Divisions and Fees
Division |
Ages |
Fee |
Pee Wee |
7-8 |
$325 |
Bantam |
9-10 |
$325 |
Majors (formerly "Midget") |
11-13 |
$325 |
Age is based on date of player as of August 31, 2023.
2024 Season Details
Season details and schedules are subject to change.
The 2024 HPBA regular season officially begins the week of April 15th.
Division |
Regular Season Games |
Post Season |
Pee Wee |
10 |
Hamlin Park Classic Tournament |
Bantam |
10 |
Hamlin Park Classic Tournament |
Majors (formerly "Midget") |
12 |
Hamlin Park Classic Tournament |
Every attempt will be made to play all games. However, the HPBA reserves the right to play as many games as possible which may be fewer than the number of games listed here.
1st - 3rd place finishers will receive trophies at the end of the regular season. Additionally, every team in each division competes in the season-ending, Hamlin Park Classic Tournament.
Game Length and Pitching
Division |
Innings per Game |
Coach Pitch |
Player Pitch |
Pee Wee |
6 |
3 Innings |
3 Innings |
Bantam |
6 |
Only after 4-balls |
6 Innings |
Majors (formerly "Midget") |
6 |
N/A |
6 Innings |
Frequently Asked Questions for Girl's Softball
What gear is provided by HPBA and what gear do we need to purchase?
- HPBA provides bats, helmets with a cage, fielding safety masks and uniforms. Softball players need to provide their own glove.
- A safety mask must be worn by any player in the following positions: pitcher, first base, and third base.
- Cleats as are highly recommended by most coaches.
- Many players also prefer to purchase their own bat, helmet and safety mask. If you have any questions about the requirements of any equipment, please contact HPBA.
Who are the coaches?
- Coaches are volunteer parents and/or past players from local high schools. Additionally, we tap into private instructors by hosting fastpitch softball clinics for players registered in HPBA Softball.
How are players placed on a team?
- HPBA uses a Core Pick system in conjunction with an open draft to assemble team rosters.
- Every Head Coach is allowed to select a predetermined number of players to become “Core Picks” for his/her team.
- A player becomes a possible core pick for a coach by selecting the coach as a preferred coach on the back of the registration form. The Coach then receives from the League the list of players that selected him/her as their preferred coach.
- Parents can select a "Coach Preference" fror their player from the time of registration until about February 1st. You can change your coach preference as new coaches are listed by going into your player's registration information.
- From this list, the Coach selects a predetermined number of players to be core picks.
What are the game and practice locations?
- Teams will be finalized in March. Practice location and dates will be determined by the coach. The game season runs from April-June; with an opportunity to continue playing on a try-out based, all-star team through July.
- Games could be scheduled on Sunday or Friday.
- Girls may also play on an HPBA House Baseball team if they choose to do so. This will require an additional house baseball registration and there will be an incremental cost of approximately $90 to play in both programs.
When did Fastpitch Softball start at HPBA?
- 2012 was HPBA's inaugural year for Girls Fastpitch Softball. We started with two teams of 7-8 yr olds.
Can my daughter play when she's 5 or 6 years old?
- HPBA does not offer girl-only t-ball for 5-6 yr olds. We highly recommend at this age, that girls play Rookie t-ball with the boys. Our Rookie division is co-ed and the teachings are the same for boys & girls at this age.
Why are there only teams for 7-13 year olds?
- HPBA begins offering softball at age 7 for two reasons: 1) boys & girls begin pitching in this age division and the girls underhand, fastpitch motion is very different than boys over-hand; and 2) nearby park districts offer softball teams at this age for Hamlin to play. As the program grows citywide, we hope to offer softball in the upper age groups.
Can my daughter play softball at Hamlin if she's older?
- Currently, we do not have enough players or coaches to offer a girl’s only softball team in the upper age divisions. We hope to offer more teams as the overall program develops.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN TRAVEL SOFTBALL PLEASE VISIT THE TRAVEL SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.