The following information on this page can give you a brief understanding of what our baseball program is all about. Also, please review the “Important Dates” page on our site for information about the season.

The FRAA is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to providing the children and the community with opportunities to play baseball in a safe supporting environment. Please review the FRAA Baseball League Rules for more information.  We believe that baseball, when properly coached and supervised, teaches valuable lessons in self-confidence, teamwork, fair play and competition. Baseball also encourages fitness and the development of physical skills and coordination. Most of all, baseball can be enjoyable for both the participating youth and their families.

The FRAA is a 100% volunteer organization and formally a 501(3)c non-profit organization. The people running this league and those participating in coaching baseball have only one goal in mind - teaching kids to love baseball. We depend on parents and alumni to continue the FRAA tradition. If you have the time to volunteer please contact the VP of Baseball on our Board Members page, we would greatly appreciate your help! 
 

FRAA offers several levels of youth baseball as follows:

 

Shetland League (T-Ball)

Shetland League is for players who are currently in Kindergarten or who will be in Kindergarten in the fall.

This introduction to baseball teaches the basics of the game (hitting, catching, throwing) in a relaxed environment.  Players will start the season by hitting the baseball from the tee.  As their skills develop, they will start to hit balls pitched by a coach during the last week or two of the season.

Practices/games are typically on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings.  Please note that the FRAA cannot finalize schedules until registration is closed.
 

Equipment and Uniform requirements are as follows for each player:

·     1 Baseball Glove (leather; not plastic)

·     1 Tee-Ball Rated Baseball Bat

·     1 Baseball Batting Helmet

·     Equipment Bag or Backpack

·     Water Bottle

·     Baseball Pants (typically white or gray)

·     Baseball Shoes (with rubber cleats)

Please contact our Shetland Commissioner on our Board Members page for more information.

Pinto League

Pinto League is for players who are in 1st or 2nd grade.

The Pinto league is a coach pitch league where the coaches build on the skills the players learned in the Shetland League.  Our coaches stress the importance of team play and sportsmanship while continuing to build the player's baseball knowledge.

Practices/games are typically on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.  Please note that the FRAA cannot finalize schedules until registration is closed.

Equipment and Uniform requirements are as follows for each player:

·     Heart guard chest protector

·     Youth Athletic Supporter

·     1 Baseball Glove

·     1 “USA” Stamped Baseball Bat (up to 2 5/8” barrel)

·     1 Baseball Batting Helmet (face guard is optional)

·     Equipment Bag or Backpack

·     Water Bottle

·     Baseball Pants (typically white or gray)

·     Baseball Shoes (with rubber cleats)

Please contact our Pinto Commissioner on our Board Members page for more information.

Mustang League

Mustang League is for players who are in 3rd or 4th grade.

This is the first time the kids get to pitch to each other and steal bases.  The pitching restrictions in place are designed for player safety.

Practices/games are typically on Tuesday/ Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings/afternoons.  Please note that the FRAA cannot finalize schedules until registration is closed.

Equipment and uniform requirements are as follows for each player:

·     Heart guard chest protector

·     Youth Athletic Supporter

·     1 Baseball Glove

·     1 “USA” Stamped Baseball Bat (up to 2 5/8” barrel)

·     1 Baseball Batting Helmet (face guard is optional)

·     Equipment Bag or Backpack

·     Water Bottle

·     Baseball Pants (typically white or gray)

·     Baseball Shoes (with rubber cleats)

Please contact our Mustang Commissioner on our Board Members page for more information.

Bronco League

Bronco League is for players who are in 5th or 6th grade.

At this age level players take the next step in their development towards Pony and Middle School baseball.  Our goal is still to teach good sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect for the game.

Days for practices/games can vary as teams at this level play against teams from other areas/organizations.  Please note that the FRAA cannot finalize schedules until registration is closed.

Equipment and uniform requirements are as follows for each player:

·     Heart guard chest protector

·     Youth Athletic Supporter

·     1 Baseball Glove

·     1 “USA” Stamped Baseball Bat (up to 2 5/8” barrel)

·     1 Baseball Batting Helmet (face guard is optional)

·     Equipment Bag or Backpack

·     Water Bottle

·     Baseball Pants (typically white or gray)

·     Baseball Shoes (with rubber cleats)

Please contact our Bronco Commissioner on our Board Members page for more information.

Pony League

Pony League is for players who are in 7th or 8th grade.

Days for practices/games can vary as teams at this level play against teams from other areas/organizations.  Please note that the FRAA cannot finalize schedules until registration is closed.

Equipment and uniform requirements are as follows for each player:

·     Heart guard chest protector

·     Youth Athletic Supporter

·     1 Baseball Glove

·     1 “USA” Stamped Baseball Bat (up to 2 5/8” barrel)

·     1 Baseball Batting Helmet (face guard is optional)

·     Equipment Bag or Backpack

·     Water Bottle

·     Baseball Pants (typically white or gray)

·     Baseball Shows (with rubber cleats)

Please contact our Pony League Commissioner on our Board Members page for more information.

Fall Baseball

FRAA offers a fall baseball season where kids can continue playing baseball while also getting a head start on the next spring season.  Kids will have an opportunity to move up to the next age level if they are due to move up the following spring.  The fall season makes an effort to focus more on development, while also learning the rules and honing their skills for the spring.  The season goes from beginning of September through mid-October for all age levels (i.e. Shetland, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco, and Pony).

Travel Teams

Starting at 7U and continuing through 12U, the FRAA holds tryouts for our Travel Teams at each age group.  Any current FRAA player interested in extending the summer baseball season is eligible to tryout for the tournament team. Please see “Important Dates” page on our site for tentative try-out dates and times.

Often times, we have enough players to form two teams in each age group.  This is an opportunity to play a more competitive brand of baseball, for those interested.  Additional costs will apply for those selected onto one of the teams.

These tournament teams play in competitive local tournaments against kids of the same age from other communities. ​

National Tournament Team(s)

Each year, the FRAA 12U tournament teams have the option to travel to national tournaments (i.e. Cooperstown, Cal Ripken Experience, etc.) based on the team’s interests.  This allows the kids to compete with other 12-year olds from around North America.

Many of the past players have said that Cooperstown or Cal Ripken Experience provided them their fondest memories about youth baseball. As you can imagine, sending a group of 12 players and their families to these tournaments for a week can be quite costly. You may see our players holding various fundraising events throughout the year. Please support them, if possible.

Please contact our Travel Coordinator on our Board Members page for more information.

Playing Up

Every year, we receive requests for a player to "play up" to the next league for various reasons.  The FRAA will allow this, however it will be decided by the VP of Baseball on a case-by-case basis.  Once you declare that your son or daughter wants to play up, then he or she will always be classified as a player of an older age throughout their time in the FRAA baseball program.