At SBL we strive to create an environment that focuses not only on the game, but also on the skills of teamwork and sportsmanship. Our programs follow the principles of teaching sportsmanship,teamwork, and commitment while providing quality social interaction and skill development to children.

As a League our success is measured upon the individual experience of each child, and the lessons and values that will remain with him or her for years to come. SBL operates under contract with Stafford County. The League is solely responsible for the operations and control of the baseball program. If you would like to consider sponsoring a team please contact us and we will provide you with all the information necessary.

The Year 2010 marked the 19th anniversary of Stafford Baseball League, Inc. We are very proud to say that we have been affiliated with Babe Ruth League the entire time. On July 6, 1999, Babe Ruth League, Inc. announced the renaming of its youth baseball division from the Bambino Division to the Cal Ripken Baseball Division. At a press conference held at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Ronald Tellefsen, President & CEO of Babe Ruth League, addressed representatives from Major League baseball, the Baltimore Orioles, Babe Ruth League, corporate sponsors and the Ripken family, "Babe Ruth League, Inc. takes great pride in naming its 12 & Under Division - Cal Ripken Baseball. Cal Ripken, Jr. and Babe Ruth League share a common vision - to provide every youngster the opportunity to play baseball and have fun. Teaching them to play the game "The Ripken Way" will assure us of these goals."

At SBL we offer a FALL program from September-October and a SPRING program from March-June. We also support All Star competition baseball during July. Our Babe Ruth Baseball program is for players age 13 and up. Cal Ripken Baseball is for 5 through 12-year-old players.

The Cal Ripken Leagues

Teaching baseball, "The Ripken Way," by keeping baseball FUN, especially in the early stages of youth baseball, is a primary concern of Babe Ruth League's Cal Ripken Division which is comprised of Major, Minor, Rookie, and T-Ball Divisions.

Cal Ripken Baseball is played under the Official Baseball Rules, but implements some special rules as necessary for the development and welfare of this young age group. The game is played on a 60-foot and 70-foot diamond with a pitching distance of 46 and 50 feet. There are rules that set the maximum number of innings a pitcher may pitch in a calendar week. In addition, SBL limits the number of pitches per game. Regulation games consist of six innings or four innings if a game is called. Special base running rules are also in effect.

T-BALL LEAGUE:

This program is for 5 and 6-year-olds, to teach the fundamentals of hitting and fielding. (6-year-olds should play in this league unless their skills and maturity have advanced beyond this level. Parents should register their child where they will have the most success and FUN.) All batters will hit the ball from a batting tee which is adjusted to a height that allows the batter to swing level. All rostered players present for the game bat in order, and are placed defensively in the field. An adult coach is stationed beyond the infielders in order to provide instruction to all defensive players. The primary goal is to begin to instruct young players in the fundamentals of baseball in a supportive team environment. All players play all positions. No umpires are used, no score is kept and there is no post season play or tournaments. The league commissioner places players onto community teams.

ROOKIE LEAGUE:

This program is designed primarily for 6, 7 and 8-year-olds. (6-year-olds are encouraged to register for the T-Ball division unless their skills and maturity have advanced beyond the T-Ball level. Parents should register their child where they will have the most success and FUN. If your 6-year-old is unable to make contact with a hard baseball pitched from 46' at approximately 30 -40 mph or is still afraid of the ball, please register for the T-Ball division.) Dr. Robert Brown, former president of the American League formulated the concept of the Rookie League, a pitching machine program. Babe Ruth League quickly embraced this concept and established the rookie league as a division. By controlling the pitches with a pitching machine, there is more action at the plate and in the field. Fear of being hit by a pitched ball is diminished. It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence and ability of all participants. It removes the boredom - which is often the result of either overpowering or inadequate pitching - by throwing only strikes. Fewer errors and greater throwing accuracy are the result of increase in activity. The rookie league is an excellent way to continue teaching the fundamentals of the game and building player confidence.

All rostered players present for the game bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. However, only ten players are placed in the field defensively. No players sit out defensively two innings in a row. All players play all positions. No umpires are used, no score is kept and there is no post season play or tournaments. The league commissioner places players onto community teams.

MINOR LEAGUE:

This program is recommended for 9 and 10-year-olds. Among teammates of their own age and experience level, players continue building and refining their fundamental skills while they begin to understand game strategy. It is at the minor league level that players first experience post-season tournament competition. In the minor division player's pitch. All rostered players present for the game bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. However, only nine players are placed in the field defensively. SBL rules encourage equal playing time among all players. Umpires are used, score is kept and there is post season play or tournaments.

