Action at a softball game at the Elks Field in Saranac Lake during the 2020 season. (Provided photo)

SARANAC LAKE — Registration is now taking place for the Saranac Lake Youth Baseball and Softball Association’s 2021 season.

The association encourages parents and guardians to complete registration as soon as possible so that team rosters can be created and hats and shirts can be ordered.

Registration is $50 per player, with discounts available for families registering more than one player. Financial assistance is also available if requested.

The SLYBSA will offer play at the following levels (Note: ages are as of April 30, grades as of the 20-21 school year):

¯ T-ball: boys and girls ages 5 and 6

¯ Rookie: boys and girls ages 7 and 8

¯ Minors Baseball: boys ages 9 and 10

¯ Majors Baseball: boys ages 11 and 12

¯ Minors Softball: girls in grades 3, 4 and 5

¯ Majors Softball: girls in grades 6, 7 and 8

The association plans to begin play in early-to-mid May, likely starting with weekend clinics and practices due to limited field availability.

Once the school district’s spring sports season wraps up in mid June and field availability improves, most clinics, practices and games would shift to weekday evenings as in years past.

T-ball and Rookie level seasons typically run until the last week of June, with Minors and Majors playing until the last week of July at the latest.

As was the case with the abbreviated season offered last summer, the SLYBSA will follow a series of COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all players. These guidelines include the wearing of masks in dugouts (but not on the field of play), refraining from group celebrations, and restrictions on sharing of equipment.

The full list of guidelines is posted at www.slybsa.org.

Volunteers, sponsors

needed

Each year, the SLYBSA takes pride in teaching the sports of baseball and softball to local kids, but it wouldn’t be possible without volunteers, including coaches, umpires and board members, and without the support of our sponsors. This year, in particular, the organization is seeking help.

The association is seeking volunteer coaches, specifically for T-ball and Rookie levels. Coaching a team can be a tremendously rewarding experience, providing the opportunity to help young players grow and learn, face challenges and experience success. If you’re interested, please let us know.

There are also a couple projects planned where the association could use some help: setting up our batting cage and our Little Fenway park for the season. Additionally, for those who want to be more involved in the big picture and organizing the season, there are positions available on the SLYBSA board.

For those who don’t have time to help out but would still like to contribute, a business, company or organization could sponsor a team or make a donation to help toward the purchase equipment for the season. Every dollar provided will help local kids play baseball and softball.

For more information on volunteering, sponsorship opportunities, or for questions about the upcoming season, contact Mark Gillis (518-354-2766 or blbbrewery@gmail.com) or Chris Knight (518-637-5814 or cknight27@yahoo.com).