About St. Matthews Baseball

St. Matthews Baseball began in 1954 with this Mission: We are committed to providing healthy activity for our youth using the ball field as a classroom to instill discipline, team work, sportsmanship, and fair play. We want kids to have FUN but also learn values that will guide them through their teenage years and eventually into adulthood. 

St. Matthews Baseball is affiliated with Babe Ruth League and its associated Cal Ripken Baseball division (ages 4-12). At St. Matthews, Cal Ripken Baseball is a premier baseball alternative for both advanced and entry level players. We are both a competitive and instructional league. Cal Ripken seeks to make better citizens through proper supervision of regulation competitive baseball, while promoting mental and physical development. In adopting rules, in establishing standards, and in all planning, the primary consideration is the welfare of the participants. All coaches must comply with background checks which are certified by the National Babe Ruth Organization.  

The primary goal of the St. Matthews Baseball/Cal Ripken Board of Directors is to ensure that our kids receive valuable baseball instruction. We have planned for and implemented substantial investment into our facilities, coaches, programs, umpires, and equipment.

Who can play? 
Boys and girls are welcome, ages 4-18. The player's age will be determined by a May 1st deadline of the current baseball season. In the chart below, please match your child’s birth month and year to determine which division your child falls under. Click HERE for additional information:

BABE RUTH LEAGUE, INC. 
BIRTH CHART FOR 2021 – BASEBALL DIVISIONS

All player ages are determined by the birth chart shown above. May 1 in any year shall be the deciding date.

How is the league structured and what ages does it support?

St. Matthews Baseball has eight divisions;

·       T-Ball - ages 4, 5 (first year players), & 6 (by request)

·       Coach Pitch- ages 5 (with one year of experience) & 6

·       Rookies (Machine Pitch) - ages 7 & 8 (play separately in your age group)

·       Minors - ages 9 &10 (combined)

·       Majors - ages 11 & 12 (combined)

·       Babe Ruth - ages 13-18 (13-15 combined,16-18 combined)

It is possible for players to play up or down a division based on their evaluation score. Rookie aged kids would not play down to Coach Pitch unless they are 6 and it has been determined there is a need for additional experience. Babe Ruth age kids cannot play down in Majors.
 

What key dates should I be aware of? 
See the Important Dates section on the website for key dates. 

What are the fees and what are the fees used for?

Fees range in price depending on what division you register for. We are a non-profit organization and fees are used for equipment, umpires, uniforms, fields, and administrative costs. We DO NOT require parents to fundraise, work concessions, or volunteer. Your fees allow you to come to the park and enjoy the games!   

How does the registration process work? 
All players must register through our website to ensure their participation. To register, click the Register or Login (for returning players) buttons in the top right corner of the website. There is no preference given to players from previous years over new players. If you played last year and expect to play again, you must register in a timely fashion. Registration opens in December. 

Register before January 15th and your player will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.  For a player to be considered registered, a registration request must be placed into the online system and payment received.  If you are registered but don't pay by evaluation day, your child will not be placed on a team. We do our very best to place all kids on teams, including late signups, but the league can only hold open a certain number of slots per team. Once these spots are taken, players will be put on a waiting list in the order by which they register. You may be required to present a birth certificate in order to validate your child’s level.  

I've registered, now what?

If you are in Minors, Majors, or Babe Ruth, look for an email about evaluations that will occur in March. If you are in one of these divisions, please plan to attend. If you are in T-Ball, Coach Pitch or Rookie, your coach will contact you around the beginning Mid-March to let you know which team you are on. He/She will give you a schedule of practices and let you know additional details about the league schedule. Games start the week of April 12th.  

How does the evaluation process work? 
Players will be observed hitting, running, and fielding by coaches and/or evaluators. Coaches use their own scoring methods to evaluate players into different categories. There will be a draft night in the  Minors and Majors to select teams. Coaches will gather on the division’s respective night, along with St. Matthews Baseball leadership, to select teams using a snake draft format. 

What if my player does not attend evaluations?

If a player cannot attend evaluations, please plan on attending the make-up tryouts on the evening of the draft for your respective division. If a player misses both evaluations, they will still be assigned to a team. They will be randomly drawn at the end of the draft and assigned to a team.  

Are there "cuts"? Is it possible my player won't play?

There are no cuts! If you register and pay on time, your player will be placed on a team. Evaluations are just a tool used by the league to ensure that talent is evenly distributed amongst teams and that players are placed where their talents will give them the best opportunity to have a great season.

How is All-Star post-season eligibility determined and when is it? 

Anyone is eligible to play in the recreation league at St. Matthews, regardless of what zip code they live in or which school they attend.

St. Matthews is a part of Cal Ripken Baseball; we participate in their annual post-season tournament trail (All-Stars) following the finish of the St. Matthews recreation regular season. For All-Star post-season tournament trail purposes, Cal Ripken Baseball assigns St. Matthews Baseball a defined list of zip codes. 

To be eligible for All-stars, a player must either live in OR attend a school located in one of the following zip codes: 40025, 40059, 40205, 40206, 40207, 40220, 40222, 40223, 40291, 40242, 40243, 40245, or 40299. Each player’s eligibility will be reviewed and approved by the Cal Ripken Baseball state office. Players will self-nominate for All-Stars in May with selections completed in early June. All-Star practice and tournaments typically run from mid-June through the third week of July. 

Still have questions?

Please email: [email protected] or call: 502-938-BALL. Someone will respond to your question in a timely manner.