Players attend a tryout and are drafted onto teams. Any registered player that did not attend the tryout has their name drawn from a hat and is placed on a team. 8-year-olds are permitted to tryout for the minor division, but are not gauranteed a spot. Any 8-year-old not drafted by a team will be placed on a rookie division team by the league commissioner.

MAJOR LEAGUE:

The most experienced level of Cal Ripken Baseball, recommended for 11 and 12-year-old players. The major divsion is played on a 70-foot field with a pitching distance of 50 feet. All rostered players present for the game bat in order, whether playing defensively or not. However, only nine players are placed in the field defensively. SBL rules encourage equal playing time among all players. Umpires are used, score is kept and there is post season play or tournaments.

Players attend a tryout and are drafted onto teams. Any registered player that did not attend the tryout has their name drawn from a hat and is placed on a team. Players under the age of 11 are not permitted to tryout for the major division. Umpires are used, score is kept and there is post season play or tournaments.

AA DIVISIONS:

During the Spring season, and if registration numbers allow, SBL offers a AA Divsion for 8 to 12-year-olds. The “AA” divisions are organized as a county-wide geographic division within the Major and Minor Leagues to provide an opportunity for players with highly developed skills to advance to district, state, and national levels of competition. The “AA” divisions may be subdivided into separate leagues for 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-year-olds. Players will play a cross-county, regular season schedule. Players shall be selected through tryouts each year. Players not selected for this division should attend the single "A" Minor or Major League tryouts and will be placed in the Minor or Major League draft. As a general rule, players are not allowed to play up or down from their age group in the AA Division.

The Babe Ruth League Leagues

Babe Ruth League, the group for 13-15 year old players, was founded in 1951.

Each local league chartered is an organization with authority to administer its own program within the framework of the Rules and Regulations and guidance of Babe Ruth League, Inc. officials.

Each state, province or territory in the 13-15 division is operated by an elected State Commissioner, and in most states, there are District Commissioners who assist the State Commissioner with his/her many duties. (Some states, with approval from Headquarters, also receive the assistance of Area Commissioners).

In turn, the states are grouped into eight regions with a Regional Commissioner to oversee the Regional operation. These Regional Commissioners also serve as members of the Board of Directors of Babe Ruth League, Inc.

Teams from each league are eligible to enter tournament competition and move along the tournament trail to the championship tournament - the World Series.

13-YEAR-OLD PREP LEAGUE:

In an effort to encourage more participation in the game of baseball, the International Board of Babe Ruth League, Inc. approved at the beginning of the 1976 season the introduction of the Babe Ruth Baseball Prep League.

Under the Prep League rules, the team rosters must be composed of all 13-year-old players and shall consist of no less than 12 players and no more than 15 players. In order for the Prep League to be accepted by Headquarters, the local parent program must be a chartered Babe Ruth 13-15 League.

Studies have shown that many young players lose interest in the game of baseball when they do not get ample playing time in games once selected for an organized team. In addition, it has been found that players have expressed fear of competing with 14 and 15-year-old players who have already experienced one to two years playing on the standard 90-foot diamond.

With the Babe Ruth Baseball Prep League, the 13-year-old player now has that chance to play, avoiding the possibility of his losing interest in playing baseball. Babe Ruth Baseball also features a 13 Year Old World Series.

SBL will offer a Prep Divsion during seasons when there are enough registered 13-year-olds to have a dvision. Otherwise 13-year-olds will be placed on a Babe Ruth Division team.

BABE RUTH LEAGUE:

Babe Ruth 16-18 Baseball was born in 1966 and has increased steadily since its inception. The 16-18 division is designed to provide organized regulation baseball competition for 16, 17 and 18-year-old players as a development plateau where they can continue to learn and practice those principles which will help carry them through to a satisfactory and productive adulthood.

The 16-18 division was organized because Babe Ruth League, Inc. was aware its job was far from completed. No organization was making available similar opportunities for young players once they had surpassed the Babe Ruth 13-15 baseball age. Just as the 13-15 Division filled a gap, the 16-18 Division was designed to address a similar void.

In the 16-18 division, which is played under regulation baseball rules, can be found the opportunity to practice the ideals of sportsmanship, fair play, high morality and democratic spirit which the participant has learned at the Babe Ruth 13-15 level. The primary objective of the 16-18 division is to provide a community-level program which eventually gives the players an opportunity to participate in the 16-18 World Series.

GIRLS SOFTBALL:

The Babe Ruth Softball Program is designed for girls ages 4 through 18 and provides a great deal of flexibility.  Babe Ruth League, Inc. believes that a league must be able to structure itself according to the needs of the community.  The official age divisions for softball include 12U (with an optional 10U level), 16U (with an optional 14U level) and 18U.  The Softball 12U division offers the major, minor, rookie and t-ball divisions as described under the Cal Ripken Division.