A youth softball player stands at home plate ready for a pitch during SLYBSA's Memorial Day Classic game in 2025. (Provided photo)

SARANAC LAKE – The Saranac Lake Youth Baseball and Softball Association recently announced that registration is now open for the 2026 season.

Parents/guardians can register their kids for T-Ball, Rookie and Majors and Minors softball and baseball online at www.slybsa.org. The league uses SportsEngine for registration, so those interested will have to create a free account if they don’t already have one.

Parents/guardians are asked to register as soon as possible so that team rosters can be created and kids can get their jerseys/shirts and hats on time. Registration closes April 26.

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

The SLYBSA will offer play at the following levels (Note: Age cutoff is April 30, grades as of the 25-26 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

T-Ball and Rookie will begin with Saturday morning clinics in May, then after Memorial Day play shifts to Monday and Wednesday evenings for practices and games. The season ends in late June.

Minors Baseball and Softball practices begin in May, and games start after Memorial Day. Games and practices are typically on Monday and Wednesday evenings, although this is subject to change based on weather and field availability. The softball season ends in early July, and the baseball season ends by the second or third week of July.

Majors Baseball and Softball practices begin in May, and games start after Memorial Day. Games and practices are typically on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, although this is subject to change based on weather and field availability. The softball season ends in early July, the baseball season ends by the second or third week of July.

SLYBSA strongly encourages players to register with their home association. The group does not accept registrations from players who live in Bloomingdale, Lake Placid, Tupper Lake and other towns that have their own youth baseball and softball programs.

Registration for the Adirondack Rangers baseball program has already opened, which is open to kids 13-17 across the Tri-Lakes who have aged out of their youth program. To learn more, visit www.slybsa.org/rangers.

The SLYBSA is also in need of help. They are looking for coaches at the T-ball and Rookie level. If interested, visit www.slybsa.org/coaching to apply.

The group is also looking for paid umpires – either adult or young adults – who know the game and can work one or two evenings per week. The pay is $40 behind the plate/$30 for bases for majors games and $30 behind the plate/$20 for bases for minors games. They are also in need of a volunteer field crew.

This year, the association has a few upcoming events. The league will host a workday at Elks and Rotary Fields on April 18. SLYBSA will also march in the Memorial Day Parade and host the Memorial Day Classic games at our fields.

The group is also planning to host the 12U games in the Adirondack Lightning Battle in the Daks tournament July 10-12.

For more information on registration or volunteering, visit the FAQ section of www.slybsa.org, email slybsa@yahoo.com or call/text 518-637-5814.