travel baseball rankings

• Ballparks of America
• - 4GG Game Guarantee
• - Stay to Play
• - Awards: Rings
• COST: $875.00 - $1,075.00

• Georgetown College-Robert N Wilson Field
• Memorial Park
• - 5 Game Guarantee
• COST: $875.00

• Bailey Park
• Harper Creek
• Homer Stryker Field
• Marshall High School
• Olivet College Baseball
• Pennfield High School

• Action Sports Center
• Fairmont High
• Princeton High School
• Warren County Sports
• COST: $1,175.00

• COST: $995.00 - $1,175.00

• - 3GG Game Guarantee
• - Awards: Rings/Medals

• Overall Total $

2021 Postseason Rankings

Travel Baseball 101: Everything You Need To Know

• By Chris F.
• On July 29, 2022
• Travel Ball

Table of Contents

Most popular organizations

Tournament travel, how is travel baseball organized, additional costs:, what’s a good age to start playing travel ball, other parents, organization websites, what to look for in a team, travel baseball pros and cons, travel baseball vs little league, what is the best travel baseball team, when should i leave a travel baseball team, fundraising ideas for travel baseball.

If you are an engaged baseball parent and have a child with decent skills, you’ve probably grown frustrated with the level of play in the laid-back rec leagues in your towns. I mean, how is your kid going to get better if the other players on the team don’t understand the game and don’t have the desire to improve? This is probably the most significant reason we’ve seen explosive growth in the travel baseball leagues and tournaments. 

The transition from Little League to AAU comes with many questions, but the good news is that these travel leagues will provide a support system and structure to help your child succeed in highly competitive baseball. 

In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about travel baseball and help answer any questions that will help you determine whether or not these types of leagues make sense for your child. 

Travel Organizations

Let’s not beat around the bush. Travel baseball is a business. This market has exploded over the past decade, and the youth sports industry expects to grow more as travel teams become more popular.

This $15b youth sports market in the US rivals that of the $14 billion NFL, so you know we are talking about big business.

However, this business presents kids as young as eight with opportunities to team with other skilled players to play against better competition in their area. Teams will compete with other travel teams within the state and participate in regular tournaments. 

When people hear “travel baseball,” they immediately think the team goes all over the country every weekend to participate in different tournaments. In some cases, that may be true, but when I think of travel baseball, I think of some of the better local players coming from all over and trying out for the team. If you are on more of a showcase team, you will often have players come from all over the country. 

.stk-2b1a187{margin-bottom:0px !important}.stk-2b1a187-container{background-color:#96caf9 !important}.stk-2b1a187-container:before{background-color:#96caf9 !important} There are thousands of travel baseball teams throughout the country, and most play in tournaments or leagues organized by AAU, USSSA, and Perfect Game.

Playing in one of these leagues is almost a requirement if you are a talented ballplayer and are serious about your baseball career. While expensive, these leagues will help players develop their skills and play against some of the area’s best competition.  

If your child is on the younger side and is just getting started with travel baseball, most of the games will be local, with a few longer-distance tournaments mixed in. Once you get to that 16u-18u range, the tournaments become more about exposure and getting recruited by colleges so that you might travel to Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, etc.

You won’t go to all these travel baseball tournaments every year, but the WWBA, for instance, is one of the biggest tournaments in youth baseball and is located in Georgia. Many college coaches attend this tournament, so it’s an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills and gain exposure. 

If you are a player from one of the colder states and are interested in playing down south , these tournaments provide a great platform for you to make some new connections and show some of these coaches what you can do. 

When I think about travel baseball, I don’t think of it as being seasonal. Some teams will have their regular season in the spring, and some even play in the fall.

During the winter, especially in the Northeast, my son’s team had bi-weekly practices in one of the local indoor facilities where they could train. This allowed the team to build chemistry while also keeping them fresh. Travel baseball will allow you to practice all year round if you want to while you play other sports. 

All the travel league games my son has played in have taken place on the weekends. We typically have a doubleheader against the same team to squeeze in more games with a short break in between.

The tournaments usually consist of the top 8 teams in the League and are set up in a pool format. Those tournaments can be held anywhere, but we’ve traditionally hosted them at a local sports complex with multiple fields.

Suppose your tournaments are made up of more than ten non-local teams. In that case, they will usually take place in a central location with the infrastructure to accommodate traveling families for the weekend.  

With pool play, teams are guaranteed a certain amount of games before moving into the single-elimination games. Depending on the size of the tournament, a team may play between 2-8 games during the weekend. 

When signing up for travel ball, part of what you are paying for could include participation in a certain amount of tournaments. I know we were guaranteed at least one tournament, and everything else would be at an additional cost.

Each team will decide which tournaments to participate in and how many they’d like to do. The coach will need to look at age level, skillsets, and how many families can afford the additional cost.  

When the players enter high school, they may start participating in player showcases or tournaments where coaches and scouts come to watch and evaluate players. 

How Much Does Travel Ball Cost?

I’m not going to lie, when I first saw the cost of playing travel AAU baseball, there was definitely sticker shock. Our League tries to keep it affordable for families, so we were apparently on the lower end at $1700.

When you break it down, though, it wasn’t too bad. The kids got home and away uniforms, sweatshirts with their names, two sets of hats, helmets, Easton bags, and a batting warmup jacket.

