Parents,

Believe it or not our Post-Season All-Star season is fast approaching!  All parents who would like their child to be considered for an All-Star team must complete our All-Star Commitment Form.

Spain Park Youth Baseball at Hoover East is affiliated with the Greater Birmingham Baseball Association or GBBA.  This is an affiliation of 7 area parks (Oak Mountain, Homewood, Hoover East, Mountain Brook, Shades Mountain, Vestavia and Trussville) to facilitate post season play for our various age groups.  The GBBA (governed by a board comprised of each park's President) develops a standard set of rules played by each participating park.  Each park selects teams to participate in a competitive "second season" of baseball that is played during May and June.  GBBA teams are slotted into appropriate divisions to provide a competitive league.  GBBA qualifying or pool games are played in May and June culminating with a double elimination championship tournament in mid to late June.  The GBBA season is currently offered for ages 6u through 12u.  Below are key dates and information for the GBBA 2017 Season:

Each team will play 4 Pool Play Games and will then be seeded into two or three separate Double-Elimination Brackets (depending on total number of teams) based on Pool Play results.

• Tournament will be held at Hoover East
• Pool Play Dates: 5/31 - 6/6
• Double-Elimination Bracket Dates:  6/8 - 6/11

Each team will play in a Round Robin Tournament to begin the Post-Season.  This Round Robin Tournament will help GBBA better classify teams into divisions based on talent level.

Once the divisions are set, each team will play 6 Pool Play games over the course of 3 weeks, followed by a Double Elimination Bracket to determine a GBBA Post-Season Champion.

• Round Robin Tournament Dates:  5/11 - 5/13
• GBBA Pool Play Game Dates:  5/22 - 6/12
• Double Elimination Tournament Dates:  6/12 - 6/17

Each team will play in a Round Robin Tournament to begin the Post-Season.  This Round Robin Tournament will help GBBA better classify teams into divisions based on talent level.

Once the divisions are set, each team will play 8 Pool Play games over the course of 4 weeks, followed by a Double Elimination Bracket to determine a GBBA Post-Season Champion.

• Round Robin Tournament Dates:  5/11 - 5/13
• GBBA Pool Play Game Dates:  5/15 - 6/12
• Double Elimination Tournament Dates:  6/12 - 6/17

All Stars teams are typically selected as follows:  

• 5 and 6 yr olds currently playing Coach Pitch (2 or 3 teams will be selected)
• 7 yr olds (Up to 3 teams will be selected)
• 8 yr olds (Up to 3 teams will be selected)
• 9 yr olds (Up to 3 teams will be selected)
• 10 yr olds (Up to 3 teams will be selected)
• 11 & 12 yr olds (1 team will be selected)
• 13 & 14 yr olds (1 team will be selected)

The number of teams is dictated by the number of players signed up in an age group and the talent level of the players signed up for that age group.  The number of teams listed above is simply an idea based on number of teams we have had in the past.

Upfront costs may include uniforms, GBBA Post-Season Team Fees, bat bags, and helmets.  The cost per player varies by team and optional equipment chosen. Each player will be responsible for the following approximate costs at a minimum, which are due payable at the uniform fitting:

*Bat bags, helmets, socks and belts may be purchased at an additional cost.

**Please note the difference in fees relates to number of games and cost of the umpires.

Team coaches will be responsible for collecting and remitting money to the host park.

In addition to these costs, for any tournament held at Hoover East, the participating teams will be responsible for food for the hospitality tent and press box duties. Sponsorships can and are encouraged to be used for these costs. Sponsorship money collected by each team can be used for other incidental costs (practice jersey’s, water bottles, etc). These decisions are left up to the head coach and each individual team. Any money left over will be distributed back to the team based on sponsorship participation. If you have any questions about the cost, please feel free to contact me.

All-stars generally begin practice the day after the league championship game and practice most days, with a few exceptions, until the games start (usually about 2-3 weeks) and will continue to practice when possible once games begin.

The league directors and I maintain a list of registrations from the online forms parents complete.  Once registration is closed, each league will have an All-star selection meeting.  At the selection meeting all of the head coaches in each league will meet and select the teams based on the players that have submitted online commitment forms.  There can be multiple teams in each age group.

The following are the proposed sites for each age group:

Please note these locations could change, but all tournaments will be held at one of the seven GBBA parks.