Baseball
Baseball Program
Bellevue National Little League (BNLL) operates several age- and skill-appropriate tee ball, coach/machine pitch, and player pitch baseball programs. They are open to both boys and girls.
Evaluations are held each year for all drafted levels of play to help determine each player's overall skill and aptitude, and to ensure each player is properly placed at the correct level.
Our programs are designed to teach players (and parents) the fundamentals of the game while offering a fun, team-oriented environment to develop good sportsmanship, leadership skills, accountability and physical fitness.
No longer just a spring-time activity, Bellevue National Little League offers programs through the spring, summer, fall and winter (indoor clinics & camps).
Pitch Count: Bellevue National follows the Little League guidance for regular season pitching rules. Click here to view the pitch count by league age.
Requirements and Overview
Players must live within, or attend school within the approved BNLL Boundary to be eligible to play on a BNLL team.
Players must be between league age 4 and 16.
Skills Evaluations
Each year, Bellevue National Little League holds evaluations for all drafted level players (ages 9-16). Evaluations help to determine a players overall skill and aptitude, while helping to identify strengths and weaknesses for managers and coaches. Evaluations are usually held each February. Evaluation results are confidential, and are not posted or published publicly.
Regular Season Play
The regular season typically runs from approximately mid-March to mid-June each year.
Players and families will be contacted by the league and/or their respective team Manager regarding practice schedules, game schedules, etc.
- Tee ball events occur once per week, typically on Saturdays starting in late April.
- Single-A and Double-A levels begin practices in early April. Players and families can expect 2 events per week at the Single-A level, and 2-3 events per week at Double-A. 10 to 12 games will be played during the season.
- Drafted Levels (Triple-A, Coast, Majors, Intermediates, Juniors, and Seniors) typically begin practices in early March. Players and families can expect up to 5 events per week, with 14 or more games in the regular season.
At the end of the regular season, the Triple-A, Coast, and Majors teams typically participate in a two week City Tournament along with other local leagues, including Bellevue West Little League (BWLL) and Mercer Island Little League.
All-Stars
All-Stars is competitive, tryout-based post-season play for drafted levels that typically begins mid-June and follows Little League Tournament play rules and schedules. All-Star tryouts are held no earlier than the date announced by District 9.
Tryouts are open to all eligible Bellevue National Little League baseball players from the regular season. Teams will be formed based on the approved All-Stars selection process.
Levels of Play
Bellevue National Little League offers the following levels of play for baseball:
| Level of Play | Little League Division | Age Group | Drafted / Evaluations | Friend Requests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee Ball | Tee Ball | 4-5 | No | Yes |
| Single-A | Minors | 6 | No | Yes |
| Double-A | Minors | 7-8 | No | Yes |
| Triple-A | Minors | 9-10 | Yes | No |
| Coast | Minors | 10-11 | Yes | No |
| Majors | Majors | 11-12 | Yes | No |
| Intermediates | Intermediates 50/70 | 12-13 | Yes | No |
| Juniors | Juniors | 13-14 | Yes | No |
| Seniors | Seniors | 15-16 | Yes | No |
League Age
League age may be different than the player's actual age.
The Age Determination Date for a Little League Baseball player is the actual age of a child as of August 31 of the current year. These respective dates identify the “league age” as it relates to a player’s eligibility to participate in any of Little League’s divisions of play.
Players are placed on age and skill appropriate teams. All players must be League Age 4 to 16 years to participate.
Tee-Ball Division (Ages 4-5)
The Bellevue National Little League Tee Ball program is specifically designed for boys and girls, age 4 to 5, and provides a foundation and introduction to baseball and softball. Over the course of the 10 week season, coaches and players will engage in a series of lessons and activities to teach the fundamentals of the game including catching, throwing, batting (from a stationary tee), and physical fitness.
Bellevue National Little League has seen tremendous growth in our Tee Ball program in recent years; emphasizing fun and friendship as the core requirement. Parents and players can submit requests to play on teams with friends, neighbors, or based on school attendance.
Undrafted Divisions (Ages 6-8)
Single-A Division - (Ages 6-7) - Coach Pitch - Continuing introduction of initial concepts of baseball with emphasis on throwing, catching, hitting and sportsmanship. Scores or statistics are not kept at this level. Teams are predominantly formed based on school affiliation and/or friend requests. We do our best to make sure that kids play with their friends or school mates. If your child attends a private school please be sure to indicate what Bellevue School they would attend, based on their neighborhood.
Double-A Division - (Ages 7-8) - Coach / Machine Pitch - Continued introduction of initial concepts of baseball with some progression to more complex concepts. Emphasis on throwing, catching, hitting and sportsmanship. Scores are kept at this level. Players learn playing rules, strike out on called or missed swings, emphasis on playing more defense will be added. Teams are predominantly formed based on school affiliation and/or friend request. We do our best to make sure kids play with their friends or school mates. If your child attends a private school please indicate what Bellevue School they would attend.
Drafted Divisions (Ages 9-11)
Triple-A Division - (Ages 9-10) - Player Pitch - This is the first year where skill evaluations take place. Evaluations attendance is required. Continue building upon basic concepts, develop pitching skills and increasing fielding and hitting techniques. Emphasis on pitching, throwing, catching, hitting and sportsmanship. Scores are kept at this level. Teams are formed at this level using a draft based on the Skills Evaluations scores. Friend and Coach requests are not considered for the Triple A division.
10 year olds are eligible for either AAA or Coast baseball and will be placed at a level appropriate to their experience and skill levels, based on evaluation scores.
Coast Division - (Ages 10-11) - Player Pitch - Evaluations Attendance Required - Advanced fielding, hitting and pitching. Scores and statistics are maintained at this level. Teams are formed through the draft process. School and friend requests are not considered at this level. As a league we work to build competitive equality across all Coast teams. On conclusion of the regular season, eligible players are encouraged to try out for All-Stars.
Majors Division (Ages 11-12)
Competitive - Evaluations Attendance Required - Emphasis on advanced concepts of baseball, improving the players fielding, hitting and pitching. Teams are formed through a draft. School and friend requests are not considered. Main goal in team formation at this level is parity amongst the teams within this division.
Intermediate 50/70 Division (Ages 12-13)
Baseball through Little League Intermediate program for league age 12 and 13 year olds. Intermediate level play has some of the rules of Big League baseball, including leading off, stealing, and balks. Pitchers pitch from a distance of 50 feet, and 70 foot bases are used. Games are played among the league and against teams from other leagues within District 9. More information about Intermediate level play can be found on the Little League Intermediate Division website.
Players at this level, if interested, can choose to become youth Umpires for Triple-A, Coast, and Majors levels and receive volunteering hour credit.
Juniors Division (Ages 13-14)
The Junior League Baseball Division is a program for boys and girls league ages 13-14, using a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Advanced rules of baseball, including leading off, stealing, and balks are part of the game. Games are played among the league and against teams from other leagues within District 9.
Players at this level, if interested, can choose to become youth Umpires for Triple-A, Coast, and Majors levels and receive volunteering hour credit.
Seniors Division (Ages 15-16)
The Senior League Baseball Division is for boys and girls 14-16 years old and uses a conventional 90-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Players at this level, if interested, can choose to become youth Umpires for Triple-A, Coast, and Majors levels and receive volunteering hour credit.