The team had access to an indoor baseball training facility twice a week starting in the fall through April to practice. The fee also included a spot in a local tournament.

Other travel teams near us were upwards of $4k for the season. When I heard that, I stopped complaining about our price. Many of these travel baseball teams come with exorbitant prices that, unfortunately, eliminate many families and kids who can compete at this level.

.stk-110d1c6{margin-bottom:0px !important}.stk-110d1c6-container{background-color:#96caf9 !important}.stk-110d1c6-container:before{background-color:#96caf9 !important} When it comes down to travel baseball teams, the price can be pretty shocking to most parents, so you must decide how big of a financial impact this will have on your family. The League’s overall cost will differ but typically ranges from $500-$5,000 a year.

That amount is only the fee to play on the team. When you put together a potential budget, there are many additional costs to factor in. 

• Equipment – New bat rules may require you to buy your child a new bat. There are USSSA leagues that require USSSA bats, USA bats , BBCOR bats, and wood bats only. If you are lucky enough to be on a sponsored team, sometimes equipment such as bats, gloves, and other baseball gear is included.
• Travel costs – Even if you aren’t flying to a tournament, you will most likely be driving considerable distances, so be sure to factor in the price of gas. 
• Are the coaches being paid? Most likely not if you are on a younger team, but some older, more competitive travel teams pay their coaches.
• Facilities – We lucked out because practice time was included in our league fees. Teams who may not have access to public fields and practice off-season will have to rent space.

These are all the costs associated with your player and the League. Now, what about the stuff you will need as a baseball parent? Team gear, comfortable camping chairs , coolers, wagons, heaters , and fans.

Over the past twenty years, travel baseball’s popularity has exploded. Initially designed for teenagers, younger age groups have also taken over the sport.

Our first taste of travel ball was when our son was eight years old, playing on our town’s summer travel team. We didn’t have to travel far, but it was a fantastic experience.

It was a little more competitive than rec ball, so it gave us a good idea of where our kids stacked up compared to other towns. While eight sounds young, the kids improved during the month-long season. They knew who to back up, where to take the cut-off throws, and when to tag up on the bases.

It was so nice to see them begin to understand the little intricacies of the game, and they would not have received this type of instruction in town ball. While we had a great experience with our eight-year-old’s summer travel team, it is still pretty young.

I’d say the best time to start competitive travel baseball is around 9-10. It’s sad, but any later, you and your child will fall behind. Many kids have played years of competitive ball by then. 

How Do I Find A Travel Team Near Me?

If you have decided that travel baseball could be a good fit for your son or daughter, it’s time to start looking for a team. If you think your child would benefit from joining a travel baseball team but have no idea where to start, there are many resources to help you find some squads in your area. 

Facebook is a great place to start. In the search box, type in travel baseball near me or travel baseball ga for example. You will see a feed of many local teams advertising for upcoming tryouts or even established teams looking for a player to fill in for a tournament.  

After watching rec ball for a season, you will recognize who the best players are. Talk to their parents and ask them if their child is doing travel ball. If they are, ask them what their experience has been. Talking to other parents can also be helpful because if their child isn’t already in travel ball, they may know someone else who is. Word of mouth is huge. 

Many organizations, like USSSA, provide a list of active teams on their website. You can filter by age, location, and overall skill level to find potential groups that might be a good match for your child.  

A few other helpful resources for finding a travel team are Select Baseball Teams ,  AAU , and Field Level .

• Does the program win?
• What is the team’s location, and how far do they need to travel?
• Do they develop their players? What is their team mission?
• What is their facility like?
• Who are the coaches – read their bios on the website 
• How many games/tournaments do they play each season?
• How often do they practice
• What is the total cost for the season?
• What does the offseason training schedule look like
• Do they encourage multi-sport athletes?
• Do other players enjoy being on the team?
• What’s the reputation of the organization?
• What’s the skill level of the kids?
• How is playing time determined?
• Do they protect the pitcher’s arm by adhering to pitch counts?
• How many kids are on the team

When it costs thousands of dollars, money will always be an issue but try not to make your decision solely based on cost. Pick the program where your child will have fun and where they will develop the most. 

• Competition  – Competition tends to be better. Players take the game more seriously and seem to want to improve. It’s not cheap, so unless the parents have money to throw away, they will only pay the fees if their child is serious about the game.
• Development  – There’s a bigger focus on skill building. You practice much more than Little League, so your child will likely improve. 
• Coaching  – Travel teams will often have multiple talented baseball coaches who are more qualified and have more knowledge of the game and how it should be taught.
• More exposure  for the kids when they play in regional tournaments.
• More games played  
• Travel  – more opportunities to travel as a family and see different parts of the country
• Cost –  The price of playing travel can be high, sometimes up to $5k per year. 
• Time – Playing travel ball takes up a lot of time, so hopefully, you don’t like your weekends free in the summer.  
• Competitive – Travel ball can also be a lot of fun, but it’s way more competitive .  There is more of a focus on winning and advancing in tournaments. 
• Playing time  – The best players will rarely come off the field, so if your child is average, there might be a lack of playing time. 
• Lack of diversity – Aside from the high cost, many argue that the lack of ethnic and socioeconomic diversity is what is wrong with travel baseball.
• Overdoing it . Is all of this playing too much too soon? There’s been an enormous increase in Tommy John procedures over the past decade amongst young pitchers.

