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Ponte Vedra Girls Softball
is a member of the Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Athletic Association
and is chartered under Babe Ruth Softball.
Each Spring, Rec-Ball
teams are drafted in age-divisions 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and
16U. Teams from PVGS play a fourteen (14) game schedule against
teams from Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Julington Creek,
Mandarin and the Northside. Teams vie for their
age-division's association championship, with the winner
advancing to a District-wide single-elimination tournament.
Practices begin around February 1, games around March 1, with
the end-of-season tournament in early May.
During the season, a single
Advanced Ball team is assembled in the 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U
divisions and compete against teams from our own District #1 and
District #2 which is west of the St. Johns River. Similar
to an all-star team, the Advanced Ball teams play double-headers
on four (4) Saturdays during the Spring season. The
Rec-Ball and Advanced Ball schedules are coordinated so girls
playing on both teams won't have any softball conflicts.
Following the Rec-Ball season,
all-star teams are chosen for the 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U
divisions. These teams spend about a month practicing and
participating in warm-up tournaments in preparation for the
Babe Ruth Tournament Trail. This is a series of
tournaments beginning locally with the District
Tournament, then State and Regional Tournaments,
then the World Series (12U and 16U divisions).
Practices begin in early May with the District Tournament
occurring in late June. Our 12U girls completed their
Regional play on Saturday, July 19th.
The Fall season has a more
relaxed schedule. Rec-Ball Teams play only twelve (12) games while
Advanced Ball teams play on three (3) Saturdays. There is
no post-season tournament or All-Star play. Practices begin in early
September with the first games around October 1st. The
season ends the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Our
program provides competitive softball for girls age 4 thru 16.
The format of play starts with t-ball and gets progressively
more independent. Here are the notable distinctions:
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6U - Teams could have as
few as eight (8) players. The focus at this level is
on batting and the ball does not usually travel very far.
A good sized defense would include the standard infield
positions and two outfielders. It is preferable to
have all girls on the team play the entire game. The
batter is delivered five hittable pitches by her coach.
If the ball is not batted into play after the five pitches,
the ball is placed on a tee and the batter proceeds until
the ball is successfully put into play. Base running
is controlled to encourage confident defensive play.
The girls play with an eleven (11)
inch Incrediball, which looks like a regular softball,
but is a little "spongy."
Click here
to go to the Birth Chart page...
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8U - This division is often
referred to as "machine pitched." A pitching
machine is set thirty-five (35) feet from home plate and
delivers pitches at thirty-two (32) miles per hour.
Batters receive five (5) hittable pitches. If the ball
is not batted into play after the fifth pitch, the batter in
effect strikes out. Teams traditionally field ten (10)
players on defense, including four outfielders. The
rules allow for an additional pitcher. An overthrow
rule helps to control base running. Of all
age-divisions, this is the most active since batters rarely
strike out. Parents often lose their voices during
games... cheering for their daughters.
The girls play with an eleven (11)
inch softball. Rawlings and Trump manufacture
official Babe Ruth softballs with a .47 COR with 375 lb.
maximum compression. These are specifications to look
for.
Click here to go to the
Birth Chart page...
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10U - This is the division
where "kid-pitch" is introduced. The pitching
rubber is placed thirty-five (35) feet from home plate.
During the fall season and the first two or three weeks of
the spring, no walks are allowed. If the pitcher
throws a fourth ball, the offensive coach comes to the mound
to pitch. The batter retains her strike count and
receives coach delivered pitches until she bats the ball
into play or strikes out.
Coaches are encouraged to practice their underhand
pitching... Teams field ten (10) players on defense,
including four outfielders. This is perhaps the most
challenging level of play because pitchers are just learning
to throw strikes and the batters no longer receive
consistently thrown pitches from a machine. Pitchers
are allowed to pitch up to five (5) innings per game.
In tournament play, they are allowed only six (6) innings in
two consecutive games. Pitch speeds range from the low
30s to the mid to high 40s. The
girls play with the same ball used by the 8U girls.
Click here to go to the Birth Chart page...
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12U - In this division,
pitching competency has been established. The pitching
rubber is moved to forty (40) feet. Pitchers are
allowed to pitch up to five (5) innings per game. In
tournament play, they are allowed nine (9) innings in two
consecutive games. Pitch speeds range from the low 40s
to the low 50s. The defense consists of the
traditional nine (9) positions. At this level,
All-Star teams can advance as far as the World Series which
is held in early August. The
girls play with a twelve (12) inch softball.
Rawlings and Trump manufacture official Babe Ruth softballs
with a .47 COR with 375 lb. maximum compression.
Click here to go to the Birth Chart page...
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14U - Pitching often
dominates at this level. There are no pitching
restrictions. Pitch speeds can approach the mid 50s
and pitch selection often includes balls that move in any
direction. The girls play with
the same ball used by the 12U girls.
Click here
to go to the Birth Chart page...
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16U - Most of the girls
that play at this level are also playing on their high
school softball team. At this level, All-Star teams
can also advance to the World Series.
Click here to go to the Birth Chart page...
Our
association is currently discussing the formation of a travel
ball team around the 14U age level. Travel ball
requires a much greater commitment in time and money.
Teams often practice two to three times a week while
participating in weekend long tournaments generally within a 150
mile radius of home. Please e-mail Commissioner
Marc Bugbey if you are
interested in participating at this level.
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