Baseball

Welcome to the Oak Park Youth Baseball Program! Since the early 1980’s, we have provided players, ages 5 through 12, the opportunity to learn and love the game of Baseball in and around Oak Park, IL. In 2023 we served almost 700 players and provided them with unparalleled instruction and fun!

Our critical partnerships with the Chicago White Sox, Oak Park River Forest High School and the Park District of Oak Park have elevated the level and quality of play in each of our House League programs.

Our army of volunteer coaches, fundraisers, and administrative personnel, lead the way as we strive for transparency and fairness in all we do. We seek positive experiences for all of our players which may mean striving for excellence in skills development; understanding the game we love at a greater level; or simply forming new friendships.

OPYBS Baseball is a birthdate based league, thus all leagues are organized based upon the players league age and not school grade. OPYBS Baseball offers the following Leagues and Programs:

• T-Ball
• Pinto
• Mustang/Junior Bronco
• Shetland/Bronco
• Pony - NEW FOR 20204!
• Colt - NEW FOR 20204!
• Palomino - NEW FOR 20204!
• Oak Park Eagles Travel Program

Select the document below to view the OPYBS baseball rules.

How Teams are Made

While we can’t promise honoring teammate requests, we try to do our best at this age level. Please don’t hesitate during registration to request a teammate or two as we try to make teams have a competitive balance of kindergarten and first graders, but also based on player teammate requests. We typically are able to honor over 80 percent of requests.

Gameplay

Games are six innings with 5-run limits per inning. Games typically last between 90 and 120 minutes. Oak Park is a large community, so the skill level will be wide ranging, but coaches will focus on teaching fundamentals.

Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 4 to 6 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

While we can’t promise honoring teammate requests, we try to do our best at this age level. Please don’t hesitate during registration to request a teammate or two as we try to make teams have a competitive balance, but also based on player teammate requests. We typically are able to honor over 80 percent of requests. This is the last baseball league where teammate requests are routinely honored.



Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 4 to 6 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

Jr. Bronco teams are drafted by the Jr. Bronco coaches following the evaluations. Those players who are not selected for a Jr. Bronco team, and those players who choose not to tryout for Jr. Bronco, are automatically rostered on a Mustang team. Mustang teams are formed by taking into account age, skill level, school, and to a lesser extent, teammate requests.

Bronco Evaluations

Evaluations take place in early March over two weekends. Your player must attend at least one evaluation, and we ask that they attend both to give your player the best opportunity of being placed on the team that will advance their development. They will be evaluated on the basic skills of catching, fielding, throwing, hitting and pitching.

Gameplay

Games are six innings. Games typically last between 90 and 120 minutes. Gameplay tracks Major League Baseball rules.

Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 4 to 6 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

Bronco teams are drafted by the Bronco coaches following the evaluations. Those players who are not selected for a Bronco team, and those players who choose not to tryout for Bronco, are automatically rostered on a Shetland team. Shetland teams are formed taking into account age, skill level, school, and to a lesser extent, teammate requests.

The Dierkes Award

This award is given to a Bronco player annually. View a list of past winners.

Players born between 9/1/2009 and 8/31/2011.

Overview

NEW FOR 2024! The Pony league is comprised of 7th and 8th graders that play local games primarily at Lindberg Park as well as intra-divisional games with other Pony teams from nearby communities. The intra-divisional games are with other Pony teams in the Chicago Suburban Youth Baseball Association. Learn more about the CSYBA at www.csyba.com. Practices begin in late April and games begin in early May.

Pony Evaluations

Mandatory evaluations take place in mid-April, typically over two weekends. Your player will only need to attend one evaluation, typically separate by age level. They will be evaluated on the basic skills of catching, fielding, throwing, hitting and pitching, and the results are only used to help promote league parity when selecting teams.

Gameplay

Games are seven innings. Games typically last between 120 and 150 minutes. Gameplay generally tracks Major League Baseball rules. For local rule details and exceptions, see Local Pony Rules.

Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 6 to 8 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

Pony teams are drafted by the Pony coaches following the evaluations. Pony teams are formed taking into account age, skill level, school, and to a lesser extent, teammate requests. A primary goal for this league is competitive balance. If this is your player’s second year in the program, there is a good chance that they will not be on the same team that they were last year.

Players born between 9/1/2007 and 8/31/2009.

Overview

NEW FOR 2024! The Colt league is comprised of freshmen and sophomores who play local games primarily at Lindberg Park as well as intra-divisional games with other Colt teams from nearby communities. The intra-divisional games are with other Colt teams in the Chicago Suburban Youth Baseball Association. Learn more about the CSYBA at www.csyba.com. Practices begin in late April and games begin in early May.

Colt Evaluations

Evaluations take place in late May, typically over two weekends. Your player will need to attend only one evaluation. They will be evaluated on the basic skills of catching, fielding, throwing, hitting and pitching, and the results are only used to help promote team parity if enough players sign up to field two teams.

Gameplay

Games are seven innings. Games typically last between 120 and 150 minutes. Gameplay generally tracks Major League Baseball rules.

Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 6 to 8 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

Historically, we have fielded one to two Colt teams, depending on how many players sign up. If there are two teams for the 2024 season, the coaches will try to form squads that are equal in ability.

Palomino Evaluations

Evaluations take place in late May, typically over two weekends. Your player will need to attend only one evaluation. They will be evaluated on the basic skills of catching, fielding, throwing, hitting and pitching, and the results are only used to help promote team parity if enough players sign up to field two teams.

Gameplay

Games are seven innings. Games typically last between 120 and 150 minutes. Gameplay generally tracks Major League Baseball rules.

Time Commitment

Time commitment is approximately 4 to 6 hours/week between games and practices.

How Teams are Made

Historically, we have fielded one to two Palomino teams, depending on how many players sign up. If there are two teams for the 2024 season, the coaches will try to form squads that are equal in ability.

Our entire baseball and softball organization is composed of volunteers. Last year, our organization had over 300 volunteer coaches. The skill level of our coaches ranges from “former professional player” to “never played.” All of our volunteer coaches must pass a background check and take a Safe Sport Certification. We offer help and guidance for coaches who have little-to-no experience. Some of our very best coaches have had no experience, but are great human beings who understand what it means to be a leader and make a fun and rewarding experience for their players. Contact the VP of Baseball for more information.