The debate about travel baseball vs. Little League has been a popular topic in US youth baseball for some time. The two organizations have different philosophies on the game and how it should be played. 

We all came to love the game of baseball by playing Little League. For that reason, it’s easy to be biased toward the more laid-back rec leagues where the mission is to foster community, volunteerism, sportsmanship, and fair play. With Little League, whether you win or lose, each ballplayer should have fun, make lifelong friends and grow their love for this beautiful game. 

Travel ball is much more competitive, and fans of these types of leagues prefer the more “advanced” brand of baseball that comes along with it. In AAU and other travel ball associations, these leagues provide a level of instruction, coaching, and competition that Little League cannot match. 

If your child has shown true talent on the ballfield, considering “travel” should be an option. Many high school players and beyond have played in some competitive travel leagues.

I don’t want to give off the impression that these leagues have no similarities because they do. In any league, the kids should learn about teamwork, sportsmanship, respect for their opponent, work ethic, and dealing with and bouncing back from failure. These are excellent life lessons that extend well beyond the baseball field. 

The differences are around the competition level and the time commitment. Little League doesn’t always offer the type of coaching that will take your game to the next level. That is why many families are supplementing with travel ball.  

So, if your child is serious about playing at a high level, you should transition to travel ball at around 11-12 years old, if not earlier. 

Take a look at travel baseball rankings to see who the best performing teams were this year. This site is an excellent resource because it lets you filter by age and either state or national rankings. It even allows you to see historical data to see who consistently ranks at the top.  

Some of the top 16u national teams for this past year are listed below. You will see that most originate from the baseball hotbed states of Texas, Florida, California, and Georgia.

16u Rankings

• USA Prime National(TX)
• Top Tier Roos National(FL)
• Exposure Under Church(TN)
• TBT National(FL)
• Power Baseball Marucci(FL)
• East Cobb Astros(GA)
• Knights Nation Baseball (LA)
• Alpha Prime National(CA)
• MCBC Hit Dogs(MI)
• 5 Star National Black(GA)
• Burn Scout Team(FL)
• Top Tier Roos American(FL)
• Canes National(VA)
• CBU United(FL)

Let’s face it; every child will not have a fantastic experience with their travel team. There are so many different factors that go into whether or not a kid has a positive experience. 

• Are they getting enough playing time?
• Are they developing their skills?
• Is the team winning?
• Do they get along with the other kids on the team?
• Is it getting too expensive for the family?
• Are they mad about the time commitment, missing birthday parties, sleepovers, etc.? 
• Are the coaches compassionate and caring about you as a person, or are they only worried about winning a cheap plastic trophy?

It won’t be the same experience for everyone, so chances are, you and your child will know when it’s the right time to leave. It may be one of the reasons listed above or something completely different. Still, the bottom line is that if your child is not enjoying the experience and is not improving, why continue wasting money? 

• Super Bowl squares
• Yeti Cooler raffle – 1 ticket for $10 or 3 for $20
• Lottery ticket basket raffle
• Stand in front of Dunkin Donuts or the grocery store with signs and helmets to collect the money. Have a sign that says we take Venmo!! Do it in 3 hours shifts and watch the money roll in. 
• Golf tournament – although more complex to plan
• Solicit donations from local businesses
• Hit-A-Thon – They hit 15 (or whatever # of balls you choose). Each ball has a number on it. You sell each number for $10-20. The ball he hits the farthest wins a GC. The rest of the money you keep! Stream it live on Facebook for everyone to watch. Use the 99 Pledges site to set it up. I read about one League that raised $44k in one season. 
• Purse bingo
• Meat raffles
• Wreaths at Christmas
• Popcornmania
• Pampered chef

Final Thoughts

Baseball should still be fun. As good as it might feel, do not try to relive the glory days if you even had them in the first place.

Many parents see baseball or any other sport their kid is playing as the only realistic path to college, and these youth games are treated as training grounds for an athletic scholarship. No wonder why you have adults screaming at umps and other kids. Unfortunately for some folks, every game feels like life or death. 

So, is travel baseball worth it? It can be a rewarding experience for your player and the entire family. You must select the right travel team to ensure you have that fulfilling experience.

Depending on when you start, you will be with this coach and these players and their families for the next few years. Committing to a travel team will turn your life into absolute chaos, but you will learn to love it. If you are lucky enough, you will join a team where you click with the other parents, and your kid becomes lifelong friends with his teammates.

Travel Baseball Rankings and Stats

Just like college baseball RPI but for travel ball.  

