A closer look at youth baseball/youth softball in the Queen City – and some tips from the NH Dunk-n-Diamonds, a group of longtime officials and coaches for youth baseball and softball’s present boards of directors, youth baseball and softball coaches, and espcially the parents of kids in youth baseball and softball.
PART 1
THE FACTS:
BASEBALL
In the ’70s (5), ’80s (4), and ’90s (4), Manchester’s three public high schools reached the finals in Division 1 baseball 13 times, winning the state title in seven of them.
No Manchester public high school has appeared in a Division 1 baseball final since 2006.
SOFTBALL
In the ’70s (1), ’80s (4), ’90s (2), and ’00s (1), Manchester’s three public high schools reached the finals in Division 1 softball 8 times, winning the state title in five of them.
No Manchester public high school has appeared in a Division 1 softball final since 2006. Central has NEVER appeared in a D1 final.
Before you continue reading, I want to be blunt: It’s taken me a long time to come to some degree of acceptance of the present state of youth baseball and softball in Manchester.
After spending most of my adult life involved in some way with baseball and more recently with softball after the birth of our granddaughters, I have to admit two very important things have changed:
- Manchester’s reputation as the “Capital of Youth Baseball in the Northeast” is done, finis, over!
AND
- it will never return for a variety of reasons, too many to attempt to review right now.
Additionally, for a variety of reasons, girls’ softball has always taken a back seat to boys’ baseball and for that reason alone, it never had a chance to be the softball capital.
The fact that both public high school baseball and public high school softball now have to combine schools to be able to have enough players to field a team, pretty much guarantees the word “title town” will never again be placed beside Manchester as far as sports are concerned.
However, I DO want to emphasize that this “change” doesn’t mean that youth baseball or youth softball’s Boards of Directors will reduce their collective effort to provide our city’s youth with the same attention and dedication that was given to previous generations.
Good, effective, successfully-run youth baseball and youth softball programs are the products of good, effective, successfully-run boards of directors.
Based on what I’ve seen that has been put together by Alan Beauchemin and the Board of Directors at Manchester NH Little League, youth baseball is on the right track to providing the feeder systems that baseball needs.
Because of what I saw with MLL’s BOD, I am going to contact other boards in both youth baseball and softball and complete a story on the breakdown and explanation of a BOD and its importance.
That said, it wasn’t until I passed a sign on the corner of Lake Avenue and Mammoth Road that caught my attention – it was a reminder for interested parents to sign their sons or daughters up for Cal Ripken Baseball and I soon realized that it also meant that softball would also be on the sports “menu.”
That sign and what it signified made the choice of topic for inclusion in this week’s MIL, one that is more pertinent because player tryouts and registration have already started.
Because signing up is of greater urgency, I want to focus on the PARENTS because they either already have been or soon will be involved with the selection of the league in which their sons and daughters will play…and choosing the right one IS important … VERY important.
FOR YOU PARENTS:
Depending on your son or daughter’s age, you’ve probably already signed him/her up to play baseball this spring. That said, here are some questions you hopefully answered before you selected the league.
If you haven’t selected a league yet, then answering them is a must.
1. What is your son or daughter’s level of interest in playing baseball or softball?
A. extreme B. moderate C. minimal D. unknown
If you chose A or B…keep going.
If you chose C, you should probably look for another sport…or ask why there’s little interest.
If D, play catch with him/her, watch the movie “Sandlot” with him/her then ask if baseball looks like fun. If the answer’s Yes, keep going.
If the answer’s No, look for another sport.
2. What is your son or daughter’s level of talent”?
A. above average B. average C. below average D. unknown
If you select A, unless you were an above average baseball player yourself, get another opinion from someone who was an above average player to be sure your assessment is correct. Depending on what type of league exists around you that is NOT travel ball, if your son/daughter is that good and you can afford it, a closer look is important because the level of the coaching will be very important as will the level of competition.
If you select B or C, the level of coaching will again be very important. A coach can’t teach what he/she doesn’t know. An above average coach can help an average or below average player to get to the next level. A below average coach won’t. If you’re not sure about the coaching, ask around…especially talk to those who’ve been there.
3. What is the skill level of coaching in the baseball/softball league where he/she will be playing?
A. above average B. average C. below average D. unknown
If you select A, stay where you are. If you select B or C and you were an above average player, but can’t afford travel ball, volunteer your help/skills. If possible, join the Board of Directors of that league. If you select D, definitely talk to people who been associated with the league.
4. What is the level of operation of the league where he/she will be playing?
A. above average B. average C. below average D. unknown
If you select A, again, stay where you are. If you select B or C, whether it’s by coaching or by doing something else, volunteer to help the league improve. If you select D, do your homework.
5. What is your ability to pay the fee for your son/daughter’s chance to play?
A. above average B. average C. below average D. unknown
If you select A (or, in some instances B), the talent your son or daughter possesses will help you determine the “where.” The level of coaching and player competition must also be considered.
You may want to take a good HARD look at travel ball. Good coaching will definitely improve a player’s skills, as will the level of competition…but it won’t come cheap!
THREE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH No. 5.
FIRST, though your son/daughter may have been told that he/she is a D1 athlete, the overwhelming number of players who’ve been told that…AREN’T. D1 is extremely difficult to reach and is very demanding. Research a couple D1 programs and find out for yourself. And be sure your son or daughter definitely IS a D1 athlete.
SECOND, if you pick A or B, be sure you can afford it. You need to understand that the total cost is more than for the player. It doesn’t cover hotel stays for tournaments. You also need to add travel costs, and eating, all of which will add to the cost SUBSTANTIALLY.
THIRD, Travel ball will definitely give your son or daughter greater exposure, especially to college coaches who often attend the Showcases. However, travel ball can be very demanding and time consuming. If the school year is still going, be sure your son or daughter has time for both and can do well with both.
