Continue reading »]]> Little League has released new rule updates for the 2012 regular season and 2012 International Tournament. See http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2011/Sep-Dec/Bulletin-SignificantPolicyRuleRegulationChanges2012.htm for the complete list. Most of the changes are clarifications, but there are a few significant playing rule changes.

As announced a few weeks ago, using an illegal bat can now result in a out for the batter. The revised bat rules announced a few weeks ago are included as well.

Also, newly announced, in the Majors division there is now a dropped third strike rule, although local leagues may opt out during the regular season. There will be a dropped third strike rule for 10-11 Year Olds, 11-12 Year Olds, and all higher levels during the tournament.

Continue reading »]]> The bat rules for 2012 have been posted on the Little League web site.

Here are some excerpts/highlights:

• For the Little League Major Baseball Division and below, the moratorium on composite-barreled baseball bats remains in effect.
• For Junior League Baseball, composite-barreled baseball bats must meet BBCOR standards, and must be so labeled.
• For Senior League Baseball and Big League Baseball, all bats with non-wood barrels must meet BBCOR standards, and must be so labeled, and must have a drop of no more than minus-3.
• The moratorium on composite-barreled bats does not apply to softball.
• The batter is out for use of an illegal bat. In this context, a bat that is dented, cracked, missing or bad material on the grip, etc. is not illegal, although the bat must still be removed.

You can (and should) read the details at http://www.littleleague.org/media/newsarchive/2011/Sep-Dec/LLAnnouncesBatRuleChangesfor2012Season.htm, including links to the approved composite bat list and the full text of the affected rules.

Continue reading »]]> It is with regret that District 16 reports the passing of Bob Huber, for whom Bob Huber Field at Freedom Park is named.

Bob Huber was an integral part of Little League in Leesburg, serving in Central Loudoun Little League for 25 years from 1969 until 1994. He was instrumental is getting fields for Little League.

At the 2008 9-10 Year-Old State Tournament that CLLL hosted at Freedom Park he was at the park everyday, watching games on his field. Everyday he’d come into the park and head directly over to his field, and everyday the golf cart drivers would stop by to offer Mr. Huber a ride. And everyday (save one when it was just too hot) he’d politely turn them down, walk over to the stands at Huber Field, and just sit down to enjoy the ball game. Everybody at the fields knew who he was, and would stop by to meet the man for whom the field was named.

After that tournament, his son Dan Huber (who produced that year’s program as well as this year’s tournament program) said:

He had the time of his life watching (and being a part of) State Tournament baseball, while playing the unexpected celebrity role with players, parents and grandparents that approached him to say hello, shake his hand, and even take photos with him. He truly enjoyed his day(s) in the sun!

On behalf of District 16 and Little League, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Continue reading »]]> The following teams will be moving on to represent District 16 at the State tournaments:

• 9-10 Year-Old Softball: Loudoun Girls Little League Softball will play in D-13 Coeburn, reporting on July 14.
• 9-10 Year-Old Baseball: Dulles Little League National will play in D-6 Bennett’s Creek, reporting on July 14.
• 10-11 Year-Old Baseball: Upper Loudoun Little League National will play in D-11 Lebanon, reporting on July 20.
• Little League Baseball: Loudoun South Little League will play here in District 16 at Freedom Park in Leesburg, reporting on July 21.
• Juniors Baseball: Lower Loudoun Little League will play in D-3 Front Royal, reporting on July 21.
• Seniors Baseball: Lower Loudoun Little League will play in D-9 Woodbridge, reporting on July 21.
• Big League Baseball: Lower Loudoun Little League will play in D-8 Plaza, reporting on July 8.

Congratulations to all the District 16 Champions.

Continue reading »]]> Haske Field took on too much water when the thunderstorms rolled through this afternoon and it won’t be playable even for a late start tonight.

The updated schedule is as follows:

• LL Game 13 will be played Thursday, July 14, at 5:30PM at Haske Field.
• LL Game 14 will also be played on Thursday, July 14, immediately following Game 13. Be prepared for a 7:30PM start.

Updated brackets and warmups schedule are posted.

Continue reading »]]> Both Games 11 and 12 in the Little League Tournament in Purcellville were suspended tonight due to rain and lightning.

Game 11 at Round Hill Center was suspended in the top of the 4th inning with 2 out and runners on 1st and 2nd. The score is currently LLLLA 0 – DLLA 10. Game 11 will be continued at Haske Field at 6:00PM on Tuesday, July 12.

Game 12 at Haske Field was suspended after the 2nd inning. The score is currently LLLLN 2 – ULLLA 1. Game 12 will be continued immediately after Game 11 on Tuesday, July 12. Both teams should be prepared to begin play by 6:30PM.

In both games, batting cage time and/or infield practice time will be subject to weather conditions and field preparedness, at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Be prepared to have abbreviated warm ups.

Managers and coaches are encouraged to review Rule 4g on page T-15 of the green book to familiarize themselves with the pitching rules in the continuation of suspended games.

• The pitcher of record may continue pitching if they threw 40 or less pitches tonight
  • If they threw 20 or less pitches, they will start their pitch count at 0 tomorrow
  • If they threw 21 to 40 pitches, they will start their pitch count at the number they left off
  • If they threw 41 or more pitches, they must observe the appropriate days of rest before they can pitch again

Continue reading »]]> Game 15 of the 9-10 Year-Old District 16 Tournament at Freedom Park is postponed until Saturday. Saturday’s Championship Game 16 and If Needed Game 17 will become a possible doubleheader on Sunday.

The updated schedule is as follows:

• 9-10 Game 15 will be played Saturday, July 9, at 6:30PM on Reavis at Freedom Park.
• 9-10 Game 16, the first of two possible Championship Games, will be played Sunday, July 10, at 4:00PM on Reavis at Freedom Park.
• If Dulles National loses Game 16, 9-10 Game 17 will be played immediately following.

Updated brackets and warmups schedule are posted.

Continue reading »]]> Friday’s Games 5 and 6 in the Little League (11-12 Year-Old) at Haske and Round Hill Center are postponed until Saturday. Saturday’s games at those fields are postponed until Sunday afternoon.

The updated schedule is as follows:

• LL Game 5 will be played Saturday, July 9, at 1:00PM at Haske Field.
• LL Game 6 will be played Saturday, July 9, at 4:00PM at Haske Field.
• LL Game 7 will be played Sunday, July 10, at 3:00PM at Round Hill Center.
• LL Game 8 will be played Sunday, July 10, at 6:00PM at Round Hill Center.
• LL Game 9 will be played Sunday, July 10, at 4:00PM at Haske Field.
• LL Game 10 will be played Sunday, July 10, at 7:00PM at Haske Field.

Updated brackets and warmups schedule are posted.

Continue reading »]]> We will be holding a brief meeting with all 2011 Virginia State Little League Baseball Tournament volunteers on Saturday, July 9 at 4:00PM at Freedom Park. All scorekeepers, announcers, and other volunteers should attend.

We will spend a half-hour or so with everyone, talking about the schedule and logistics, as well as setting expectations. Afterwards, we will take some extra time with the scorekeepers to make sure they are aware of what needs to be tracked and recorded throughout the tournament.