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Knothole Baseball

Knothole Baseball League Information

SBSA provides recreational baseball leagues for children from the age of 5 up to high school.  We play in the North Region of the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Association and face teams from  within SBSA, the North Region and Greater Cincinnati Knothole. The season for all leagues typically starts around mid-March for practices - weather permitting - and early to mid-April for games.  Leagues typically run through the end of June, with older teams playing into July based on tournament qualification and success.

The baseball draft occurs in late February so you should hear from your coach around mid-March with information regarding your team.  If you haven't heard anything by mid-March, please email the League Coordinator for your league as listed on the SBSA Board page.  The following is a summary chart of the different recreational leagues offered by SBSA.  The child's age listed is as of May 1 of a particular season. You can request that your child "play up" a division, but decisions regarding "playing up" are made on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the League Coordinator. The SBSA Board of Directors reserves the right to make final determinations.

Scroll down to learn more about each division.

League Age Level Grade Level # Games Typical Game Days Opponents # Innings Field Configuration
Instructional 5 Pre-K 6 Saturdays SBSA N/A  
Beginning 6-7 K - 1st Grade    10 Friday SBSA 5 60' bases
D Jr 8 2nd 10 Monday SBSA 5 60' bases
45' pitching
D Sr Athletic 9 3rd 16 Tuesday, Thursday,
some Saturdays
District-wide 5 60' bases
45' pitching
D Sr Rec 9 3rd 14 Tuesday, Thursday,
some Saturdays
SBSA 5 60' bases
45' pitching
C Jr Athletic 10 4th 18 Wednesday, Saturday,
some Mondays
District-wide 5 70' bases
48' pitching
C Jr Rec 10 4th 16 Wednesday, Saturday,
some Mondays
District-wide 5 70' bases
48' pitching
C Sr Athletic 11 5th 18 Tuesday, Saturday,
some Thursdays
District-wide 5 70' bases
48' pitching
C Sr Rec 11 5th 16 Tuesday, Saturday,
some Thursdays
District-wide 5 70' bases
48' pitching
B Jr Athletic 12 6th 20 Saturday,
Wednesday,
some Mondays
District-wide 6 75' bases
51' pitching
B Jr Rec 12 6th 18 Saturday,
Wednesday,
some Mondays
District-wide 6 75' bases
51' pitching
B Sr Athletic 13 7th 20 Saturday,
Wednesday,
some Mondays
District-wide 6 80' bases
54' pitching
B Sr Rec 13 7th 18 Saturday,
Wednesday,
some Mondays
District-wide 6 80' bases
54' pitching
A Jr & A Sr
Atheltic & Rec
14-15 8th and 9th 20 Saturday, Tuesday
some Thursdays
District-wide 7 90' bases
60'6" pitching
AA  16-17 10th - 12th 15 Sunday (DH)
Thursday
City-wide 7 90' bases
60'6" pitching

Instructional and Beginning Baseball

Instructional Baseball (5U - Kindergarten/Pre-K)

League Coordinator: Beau Schuetz

The Instructional league is designed to teach 5-year-old boys and girls the fundamentals and prepare them for later participation in more advanced baseball or softball activities.  The focus is on building skills in a fun learning environment.  A combination of drills and game situations are used.  A batting tee is used for hitting to make the game easier for beginners, or players can request a coach to pitch to them.  The primary goals are to have fun and learn the game. The Instructional league is run a bit differently than the rest of the association.  Instructional clinics and games take place on Saturdays beginning on the 3rd Saturday in April.  You will be assigned a coach, but will probably not hear from that coach until late March.

The season for this league is typically 6 or 7 Saturday sessions in April and May.

Beginning Baseball Jr. (6U-7U - 1st Grade/Kindergarten)

League Coordinator:  Bryce Lindsey

Our Beginning Baseball league is designed for 6 and 7-year-olds and focuses on participation and skill development.  This league is a combination of t-ball and coach pitch. Games are typically played on Friday evenings.

Beginning Baseball Sr. (6U-7U 1st Grade/Kindergarten)

League Coordinator: Bryce Lindsey

Our Beginning Baseball league is designed for 6 and 7-year-olds and focuses on participation and skill development.  This league will be 100% coach pitch starting in 2024. Games are typically played on Friday evenings. The Sr. division is typically for players who are more skilled or who have already played both Instructional Baseball and Beginning Baseball Jr.

D Jr and D Sr Leagues

D Jr - 8U (Typically 2nd Grade)      

League Coordinator: Scott Hirsch

Our D Jr league is designed for 8-year-olds and experienced 7-year-olds, using a combination of both kid and coach pitch. D Jr SBSA teams play other SBSA teams only during the regular season, there is a year-end tournament in which SBSA teams can compete against other D Jr teams across District 4 Knothole. 

Teams that are assembled in D Jr may stay together in future years if desired by the coaches, parents, and players.  Players can request to be placed on a different team a the end of the D Jr season as well.

D Sr - 9U (Typically 3rd Grade)       

League Coordinator: Scott Hirsch

Our D Sr league is designed for 9-year-olds to prepare them for full baseball rules. All available players will play a minimum of 2 defensive innings and the team must bat the entire available roster for the entire game. The season for this league is typically from early April through the end of June. The Athletic Division will play approximately 16 games, the Recreational Division approximately 14 games.

C Jr and C Sr Leagues

C Jr & C Sr League Coordinator: Nick Reuszer

The C Jr and C Sr leagues are separate leagues for 10 year-olds (4th grade) and 11 year-olds (5th grade) and emphasize skill development and are played by regulation baseball rules as adapted by the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Baseball Association. Players will be arranged by the previous team where possible. The season for these leagues typically runs from early April through the end of June with a 16-18 game schedule. Tournament games can extend the season through mid-July.

B Jr and B Sr

League Coordinator: Nick Reuszer-BJR, Joe Farfsing-BSR

The B Jr and B Sr leagues are separate leagues for 12 year-olds (6th Grade) and 13 year-olds (7th Grade) and emphasizes skill development and are played by regulation baseball rules as adapted by the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Baseball Association. Players will be arranged by previous team where possible. The season for these leagues typically run from early April through the end of June with an 18-20 game schedule. Tournament games can extend the season through mid-July.

A Jr and A Sr Leagues

League Coordinator: Joe Farfsing

The A Jr and A Sr leagues are usually a combined league for 13/14 and 14/15 year-old players with a 20 game schedule and is played by regulation baseball rules as adapted by the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Baseball Association. Players will be arranged by previous team where possible. The season for this league typically runs from mid May through the end of June. Tournament games can extend the season through mid-July.

AA League

League Coordinator: Steve Ferguson

The AA league is a separate league for older players in high school (16-18) played by regulation baseball rules as adapted by the Greater Cincinnati Knothole Baseball Association. Teams play a 20 to 24 game schedule from mid May through the end of June. Tournament games can extend the season through mid-July.

SBSA does not hold a draft or create teams since teams are player-coach formed. We do collect registrations from players who are looking for teams and will distribute these among existing teams. SBSA does facilitate the formation of AA teams but has no authority to assign players to existing teams.