New TSHQ Registration System
The MLBA has moved to a new, free Registration and Website package powered by Dick’s Sporting Goods Team Sports Headquarters (TSHQ). This new system allows us to streamline our operations by integrating registration, scheduling, website and communications.
This upgrade will require parents to create a new account to register their player(s) in 2018.
Additionally, this change, along with the changes made by PONY Baseball for 2018 (reviewed below), require some adjustments to how MLBA leagues/divisions are structured.
PONY League Age-Cutoff Change
PONY Baseball has changed the birthday cut-off used to determine player eligibility from April 30th to August 31st. This rule change went into effect January 1, 2018. The impetus for this change was to make programs younger, allowing all players to compete on a level playing field. This change ensures all PONY participants will play in their true age group.
- Since MLBA is currently only a PONY Baseball affiliate at the PONY division (ages 13-14), the MLBA Board has decided to restructure our divisions based on age eligibility and “grandfather-in” this new August 31st age-cutoff change for 2018.
- For 2018 the Maverick (ages 5-6) and Pinto (ages 7-8) divisions will use the August 31st date for age eligibility.
- Older age divisions, as well as all Travel Baseball age groups will use the April 30th date (except for 13U and 14U PONY World Series-eligible Travel Teams which will use the 8/31 cutoff) to determine age eligibility for 2018.
The MLBA Board believes that realigning our divisions by age with a two-year “and under” structure provides the best opportunity moving forward to promote development of our players while maintaining a competitive game environment, where appropriate. This approach also allows us to minimize any effects on player eligibility due to the age-cutoff change and corresponding move away from grade-based divisions while maximizing player participation.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please contact MLBA President, Ian Smith, at [email protected] or call at 330-383-3288.
2018 USA Baseball Bat Standard
Good News! You don’t have to buy a new bat for 2018 to play Lebo Baseball!
Mt Lebanon Baseball Association has decided to wait until the 2019 season to fully implement the new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat).
This means that for the 2018 season, any previously approved 2 ¼” barrel bats will be legal to use, in addition to any new bat that is USABat certified. USABat certified bats can have a barrel diameter of 2 ¼” or 2 5/8”.
Please contact the MLBA with any questions.
* Travel teams will need to determine what bats are legal for leagues or tournaments.
Statement from PONY Baseball:
In conjunction with USA Baseball and its other participating national member organizations, PONY Baseball has adopted the new USA Baseball bat standard (USABat). Effective January 1, 2018, with the exception of -3 (BBCOR certified), all other 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" barrel bats with a minus factor of (-5, -7, -9, etc.), must be USABat certified with the USABat licensing stamp on the bat in order to be used for league and tournament play. All 2 1/4" and 2 5/8" minus factor bats -5, -7, -9, etc. used in 2017 will be illegal to use in 2018.To find out more about the USABat standard click here.
To find PONY's official approved bat list, which is in accordance with USABat, click here.