Team Updates 10/03/2024

Team Updates October 2024

2025 Tournament Schedule

A preliminary tournament schedule can be found here:
https://tacomaselect.com/schedule/

Pending on league schedule and budget we may make some adjustments to tournaments in June and July.

TopTier vs GSL

GSL Tournaments is owned by EL1 Sports. At the end of the 2024 Season the three main coordinators at GSL left and started TopTier Sports. Their community connections allowed them to secure a majority of the local tournaments. They hope separating from EL1 will allow them to improve the events and overall tournament experience. Currently, we plan to do a majority of the TopTier Sports Tournaments.

Final Team Rosters

Coaches are still in the process of creating rosters and we hope to have that out this month. 

Arizona Tournament

We will have a head count for how many extra players we can invite to the AZ trip next week. Please stand by for details. 

NonProfit and Fundraising

The nonprofit arm is almost complete. We are only waiting for the Tax-exempt status to be approved. Once that is approved, we will start fundraising.

Total Tournament and League cost for next year will be just over $120,000. This turns out to be about $700 to $900 per family. 

Practice

In November, we will stop weekend outdoor practices. Weekend practices will then be held indoors.

Catchers’ practice will start in mid-October. We are currently working on the schedule.

Uniform Store

Jayden will be reopening the uniform store this month (October) for those who weren’t able to purchase.

Custom items, including uniforms, take about 4 to 6 weeks to complete.

Hats and Practice Shirts should be here end of October or November.

Bat Questions

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about bats. We wrote up a post on the website to help explain the difference and tournament rules. That can be found here:

https://tacomaselect.com/baseball-bat-rules-and-explainer/

Holiday Schedule 2024

Thanksgiving 2024

11/23 to 12/1 – No Practice

Facility Closed: Thanksgiving Day 11/28

Open Facility times during break will vay

Winter Break 2024

12/21 to 1/6 – No Practice

Facility Closed: 12/24, 12/25, 12/31, 01/01

Open Facility times during break will vary

Coach Update

Coach CJ is back from Ottawa! He will be training with us until mid-February. If you haven’t already heard, he received a spring training invite and another offer to play in Japan next season. This is exciting news, and we couldn’t be happier for him.

Baseball Bat Rules and Explainer

Rules:

Bat Certificaitons

Tournament Host – Top Tier Sports

**A MAJORITY OF OUR TOURNAMENTS WILL BE TOP TIER**

13U and Under USSSA 1.15BPF, USA, BBCOR, Wood bats Allowed at all events.
(No Drop Restrictions at this time)

14U and Above BBCOR or Wood only.

Tournament Host: GSL and WCP

**AZ TOURNAMENT IS HOSTED BY WCP**

Pending Rules for 2025 season. Historically bats rules have been mixed.

Puyallup Rec League:
Pending Rules for the 2025 season. Historically has not allowed USSSA 1.15BPF bats. 

BBCOR: Used in High School and Middle School ball. These bats have a 0.5 BPF, normally only come in Drop -3 weights, and will be slightly heavier than USA and USSSA bats.

Wood: Has the lowestpop of all bats and can be used in any game. Composite wood bats like Baum bats are considered legal.

USA: Has a wood like performance rating with slightly more pop. These bats are legal for almost all tournaments and little league games. Some school baseball teams may not allow them.

USSSA 1.15 BPF: Has the most pop of all the bat certifications with a 1.15 BPF. Only legal in certain tournaments. USSSA 1.15 BPF bats cannot be used in Little League or School Ball.

Bat Drop:

A bat’s drop is the difference between the length of the bat in inches and its weight in ounces. It’s also known as the length-to-weight ratio. The drop is always shown as a negative number. 

For example:

A 30-inch bat with a -10 drop weighs 20 ounces (30oz – 10 = 20oz). 

A 30-inch bat with a -5 drop weighs 25 ounces (30oz – 5 = 25oz).

Drop weight and player size

Larger, stronger players tend to prefer bats with a lower drop weight, which can increase power. Smaller players can benefit from bats with a higher drop weight, which can help with bat speed.

Material:

Ash (Wood)
A porous, lightweight wood with a unique grain structure that provides flexibility. Ash bats are known for their forgiving nature and “trampoline effect” when struck. 

Maple (Wood)
A dense wood with a tight grain structure that gives maple bats their stiffness and “pop”. Maple bats are a popular choice among MLB players and are known for their durability. 

Birch (Wood)
A soft but durable wood with a tight grain structure that’s similar to maple. Birch bats are lighter and more flexible than maple, but harder and more powerful than ash. 

Alloy (Metal)
Have a heavier, stiffer feel than composite
Very Durable
No break-in time needed

Composite
Generally have a lighter swing weight
More forgiving than alloy
Large sweet spot
Limited Durability
Needs to be broken in.

Construction 1-piece and 2-piece bats:

One-piece bats are made from a single piece of material, while two-piece bats are made from two separate pieces that are fused together. One-piece bats tend to be more durable.

Performance
One-piece bats are stiffer and transfer more energy to the ball, while two-piece bats flex more and increase bat speed. 

Feel
One-piece bats provide more direct feedback, while two-piece bats feel less stingy and have less vibration. 

