CLOSE THE SCOREBOOKS ON SEASON TWO!

Well youth baseball fans, as of Saturday, June 23, 2012, the scorebooks are closed on the successful second season of the MD AAU Baseball ADMIN Committee’s CITYWIDE1380 Baseball League at Carroll Park.

Season two stacked up to be eight exciting weeks of baseball played between five of Baltimore City’s top youth baseball programs: James Mosher Astros, EGBC Giants, Gardenville Grays, Baltimore Lions, and the Bluford Drew-Jemison S.T.E.M. Academy East Rockets. Backed by strong pitching, a steady defense, and timely offense, the EGBC Giants claimed the league’s 2012 title winning the gold medal, after placing third in 2011. The Grays placed second in the league winning the silver medal, followed by the Astros (bronze), Lions (copper), and Rockets (copper). Commemorative trophies and CW1380 tee-shirts celebrating the league’s second season were presented to each player and coach. Players, coaches, parents, and fans alike all enjoyed being a part of the baseball fun at the Carroll Park Sports Complex in Baltimore City.

MD/AAU Baseball CITYWIDE1380 LEAGUE – A Big Hit in Season One!

“Urban Initiative Project” Brings AAU Baseball to Inner-City Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- On Saturday, April 30, 2011, AAU Baseball threw its first pitch in inner-city Baltimore as the start of the newly-envisioned CITYWIDE1380 Baseball League was underway. Featuring 80 feet base paths and 54 feet pitching mound distance for players 13 years old and younger, the newly-formed league was sanctioned under the National AAU Baseball Travel League for Recreation and Parks teams program. The league is designed as a stepping-stone for young players advancing from the little league field (60 feet base paths, 46 feet pitching distance) but not yet ready for the larger 90 feet big league diamond.

The CITYWIDE1380 league gives young aspiring players the chance to develop physically as well as increase their skill level, baseball fundamentals, and knowledge of the game on a mid-size field. And even though baseball is a game where the skill level is difficult to master, the excitement level is easy to see because youngsters play baseball for fun. They hit. They run. They pitch. They catch. They throw. Safe or out? Ball or strike? And all the drama is played out on their very own “Field of Dreams.”

URBAN INITIATIVE PROJECT BEGINS SECOND SEASON at CARROLL PARK!

CITYWIDE1380 SEASON 2 – “JUST PUTTIN’ CLEATS IN THE DIRT!”

After a “Big Hit” inaugural season in 2011, the MD/AAU Baseball Urban Initiative Project’s “CITYWIDE1380 Baseball League” begins its second season of play at the Carroll Park Sports Complex in Baltimore City with a continuing effort to increase the exposure of AAU Baseball in the inner-city.  Already into the third week of the 2012 season, league officials, coaches, players, and fans are even more excited about the upcoming schedule of games featuring five of the City’s top youth baseball programs.  Returning for the 2012 CW1380 campaign are the 2011 league champion and gold medal winner, James Mosher Astros; silver medalist Baltimore Lions Baseball Club; EGBC Giants Baseball (bronze medal); Bluford-Drew-Jemison S.T.E.M. Academy East campus Rockets; and the Gardenville Grays.  Early season, the EGBC Giants and Gardenville Grays sit atop the standings followed by the Astros, Rockets, and Lions, respectively.  However, the competition down the stretch shapes up to be a great series of games as all teams anxiously chase the league’s championship gold medal.

The “CITYWIDE1380 Baseball League at Carroll Park” was created by the MD/AAU Baseball Committee as a bridge for young, inner-city players ages 13 and under to transition from the “recreation leagues” (60’/46’ diamond) to the “big leagues” (90’/60’).  The CW1380 league plays on diamonds with 80’ base paths and 54’ pitching mound, and matches the skill sets and abilities of players of similar age and baseball experience.  In addition, the CW1380 league offers an incentive to young players to keep playing baseball as they improve their on-field game and enhance their lives as future leaders and productive members of the Baltimore City community.  Good sportsmanship, high character, and commitment are qualities that define the purpose, shape the mission, and set the standard for the second-year league.

MD/AAU Baseball launches “2011 Urban Initiative Project”

CITYWIDE1380 Player Development League joins AAU Baseball

BALTIMORE -- In an effort to bring AAU Baseball to young aspiring players in the inner-city of Baltimore, the MD/AAU Baseball ADMIN Committee, in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks, has established the “CITYWIDE1380 – Player Development League” under its “Urban Initiative Project” for the 2011 season.  The newly-formed league, sanctioned under the National AAU Baseball Travel League for Recreation and Parks teams program, features 80 feet base paths and 54 feet pitching mound distance.  The league was created for youngsters transitioning from the 60 feet base paths of the little league field, but not yet ready for the larger 90 feet big league diamond.  Games will be played at the baseball sports complex at Carroll Park on Washington Boulevard in Baltimore City—official home site for the league.

In addition to building a players’ bridge between the smaller and larger baseball fields, the new league will: (1) provide a quality, competitive baseball experience for at-risk, inner-city youngsters of similar skill sets, abilities and age (players cannot reach their 14^th birthday before May 1^st); and (2) offer an incentive to young players to keep playing baseball while enhancing personal qualities of sportsmanship, character, and commitment.  All participants, athletes and non-athletes, must have a current AAU membership prior to participating in the league. 

The inaugural season includes a playing schedule for four (4) teams from the sandlots of Baltimore City: James Mosher Baseball, Elite Giants Boys Club, Inc., Baltimore Lions Youth Baseball Club, and Bluford-Drew-Jemison S.T.E. M. Academy.

The league will host an end-of-regular season play-off championship tournament to crown an overall league champion, and an annual “Future Stars All-Star Game” of players selected by league coaches.  AAU Baseball medals and honors will be awarded to league participants.   More details will be provided in future updates at this website location.  So check back for new league developments and progress.

The MD/AAU Baseball Urban Initiative Project is a program designed to direct the energies and enthusiasm of at-risk youth to participate in sports on the playing field; excel in academics in the classroom; and enhance life-coping skills at home and in the community.