagues more balanced.  The levels are called Rookie, Tyro, Minor, Major, Pony and Colt.  We utilize an August 31st birthday cut off date for all levels.  The regular season (except Colt and Rookie League) starts on the last Saturday in April and concludes in the middle of July, with playoffs and post season teams playing into the second week of August.

The Rookie League is the entry level for baseball.  It is a non-competitive league comprised of boys and girls who are ages 5 and 6 that is designed to teach children the basic elements of throwing, fielding, running and batting.  It is an underhand coach pitch league that consists of approximately 12 games (twice per week) that are either 6 innings or 1-1/2 hours in length.  Teams will cover such topics as where to stand in the field, which direction to run, how to throw a baseball, how to hold a bat, etc.

After registration is completed, all participants are placed on a team by the league President.  While we cannot guarantee that any two players will be placed on the same team, we do accept requests to pair players and will accommodate it whenever possible.  The season runs from the beginning of July to the middle of August.  All players will receive a hat and tee shirt that is theirs to keep.

Our Tyro League is designed for 7 and 8-year-old boys who have an interest in playing baseball.  It is a "coach pitch" league wherein each team selects an adult to pitch overhand to their own team, with the opposing team playing the field.  It is designed to teach the boys the elements of baseball and covers such topics as fielding positions, batting order, base running and fielding.

The Tyro League is a non-competitive league that utilizes a "safety ball" to minimize the chances of injury.  The league is composed of approximately 23 teams that play a 16 game schedule.  Players are placed on a team by the league President, who will make every effort to group  players by school or neighborhood; but such groupings cannot be guaranteed.  Due to the large number of players at this level, requests to pair players cannot be honored.  In June, all 8 year olds are eligible to participate in the LZBSA World Series Tournament, which takes place over the course of two Sundays in Lake Zurich.  The league also includes an All-Star team, comprised of selected 8 year olds, which plays during the month of July in various local tournaments.

The Minor League is a competitive league comprised of 9 and 10-year-old boys who want to learn how to play baseball.  Here the players are introduced to pitching, base stealing, tagging up, etc.

The league is made up of 26 teams that play a 14 game regular season schedule.  The teams are formed through a player draft and requests to pair players are not accepted.  The season is followed by a playoff to determine a league champion.  The league also includes an "All-Star Team" selected by the coaches (for each age group) as well as a post season "travel team" in which players must try out to be selected.

Players at the Major League level are 11 or 12 years old.  The league is divided into two separate groups (Red or Blue) that do not play against each other.  There are 8 Red teams and 14 Blue teams.  Players are drafted on a team with the Red Division teams selecting all of their players prior to a Blue Division team making any selections.   The drafting process results in the Red Division teams being more competitive than the Blue Division teams.

In both divisions we strive to increase the players' skill level.  Here they are introduced to some of the finer points of baseball (i.e., different types of pitches, delayed stealing, past balls, etc.).  Each division has its own all-star game and league champion.  All players, regardless of what division they play in, are eligible to try out for a post season travel team.

The Pony League is designed for 13 and 14-year-old boys who wish to learn the complete game of baseball.  Players will cover such subjects as balking, dropped third strikes, pick off plays, etc. as well as the intricate strategies of the game.  This is the first level in which players are permitted to wear metal spikes and use wide barrel bats.

The league is composed of 14 teams that play a 16 game regular season schedule.  After the regular season, the top teams compete for the league championship.  Players are also eligible to try out for a post season travel team which competes in three tournaments.

Our Colt League (15-18 year old) provides for continuing baseball play while boys are in high school.  This league allows boys at the high school age group to play ball in a structure that is highly competitive, very exciting and fun, and appreciable to those who have love for the game.  When you play Colt League baseball, you like baseball, period!! 

If you participate on a high school baseball team (regular season or summer program), you can also play in the Colt League because the schedules do not conflict.  The Colt League season begins one week after high school graduation.  Colt games are generally played once per week on Saturday’s beginning in mid-June and conclude in early August culminating in an “all play” World Series Tournament held on the Lake Zurich High School Varsity Baseball Field.  Over the years, this league has evolved from a single travel team into an exciting and competitive house league comprised of six to ten teams.  We are conscientious of the fact that at this age group, boys may have other interests including jobs, so the Colt League is very flexible to accommodate these life style adjustments. 

LZBSA COLT LEAGUE BASEBALL- CATCH IT!!!!!!