Boys 7 - 12: Cal Ripken

Keeping baseball FUN, especially in the early stages of youth baseball, is a primary concern of Babe Ruth League's Cal Ripken Division which is comprised of Major, Minor and Rookie Divisions.

Major: The most experienced level of Cal Ripken Baseball, recommended for 11 and 12 year old players.  Cal Ripken Baseball is played under the Official Baseball Rules, but implements some special rules as necessary for the development and welfare of this young age group.  The game is played on a 60-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 46 feet.  In order to encourage the league to train more pitchers, there are rules that set the maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a calendar week.  Regulation games consist of six innings or four innings if a game is called.  Special base running rules are also in effect.

Minor: For 9 and 10 year olds.  Among teammates of their own age and experience level, players continue building and refining their fundamental skills while they begin to understand game strategy.  It is at the minor league level that players first experience post-season tournament competition, with district, state, and regional levels of play.

Rookie: Designed primarily for 7 and 8 year olds.  Dr. Robert Brown, former president of the American League formulated the concept of the Rookie League, a pitching machine program.  Babe Ruth League quickly embraced this concept and established the rookie league as a division.   By controlling the pitches with a pitching machine, there is more action at the plate and in the field.  Fear of being hit by a pitched ball is diminished.  It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence and ability of all participants.   It removes the boredom - which is often the result of either overpowering or inadequate pitching - by throwing only strikes.  Fewer errors and greater throwing accuracy are the result of increase in activity.  The program receives high praise from coaches, players, parents, and league officials.  The rookie league is an excellent way to continue teaching the fundamentals of the game and building player confidence.

Boys 13 - 18: Babe Ruth Baseball

Davidson County Babe Ruth has sanctioned all of Davidson County for Babe Ruth play.  Currently, Arcadia, Churchland, Davis-Townsend, Midway, Reeds and Welcome participate.  Players outside of these areas are allowed to register at the closest Booster Club, and are considered 'pool players'.  They will be assigned to a team within the five booster clubs, with preference given to the closest club where possible.  Davidson County Babe Ruth reserves the right to turn away pool players when team rosters are full, and no available slots are available.

13-15 Year-Old League

Babe Ruth League, the group for 13-15 year old players, was founded in 1951.

Each local league chartered is an organization with authority to administer its own program within the framework of the Rules and Regulations and guidance of Babe Ruth League, Inc. officials.

Each state, province or territory in the 13-15 division is operated by an elected State Commissioner, and in most states, there are District Commissioners who assist the State Commissioner with his/her many duties. (Some states, with approval from Headquarters, also receive the assistance of Area Commissioners).

In turn, the states are grouped into eight regions with a Regional Commissioner to oversee the Regional operation. These Regional Commissioners also serve as members of the Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc.

Teams from each league are eligible to enter tournament competition and move along the tournament trail to the championship tournament - the World Series.

Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball

Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball was born in 1966 and has increased steadily since its inception. The 16-18 division is designed to provide organized regulation baseball competition for 16, 17 and 18-year-old players as a development plateau where they can continue to learn and practice those principles which will help carry them through to a satisfactory and productive adulthood.

The 16-18 division was organized because Babe Ruth League, Inc. was aware its job was far from completed. No organization was making available similar opportunities for young players once they had surpassed the Babe Ruth 13-15 baseball age. Just as the 13-15 Division filled a gap, the 16-18 Division was designed to address a similar void.

In the 16-18 division, which is played under regulation baseball rules, can be found the opportunity to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, high morality and democratic spirit which the participant has learned at the Babe Ruth 13-15 level. The primary objective of the 16-18 division is to provide a community-level program which eventually gives the players an opportunity to participate in the 16-18 World Series.

Girls 7 - 18: Babe Ruth Softball

Babe Ruth Softball is designed for girls ages seven through eighteen. Age divisions offered are 12 & Under, 16 & Under, and 18 & Under. Leagues are encouraged to organize optional 10 & Under teams within the 12 & Under division, and 14 & Under teams within the 16 & Under division, but are not required to do so.

The primary emphasis of Babe Ruth Softball is on the local league season: education, skill development, participation for players at all levels of athletic ability, and to ensure the participants have FUN.

Babe Ruth Softball's structural hierarchy evolves from the very heart of the program: the local league. Local leagues are organized into Districts. Districts report to the State level. States are grouped into eight regions. District, State, and Regional Softball Commissioners provide guidance and direction for the areas under their jurisdiction.

Leagues chartered with Babe Ruth Softball operate with simplicity, democracy, and much autonomy within the framework of Babe Ruth League, Inc. rules and regulations. Leagues are formed within defined and registered geographical boundaries. Dual-participation may be allowed at the local league's discretion. Babe Ruth League, Inc. places no undue restrictions on the local league, a fact that sets it far apart from all other programs.

A highlight of Babe Ruth Softball is its annual tournament trail. Tournament teams from each local league are eligible to participate in District competition with winners advancing to the State and Regional levels. World Series play commences on a Saturday with four days of round-robin competition. The participating teams are divided into two brackets for round-robin play. Each team is guaranteed four games. The first, second, and third place teams from each division in the round-robin will advance to double-elimination play, which begins on the following Wednesday with championship game played on Saturday.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. provides transportation to the World Series, as well as housing and meals for all participants and coaches, at no cost to the participating teams. There is no entry fee for the official Babe Ruth Softball tournament trail. Babe Ruth Softball intends for every child that has a desire to participate in the sport to be able to do so. Babe Ruth Softball is the fastest growing division in Babe Ruth League, Inc.

 Davidson County Babe Ruth will offer 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U as the number of players permit.  T-Ball is offered as a local program by the various Booster Clubs.