89ers, MINORS & MAJORS SOFTBALL

89ers Softball

89ers is a division created in the 2024 season to elevate the 8 and 9 year old softball skills, and help them transition from a coach pitch experience to a player pitch experience. It is similar to Farm Baseball and acts as a feeder to the Softball Minor league levels. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or if issues arise during the season.

Age Group

Age: Girls ages 8 to 9 years old
Age as of December 31, 2024
Click here for 2025 Softball Age Chart

89ers Softball: What to Expect

Hitting: Players will be hitting off of a player for all 6 innings
Ball Type: 11" softball
Field Size: The field size is 60-foot base path and pitching is at 35 feet
Team Formation: Teams are formed by the Player Agent, and assessments are held to assist the process.
Competition: In-house games and inter-league with other teams in District One.

Minor League Softball

All Minor league levels are an instructional level. The goal of the Minor Softball league is to build on the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, and throwing while being introduced to recreational competitiveness. At this level, girls will be pitching to each other. Players will continue to have fun while experiencing teamwork, sportsmanship, and a passion for the game. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or if issues arise during the season.

Age Group

Age: Girls ages 9 to 11 years old
8 year olds are eligible for this level if they pass a safety check and there is room
Age as of December 31, 2024
Click here for 2025 Softball Age Chart

Minors Softball: What to Expect

Hitting: Players will be hitting off of a player for all 6 innings
Ball Type: 11" softball
Field Size: The field size is 60-foot base path and pitching is at 35 feet
Team Formation: Players will participate in an evaluation (tryout) and be drafted onto a team.
Competition: In-house games and inter-league with other teams in District One.

Major League Softball

The Major league level is a competitive level that continues to stress fundamental baseball and introduce more advance baseball techniques and strategies. Players will continue to have fun building life-time memories with other teammates. At this level, players will remain on the same team once drafted. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or if issues arise during the season.

Age Group

Age: Girls ages 11 and 12 years old
Some highly skilled 9 and 10 year olds may be able to play at this level
Age as of December 31, 2024
Click here for 2025 Softball Age Chart

Majors Softball: What to Expect

Hitting: Players will be hitting off of a player for all 6 innings
Ball Type: 12" softball
Field Size: The field size is 60-foot base path and pitching is at 40 feet
Team Formation: Players will participate in an evaluation (assessments) and be drafted onto a team. Only if your daughter is league age 12 will she be guaranteed a spot on a Majors team. If your daughter is age 10 or 11 and isn't selected to a Majors team, she will be placed on a Minors team.
Competition: In-house games and inter-league with other teams in District One.

Practices & Games

Mukilteo Little League Softball inter-leagues with other Little Leagues within District One. We cannot do the schedule until District One identifies who we will interleague with and when we are able to get together. Games typically will be scheduled first for Juniors and Seniors, then Majors and finally Minors and Rookie Softball. It has been our experience in the past that softball higher levels will not start playing until the middle of March/first week in April. District One is planning to start Minors and Majors softball games on March 23rd.

Practices are held at the discretion of the team manager at the Mukilteo Little League Complex softball field or at local schools. Practices are generally twice a week until games begin. Once games begin, practices may be once a week.

Softball Team Formation

Players are placed on teams by the Player Agent with Assessment scores, input from coaches and parent requests on the registration form. Buddy and coach requests are considered but accommodation cannot be guaranteed. Every child who tries out is drafted onto a team. The Player Agent will attempt to maintain balanced teams and stimulating games, while adhering to the "team first" philosophy noted below.

In 2019, Mukilteo Little League moved away from a coaches draft team formation process to a "team first" philosophy where keeping teams and families together is a priority. This is called a Vested Redraft Plan. It is assumed that players will stay with their team, to the extent possible, as they move through the Mukilteo Little League divisions. However, parents may request to NOT be on the same team as the prior year by noting such on the registration form. Additionally, teams may be split up if, for example, a team manager is moving to an upper division but not all players are eligible to progress to that level. The players remaining in the lower division will be assigned to a new team.

Players should hear from a team manager on or shortly after March 6th, which is when teams will be announced. If you have not heard from a team manager by the designated date, please contact the Registrar at [email protected].

Equipment

What do we need to supply and what does the league provide?

The league provides visors and uniform tops to each girl. Your daughter will need a glove and cleats. The league provides bats and helmets for the teams' use. As your daughter progresses, she may like her own bat and helmet. Sliding shorts will come in handy and some parents have opted for face guards. Please wait for your team meeting to determine the situation with the pants and socks.

Can my daughter wear earrings and other jewelry?

No. Little League has deemed these to be safety issues. Please do not get your daughter's ears pierced prior to the softball season. Earrings will need to be removed during practice and games.

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