2020 PWYBA Travel Baseball Teams

Please find the tournament schedule for the PWYBA 9u-15u 2020 Travel Teams.

These tournaments are subject to change based on player registrations at various age levels or other circumstances.

Travel baseball teams with the PWYBA play games under the governing rules of MYAS and MBL/MBT.

The most current bat standards are posted on the MYAS and MBL/MBT websites.   

It should be noted that some of the standards set by each group may be different.  Your son/daughter will likely be playing tournaments and/or league play in each of the organizations. We recommend you review both sets of  standards and purchase a bat that would be eligible for use in both MYAS and MBL/MBT.  The standards are set by MYAS and MBL/MBT and are subject to change. 

A player is eligible to participate in PWYBA Travel Baseball team tryouts subject to the following criteria:

• In accordance with MBL and MYAS policy, players must reside within the boundaries of Independent School District 284 OR if outside the boundaries the player must be open-enrolled in a public school of ISD 284.  A listing of those schools may be found at www.wayzata.k12.mn.us
• Must have paid all applicable fees and any arrearages from previous PWYBA programs
• Must meet age guidelines specified by the national governing organizations.
• Proposed exceptions to this policy, describing extenuating circumstances for the exception, must be addressed to the PWYBA and reviewed by the PWYBA Board of Directors at a regular monthly meeting.
• Players cannot be rostered and play for any other team or association from May 1 through the last game of the travel season (except for any player participating on a high school team). Any player found to be rostered on another team will be removed from the PWYBA team. There may be exceptions with High School and Spring Baseball leagues. These will be handled on a case by case basis.

Players must have a legal residence within the Wayzata School District 284 boundaries as of April 1 OR if the player does not live within the boundaries the player must be open enrolled (registered) to a Wayzata School District 284 public school as of April 1.  Players who have made a travel or tournament team but move out of the district 284 boundaries before April 1 OR players who qualify to play via open enrollment but are no longer attending a Wayzata public school on April 1 will be removed from the team.

PWYBA is built and proud of our strong foundation of a youth in-house baseball program.  Starting in 2016, we extended our travel program for 3rd (9U) and 4th grade (10u) players to tryout for travel teams.  PWYBA will again offer a full travel schedule option to kids in the 9u and 10u ages.  Travel baseball is an extensive commitment and families NEED TO consider all aspects of this commitment carefully before making the decision between in-house vs. travel.  Travel baseball requires dedicated substantial time commitment from players, coaches and parents, from April through July, and possibly into early August.  Every player’s presence is important and the player is expected to make every effort to attend all practices, league games, and tournament games.  Unexcused and/or excessive absences will result in a reduction of playing time and may result in dismissal from the team.  These should ONLY be considered for kids who are most serious about baseball and can commit to the schedule.  The offering through the house program is still the strongest option for player development.

The birthdate cutoff is April 30. The team (age level) for which a player is eligible is the same as the player’s age on that date.  A player can play up to play with his grade and not because he or his parents believe he needs to be “at a more competitive level.”  The Travel Director should be notified of a player wishing to “play up” with his grade.  A player cannot “play down” (i.e., play on a team younger than his/her age level) for any reason, per the governing organizations. A copy of the child’s birth certificate should be supplied to the head coach at the first parent/coach pre-season meeting. It should be noted that players who have not completed the third grade by the end of the school year will not be eligible for the 9U program

  9 year olds 5/1/10 through 4/30/11 or completing 3rd grade   

10 year olds 5/1/09 through 4/30/10 or completing 4th grade.

11 year olds 5/1/08 through 4/30/09 or completing 5th grade.

12 year olds 5/1/07 through 4/30/08 or completing 6th grade.

13 year olds 5/1/06 through 4/30/07 or completing 7th grade.

14 year olds 5/1/05 through 4/30/06 or completing 8th grade.

15 year olds 5/1/04 through 4/30/05 or completing 9th grade.

A player who has the option of playing up with his grade can only be evaluated for the age level he has signed up for (cannot tryout for the 10 year old team if opt to evaluate with the 11 year olds at his grade level). 

Players in the PWYBA travel program are not allowed to be rostered and play for any other team or association from May 1 through the last game of the travel season (except for any player participating on a high school team).  Any player found to be rostered on another team will be removed from the PWYBA team.  Those rostered on a spring team prior to the start to the travel season will need to complete that spring season prior to playing in any games for their PWYBA travel team.

