Eagles Baseball - 2012

Since 1965, Eagles Youth Sports, Inc. has provided a successful competitive baseball environment to the youth within our territory. We compete in the Arapahoe Youth League (AYL), and provide a complete baseball experience to youth ages 6 to 14.

 AYL is a geographically based league, with 9 member clubs primarily in the South Denver metro area.  AYL offers 5 different levels of competition (discussed below) so that players can compete against teams with similar levels of experience, ability, and commitment.

For its developmental baseball program, Eagles does not use drafts following tryouts to assign players to teams.  Existing teams from other leagues which do use drafts/tryouts who want to continue to play together rather than being broken up by a draft may do so through Eagles.

Levels of Play

AYL offers both developmental and competitive levels of play.  There are subdivisions within each level to match players of similar ability, commitment and experience.

DEVELOPMENTAL BASEBALL

Developmental baseball is offered for ages 6 through 14.  This level of play is considered to be more competitive than most recreational programs and locally based Little Leagues. It is split into two divisions.

Developmental Baseball – A Division:  For newer or less experienced baseball players.

Developmental Baseball – AA Division: For experienced baseball players who are looking for stronger competition than locally based leagues offer, but who are not quite ready for or interested in the competitive league commitment.

The A and AA Divisions are exclusive, meaning AA Division teams will only play against other AA Division teams; and A Division teams only play against other A Division teams.  Similarly, each division is grouped by age, so teams are playing with and against players of the same age.  A player’s age is determined as of May 1.  For example, to play at the 10 year old level in 2012, a player must not turn 11 years of age until after May 1, 2012.

Number of Games Teams in both the A and AA Divisions play a 14 game schedule. Games are played on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday (Sunday games are typically scheduled after 12:00 noon).  

Duration of Regular Season The regular season runs from early April through mid-June, followed by playoffs.  No games will be scheduled on Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day or Memorial Day weekend.  Practices typically begin the first week of March.  Eagles provides practice fields for its teams.

Post-season Playoffs and World Series. All teams in the A and AA Divisions will play in a double elimination playoff against teams in their own division culminating in the World Series.  Playoff games will begin in mid – late June, 2012, with the World Series championship games played in July after the 4th of July holiday.  No games will be played July 1 – 4, 2012.

Optional Pre-season Exhibition Tournament. The AYL offers pre-season Memorial Tournament that is voluntary with no standings or champion.  The intent of this tournament is to provide an opportunity for teams to play 3 pre-season games with umpires prior to the start of regular season games.  These tournament games will likely be played in mid-March, 2012.

COMPETITIVE BASEBALL

Competitive baseball is offered for highly dedicated players ages 8 through 14. This is the highest level of play, and AYL offers some of the most competitive youth baseball in the Denver Metro Area.  Competitive teams often play multiple tournaments in addition to the league schedule.

Teams are formed by coaches, and players must be invited on to a roster by a coach.  Coaches interested in forming a competitive team or players interested in playing at the competitive baseball level through Eagles should contact Eagles VP of Baseball, baseball@eaglesyouthsports.org. Note that payment for the 2012 AYL AAA/Majors season is required to AYL in early February, 2012.

The competitive League is broken down further into 3 divisions: 
  • Majors
  • AAA 
  • AA Continental

Number of Games. Competitive league teams play an 18-game league schedule

Week Night Games. Majors, AAA and AA Continental teams play their scheduled games during week nights to permit tournament play on weekends.

Duration of Season. The season runs from mid-April through late June.

Pre-season AYL Seeding Tournament. A pre-season tournament may be held to determine the composition of the Majors and AAA divisions.  The Majors division is the highest level.  Teams that participate in the pre-season tournament and do not qualify for the Majors will be placed in the AAA division.  For ages 11 and up, the AAA division will be limited to 10 teams.  Teams who do not qualify for Majors or AAA divisions, or teams who do not participate in the seeding tournament, will be placed in the AA Continental division.  Seeding tournament dates are typically early March.

AA Continental. This division is for competitive teams consisting of players 11 years old or older that are not quite ready to play with the Majors or AAA division teams, but who want to play their games during week nights to permit tournament play on weekends.

Post Season Playoffs and World Series. The top 4 teams in the Majors, AAA and AA Continental divisions will participate in a single elimination playoff against teams in their division culminating in the World Series for each division.

Eagles Youth Sports, Inc. requires a BIRTH CERTIFICATE, PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WAIVER & MEDICAL RELEASE to be signed prior to registration completion and player participation.

Scholarships

We are committed to making Eagles Youth Sports available to all players. We are proud to offer a limited number of partial and full baseball scholarships, which are based solely on demonstrated need. Please contact an individual on our Scholarship Committee for additional information. Our Scholarship Committee information is located on our “Officers, Directors & Committees” page under About Us