Five Star Carolina Bombers 9U

Nwnc elite gold 9u, sba futures 9u, sandhills select white 9u, sba nationals 9u, baseball rebellion 9u, carolina evo 9u, weddington wild 9u, carolina clippers orange 9u, canes - hudson 9u, nw elite 2031, river rats 9u, nsa knuckleheads 9u, cba copperheads black 9u, carolina bearcats 9u, east rowan 9u, carolina rockies black marucci 9u, n.l. destroyers (2033) 9u, zt prospects derick 9u, mission saints 9u, carolina elite of clayton 9u, fs bulldogs 9u, 9u on deck o’s detweiler, c35 white 9u, copperheads red spring 9u, south charlotte revolution 9u, dirtbags 9u, gbc prospects 9u, athletes lab white 9u, dirt dynasty hockaday 9u, carolina creepers, gbi express 9u, nl33 rollins 9u, oc crushers 9u, carolina express 9u, mvp athletics 9u, mission gold 9u, south charlotte panthers 9u, wendell wood ducks 9u, stanly county crushers 9u, kernersville blue chips 9u, carolina knights 9u, c35 - lee county 9u, nc admirals 9u, 9u carolina sluggers 9u, powerhouse gundawgs 9u national, sba 9u honey badgers, generals 9u, wow factor atlantic lincoln co 9u, randolph county vipers, nationals 9u, elite baseball 9u ebc 9u, slb 9u american, p413 9u dotson, m.r. elite - mad rabbits 9u, dilworth 9u challenge, c35 ford 9u, triad warriors 9u, cape fear arrows 9u, carolina clovers 9u - black, ztprospects carolina 9u, c35 fuquay 2033 9u, south park 9u, cleveland county warriors 9u, rock solid blue 9u, archer lodge aces 9u, rock solid 9u white 9u, wcwaa 9u challenge warhawks, patriots baseball 9u, next level baseball 9u, diamond thieves 9u lilley 9u, mara bombers 9u, carolina clippers blue 9u, carolina king cobras (orange) 9u, strive baseball 9u, lightning jacks 9u, lkn thunder - 9u, durham owls 9u, north iredell nitro 9u, uc bulldogs 9u, fury 9u spring 24, carolina arsenal 9u, carolina king cobras 9u (blue) 9u, obx 9u whitecaps 9u, wilson patriots 9u, carolina white sox 9u navy, dirt dynasty- green 9u, lknll storm 9u, 5 star heat craig 9u, ph gundawgs american 9u, eagles elite whitfield 9u, tlp navy 9u, on deck os 9u mennitt, nwnc elite navy 9u, tlp red 10u, wilson pirates - lippert 10u, sba bolts national 10u, zt prospects jackson 10u, usa prime coastal rice 10u, rock solid red 10u, athletes lab red 10u, tlp navy 10u, athletes lab navy 10u, north carolina predators 10u, diamond life athletics 10u, mara lightning 10u, aces 10u spring 2024, lexington flying pigs 10u, mhc makos 10u, pittsboro patriots 10u, nc prospects 10u, mission saints olmo 10u, carolina rockies black marucci 10u, carolina river rats 10u, sba futures 10u, gbc prospects clark 10u, tpa nationals prime 10u, waxhaw gladiators 10u, eagles elite - meadows 10u, new market force 10u, north wake 10u - morrow, lightning jacks stover 10u, hillsborough hawks 10u, nwnc elite - york 10u, nsa dodgers 10u, kernersville blue chips 10u, cc cardinals 10u, carolina riptide 10u, gbc prospects pruitt 10u, summerfield stars 10u, usa prime hayes 10u, fs bulldogs red 10u, gbi express 10u ramr, wow factor atlantic alpha 10u 10u, salem select baseball 10u, rawlings tigers clayton 10u, sandhills select - red 10u, fs bulldogs black 10u, dry pond 10u, lkn thunder 10u, cape fear arrows 10u, c35 - rabon 10u, carolina titans 10u, erds heaters 10u, carolina bearcats 10u, ebc elite 10u, mission gold 10u, team carolina 10u, sba prime - 10u stamey, ddx 10u martin, stokes stars shaffer 10u, copperheads black 10u, carolina mavericks 10u, sc revolution - zullo 10u, wow factor 10u snell - red, c35 fayetteville 10u, east coast baseball 10u edwards (spring), warriors travel 10u, pfafftown raiders 10u, riptide 10u-lu 10u, pba carolina stars gold 10u, cdh - renegades 10u, lake norman thunder white 10u, ballantyne bombers 10u, p413 10u allen, concord athletics - swanson 10u, carolina rockies 10u purple marucci, athletes lab white 10u, carolina vipers 10u black, carolina elite of clayton 10u, lake norman scrappers 10u, garner generals 10u, wf coastal mantz 10u 2023, on deck o’s black - juez 10u, 10u on deck o’s - ramirez, carolina yellow jackets 10u, bandits 10u, 10u carolina sluggers navy 10u, north lincoln destroyers 10u, c35 pinehurst 10u, stanly county crushers 10u, wow factor 10u snell - blue, carolina pirates 10u, diamond thieves 2032 10u, surry county sliders 10u, riptide 10u-blues, wilson pirates select 10u, east coast baseball-pigford 10u, gf sandlot johnson 10u, nc rogue 10u, oc crushers spring 