2023 Fastpitch Softball at SMLL
Divisions
6U/Coach Pitch/Minors A
| Ages | 5-6 (in general) |
| Ball | 11” soft/reduced impact force |
| Pitch Distance | 25’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
6U is our learning division where the youngest girls have a chance to discover the fundamentals of playing the game. They’ll learn how to throw, catch, run the bases, and hit. Players should spend a season in tee ball before joining softball.
This is strictly a coach-pitch division. Coaches will throw to their own players.
PLEASE NOTE: The rules below are a work in progress. We may revise them as we go through the 2023 season.
6U Ground Rules
- Only 1 extra base on an overthrow
- No stealing
- Parent or coach as umpire
- Defensive coaches are allowed and encouraged to be on the field during game play to instruct their players
- Batters may use a tee at the coach’s discretion, but it is not encouraged. Players should be learning to hit a thrown pitch.
8U/Player Pitch/Minors AA
| Ages | 7-8 (in general) |
| Ball | 11” soft/reduced impact force |
| Pitch Distance | 25’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
8U 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 coach-to-player pitch division. In the 1st 1/3 of the season, coaches or a machine will throw pitches to batters. In the 2nd 1/3, players will throw for their own teammates. In the final 1/3, competitors will pitch against the other team.
PLEASE NOTE: The rules below are a work in progress. We may revise them as we go through the 2023 season.
8U Ground Rules
- Only 1 extra base on an overthrow
- No stealing
- 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
- 5 run limit per team per inning
8U Pitching
1st third of the season:
- Coaches will pitch to their own players
- Coaches may throw from a standing position or sitting on a ball bucket
2nd third of the season:
- Offense will pitch to their own players
- 5 balls per batter
- 3 strikes per batter
- After 3 walked batters, player pitching should rotate out
3rd third of the season:
- Defense will pitch to opposing players
- 5 balls per batter
- 3 strikes per batter
- After 3 walked batters, player pitching should rotate out
All season:
- 8 pitches max per hitter
- Batters can run when fouling off a 3rd-strike hit
- No outs are called on a 3rd strike; player simply returns to the dugout
- Half-inning ends when all players have played through the lineup, defense causes 3 fielded outs, or 5 runs are scored
8U Stealing
Stealing is not permitted in 8U.
Once a ball is in the pitcher’s control, a runner may not leave their base until a batter hits the ball into fair territory.
10U/Minors AAA
| Ages | 9-10 |
| Ball | 11” standard softball |
| Pitch Distance | 35’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
10U is our transition division, where girls begin to play strictly by the rules of softball.
In 2023, this is a coach-to-player pitch division. Our goal this year is to develop reliable pitchers so that next season we can start the year with a full season of player-only pitching. In the 1st 1/3 of the season, coaches will throw pitches to batters. In the 2nd 1/3, players will throw for their own teammates. In the final 1/3, competitors will pitch against the other team. Pitching and batting rules are otherwise the same.
PLEASE NOTE: The rules below are a work in progress. We may revise them as we go through the 2023 season.
10U Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5 run limit per team per inning
10U Pitching
1st third of the season:
- Coaches will pitch to their own players
- Coaches may throw from a standing position or sitting on a ball bucket
2nd third of the season:
- Offense will pitch to their own players
- After 3 walked batters, player pitching should rotate out
3rd third of the season:
- Defense will pitch to opposing players
- After 3 walked batters, player pitching should rotate out
10U Stealing
Stealing rules follow those of regular Little League Minors softball.
Once a ball is under the control of the pitcher, runners may not leave their base until the next pitch is thrown and the ball reaches the batter.
12U/Majors
| Ages | 11-12 |
| Ball | 12” standard |
| Pitch Distance | 40’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
12U is our Majors division, with full Little League Majors softball rules.
12U Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5 run limit per team per inning
Stealing
Stealing rules follow those of regular Little League Majors softball.
Once a ball is under the control of the pitcher, runners may not leave their base until the next pitched ball has been released by the pitcher.
14U/Juniors
Coming in the 2023-2024 season
| Ages | 13-14 |
| Ball | 12” standard |
| Pitch Distance | 43’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
14U Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5 run limit per team per inning
16U/Seniors
Coming in the 2023-2024 season
| Ages | 15-16 |
| Ball | 12” standard |
| Pitch Distance | 43’ |
| Base Distance | 60’ |
16U Ground Rules
- Parent or coach may serve as umpire if no official is available
- 5 run limit per team per inning
Nearby Leagues
SMLL’s nearest competitors for interleague play are, from nearest to farthest:
- Yosemite Little League (aka YLL)
- 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 MGSL)
- 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)
2023 Schedules
This is a quick reference. Please see published schedules for official times.