Holiday Schedule 2024

Thanksgiving 2024

11/23 to 12/1 – No Practice

Open Facility times during break will vary

Winter Break 2024

12/21 to 1/6 – No Practice

Open Facility times during break will vary

Parent & Player Orientation 2024-25

Playing Time

million-dollar questions:

By Coach Gabe Katich 

  • Why is my son not playing as much?
  • Why is my son not in the infield?
  • Why is my son not batting 4th?
  • Why isn't my son pitching more?

These questions are some of the most common from youth baseball parents and are valid questions to be asked.

Baseball is such a complex and detail-oriented sport. Coaches have so many decisions they must make before the first pitch. Here is the formula for Tacoma Select baseball coaches to determine playing time. These philosophies are not unique to us and will run true throughout the player’s career.

Skill is very much a part of the process, but let’s start with the four top reasons your player might be LOSING playing time—no physical skill required.

ATTITUDE – What is the attitude of the player? Here are a few negative attitudes that can affect playing time:

  • The player is disrespectful to coaches and teammates.
  • The player comes to practice with complaints about being there.
  • The player pouts when things don’t go the player’s way during practice or a game.

FOCUS – Not listening to coaches during team huddles, meetings, or instructions will lead to less playing time. Not being able to show attentiveness and focus in a closed controlled environment will translate to not showing attentiveness and focus on a baseball field during a game.

EFFORT – Showing up is great, but the intent behind how the player practices is everything. Just going through the motions and expecting things to go their way will not earn playing time. Effort at practice needs to be seen.

COMMUNICATION – Many players lose playing time for being unable to communicate; they are simply too quiet. Being on the field in a game requires players to talk and communicate where the next play is. If a player is not displaying that during practice, it will translate to the game.

Positions

Now to what it takes to play certain positions and why your child might not be playing where you think they should be.

Positions are never random; there is always a reason why a coach puts players in certain spots. Here are some surface-level reasons for each
position.

PITCHER – Does the player showcase the skill to throw consistent strikes > does the player have the ability to not let emotions get to them? (Lefty or Righty)

CATCHER – Does the player have the willingness to be a catcher and put in the extra work it takes playing that position > fearless > ability to constantly catch the baseball > able to communicate at a high level? (Righty)

1ST BASE – Does the player showcase the skill to catch the ball CONSISTENTLY > Does the player show the ability to communicate? (Lefty or Righty)

2ND BASE – Does the player showcase proper form while receiving a ground ball > does the player showcase the skill to throw the ball accurately > quickness > agility > has the ability to communicate throughout the game > high focus level? (Righty)

SHORTSTOP – Does the player showcase proper form while receiving a ground ball > does the player showcase the skill to throw the ball accurately > strong arm >  quickness > agility> has the ability to communicate throughout the game > high focus level? (Righty)

3RD BASE – Does the player showcase proper form while fielding a ground ball > fearless > strong arm > communication? (Righty)

OUTFIELD – Does the player showcase the ability to catch fly balls > does the player have the ability to focus and track down balls? (Lefty or Righty)

**Outfield is not a punishment or a negative. The best players in the MLB are outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Mike Trout, to name just two.

If you’re an outfielder, own it. Be proud of how you don’t let a ball get by you. That you take the best angles. That you always back up your teammates. Take pride in those diving catches and rocket throws. BE THE BEST OUTFIELDER YOU CAN BE!

How do coaches know where to play the players?

During practice, all players are put into the same drills for the same number of repetitions. During that time, players are analyzed and then put into positions where the coaches seem to be the best fit. Because all players do the same drills, coaches can determine skill sets and movement patterns. Our goal is always to put players in positions where they can succeed the most. Things can change from practice to practice or month to month, depending on how much effort the player puts in on their own. No one is cemented into one position. It will always be based on performance. If one is not performing, then the next player in line will get the opportunity.

If all players get 100 ground balls and your player only fields 15 / 100 but catches 60/100 fly balls, there is a great chance the player’s opportunities will be in the outfield.

As a parent, it is extremely important to remember that just because 9u, 10u, 11u, 12u little Johnny Is not a shortstop or a pitcher now, it doesn’t mean he will never become one. It takes time and constant work. It means that in your player’s CURRENT development process, he did not develop the skills needed for a particular position.

Communicate to the player that hard work is essential to reaching their goals, and nothing is given; everything is earned. If the player works hard and improves the skill set that might be missing, their opportunity will always come around eventually.

BATTING ORDER

The batting order is quite simple. If you hit, you won’t sit. Hitters that put the barrel to the baseball more often will hit higher in the lineup. The batting order will change throughout the season based on performance.

FINAL NOTE

Baseball is a performance-based game and is very much a team sport. Players are put into positions to better the TEAM, not the individual. 

Players will not always like where they are in the lineup; players will not always like what position they are playing. It is part of it. If that is the case, then the player must identify what skills they are lacking and work towards bettering them.

To wrap it all up, parents, please preach hard work, skill, and patience to your players. These will take your player to the next level on the diamond. Those same attributes will lead to success off the field as well. The support from you as a parent means everything to the player.

Opportunities are everything in this game. Once you get yours, it is important to be ready and deliver.