If you select B or D, pick the best of what’s available.
If your son or daughter is a very talented athlete who plays for his/her school only, college coaches will recognize that and remember, the coach of his/her team is often in touch with college coaches.
STILL NOT SURE?
If you haven’t decided yet, hopefully, the following explanation of each of Manchester’s Youth Baseball leagues will help. Depending on how you answered the above questions, the information below will help you with your decision-making.
MANCHESTER’S YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUES
Information includes the name of the league, player age, cost per player, cuts made, and coach average salary
Little League 4–13
Three leagues:
- Central (Cen)
- Manchester LL (MLL)
- North-Hooksett (N-H)
- T-Ball 4-6, $50 (Cen & MLL)/$100 (N-H), No, NA ,- Volunteers
- Coach Pitch 6-8, $75 (Cen & MLL)/ $100 (N-H), No, NA – Volunteers
- Minors 8-11, $75 (Cen & MLL)/$175 (N-H), No, NA – Volunteers
- Majors 10-12, $75, (Cen & MLL)/$175 (N-H), No, NA – Volunteers
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Central Ara Tamazarian 603-512-5529 aratamzar@aol.com
N-H NMHLL@Yahoo.com
Pony League
- Pony 13-14, $125, Possible, NA, Volunteers
- Colt 15-16 $150 Possible, NA – Volunteers
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Doreen Berendes 603-2052320
Steve Fosman President manchestercoltleague@gmail.com
Cal Ripken Player Age Cost per player Cuts Made Coach average salary
- T-ball 4-6, $50, Possible, NA – Volunteers
- Rookie 6-8, $65, Possible, NA – Volunteers
- Minor 9-10, $105, Possible, NA – Volunteers
- Major 11-12, $105, Possible, NA – Volunteers
FOR MORE INFORMATION PlayerAgent@manchestercalripken.org
Babe Ruth
- 13-16, $150-175, Possible, NA – Volunteers
FOR MORE INFORMATION
TRAVEL BB
NHR Prospects 10-18, $3,000-6,000, Yes, *Salary
FOR MORE INFORMATION preston@prospectsathletics.com
NH Bobcats 10-18 $2,150-3,150; Yes, *Salary
FOR MORE INFORMATION Info@nhbobcats.com
Cannons 11-14 $1,000-3,000, Yes *Salary
FOR MORE INFORMATION preston@prospectsathletics.com
Granite Heat 10-18, $1,700, Yes *Salary
FOR MORE INFORMATION Spencer Galloway or Brian Ernst graniteheat.org
NH Grizzlies 7-12, $2,000-3,000, Yes *Salary
FOR MORE INFORMATION Instagram @grizzliesbc
NUMBER OF GAMES – can vary from 25 to 60 or more (and 2-3 practices per week and 3-5 games in week-end tournaments)
LENGTH OF THE SEASON – can run 4-8 months and involves weekend tournaments
* The average salary for a New Hampshire Travel BB Coach is $36,400-$43,000
MANCHESTER’S YOUTH SOFTBALL LEAGUES
MANCHESTER LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL
- CHALLENGERS DIVISION – 4-18 – adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical or intellectual challenges.
- BUDDY SYSTEM
- ASAPTIVE PLAY
- NON-COMPETITIVE FOCUS
- RULES CUSTOMIZATION
- INCLUSION
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT Rob Rastelli – rob.rastelli@gmail.com OR president@mnhll.com
MANCHESTER GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE (AGES 4-18) – PADDEN FIELD
5 DIVISION 22 TEAMS (200 GIRLS) RECREATIONAL AND FAST PITCH
- MINIS 4-7 *, INTRODUCTORY, $65, volunteers
- MITES 7-8 *, focuses on foundational skills, $65
- MINORS 9-10 *, INTERMEDIATE, $65
- JUNIORS 11-14 *, ADVANCED, INTERMEDIATE, $65
- SENIORS 15-18 *, HIGHEST (for older players), $65
*may move up or down
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED – 12-15
SEASON LENGTH – APRIL- END OF JUNE
FOR MORE INFORMATIOM – mgslnh.com
* MANCHESTER JUNIOR DEB SOFTBALL HAS CEASED OPERATION.
SOFTBALL TRAVEL TEAMS
NH COMETS10U-18U $600-1,200, younger, less intensive teams salaried; $2,000 – 3,000 – older, showcase teams
Costs cover team fees, uniforms, indoor winter training, and coaching, but don’t cover travel expenses like hotels
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED – 25-40
SEASON LENGTH – MID MAY TO EARLY JULY
FOR MORE INFORMATIOM – president@nhcomets.org
NH LIGHTNING 10-18, $1,500, salaried
Cost covers tournaments, insurance, indoor training, coaching
Focuses on skill development – year round training and tournaments
TOTAL GAMES PLAYED – 40-50+
SEASON LENGTH – MAY TO LATE JULY
FOR MORE INFORMATIOM – nhlightningpresident@gmail.com
NEW ENGLAND PROSPECTS SOFTBALL CLUB
TEAMS 8U-18U, $1,600-3,000 (ESTIMATED), salaried
Year-round training
SEASON LENGTH – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER) THROUGH JUNE/AUGUST
NATIONAL TEAM – 13U-18U
5-16 TOURNAMENTS/SHOWCASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION – info@nhprospectssoftball.com
* The average salary for travel softball coaches in NH range from $38,700 to $40,400
* Information taken from Google Search
Ted Menswar Jr. is a life-long resident of the Queen City and a retired member of the English Department of Memorial High School who has been involved in local sports for 70 years as a player, a coach, a mentor and a fan. He can be reached at tedmenswar@outlook.com