The Backyard Batting Cage

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
September 27, 2012

Little League International today announced the name of its newest baseball division: The Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division.

The division, the first new program in Little League since 1999, bridges the transition from Little League (46/60) to Junior League Baseball on a full-size field (60/90). It is a league for 11-13 year-olds whose advanced skills permit rules that are closer to conventional baseball, such as leading off bases, pickoff attempts, etc.

In the traditional Little League (Majors) Division, a runner cannot leave the base until the pitched ball reaches the batter, so pickoffs are not part of the game at that level. In addition, Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division games will be played on a field that is not quite as large as a conventional diamond, but bigger than the traditional Little League field.

The Little League International Board of Directors publicly announced the creation of the Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division in its annual spring meeting in May. That decision came after volunteer District Administrators voted overwhelmingly to create a new program for 11-13 year-olds.

For the past three seasons, local Little Leagues around the world have chartered 50/70 Pilot Programs, with experimental rule changes along the way to the vote by District Administrators at the Round Table sessions held at various locations around the world early this year. The name of the new division was developed after Little League International consulted with thousands of volunteers and parents worldwide.

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