Machine Pitch - 7 & 8 Year Old Baseball
League Age 7 & 8
The machine pitch division exclusively uses the Louisville Slugger Ultimate Pitching Machine. Managers are required to give even playing time to each child with significant time in both infield and outfield. Little experience is required, and the goal is to teach baseball fundamentals while having fun.
Please visit the Little League Age Calculator to confirm player's league age.
| Minimum Age Requirement | - Your child must turn at least league age 7 in order to register for the regular Spring season.
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| Season | - The regular spring season starts at the end of March and runs through the end of May.
- Pre-season practices begin in early March.
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| Practice | - Multiple practices are scheduled prior to the season with usually one practice per week during the Regular season.
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| Games | - Each team plays a minimum of 12 regular season games.
- Games played during the week are typically on Friday and can start at 5:30 or 7:30 PM
- Games played on Saturday are scheduled between 9 AM and 7 PM.
- Games are scheduled for 6 innings but no new inning can begin after 1 hour and 45 minutes has elapsed
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| Uniforms | - HLL provides a t-shirt, socks, and cap.
- Parents must provide sneakers (rubber cleats not mandatory).
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| Playing Equipment | - Parents must provide ball glove and bat.
- HLL will provide helmets with a metal facemask
- Players may bring their own equipment but all helmets must be equipped with a metal facemask and bats must have the USA Stamp (not USSSA).
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| Team | - Teams usually consist of 12 players, a volunteer manager, two volunteer coaches and a volunteer team parent.
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Machine Pitch- 7 & 8 Year Old Baseball - FAQs |
| Q: Do you keep score and are there umpires? |
| A: Yes. Each manager keeps a scorebook. League standings are kept to determine a regular season winner and to determine playoff games. There is a home plate and field umpire. |
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| Q: Can I Manage or coach a team? |
| A: Yes, if positions are available. Prospective managers must complete an online application. If you would like to serve as a coach, then please note that on your child's spring online registration. All managers and coaches must be approved by the Huguenot Little League Board of Directors. |
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| Q: Will my child get to play all the time? |
| A: No, not all the time, but no player sits twice until all have sat once. |
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| Q: Can my child play up? |
| A: Parents may request that their child play up one division level. However to play up, a player must attend both the higher and lower division’s assessment and be drafted to the higher division. If they are not drafted to the higher division, they must accept playing in the lower division. All player assignments are ultimately determined by the Player Agent and the Board of Directors. |
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| Q: Can my child play down? |
| A: Players in need of more development may request to play down to coach pitch. Requests can also be made to play down to machine pitch from kid pitch. If this is your child's first baseball experience, this is an option worth considering. |
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| Q: Is my child eligible for an All Star or Tournament team? |
A: There are tournament teams at this level. Please see our All Stars link for more information.
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| Q: Can I have my child play on a team with their friends? |
| A: Not unless they are drafted on to that team. In this age group, player's skills are evaluated in a skills assessment. Then a draft is held in order to balance the teams as much as possible. |
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| Q: What are the volunteer requirements? |
| A: Huguenot LittleLeague is an all volunteer organization so there are many ways to volunteer. Help is always needed with registration, team parenting, assisting with pictures, opening day and fun day activities. |
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