2023 Fastpitch Softball at SMLL

Sierra Mountain Wildflowers

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.

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.

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.

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

  1. Rescheduled game ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  2. 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

  3. 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