Announcement
NOTE (7/8): The time for the 10U tryout on July 18th has been changed - see below for the updated information.
NOTE (7/9): Tryout dates & times for the 12U & 14U teams have been announced - see below for details.
General Information
Maplewood and South Orange girls ages 14 & under (as of January 1, 2015) are invited to try out for the MSO Softball fall travel teams - Fall Villagers. Teams will be selected after holding competitive tryouts in June, July & August. Fall Villagers teams will be fielded in the following age groups:
8U Team (YOB 2007 and 2008)
10U Team (YOB 2005 and 2006)
12U Team (YOB 2003 and 2004)
14U Team (YOB 2001 and 2002)
Based on the initial interest that has been shown in the Fall Villagers, we are planning on fielding two teams at the 10U, 12U and 14U levels and, possibly, the 8U level. Note, the final number of teams in each age group will depend on the number of qualified players (and coaches) who attend the tryouts.
Age Groups / Playing Up
As the fall season is meant to be developmental, the plan is to have most players / teams "play up" to the age group at which they will be playing next year. So, for example, a player who has turned (or will turn) 11 during 2015 (YOB = 2004) is still eligible to play 10U, but she would play on a 12U team this fall. Likewise, a player who has turned (or will turn) 13 during 2014 (YOB = 2002) is still eligible to play 12U, but she would play on the 14U team this fall.
As the fall philosophy is to “play up” whenever possible, girls should try out for the age group at which they would play next summer (unless previously discussed with the MSO Softball Committee and Villagers coaches). Some exceptions may be made to the above "playing up" guideline based on the coaches' assessment of a player's ability during tryouts and team needs. These exceptions will be handled by the MSO Softball Committee on a case-by-case basis.
Schedule / Game Days
Most of the Fall Villagers teams will again play in the Cranford Fall Softball League (the 14U Red team may play in the Long Hill Softball League). Teams in the Cranford league play an 8-game season and all the teams will make the playoffs. Based on previous years, teams will most likely play on the following days:
8U Team - Saturday mornings
10U Team - Friday nights and Saturdays
12U Team - Thursday nights and Saturdays
14U Team - Sundays (Cranford) OR Fridays / Saturdays (Long Hill)
The specific game schedules will be announced once the teams are selected and the season begins (i.e., not before in late-August).
Tryout Schedule
This year, in order to accommodate players who attend sleep-away camp for all or part of the summer, we are trying to hold one tryout at the beginning of the summer (i.e., in June). This will not be possible for all age groups for a variety of reasons. For age groups that can not hold a tryout in June, there will still be an opportunity for players to tryout for the Fall Villagers in late-August.
Tryouts for the Fall Villagers teams will take place as shown below:
8U Team - Tryout Schedule
Head Coach: Scott Klepesch (email Coach Scott with questions)
1) Saturday, June 20th, 10:30am to 12:30pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
2) Wednesday, July 22nd, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
3) Wednesday, August 5th, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
Registration Fee of $100 is due upon selection to the team.
10U Team - Tryout Schedule
Head Coach: Dan Secor (email Coach Dan with questions)
1) Sunday, June 14th, 12:00pm to 1:30pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
2) Saturday, July 18th, 10:00am to 11:30am at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
2) Saturday, July 18th, 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
3) Monday, August 3rd, 6:00pm to 7:30pm at Maplecrest #3 (corner of Tuscan & Oakland)
Registration Fee of $100 is due upon selection to the team.
12U Team - Tryout Schedule (will be run together with the 14U tryout)
Head Coach: Brian Waldon (email Coach Brian with questions)
1) Saturday, August 1st, 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
2) Thursday, August 20th, 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
RAIN DATE: Saturday, August 22nd, 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
Registration Fee of $100 is due upon selection to the team.
14U Team - Tryout Schedule (will be run together with the 12U tryout)
Head Coach: Dave Carlson (email Coach Dave with questions)
1) Saturday, August 1st, 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
2) Thursday, August 20th, 7:00pm to 8:30pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
RAIN DATE: Saturday, August 22nd, 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Memorial #1 (corner of Oakview & Valley)
Registration Fee of $100 is due upon selection to the team.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Players should try out for the age appropriate team. If there are any questions about which age group a player should try out for, please email MSO Softball Committee to clarify.
- Players must turn in a Tryout & Commitment Form at the first tryout session. See the Handouts section of the website for this and other Fall Villager forms.
- Registration Fee of $75 and Uniform Fee of $25 are due upon selection to the team.
Questions?
Contact the MSO Softball Committee for more information.
