2025 Fastpitch Softball at SMLL
This page describes the 20251 spring softball season at SMLL.
Interleague Divisions
Minors AA/Lower Player Pitch/8U
| Interleague division | 8U |
| Ages | 6-8 |
| Ball | 11” standard softball |
| Pitch Distance | 35’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
| Game Times | 60 minutes or 6 innings 2 |
Minors AA is a learning division where young girls with some experience and growing strength build a stronger understanding of game strategy and position-oriented skills. We encourage coaches to rotate players through all positions throughout the season.
This is a player pitch division. Coaches should begin teaching girls to throw a fastpitch from the very beginning of the season, and teams should approach early games with extra patience as all teams will be developing brand new pitchers.
6-year-olds should have spent a season in tee ball before joining softball. Otherwise, we encourage them to play tee ball or coach-pitch baseball first. They will need to attend an assessment day and have coach approval before joining Minors AA.
Minors AA Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire
- Defensive coaches are allowed and encouraged to be on the field during game play to instruct their players
- Optional 4th outfielder may be provided to create a 10th defensive player
- Bunting is not allowed
- Infield fly rule will not be applied
- Stealing is not allowed
- Runners may lead-off at release of pitched ball
- 5-run limit per team per inning
Minors AA Pitching
- After 4 balls, defensive coach will pitch remaining strikes; all coach pitches are strikes
- Batter hit by pitch once results in ball; batter hit by pitch twice in same at-bat results in award of 1st base
Minors AA Lead-offs
By interleague consent, lead-off rules follow those of regular Little League Majors softball:
Rule 7.08(a)(5)(a)
Major/Junior Divisions:
“Any runner is out when… the runner fails to keep contact with the base to which that runner
is entitled until the ball has been released by the pitcher on the delivery.”
Note the difference from Minors softball:
Rule 7.08(a)(5)(b)
Minor League:
“Any runner is out when… the runner fails to keep in contact with the base
to which that runner is entitled until the ball has been batted or reaches the batter.”
Minors AAA/Upper Player Pitch/10U
| Interleague division | 10U |
| Ages | 9-10 |
| Ball | 11” standard softball |
| Pitch Distance | 35’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
| Game Times | 90 minutes or 6 innings 2 |
Minors AAA is our transition division, where girls begin to play with nearly all the regular rules of fastpitch softball.
Minors AAA Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5-run limit per team per inning
- Infield fly rule will be applied
Minors AAA Stealing
By interleague consent, stealing rules follow those of regular Little League Majors softball:
Rule 7.08(a)(5)(a)
Major/Junior Divisions:
“Any runner is out when… the runner fails to keep contact with the base to which that runner
is entitled until the ball has been released by the pitcher on the delivery.”
Note the difference from Minors softball:
Rule 7.08(a)(5)(b)
Minor League:
“Any runner is out when… the runner fails to keep in contact with the base
to which that runner is entitled until the ball has been batted or reaches the batter.”
Majors/12U
| Interleague division | 12U |
| Ages | 11-12 |
| Ball | 12” standard |
| Pitch Distance | 40’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
| Game Times | 90 minutes or 6 innings 2 |
Our Majors division has the full Little League Majors softball rules.
Rule highlights that become effective in Majors:
- Uncaught 3rd strike rule
- Infield fly rule
Majors Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5-run limit per team per inning
Majors Stealing
Stealing rules follow those of regular Little League Majors softball: stay on base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. In the rulebook’s words:
Rule 7.08(a)(5)(a)
Major/Junior Divisions:
“Any runner is out when… the runner fails to keep contact with the base to which that runner
is entitled until the ball has been released by the pitcher on the delivery.”
Juniors/14U
| Interleague division | 14U |
| Ages | 12-14 |
| Ball | 12” standard |
| Pitch Distance | 43’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
| Game Times | 90 minutes or 6 innings 2 |
Juniors Ground Rules
- 40 foot pitch distance may be used if a pitching rubber is not available at 43 feet
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- Use Little League run rules: 15 runs @ inning 4, 10 @ 5, 8 @ 6
Nearby Leagues
SMLL’s nearest competitors for interleague play are, from nearest to farthest:
- Yosemite Little League (aka YLL)3
- Midweek games are played at Spring Valley Elementary School: Rd 200, O’Neals, CA 93645
- Saturday games are played at Minarets High School: Rd 200, O’Neals, CA 93645
- Mariposa Girls Softball (aka MGS)3
- Games are played at Mariposa County High School: 5074 Old Hwy N, Mariposa, CA 95338
Madera National Little League (aka Madera)
Sunnyside Little League (aka Sunnyside)
Schedules
Please see our softball schedules page for game times and live scores.
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For our first year, see 2023 Softball. For our 2nd year, see 2024 Softball. ↩
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For game limits in marked divisions, no new inning is started after the time or inning limit is reached. Once an inning has started, it must be finished regardless of time unless the home team is ahead. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4
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MGS, SMLL, and YLL worked in close partnership to create an interleague game schedule this season. ↩ ↩2