10u, mission saints 11u, sba los rayos national 11u, extreme performance kluttz 11u, sba bolts national 11u, dirtbags of wnc 11u, oct outlaws 11u, diamond life athletics 11u, sba zt stars 11u - theodore, canes nc land 11u, sba futures 11u, wow factor atlantic 11u foxtrot, oc crushers-orange 11u, canes charlotte 11u, salem select 11u, whitecaps 11u, vipers baseball 11u, c35 fuquay-varina white 11u, sba nc east 2031 11u, dry pond 11u, gbi express white 11u, nc rogue 11u, carolina diamonds 11u- spring 2024, gunners 11u, concord athletics 11u, ravens finest 11u, sandhills select 11u, copperheads red 11u, lkn thunder - fury 11u, nwnc elite mash 11u, sandlot gragg 11u, durham owls somers 11u, fs bulldogs (dane) 11u, summerfield stars 11u, park sharon nationals 11u, lkn lightning 11u, ondeck uc 11u, union co. crush spring 11u, riptide 11u gold, sanford spartans 11u, usa prime - hansen 11u, carolina freedom smith 11u, carolina wolfpack 11u, mocksville 39ers, riptide 11u-blue 11u, carolina bagboys 11u, river rats 11u, rawlings tigers raleigh 11u, sox baseball 11u, south charlotte revolution 11u, east coast bandits (blue) 11u, concord screamin eagles 11u, carolina rockies 11u marucci, pfafftown raiders elite 11u, gewbc nighthawks 11u, carolina clovers 11u, carolina reapers 11u, nc force 11u, sba havoc 11u, sba dallas 11u, tri county bombers 11u- simmon 11u, copperheads black 11u, hrs baseball 11u, north lincoln destroyers 11u, clinton colts 11u, wow factor atlantic 11u alpha, on deck charlotte 11u, carolina bulls 11u, sc revolution ferreira 11u, couloak diesel 11u, c35 fuquay-varina argyle 11u, granite city bulls 2031 11u, carolina shockers 11u, garner generals 11u, gbc prospects 11u - perry, red clay black 11u, wcwaa bulldogs 11u 11u, c35 fuquay-varina 11u blue 11u, rowan rangers 11u, wow factor carolina 11u, sba prospects 11u, mooresville biscuits 11u, carolina diamond thieves 11u, carolina mavericks 11u, wow factor atlantic tango 11u, mcdowell militia baseball 11u, morehead city makos 11u, 11u port city baseball academy, 5 star heat craig 11u, tlp navy 11u, dirt dynasty 11u, carolina white sox 11u, 5 star heat bowman 11u, nlb mfba 11u, carolina armor 11u, tlp white 11u, sba bolts national 12u, canes nation 12u, gbc prospects - matthews 12u, wow factor atlantic national 12u, scp black 12u, 5 star powerhouse 12u, neuse river crawdads 12u, pfafftown raiders elite 2030 12u, dirtbags carolina 12u, dirtbags elite gold 12u, fury baseball 12u, ravens baseball 12u, gbc prospects baker 12u, orange county crushers orange 12u, copperheads black 12u, athletes lab red 12u, asheville as 12u, wnc warhawks 12u, riptide 12u 12u, carolina united 12u, mara bolts 12u, gametime prospects central 12u, ultimate gryphons diamond elite 12u, dry pond blue sox 12u, canes carolina 12u, fs bulldogs 12u black, carolina clippers orange 12u, carolina evo 12u, carolina ghost 12u, copperheads red 12u, colts national 12u, scp cardinal 12u, carolina mavericks 12u, nsa atta boyz 12u, cc cardinals 12u, funky monkeys 12u, copperheads 12u - gray, on deck o’s 12u pennell, diamond boys baseball gold 12u, carolina dark horses white 12u, sc braves 12u, slb navy 12u, carolina bearcats 12u, c35 pinehurst 12u (smith), morehead city makos 12u, colts american 12u, outkast 12u, roadrunners baseball 12u, mission monarchs 12u, walkoff regulators 12u, redclay 12u - muzroll, belmont bandits 2030, south charlotte revolution 12u, ballantyne bombers 12u, red clay drury 12u, usa prime blue chips 12u, dirtbags charlotte 12u, venom stars 12u, diamond dreams xtreme 12u, concord athletics 12u, sba futures 12u, lonestar hippos 12u, 5 star heat 12u black 12u, carolina rampage 12u, destroyers baseball 12u, boys on fire laws 12u, durham owls 12u, river rats 12u jamesville, nc, dirtbags platinum 12u, seahawks 12u, carolina crush 12u, mission gold 12u, carolina river rats 12u, wow factor carolina nation 12u, tpa nationals 12u elite, on deck os - hockensmith 12u, cleveland wildcats 12u, c35 12u neese, wilmington breakers 12u, gbi express 12u, sc panthers 12u, lexington flying pigs 12u, sotg storm 12u, piedmont aces 12u, dilworth 12u, wow factor atlantic tango 12u, summerfield stars red 12u, canes nc - danko 12u, mountain fire 12u, obx whitecaps 12u, wilson patriots 12u, park sharon nationals 12u, wahoo baseball 12u, moneybag bandits 12u, fs bulldogs red 12u, carolina vipers 12u, zt prospects carolina 12u.

