Wilton Softball is pleased to offer a summer recreational season for girls born between 2007 and 2012. The season will begin immediately after the Fourth of July weekend and will run through the first weekend in August. If there is a significant interest among players and coaches, the program many continue into August. We understand that many families will be away for parts of the schedule, but would still encourage those interested to sign up. We’re very happy to be back on the field and will be happy to see your player when she can make it.

The program will offer a game each Saturday and a number of instructional clinics during the week. The times and format of the games will depend on our registration numbers. We may have enough players to form standing teams or may just play a pick-up game for each age group. 

Final plans have not been established, but our goal would be to provide 6+ clinics over the month of July. These clinics would offer instruction in skills such as: Batting & Bunting, Baserunning & Sliding and Pitching and provide specialized instruction for different positions such as Catcher or Middle Infield.

We will be playing under town-approved safety guidelines designed to maintain sanitation and social distancing. The full document is posted on the Wilton Softball website. Parents will have to sign an additional pandemic-related waiver. Coaches will provide a safety briefing for both players and parents before the first game and the first clinic and will continue to coach players on safety.

The safety guideline prohibits the sharing of equipment, so each player must use her own bat, glove, helmet and fielding mask. Catching equipment may be shared, but only after undergoing a thorough sanitizing process. If you do not have all of the above equipment, you do not need to purchase it for the summer season. We have enough equipment in stock to lend you the necessary equipment for the entire season. You will sign for it at the beginning of the season, bring it to and from events, and then return it at the end of the season.

The program fee is $60. All participants will receive a Wilton Softball performance t-shirt. Once registration is complete, players will be grouped by age and ability. If a player finds herself placed in group which does not fit her level of play, we’ll be happy to move her to the appropriate group.

Parents interested in coaching and/or assistant coaching are encouraged to volunteer.  Please reach out to VP Little League Matt McMahon at mcmahonmp@gmail.com with any questions.

SIGN UP BY 7/1 OR MISS OUT ON THE FUN!

click on the blue banner immediately below to register

Notes:

• Practice Nights for each team will be determined by each team’s manager. When dividing teams, the League Director will pay attention to availability information which you enter during registration.  S/he will do their best to assign players to a team whose practice night will align with their availability. In the event that a team assignment with a workable practice night cannot be found, a full refund can be issued.
• Cost differential – The program costs increase as the player move to higher levels. The costs to you increase as it costs Wilton Softball more to put on the program. Some of the factors which contribute to cost increases include the introduction of umpires, the move from teen to adult umpires and a larger number of games played.
• Equipment – Players need only bring cleats/sneakers, water bottle and a mitt. Little League provides bats, balls, helmets, face masks and catcher’s gear. As players progress through the program, many players choose to buy their own bats, helmets and face masks.
• District All Star Team – Starting at 10U, towards the end of the spring season, players and managers will vote on players to invite to an All-Star team which will compete in the District Tournament in early July.  Teams which win their district advance to a Sectional Tournament. Sectional winners advance to States.  State Champions advance to Regionals and Regional Champions advance to the Little League World Series.  There is an additional nominal fee for players who participate on the team.

Many of you are familiar with the Little League World Series, which takes place in Williamsport, PA each August. Little League Softball also has a World Series, which will take place in Portland, OR this August.  Like with Little League Baseball, each team which participates in the World Series begins as a town All-Star team.

This year, Wilton may field All-Star teams at the 10U, 11U (TBD) and 12U levels to complete in a District Tournament.  Wilton plays in Connecticut District 1. The winner of that tournament will compete in a Sectional Tournament. The winner of that Section will compete in State Tournament.  The State Champion will compete in the New England Regional Tournament.  The New England champion will compete in Portland.

I’d like to give you a little bit of background on how we form this All-Star team. About two-thirds way through our Little League season, the Wilton Little League Softball Board will convene and elect a Manager for each of our District All-Star teams. Shortly after that, each team will vote, via secret ballot, to name the best players on their team.  The Manager will name two coaches and the three will gather to choose the All-Star team, based on both player and coach input.

Little League prohibits announcing the District Team before June 1. On, or shortly after June 1, the Manager will invite the players who are selected to join the team. Teams usually consist of 11-13 players. Players who accept the invitation should only do so if they are willing and able to make the commitment – which consists of being available for practices and scrimmages most days in June.  In addition, players who accept will need to be in town and available to play for the first two-three weeks in July.  The District Tournament runs the first week of July (and often plays on July 4). Teams will usually play between three and five games. The Sectional Tournament runs the second week.  The State Tournament runs the third week.

For those who participate on the All-Star team, they will enjoy a five-plus week immersive experience.  Win or lose, the players will develop a good deal as players and truly bond as a team. 

Because Little League rules prevent us from publicly-naming managers, coaches or players before June 1, the process I described will largely happen in the background. Hopefully, the information in this note will help you better understand what is going on.  

*Some years, many towns do not field 11U teams. If no neighboring towns enter 11U teams, ours will advance directly to the Sectionals or even the State Tournament.