Introduction.  The Panthers Youth Sports are proud to have been offering youth baseball to our community for the past 40 years.  From new less experienced baseball players to players who are ready for competitive baseball,  we currently offer programs at 5 different levels of competition to boys and girls, ages 6 through 14.  Panther Youth Sports is part of the Arapahoe Youth League (AYL) which fielded 21 baseball teams in 2007.

COMPETITIVE BASEBALL

• Competitive Baseball: Competitive baseball for ages 9 through 14. This is our highest level of play and we offer some of the most competitive youth baseball in the Denver Metro Area.   The competitive League is broken down further into 3 divisions:  Majors, AAA and AA Continental. 
• Number of Games.  Competitive league teams play an 18-game league schedule
• Week Night Games.   Majors, AAA and AA Continental teams play their scheduled games during week nights to allow for tournament play on weekends.
• Duration of Season.  The season runs from April 14, 2008 through June 26, 2008.  
• Pre-season AYL Seeding Tournament.  A pre-season tournament will determine the composition of the Majors and AAA divisions.  Teams that participate in the pre-season tournament and do not qualify for the Majors division will be placed in the AAA division.
• When.  March 7, 2008 through March 16, 2008.
• AA Continental.  This division is for teams consisting of players eleven years old or older that do not participate in the pre-season AYL seeding tournament but want to play their games during week nights.
• Post Season Playoffs and World Series.  All teams in the Mayors, AAA and AA Continental divisions will participate in a single elimination playoff against teams in their division culminating in the World Series for each division.
• When.  June 30, 2008 through July 9, 2008.
• More Information.  See the “Competitive Baseball Page” for more details.

DEVELOPMENTAL BASEBALL

• Developmental Baseball:  Developmental baseball for ages 6 through 14.  This level of play is considered to be more competitive than most recreational programs.  It is split into two divisions.
• Developmental Baseball – AA Division: For experienced baseball players who are not quite ready for or interested in the competitive league commitment.
• Developmental Baseball – A Division:  For new or less experienced baseball players.
• Exclusive Competition.  AA and A Divisions are exclusive meaning AA Division teams will only play against other AA Division teams; A Division teams only play against other A Division teams.
• Number of Games.  Teams in both the AA Division and the A Division play a 14 game schedule.
• Duration of Season.  The season runs from April 4, 2008 through June 15, 2008.
• Optional Pre-season Exhibition Tournament.  This is the AYL Memorial Tournament that is voluntary with no standings or champion.
• When.  March 7, 2008 through March 16, 2008.
• Post-season Playoffs and World Series.  All teams in the AA Division and the A Division will play in a double elimination playoff against teams in their own division culminating in the World Series.
• When.  June 18, 2008 through July 13, 2008 ( No games will be scheduled  between July 2 through July 6)
• Weekend Games. Regular season games will be scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday after 12:00 noon. 
• More Information.  See the “Developmental Baseball” link above for more details.

The following is a calendar of events for the 2008 baseball season.

• December 3, 2007 – Baseball registration opens
• January 31, 2008 – Baseball registration closes
• March, 2008 – Practices begins
• March 7-16, 2008.  Pre-season AYL Seeding Tournament for Majors and AAA Divisions and Optional Pre-season Exhibition Tournament for AA and A Divisions
• March  21, 2008 – Schedules posted for AA and A
• March 28,2008  - Schedules posted for Majors, AAA and AA Continental
• April 4, 2008 - Opening day, first games scheduled
• May 11, 2008 – Mother’s Day, no games scheduled
• May 23-26, 2008– Memorial Day weekend, no games scheduled
• June 15, 2008 – End of regular season for AA and A
• June 18-July 13, 2008- AA and A Post-season playoffs and World Series
• June 30-July 9, 2008 – Majors, AAA and AA Continental post-season playoffs and World Series
• July 2-6, 2008 – 4th of July holiday week, no games scheduled for the AA and A Divisions only

Helpful Baseball Links for Coaches/Parents:

• http://www.webball.com
• http://www.thecoachingcorner.com/index.html
• http://www.y-coach.com/
• http://www.qcbaseball.com/drills/baseball_drills1.aspx
  

Have a question?  Please contact Bob Fontneau, Liz Pierce and Corky Messner @ pysbaseball@yahoo.com.