PWYBA travel baseball will field travel teams at the 9-15 year old age levels.  In general, there will be one AAA team at each age level, one or two parity AA teams and one or two parity A level teams. The 9U program is the exception to this rule, where two teams will be formed a AAA and a AA.  The PWYBA strives to have as many kids playing travel baseball as possible while ensuring they are competitive at the level they will be assigned.  Being competitive is important for player and team development, success on the field, and continued interest in the sport.  The number of AA and A teams may change each year (increase or decrease) depending on the factors listed below.

1. Players registered – The depth of players at each grade level can have an effect on the number of players ready/available to play travel baseball.

2. Competitiveness – The PWYBA wants players appropriately placed against competition that is best suited for their skills as a baseball player.  This does not mean that the team must win every game but rather that the players can consistently challenge the competition before them in any given game.  With competitiveness a somewhat subjective term, the PWYBA considers winning percentage ( winning percentages from.350 -.500 can still be competitive), run differential, number of times losing by more than 10 runs, number of times the team played on Sundays in tournaments, number of times a team placed (1st- 3rd) in a tournament, and if they qualified for state.

3. Coaching Feedback – Coach feedback is a tool used to get an understanding from those most familiar with the players’ abilities on their team and at their grade level.  At the end of each season, and in subsequent follow up interviews if necessary, coaches are asked to discuss their season and the players.  This feedback will be an important part of the grade level team formations.

4. History – Records are maintained at each grade level and will be utilized to gain a historical perspective of the grade levels overall success.

The travel oversight committee, made up of five board members, will make the final determination on the number of teams and what level they will play at.

Travel baseball teams will play in the Metro Baseball League or Gopher State League (roughly 16 game league schedule) along with entering four weekend tournaments.  The teams could also play in up to three state tournaments in July if they qualify.

The initial registration and travel fee covers the team’s expenses for participation in league games, umpires, equipment, and association administration and support.  The initial registration and evaluation fee are collected at time of registration—if a player makes a travel or tournament team the travel/tournament fee will be collected at uniform handout.  The evaluation fee is non-refundable and will be collected at the time of registration.   A player who makes a travel or tournament team and decides not to participate on that team will not be rewarded a refund and will be ineligible to participate in the travel program in the next year.  This includes the senior travel programs. 

If a team qualifies for and receives bids to a state tournament the association will pay the entry fee for one tournament (team may qualify for three state tournaments, the association will pay the entry fee to one of them), all other entry fees for state tournaments will be at the teams expense.  Teams (parents) will also be responsible for any gate fees due to the host association for any tournaments that have this charge. There will be a parents’ meeting conducted by the head coach to review all appropriate fees.

Once a player has been placed on a team, there will be no refunds except for players who suffer a long-term injury or illness. All refund requests will be prorated by the number of games played and must be approved by the Travel Director. 

Travel baseball requires dedicated time commitment from players, coaches and parents, from April through July, and possibly into early August. Every player’s presence is important and the player is expected to make every effort to attend all practices, league games, and tournament games. Unexcused and/or excessive absences will result in a reduction of playing time and may result in dismissal from the team.

• The tryout process is tentatively scheduled for: TBD
• We plan to form no more than 2 teams  (depending on registrations/try-outs)
• They could play the 9U division of the Gopher State League or the Metro Baseball League (which would involve extensive travel to play other communities for league games)
• The league in designed as an introduction to travel baseball and would have a 12-16 league game schedule (6 home/6 away)
• The team would be registered for 4 weekend tournaments potentially at a 9U or 10U level.
• Players who are not placed on one of the 2 travel teams will be automatically moved to the house league registration and evaluations for summer baseball

• The tryout process is tentatively scheduled for: TBD
• We would form UP TO 4 teams across:  AAA, AA, A divisions (depending on registrations/try-outs)
• Teams would play the 10U division of the Metro Baseball League or Gopher State League  (which would involve travel to play other towns … for example: Edina, Burnsville, Lakeville, Waconia, Maple Grove, Zimmerman, Rogers, St. Michael, Andover)
• The league would have a 16 league game schedule (8 home/8 away)
• The team would be registered for 4 weekend tournaments at their appropriate level.
• Potential to qualify for a State Tournament in mid-July at their division.
• Players who do not make one of the travel teams will be placed on a summer team in the house league.

Again, the "commitment" for travel baseball is extensive.  We STRONGLY encourage families to carefully consider these options and sign up for the program best suited for their player.   If you have questions please feel free to reach out to Dave Koth – Travel Director