2024 Fastpitch Softball at SMLL

Sierra Mountain Wildflowers

This page describes the 2024 spring softball season at SMLL. For our first year, see 2023 Softball

Divisions

8U/Player Pitch/Minors

Ages 6-8 (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.

11U/Majors

Ages 9-12
Ball 12” standard
Pitch Distance 35’ or 40’
Base Distance 60’

11U is our 2024 Majors division, with full Little League Majors softball rules.

11U 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.

15U/Juniors

Ages 13-15
Ball 12” standard
Pitch Distance 40’ or 43’
Base Distance 60’

15U 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)

2024 Schedules

This is a quick reference. Please see published schedules for official times.

     March 2024            April 2024             May 2024
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa  Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                1  2      1  2  3  4  5  6            1  2  3  4
 3  4  5  6  7  8  9   7  8  9 10 11 12 13   5  6  7  8  9 10 11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16  14 15 16 17 18 19 20  12 13 14 15 16 17 18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23  21 22 23 24 25 26 27  19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30  28 29 30              26 27 28 29 30 31
31

Significant dates:

  • March 25-April 1: Mountain Home School (MHS) spring break
  • March 31: Easter
  • April 1-7: Chawanakee spring break
  • April 15-21: Bass Lake School District (BLSD) spring break
  • May 25-27: Memorial Day weekend
  • June 6: MHS & Mariposa last day of school
  • June 12: BLSD last day of school

School Calendars: Bass Lake School District, Mountain Home School

8U: 4 teams

Game Times: 60 minutes or 6 innings 1
Locations: SMLL, OCI Field 2
General schedule:

  • Tues: 5:30pm @ SMLL or OCI
  • Thurs: 5:30pm @ SMLL or OCI
  • Sat: 10am @ SMLL or OCI

11U: 4 teams

Game Times: 90 minutes or 6 innings 1
Locations: SMLL softball, YHS Varsity & JV, Wasuma Upper
General schedule:

  • Tues: 6pm @ SMLL or YHS
  • Thurs: 6pm @ SMLL or YHS
  • Sat: 10am @ SMLL, YHS, or Wasuma

15U: 2 teams

Game Times: 90 minutes or 6 innings 1
Locations: SMLL softball, YHS Varsity & JV
General schedule:

  • Thurs: 6pm @ SMLL or YHS
  • Sat: 10am @ SMLL or YHS

  1. 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