Recreational Baseball

WHC Baseball's priority is making Baseball fun for your baseball player and making Baseball everyone’s favorite sport.

Our biggest challenge and goal is to select the best volunteer coaches to ensure that your baseball player has a fun experience and learns the fundamentals of baseball while learning good sportsmanship and teamwork.   If that is not what your player is currently experiencing in WHC Baseball please let me know as soon as possible.

• Children have more need of example than criticism.

• Attempt to relieve the pressure of competition, not increase it. A child is easily affected by outside influences.

• Be supportive of the coach. The coach is a volunteer giving of personal time and money to provide a recreational activity for your child.

• The opponents are necessary friends without them your child could not participate.

• Applaud good plays by our team and by members of the opposing team.

• Do not openly question an official's judgment and honesty. Officials are symbols of fair play, integrity and sportsmanship.

• Accept the results of each game. Encourage your child to be gracious in victory, and to turn defeat into victory by working towards improvement.  

Our Priority is not winning baseball games in our recreation league!   It is a privilege to coach baseball with your son or daughter.

That is Western Howard County Baseball!

Director of Baseball, Darrin Stolba

Contact dstolbasr@gmail.com

Baseball Bat Rules

(Last updated: 1/21/2019)

The WHCYBSL Board of Directors have reviewed the new guidelines made by USA Baseball for age groups 12U and below for the spring 2019 season.  

The purpose of the new guidelines is to standardize the performance of all bats in the younger age groups, much like the BBCOR standards that were instilled a few years ago in the older age groups.   More information regarding the USA guidelines can be found here https://usabat.com/faq/

Based on the fact that the new USA guidelines are not related to safety issues,  

Other notes in regards to the change:

• In addition to the current bat rules which can be found in the Western Howard County Youth Baseball Coaches' Guide under each individual age group, players will also be allowed to use USA approved bats in 2019 with the following restrictions -

• Tee Ball and 6-8 leagues CANNOT use bats with a barrel size greater then 2 ¼ inches even if they are USA stamped.  USA stamped bats that are 2 ¼ inches will be allowed. 

WHC Baseball age groups 12 and up play in the Howard County Alliance.  The bat rules for each age group in the Alliance is as follows:

AGE 11/12: it shall not be more than 34” in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. All bats not made of a single piece of wood must have either a Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) stamp or a USSSA 1.15 stamp.

AGE 13/14: it shall not be more than 34 inches in length; nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, All bats not made of a single piece of wood must have either a Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) stamp or a USSSA 1.15 stamp. If the bat is using a USSSA 1.15 stamp, the bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than eight ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 32 inch bat cannot weigh less than 24 ounces). The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

AGE 15/18: it shall not be more than 36 inches in length, nor more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, and if wood, not less than fifteen-sixteenths (15/16) inches in diameter (7/8 inch for bats less than 30”) at its smallest part. The bat shall not weigh, numerically, more than three ounces less than the length of the bat (e.g., a 33-inch-Iong bat cannot weigh less than 30 ounces). ALL BATS not made of a single piece of wood shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard, and such bats shall be so labeled with a silkscreen or other permanent certification mark. The certification mark shall be rectangular, a minimum of a half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color. Aluminum and composite bats shall be marked as to their material makeup being aluminum or composite. This marking shall be silkscreen or other permanent certification mark, a minimum of one-half-inch on each side and located on the barrel of the bat in any contrasting color.

Wooden bats are permitted in league play

T-Ball FAQs

Ready to introduce your little one to baseball?  T-Ball is a great place to start!  Whether you're new to WHCYBSL or new to T-ball, here is a list of FAQs that might help.

My child will be 4 on May 1, can he/she play? 

Your child should be 4 by March 31. We can make exceptions on a case by case basis. Keep in mind the age limit is up to 6. There is a large developmental difference between the ages. 

Do you make teams based on our schools? 

Yes. We have a hierarchy in making teams. First is specific request (i.e., my child wants to be placed with Joey Doe. My child wants to be with Coach Joe). Second is by school and proximity to other teammates. Be sure your address with Howard County Rec & Parks is accurate at the time of registration. 

I live near Catonsville, can I be on a team that practices near Rt 29? 

The furthest East we have permits for is West Friendship Elementary School. 

How are practice days, times and fields determined? 

As a courtesy to our volunteer coaches, the coach determines the field, day and time that is most convenient for their schedules. Our practices are at local Howard County schools. All games are at Western Regional Park. Additional Game fields may be added to accommodate times. 

Are all games on Saturday? 

All games are held on Saturday. The games can be scheduled as early as 8am and last game is at 3pm. They last for 1 hour, or 3 innings. We try to accommodate coach requests for times. 

I have a group of 9 children. Can they be together on a team? 

Yes. We try to limit our teams to 10 children or less. The success of our league is dependent on volunteer parents. If a large amount of children request to be together, a parent should be prepared to coach. 

I tried to register and it says I am waitlisted. 

The max participation for T-Ball is 140. In recent past, we have met this requirement before March. Register early through Howard County Rec & Parks. 

If you still have questions, you can also contact our T-ball coordinator, Joey Issacs at Joeywhctball@gmail.com