Calling All Baseball Players Ages 13-16

Some are making the leap from the small diamond to the big diamond. Others are honing their skills for high school ball. And still others simply want to keep playing a game they’ve loved for years.

Whatever their reason, they’re all looking forward to the 2014 NRLL Senior League baseball season, which gets underway in less than three weeks.

The NRLL Senior League has long been an avenue for the town’s youngsters ages 13-16 to continue playing baseball in a fun and competitive environment. That’s become even more the case in recent years, since NRLL separated the league into two divisions—a Junior Division for ages 13-14 and a Senior Division for ages 15-16—and developed an interlocking schedule with neighboring towns.

“We’re really excited about the direction our Senior League has taken,” said NRLL president Eddie Madden. “The changes we made back in 2012 have strengthened it on all fronts, and the positive response we’ve seen, both in our numbers and the quality of play, is proof positive of this.

“Creating the two divisions has brought a better balance by matching up players of similar ages and development. It’s improved the player experience,” Madden said. “That was key. And playing games against teams from Wilmington and Lynnfield has added another element of pride for our kids, since they’re representing North Reading on the ball field.”

Games take place from mid-April through mid-June at the Hood School and North Reading High School, with some local travel as well. More than 70 North Reading youngsters signed up for Senior League last year, several of whom were also part of North Reading’s 7th/8th grade team that won the Eastern Massachusetts Independent Baseball League (EMIBL) title and played for the town’s All-Star team that captured the District 13 championship.

Other towns continue to take notice. Woburn and Stoneham are joining the league this year, creating in excess of 25 teams from the five participating communities. There will be All-Star Games for both divisions under the lights in Woburn and, if the schedule allows, a postseason “city series” to crown overall champions.

“We have something special going on at this level,” said Madden. “The Senior League is flourishing, and the high interest in baseball in town has allowed us to enter a second team in the EMIBL this season. We’re eager to see this momentum continue to build throughout North Reading Little League.”

Signups for Senior League—and all NRLL divisions—are ongoing at www.nrll.org. For North Reading players, Senior League tryouts take place on Saturday March 29, starting at 10 a.m. at the RAMS Athletic Complex (23 Concord Street). All players should plan to attend, and they should be registered prior to trying out. Everyone who signs up will be placed on a team.

Any questions about NRLL Senior League can be sent to league director Kevin Delano at kdelano@moynihanlumber.com.