Top Picks: Pennsylvania’s Best Travel Baseball Teams Ranked

How are pa travel baseball rankings determined.

As the baseball season heats up, players around Pennsylvania are gearing up for some intense competition. With so many talented teams across the state, it’s important for coaches and fans alike to stay updated on the latest PA travel baseball rankings.

But how exactly are these rankings determined? Well, it turns out that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The methodology used can vary depending on who you ask or where you look.

One popular approach involves a point system based on wins and losses against opponents of varying strength. Teams earn more points for beating tougher opponents and lose more points for losing to weaker ones. This method is often used by websites such as TravelBall Select or Perfect Game USA.

Another common method is a simple vote-based ranking system like MaxPreps’ annual high school football poll. Coaches from around the state submit their votes each week, resulting in a list of top-ranked teams based on consensus opinion rather than statistical data.

Of course, there are critics of both approaches. Some argue that relying solely on wins and losses doesn’t take into account factors such as injuries or tough schedules, while others see voting systems as subjective and prone to bias.

Ultimately, though, regardless of which methodology is used – it takes hard work from all sides – including parents; we must remember that any  team ranked  among Pennsylvania’s best has surely earned its place through exceptional skill and dedication.

So next time you check out those PA travel baseball rankings online – remember the process behind them but also never forget what truly counts: passion for the game!

Frequently Asked Questions About PA Travel Baseball Rankings

Are you a parent, coach or player interested in travel baseball? Then you must have heard about PA Travel Baseball Rankings! It’s one of the best ways to keep track of your team’s progress and compare against other teams. But as with any ranking system, there is bound to be some confusion. In this blog post, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about PA Travel Baseball Rankings.

1) What are PA Travel Baseball Rankings?

PA Travel Baseball Rankings are rankings that show how different travel baseball teams from across Pennsylvania fare against each other. These rankings take into account various factors such as win-loss records, strength of schedule, run differential and more.

2) Who creates these rankings?

The founder and creator of PA Travel Baseball Ranking is Mark Solomon. He has been involved with youth sports in Pennsylvania for over 20 years; coaching a variety of basketball, football and baseball teams in his community including Mohnton AA (baseball), which offers travel ball opportunities.

3) How often are these rankings updated?

Rankings are typically updated weekly during the travel baseball season – from April through August or September depending on league play-offs/scheduling etc.

4) Why should I care about my team’s rank?

There are many reasons why being ranked can be important for your team: it allows players to see where they stand relative to their competition; lets parents know if their child/team is performing well compared to others at similar levels/skill sets across the state; provides coaches with insight regarding strengths/weaknesses within their program so they may make adjustments accordingly.

5) Is there any cost associated with using these rankings?

No! Mark Solomon wanted the information offered by these  rankings easily accessible without breaking  anyone’s budget – hence all information available FREE OF CHARGE!

6) Can anyone submit scores/results for inclusion in the standings/rankings update process?

Absolutely! Coaches (or another designated team representative should contact Mark directly via email to submit updated scores/standings for incorporation.

7) What other information can I find on the PA Travel Baseball Rankings website?

In addition to rankings, the website offers schedules and results from games throughout Pennsylvania – so you can keep track of which teams are playing when/where. There is also a helpful message board where interested parties can share stories, ask questions or start up conversations about all things related to Pennsylvania travel baseball (and beyond).

In conclusion, PA Travel Baseball Rankings provide an excellent resource for anyone looking to stay informed about their team’s performance relative to others within the state‘s competitive youth leagues. It’s easy-to-use interface provides weekly updates during seasons that feature detailed standings, helpful resources (such as game schedules) – but most importantly these rankings give everyone involved in youth  baseball a better understanding  of which programs are achieving success along with showing areas needing improvement.

Top 5 Facts You Need to Know About PA Travel Baseball Rankings

Baseball is undoubtedly one of America’s most loved and revered sports, and for good reason. It requires skill, precision, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. For young aspiring baseball players in Pennsylvania or any other state, travel baseball is a compelling option that can provide invaluable opportunities for growth as an athlete.

Travel baseball rankings are essential information that coaches, parents, and players use to gauge the success of their teams against others across different leagues. Here are five top facts you need to know about PA travel baseball rankings:

1) Rankings determine how teams qualify for tournaments

PA travel baseball tournaments may have varying requirements on which ranked groups can participate in them. That said, it would be critical to keep track of where your  team ranks among others since those standings  will dictate if you get invited to some high-level competitions! Do not underestimate the impact a strong ranking can have on your  future decision-making process when considering tournament  participation opportunities.

2) They offer credibility

Parents tend to take pride in seeing their child playing at higher skill levels than another child who isn’t quite there yet or has not made it onto an elite team. A fluid ranking system rewards excellent play by displaying all active traveling rosters’ standings accurately; this way families gain ample insight into whether their kids’ skills improve over time.

3) Placement matters more than overall record

It’s crucial for athletes (of all ages!) and coaching staff alike not solely targeting earning wins but striving towards placing above competitors regardless of games actually played throughout the season or stretch of competition they partook in during the period surveyed.

4) Changes occur regularly

The best part about PA  travel ball rankings ? They’re dynamic – constantly fluctuating based on several factors such as win-loss records versus opponents within certain age brackets/skill tiers/ geographic areas along with strength-of-schedule metrics & average margin-of-victory/per-game scores comparison stats affecting both local/regional/national rankings. By keeping track of these ever-changing leaderboard levers, parents and  coaches can gain valuable insight into how their team  stacks up against the rest of the field.

5) Network your way to a strong rank

One significant factor that determines where you fall in PA travel baseball rankings is participation – being involved with tournaments regularly means increased exposure (more chances for wins against high caliber opponents). In other words: “play often, play better,” which will increase visibility amongst scouts & recruiters actively monitoring who rises through ranks quickly over time. Plus, teams’ social media presence creates digital breadcrumbs-like recruiting firms specializing in tracking down premier talent pool prospects across various age brackets/skill tiers/ geographies scouting trip logs by playing at more venues within different event circuits=more opportunities for effective networking!

