BLL is excited to announce the details about the latest travel baseball program coming to Branford.  The teams will be called the Branford Junior Hornets.  The plan is to field teams at the 12U, 11U, 10U and 9U level.  However, final team selection will be based on the number of players who tryout and make the team.  We will be using 2020 Little League Age for placement on the teams. 

The Junior Hornets will work in partnership with Branford Little League.  The travel teams are in addition to your BLL participation.  Both organizations will work together to manage scheduling and communication of pitch counts to elevate conflicts and protect the health of the player. 

The Junior Hornets will be based in Branford but will utilize the D Bat Cheshire facility for training, especially prior to April 1^st when teams are allowed on the fields in Branford. 

Tryout Information:

Tryouts for all teams will take place over two days at D Bat in Cheshire on Saturday October 26th and Sunday 27th.  Any player who wishes to play on a Branford Junior Hornets Travel Baseball team in the 2020 Spring Season must attend tryouts.  Please contact Don Lawrence at dlawrence06@snet.net if you are unable to make one of the sessions. 

Tryout Times:

• 9 – 10-year olds – 3:00 to 4:30
• 11 – 12-year olds – 4:30 to 5:30

Click here  to register for tryouts or go to www.branfordlittleleague.net.  There is no fee for tryouts. 

Team Selection and Coaching:

Teams will be selected by an independent staff made up of D-Bat coaches.  All selected players must sign a commitment letter on November 1^st at Sliney Field.  There is a non-refundable $150 due at the commitment signing.  Please note, attending tryouts does not guarantee selection on a team. 

The plan is to hire head coaches that have significant baseball and athletic training experience.  It is our preference that the head coach not have a child on the team.  A hiring committee is currently performing a search now.  We are accepting resumes.  Resumes can be sent to .    

Schedule:

Practice prior to April 1st will take place at D Bat.  Practice after April 1st will take place in Branford.  Practice times are TBD. 

The Junior Hornets will be playing in the East Shore Travel League starting in April 2020.  Games will take place on weekends and occasionally Friday night. The game schedule will work around the BLL schedule. 

Travel Team Cost:

As promised, the tuition will be very competitive when compared to other travel programs in the area. 

Tuition: Approximately $600 (final cost will be determined by the number of players on the team)

• No Tryout Fee
• $150 Commitment Fee paid after team selection by November 1st
• $225 paid by January 31^st

• $225 paid by February 28th

Tuition Includes:

• 20 game schedule plus playoff tournament
• 4 practices at the new D-Bat in Cheshire – each practice will be 1.5 hours
• 8 Week BLL Winter Clinic – each clinic session is 1.5 hours
• Travel league entry fee and umpires
• Uniform

Congratulations on a Great 2019 Season

The 2019 Season was one of the most challenging seasons for all the players, coaches and administrators.  Rain was the biggest opponent any of us faced the whole year. It’s ironic as I am posting this message it is 82 degrees and sunny.  All of our kids and volunteers did a great job.  We hope to see you all back for next season.

BLL would like to congratulate the Majors, AAA and AA Champions. 

Majors:

Pasta Cosi went through three playoff games without giving up a run on their way a win over 2nd place Guilford Sporting Goods in the title game.

AAA:

Nardella Turf Care had to win back to back Championship Games against the #1 seed JDL Construction (6-2 and 10-6) to win the AAA Championship.

AA:

Asti Ristorante defeated KMB 9-7 on Saturday and RJ Shore 5-4 on Sunday to win the AA Division.

BLL Winter Camp

Reminder - registration is open for our Winter Camp.  D Bat will have an Open House in the middle of October to celebrate it's opening.  Info on that to come.....

Branford Little League is partnering with the Cheshire D-Bat facility on a Winter baseball camp.  Steve Bray, former Branford pitching star,  has been looking to get involved with strengthening the talent within our town starting with our Little League.  We have put together an 8 week off season camp exclusively for Branford Little League.  This camp will cover and achieve the following:

• Hitting Fundamentals/ Improving overall swing/ Consistent swing paths
• Fielding Fundamentals with both infielders and Outfielders
• Pitching and Catching mechanics/ fundamentals/ Bullpens
• Proper Stretching/ Conditioning/ Base Running

The overall goal for this 8 week off season camp is for every player to walk away feeling confident and prepared for their upcoming Spring season and to start the season with a better foundation as a baseball player.  

This camp will begin Saturday January 18^th and run until Saturday March 7^th, the week before BLL evaluations.  The cost of this camp is only $150.  The cost comes out to $12.50 for each hour of instruction.  This camp will be broken up into 2 groups.  Each session will run for an hour and a half.  

8-10 year old players - Saturdays between 3:00 and 4:30 pm

11-12 year old players - Saturdays between 4:30 and 6:00 pm. 

Registrations will be online at the Branford Little League website (www.branfordlittleleague.net). 

Please be aware of the No Dog Policy at Sliney Field. There are no dogs allowed inside the Sliney complex or at Sampson Field.  This is a Town of Branford rule. We must respect the Town while at Sliney Fields.

Thank You

BLL