Overview

Bethel Park Baseball (BPB) coordinates a youth Travel Baseball program for players with advanced skills to provide competitive opportunities in a structured environment.

Program Goals:

• Provide a spot to every kid possible while assembling competitive teams.
• Field one top-level team (Orange) for each age group (7–14U).
• When possible, field a second-tier team (Black) and additional teams if players and volunteers are available.
• For younger ages (especially 7U), teams may be split evenly to balance talent.

Eligibility

• To be selected, a player must participate in the BPB in-house spring recreation program and play in at least 50% of regular-season in-house games (playoffs excluded).
• If eligibility is not maintained by season’s end, the player may be removed from the team.
• Players close to meeting eligibility may still be considered, with final decisions by the BPB Travel Committee or Board.
• Extraordinary circumstances (injuries, family emergencies) may receive exceptions.
• Players who accept a roster spot and later withdraw for reasons other than injury, illness, or family matters are ineligible for the remainder of the current and following season.
• Selected players must commit to tournament play, which typically runs from the second weekend in June through the end of July, and may miss only one tournament for family reasons.
• Questions should be directed to the BPB Travel Committee or BPB Board of Directors.

Age Cutoff & Playing Up

• Age cutoff: April 30 is the age cut-off date for each level.
• Players in the grade above (but born after 4/30) may try out with their grade.
• Players wanting to try out for an older age group must:
  • Attend the first tryout for their current age group.
  • Receive approval from the travel committee and assessor to try out for the older group.
  • Finish with the highest score in their current age group and among the top 3 in the older age group to qualify.

Travel Team Tenure

• Teams from 9U–14U are selected each fall (August) and stay in place until the following year.
• 7U and 8U teams are finalized after winter training, before the spring season.
• Tryouts follow the same process for all ages; each player must attend at least one tryout, and if a player attends both sessions, the higher score counts.

Player Evaluations

• Any interested player will be evaluated to determine ability.
• Tryouts are scheduled with advance notice to all BPB participants.
• Participation in at least one tryout is required for consideration.
• Players wishing to try out for an older age group must attend the first tryout for their current age group.

Selection Timing & Roster Size

• Players and managers are selected within 10 days after the second tryout.
• Each roster includes a minimum of 10 players.
• If roster spots open mid-season, priority goes to previously evaluated players not initially selected.

Travel Tryout Process

9U–14U August tryout dates are announced by July 1 each year.

Additional reminders:

• No Travel Uniforms or hats during tryouts
• USA Bats only (BBCOR for Pony age players)