6pm – 8:00pm, 2 weeknights per week. There have historically been 8 teams of 10-14 players. “Games” are played at Diamonds located in the Beaverbrook area of Kanata – at Roland Michener School where there are 2 fields. Games are generally Monday through Thursday nights, 2 x per week, and may not be on consistent nights of the week. Rainouts will generally be rescheduled, sometimes on weekends. Coaches may organize additional team practices.
This is the first level of play where most baseball rules are followed. Fields have 60’ basepaths and 46’ pitching distances. Players pitch to the opposing team, scores are kept, bases can be stolen, and only 9 players take the field at a time (the coach rotates all players into defensive positions in some manner throughout the game). Umpires call the game, and a full rotational batting order is used per Little League rules. There are also pitch counts and per inning run limits. With 8 or more teams, Kanata has implemented a “tiering” to two 4 team leagues, the “Canadians”, and the “Nationals”, the main difference being the pitching distance is “relaxed” at the National level.
Also, this is the first level of play in Kanata where all Spring players are eligible to play Summer (Competitive) ball if they wish. A tryout process for this level of play will take place in mid-June, for more details see the description of Summer league.
On 2-3 weekends, coaches will run “skills clinics” for all Minor players intended to help develop individual skills. Also, there will likely be an end of year tournament or play-off day, held in mid to late June on a weekend.
Equipment
Players require running shoes, track pants or baseball pants (no shorts please), a baseball glove, a batting helmet and a jock or jill. Baseballs, bats and other appropriate equipment is supplied by the league, including a Team Jersey which is the property of the league and must be returned at the end of the season. Many players will wear baseball shoes, but it is not mandatory.