Why JBO?


Young boys and girls in the Lakeridge area of Lake Oswego have a full range of baseball and softball available to them through a number of volunteer-based organizations.

The following organizations will provide baseball and softball leagues to kids residing in areas of Lake Oswego that feed into Waluga Junior High school:

Junior Baseball of Oregon (Pacer Baseball Club, Inc.)

Kindergarten Co-ed T Ball
Grade 1 Co-ed Baseball
Grades 2-8 Baseball

ASA Softball (Lake Oswego Girls Softball)
Grades 1-8 Softball

Players wishing to play in any of the Junior Baseball leagues must register on this site. Parents wishing to coach these leagues must also register on this site. To register, click on the Registration button on the left and follow the instructions.

If you have any questions regarding Junior Baseball, please refer to the Junior Baseball contacts page on this site and pass your question on to a league representative.

For more information regarding Lake Oswego Girls Softball visit www.lakeoswegosoftball.com

Introduction to Junior Baseball

An introduction to the basics of Junior Baseball and what parents can expect

Age Divisions


There are 3 age divisions:

  • Midget – 3rd & 4th grade

  • Junior – 6th & 7th grade

  • Senior – 7th & 8th grade

  • There are maximum age limits as well, but the vast majority of players fall within the basic grade levels.

  • Players can play up an age group subject to approval, but cannot play down.

Evaluations

  • Players will be asked to attend an evaluation session in order to assess their skill level for placement in the competition divisions (below). 

  • Players may opt out of evaluations and will be placed in the National division at their age level. 

  • Players will be evaluated on various baseball and athletic skills in order to fairly place them at a competition level within their age bracket.

  • Everyone makes a team.  There are no cuts.

  • Evaluators are chosen for their baseball knowledge and their ability to accurately assess talent.  They do not have ties to any player at the particular age division they are evaluating.

Competition Divisions


There are 3 levels of competition within each age division.

Federal - Competitive 

  • Team is made up of the most skilled players in the baseball district.

  • Players are competitive.

  • There is usually only one Federal team per community at any given age level.

  • Expected commitment level is very high.

  • Federal teams usually play more games and practice more.

  • Federal teams play other Federal teams from the surrounding communities in their league play.

  • Federal teams might play 5 or more weekend tournaments during the season.

  • Players may declare their willingness/ability to meet Federal level commitment (or not) when registering.  Declaring does not guarantee a spot on the Federal team.  It only states that if they are chosen they will meet the commitment.

  • After evaluations the top 18 or so players will be invited to a Federal tryout for final team selection of 12 players.  If a player attends this tryout he is stating that he will meet the Federal commitment.  If a player cannot meet this commitment or has doubts, he should not attend the Federal call back.


American – Intermediate

  • Players are generally skilled and competitive. 

  • There are usually 2 or 3 teams in a community.

  • Expected commitment level is high.

  • American teams play other American teams from the surrounding communities in their league play.

  • American teams can be expected to play 3 or 4 weekend tournaments during the season.

National – Recreational or Developmental

  • Players are generally learning the game, are less skilled, or are more interested in having a recreational outlet.

  • Commitment level can be less strict but varies from team to team.

  • There are multiple teams per community. 

  • National teams play other National teams from the surrounding communities in league play.

  • National teams will play from 0 to 4 weekend tournaments during the season.

Field Size


The size of the field increases as players move up through the age brackets and/or competitive divisions.

  • Midgets – 60 foot bases – 45 foot pitching rubber.

  • Juniors – 70 foot bases – 50 foot pitching rubber.

  • Seniors (National and American) – 80 foot bases – 55 foot pitching rubber.

  • Seniors (Federal) – 90 foot bases – 60 foot pitching rubber (a full-sized baseball field).

League Play – Length of Season

  • Teams will play two league games per week on weekday evenings.

  • League games will be scheduled to fall on the same days (Monday-Wednesday, Tuesday-Thursday, etc.)

  • The season runs approximately from May 1 through late June or early July.

  • Practices start just before or after spring break.

Weekend Tournaments

  • Weekend tournaments are optional and are held by various baseball communities throughout the state. 

  • Most are within an hour’s drive of Portland, but some might require an overnight stay.

  • Each team will choose how many tournaments they will play.

  • Team families will be asked to share the cost for each tournament.  (Expect $20 to $30 per player per tournament).

  • Coaches can obtain a list of tournaments offered at the State JBO website (www.juniorbaseballorg.com) and should attend the pre-season JBO meeting to sign up for tournaments (date & location TBA).

Post Season Play

  • Post season play is made up of a county championship tournament followed by a state championship tournament for those teams that qualify at the county tournament.

  • Every JBO team can become eligible for the county tournament.

  • Federal leagues usually take all teams into the county tournament.

  • The general rule for National and American teams is that those at or above a .500 winning percentage in league play will qualify for the county tournament.

  • County tournaments run from mid to late July.

  • Teams qualifying for the state tournament could play into the first week of August.

Rules


JBO uses high school baseball rules with a few age appropriate adjustments.
Adjustments are:

  • Field size

  • All players on the team will bat in order for the duration of the game

  • Free substitution

  • Age appropriate limits on innings pitched per week

  • A limit on base stealing at the Midget National level

Benefits of JBO

  • Field size graduates up as players grow

  • Players to learn proper pitching, hitting, and throwing techniques instead of just being able to rely on size and strength to obtain positive results

  • Players play against others of like skill sets

  • Every player can be competitive and have success within their division

  • Players can develop at their own pace

  • All players bat in order throughout the game

  • Players will be playing real baseball with leadoffs, etc.

  • More advanced base running and pitching techniques introduced early

  • Team stays together for the entire season and post-season


Only  til opening day 2010!



• Become a League Sponsor

• Friends of Baseball

• Evaluations

• Clinics

Sports do not build character. They reveal it.

- Heywood Brown