Hello Redmond baseball families, present and past.  I hope you all had a great spring enjoying your son play baseball and/or other sports of their choice.  I know some of you just finished all stars, select/travel ball, and/or maybe took the past few weeks off of baseball, but are now wondering about options for next year.   

For those of you I have not met yet, my name is Gary Schauer.  I am a past VP of "Big Diamond" baseball for Redwest Little League and have had a great time managing teams in the Juniors and Seniors divisions the past 4 years from February thru all-stars in July.    

I’m writing you today to provide a little education of the baseball playing options for your current 12, 13, 14 or 15 YO son, and honestly to do a little sell job for the local little league big diamond programs.  I’ve found many parents and players automatically think they need (and have) to jump into "select" (or "pay for play") ball after their 12 Majors year of Little League.  Some play select ball for a year and decide it wasn’t quite what they were looking for (playing time, positions played, managers/coaches, high costs ….).  Others have a great experience and can’t wait for tryouts and starting it up all over again. While that is a good solution for some players and families and there are some good programs out there, I wanted to ensure you were aware of other options as well.    

WSSBL (WA State Select Baseball League):  This the primary league for select/travel teams in the area.  Costs and commitment level are very high, ranging from $3000 - $5000, depending on the program and playing 40+ games per season, including some tournaments.  

Little League: Intermediate (12-13 YO, 50/70 field), Juniors (13-14 YO, 60/90 field), & Seniors (15-16 YO).  Did you know:

• Redmond West, sometimes combined with players from Redmond North and Eastlake LLs, has fielded 2 to 4 Juniors and Seniors teams consistently over the past many years.
• Registration is ~$250.  Teams plays 18-20 games during the regular season and practice 2 to 3 times/week from Feb thru June. 
• Teams play against teams from leagues all over District 9 as well as from neighboring Districts playing on some of the nicest fields in the area.  
• Redmond Juniors & Seniors teams practice and play their home games on Big Hartman (aka Dow Field), one of the nicest fields on the eastside (w/ new batting cages, big bleacher, sound system, etc.).  Visiting teams are always impressed (and a little jealous) when coming to play on Hartman. 
• There is an opportunity for continued play with All Stars for those players who are interested and chosen to the team. The combined Redmond Juniors All Star team has won District 9, 3 of the past 5 years (2014, '16, & '18) and Seniors has represented D9 at state the past 3 years in a row, placing 2nd the last 2 years.  A very good Allstar team can possibly play at State, Regional and even a National tournament.  We have consistently had one of the strongest Juniors and Seniors programs in the state year, after year. 
• Players are given the opportunity to play and enhance their understanding and skills in multiple positions.  For example, a player who may not get a chance to pitch at all for their select team, may be one of the best pitchers on a Juniors or Seniors team.  
• Many Juniors & Seniors players are involved with other sports and activities during the spring as well – for example track and field or soccer (or even school baseball (as a 9th or 10th grader)) and join Juniors & Seniors after the school season is over.
• Some players play BOTH select ball and Little League Juniors and Seniors.  While very doable, it IS a lot of baseball and some select teams are cracking down and not allowing players to do this.  
• The amazing sense of community and families living the season together that you all recall from little league is alive and well in Juniors and Seniors!
• There are many Juniors & Seniors players umpiring baseball for the younger kids divisions this summer. 
• If enough players are interested and we have a manager, we may put together an intermediate team with 13 YOs as well, otherwise all 13 and 14 YOs will play in Juniors.

Unfortunately, some are also led to believe the their son will only get to play high school baseball if they play select ball.  Good players will stand out no matter program they're in and we have MANY examples of players who continued to play little league in Juniors and/or Seniors and gone on to have very successful high school careers.  And, of course, we have many others who have no grand aspirations - they just want to keep playing baseball each spring.  That's what we're ultimately striving for - let's provide a low-commitment level program that allows the kids to just keep playing this great sport. 

Whether your son played in our Majors, Juniors  or Seniors program this past spring, just finished their Select season and is looking for a different experience next spring, you’d like to look into playing both select and LL Juniors, or even if your son took a year (or two) off and misses the game, I’d be happy to talk through options with you and/or answer any questions about the LL Juniors & Seniors program. Please feel free to contact me at the phone number below or our current big diamond VP.  

Gary Schauer
Past VP Redmond West Juniors/Seniors divisions & D9 Asst DA
425-864-2110