Overall, paying attention to travels baller rankings is imperative if one needs recognition as an excellent player or wants to join prestigious leagues. It offers useful intel on several key indicators heavily influencing decision-making regarding eligibility criteria set forth for numerous regional/national organizations hosting exclusive invite-only tournaments each year alongside recording artists who may not show up in consistent daily game-stats only review evaluation sheets used accordingly when hiring staff observes training sessions combining practice/performance instead both individual/team measured goal-oriented assessment. PA travel baseballs ranking system adds prestige going beyond winning streak statistics displaying intricate details necessary consideration reviewing before applying among desired higher-level league memberships throughout country-wide viewscapes!

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Baseball: A couple of new teams crack the reshuffled top 10 team rankings

As league play begins to pick up across the Lower Hudson Valley, here's a look at the latest baseball team rankings.

Top 10 rankings

All records entering April 23

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• Iona Prep (10-2) – The Gaels took their first loss in CHSAA play, losing a 4-2 game to Monsignor Farrell. They followed up with a loss with an experimental lineup over the weekend to Poly Prep, but got to reset by getting a 7-0 win over Cardinal Spellman on Monday in a return to form to start the week. Previously: 2
• Ketcham (6-1) – The Storm also suffered their first loss of the year, a 6-5 game against league rival Arlington. They managed to bounce back the following day in a rematch with the Admirals, evening the home-and-home series with a 5-4 win. Postponements limited them to those two games, so they'll be eager to return to game action after a week to refocus. Previously: 1
• John Jay-East Fishkill (6-0-1) – The Patriots kept their unbeaten start going, picking up a couple of league wins against Carmel. They also ventured into Section 4 and emerged victorious in a pair of decisive wins over Union Endicott and Maine-Endwell. Previously: 4
• Kennedy Catholic (9-3) – The Gaels had their eight-game winning streak broken up by back-to-back losses to Poly Prep and a lopsided loss CHSAA foe St. Raymond's. Previously: 5
• Arlington (7-2) – Expectations were initially unclear after the graduation of a couple of standout pitchers and productive players, but the Admirals made it evident they're still a competitive force in Class AAA. After losing its season opener to Suffern, Arlington has now won six of its last seven games, which includes a recent key win over Panas and a season series split with Ketcham, where both games were decided by one run. Previously: Not ranked
• North Rockland (6-2) – The Red Raiders won two out of their three-game series against Clarkstown North, as they began league play, and went on to enjoy a win against Tappan Zee over the weekend. There will be added intrigue this week, as they face rival Suffern in a three-game series this week. The Mounties won the first game on Monday behind Boston College-committed ace Connor Southwell, but it'll be interesting to see how the Red Raiders respond for their next two meetings. Previously: 6
• John Jay-Cross River (7-2) – Some untimely postponements limited them to just two games last week, as they picked up back-to-back victories over Byram Hills. The Wolves won't get many breaks this week, as they prepare for Mahopac and a home-and-home series with Yorktown. Previously: 8
• Harrison (8-3) – The Huskies have only gotten better as the season unwinds. After graduating a massive senior class that included seven starters, they had a rocky 2-3 start, but they've looked like a completely different team as of late. They enter with a six-game winning streak, which includes marquee wins over Fox Lane, Clarkstown South, Rye Neck and a 10-3 victory at Mamaroneck. Previously: Not ranked
• Fox Lane (6-2) – Costly errors and a strong pitching performance by White Plains' Sam Mendez doomed the Foxes in their 4-1 loss to the 3-8 Tigers. Before that, they had a four-game winning streak going over the likes of Suffern, Ossining and a pair of wins against Port Chester. Previously: 8
• Mahopac (6-2-1) and Mamaroneck (4-4-1) – Mahopac standout Tyler Castrataro is a game-changer, but his teammates have also been swinging the bat well as of late. They've outscored opponents 52-20 over their last six games. Postponements kept them off the field last week, but Mahopac was able to get a comeback win over Yorktown on Monday. As for Mamaroneck, the Tigers defeated rival New Rochelle after back-to-back losses against Ketcham and Harrison. The Tigers are now 3-2-1 against Section 1 opponents. They've shown their potential in a win over Suffern and a one-run loss to Ketcham, but they're searching for greater consistency as league play heats up. Previously: 4 (Mamaroneck); 9 (Mahopac)

On the bubble: Tappan Zee (9-2), Panas (5-3), Albertus Magnus (9-1), Suffern (6-5), Croton-Harmon (10-1), Yorktown (5-5), Brewster (7-4), Rye Neck (8-3), Somers (4-4), Pleasantville (7-3), Stepinac (4-8)

Section 1 class rankings

Class AAA: 1. Ketcham; 2. John Jay-East Fishkill; 3. Arlington; 4. North Rockland; 5. Mamaroneck; 6. New Rochelle; 7. Ossining; 8. Port Chester

Class AA: 1. Harrison; 2. Fox Lane; 3. Mahopac; 4. Suffern; 5. Yorktown; T-6. Brewster/Somers; 7. Clarkstown South; 8. Eastchester

Class A: 1. John Jay-Cross River; 2. Tappan Zee; 3. Panas; 4. Rye; 5. Nanuet; 6. Pearl River; 7. Ardsley; 8. Pelham; 9. Byram Hills; 10. Hastings