April May
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 1 2 3 4 5 6
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
23 24 25 26 27 28 29 28 29 30 31 1 2 3
30
Significant dates:
- April 9: Easter
- April 3-10: MHS spring break
- April 17-21: BLSD spring break
- May 29: Memorial Day
- June 1: MHS last day of school
- June 8: BLSD last day of school
School Calendars: Bass Lake School District, Mountain Home School
6U: 2 teams
Game Times: 60 minutes
- Fridays: 4:30-5:30pm
- Saturdays: 9:00-10:00am
Location: SMLL Minors field
| Date | Day | Game | Visitor | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 29 | Sat | 1 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
| May 5 | Fri | 2 | 6U Kilgore | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco |
| May 6 | Sat | 3 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
| May 13 | Sat | 5 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
| May 18 | Thu | 6 | 6U Kilgore | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco |
| May 20 | Sat | 7 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
| May 22 | Mon | 4 | 6U Kilgore | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco 1 |
| May 27 | Sat | 9 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
| May 29 | Mon | 8 | 6U Kilgore | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco 1 |
| June 2 | Fri | 10 | 6U Kilgore | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco |
| June 3 | Sat | 11 | 6U Sweet Peas / Nolasco | 6U Kilgore |
8U: 2 teams
Game Times: 60 minutes or 6 innings 2
- Thursdays: 4:30-5:30pm
- Saturdays: 12:30-1:30pm
| Date | Day | Game | Time | Round | Visitor | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27 | Thu | 1 | 4:30 PM | 1 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino |
| April 29 | Sat | 2 | 12:30 PM | 1 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | 8U Poppies / Tompkins |
| May 6 | Sat | 4 | 10:00 AM | I1 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | MGSL A 3 |
| May 6 | Sat | 5 | 11:30 AM | I1 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | MGSL B 3 |
| May 9 | Tue | 3 | 4:30 PM | 2 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino 1 |
| May 12 | Fri | 6 | 4:30 PM | 2 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | 8U Poppies / Tompkins 1 |
| May 13 | Sat | 7 | 12:30 PM | 3 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino |
| May 19 | Fri | 8 | 4:30 PM | 3 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | 8U Poppies / Tompkins |
| May 20 | Sat | 9 | 10:00 AM | I2 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | MGSL B 3 |
| May 20 | Sat | 10 | 11:30 AM | I2 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | MGSL A 3 |
| May 25 | Thu | 11 | 4:30 PM | 4 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino |
| May 27 | Sat | 12 | 10:00 AM | I3 | 8U Poppies / Tompkins | MGSL A 3 |
| May 27 | Sat | 13 | 11:30 AM | I3 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | MGSL B 3 |
| May 30 | Tue | 14 | 4:30 PM | 4 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | 8U Poppies / Tompkins |
| June 1 | Thu | 15 | 4:30 PM | 5 | 8U Buttercups / Cosentino | 8U Poppies / Tompkins 1 |
10U: 1 team
Game Times: 90 minutes or 6 innings 2
- Thursdays: 6:00-7:30pm @ SMLL Minors or Spring Valley Elementary
- Saturdays @ Home & Minarets: 10:30-12:00pm
| Date | Day | Game | Time | Round | Visitor | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 29 | Sat | 2 | 10:30 AM | 1 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U (playing at SMLL) |
| May 6 | Sat | 4 | 1:00 PM | 2 | YLL 10U | Sierra Wildflowers 10U 3 |
| May 11 | Thu | 5 | 6:00 PM | 3 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U |
| May 13 | Sat | 6 | 10:30 AM | 3 | YLL 10U | Sierra Wildflowers 10U |
| May 16 | Tue | 1 | 6:00 PM | 1 | YLL 10U | Sierra Wildflowers 10U 1 |
| May 18 | Thu | 7 | 6:00 PM | 4 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U |
| May 20 | Sat | 8 | 1:00 PM | 4 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U 3 |
| May 23 | Tue | 3 | 6:00 PM | 2 | YLL 10U | Sierra Wildflowers 10U 1 |
| May 25 | Thu | 9 | 6:00 PM | 5 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U |
| May 27 | Sat | 10 | 10:00 AM | 5 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | MGSL 10U+12U 3 |
| June 1 | Thu | 11 | 6:00 PM | 6 | YLL 10U | Sierra Wildflowers 10U |
| June 3 | Sat | 12 | 10:30 AM | 6 | Sierra Wildflowers 10U | YLL 10U |
12U: 1 team
Game Times: 90 minutes or 6 innings 2
- Fridays: 6:00-7:30pm @ SMLL Minors or Spring Valley Elementary
- Saturdays @ Home: 2:00-3:30pm
- Saturdays @ Minarets: 1:00-2:30pm
- Saturdays @ Mariposa: 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
| Date | Day | Time | Game | Round | Visitor | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 28 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 1 | 1 | YLL 12U | Sierra Wildflowers 12U |
| April 29 | Sat | 2:00 PM | 2 | 1 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | YLL 12U (playing at SMLL) |
| May 5 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 3 | 2 | YLL 12U | Sierra Wildflowers 12U |
| May 6 | Sat | 10:00 AM | 4 | 101 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U1 3 |
| May 6 | Sat | 12:00 PM | 5 | 101 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U2 3 |
| May 12 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 6 | 2 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | YLL 12U |
| May 19 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 7 | 3 | YLL 12U | Sierra Wildflowers 12U |
| May 20 | Sat | 10:00 AM | 8 | 102 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U2 3 |
| May 20 | Sat | 12:00 PM | 9 | 102 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U1 3 |
| May 26 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 10 | 3 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | YLL 12U |
| May 27 | Sat | 12:00 PM | 11 | 4 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U1 3 |
| May 27 | Sat | 2:00 PM | 12 | 4 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | MGSL 12U2 3 |
| June 2 | Fri | 6:00 PM | 13 | 5 | YLL 12U | Sierra Wildflowers 12U |
| June 3 | Sat | 1:00 PM | 14 | 5 | Sierra Wildflowers 12U | YLL 12U |
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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
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Game hosted at the Mariposa Girls Softball League fields. Times TBD. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15