Class B: 1. Albertus Magnus; 2. Croton-Harmon; 3. Rye Neck; 4. Pleasantville; T-5. Putnam Valley/Valhalla; 6. Bronxville; 7. Dobbs Ferry; 8. Pawling; 9. Westlake; 10. Blind Brook

Class C: 1. Leffell School; 2. Tuckahoe; 3. Haldane; 4. Hamilton; 5. North Salem

Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at  @erapay5  and on Instagram at  @byeugenerapay.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Baseball: A couple of new teams crack the reshuffled top 10 team rankings

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2023-24 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 - No. 4 (April 24)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -  Southeastern (Fla.) garners all 19 first-place votes to sit atop the standings of the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25. Georgia Gwinnett moves up to second and Cumberlands (Ky.) to third as LSU Shreveport (La.) drops to fourth. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) moves up four spots to sit in fifth place while Kansas Wesleyan and Columbia (Mo.) both join the Top 25. 

Rating Methodology

• The rating was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences.
• The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each rater ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.
• The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.
• Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”
• For the complete Top 25 calendar, click  here.

Dropped from Top 25:  Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Oklahoma Wesleyan

Receiving Votes:  Arizona Christian 52; Oklahoma Wesleyan 50; Northwestern Ohio 39; British Columbia 37; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 35; Oregon Tech 32; Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.) 26; Keiser (Fla.) 26; OUAZ (Ariz.) 18; Indiana Wesleyan 18; Morningside (Iowa) 11; Milligan (Tenn.) 11; Indiana Southeast (Ind.) 9; Houston-Victoria (Texas) 7; Texas Wesleyan 6; Point Park (Pa.) 5; Georgetown (Ky.) 4; Science & Arts (Okla.) 3; Point (Ga.) 3

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Opening Round May 13-16, 2024 Campus Sites  

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The Times’ top 25 high school baseball rankings

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A look at the Los Angeles Times’ top 25 high school baseball teams in the Southland after the final week of the regular season.

Rk. SCHOOL (W-L); Comment (rk. last week)

1. CORONA (25-3); Will be No. 1 seed in Division 1 playoffs; 1

2. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (23-4-1); Thomas Bridges could be back pitching in playoffs; 3

3. ORANGE LUTHERAN (22-6); Trinity League champions; 2

4. SANTA MARGARITA (19-8-1); Eagles could make a Division 1 title run; 4

5. HUNTINGTON BEACH (20-8); Nathan Aceves can be playoff ace; 5

6. WESTLAKE (24-4); Dylan Volantis keeps throwing shutouts; 6

7. SAN DIMAS (23-4); If the pitching holds out, beware in D1 playoffs; 8

8. CORONA CENTENNIAL (21-6); Ranked No. 1 in Division 3; 11

9. MATER DEI (16-12); Monarchs should get Division 1 at-large berth; 9

10. LA MIRADA (21-6); Had three-game sweep of Gahr; 13

11 ARLINGTON (24-4); Pitching and defense key playoff run; 10

12. JSERRA (15-12-1); Lost three times to Servite; 7

13. CHAMINADE (19-9); Second-place finish in Mission League; 14

14. GAHR (17-9); Second place in league; 12

15. LOS ALAMITOS (21-7); Finished third in Surf League; 16

16. CALABASAS (19-9); Jordan Kingston ready for playoff opener; 15

17. PALOMA VALLEY (27-1); Impressive regular-season record; 17

18. ST. JOHN BOSCO (16-10); Finished fourth in Trinity League; 18

19. AQUINAS (22-6); Twelve-game winning streak; 20

20. FOOTHILL (20-8); Earned share of league title; 19

21. ALISO NIGUEL (18-7); Brandon Tatch’s hitting, pitching has been key; 21

22. MARANATHA (21-6); Watch out for Zach Strickland in playoffs; 22

23. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (18-9-1); Have pitching depth for playoffs; 23

24. BISHOP AMAT (18-8); Aaron Sandlin is 4-0; 24

25. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (18-9); Second place in Surf League; NR

More to Read

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Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He has been honored seven times by the California Prep Sportswriters Assn. for best prep sports column.

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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ESPN fantasy baseball rankings: 2024 head-to-head category and rotisserie leagues

• ESPN contributor on TV, radio, podcasts, blogs, Magazine
• Charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame
• Author of "The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments"

The 2024 fantasy baseball season is well under way and the action is coming in fast and furious on a daily basis. Listed below are my current rankings for the rest of the 2024 season, designed specifically with ESPN roto-style leagues in mind. These should help you evaluate moves in rotisserie leagues.

Note: Although Shohei Ohtani will retain SP eligibility for the upcoming season, reports state that, following September elbow surgery, he is not likely to pitch in 2024. As a result, we have decided not to include him in our SP ranks. He continues to be ranked as a DH. If he does pitch again in 2025 (even after potentially not doing so in 2024), we will allow him to retain his SP eligibility.

Looking for points league rankings? Check them out here .

Quick links:

Top 300 Overall | Top Catchers | Top First Basemen | Top Second Basemen | Top Third Basemen | Top Shortstops | Top Outfielders | Top Designated Hitters | Top Starting Pitchers | Top Relief Pitchers

Positional Rankings

Top 300 | C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | DH | SP | RP