About Us

HAYAA Baseball/Softball is a non-profit organization committed to providing kids of different skills and interest levels an opportunity to learn and play the game of baseball/softball.  We offer a variety of programs for boys and girls from 5 to 14 years old.

• Mandatory Evaluations for players 9 and up will be held in February
• 2 Practices a week beginning in April (schedule to be determined) 
• 2 Games a week beginning in May (schedule to be determined)  
• The season is over by the end of June
• Note: Travel Baseball starts earlier and runs longer than other programs. Baseball and Softball programs for players that are 13 – 14 start later (practice in May / games in June) and may run into July

Instructional: This is where it all starts!  This league is for boys and girls ages 5 and 6. There is no expectation that the players have played any baseball or that they have developed any of the necessary skills. The league is set up to introduce kids to baseball. It is critical to have a great deal of parent participation at this level. It is important for parents to work with their kids at home and reinforce what they learn during their practices.

Below is a summary of the major points concerning this league:

• Emphasis is placed on teaching skills (in practices and during games)
• Coaches pitch (if the player cannot hit the pitched ball, the ball is place on the tee for them to hit)
• Bat round-robin (1/2 roster bats each inning)
• Every player plays in the field every inning
• Outs called, but don’t clear the bases after 3 outs
• Play 6 innings
• Score or league standings are not kept
• IT IS MEANT TO BE FUN!

Machine Pitch Baseball: This league is for boys 7 and 8. This league is intended to continue to develop a player’s skills and to teach them the game of baseball (including many of the rules). The biggest differences between Instructional and Machine Pitch are that a machine pitches instead of a coach and the kids will play what most would consider something closer to “real baseball” (kids can strikeout; switch sides after three outs, players play the catchers position and scores are kept).

Below is a summary of the major points concerning this league:

• Emphasis is placed on skills development and teaching players how baseball is played
• We use a tension spring pitching machine
• Players have 3 strikes or a total of 8 pitches to get a hit
• No stealing bases
• No walks
• Play stops when the ball gets back in the infield
• A maximum of 10 players play in the field (including a pitcher, catcher and 4 outfielders
• Switch sides after 3 outs
• Scores are kept at each game
• League standings are not kept. 

Machine Pitch Softball: This league is for girls 7 and 8. This league is intended to continue to develop a player’s skills and to teach them the game of Softball (including many of the rules). The biggest differences between Instructional and Machine Pitch are that a machine pitches instead of a coach and the kids will play what most would consider something closer to “real baseball” (kids can strikeout; switch sides after three outs, players play the catchers position and scores are kept).

We participate in a league called “Quadtown” which is made up of Hartland, Fenton, Lake Fenton and Linden (sometimes Holly).  Home games are played in Hartland, away games are played in these other communities. The rules for this league are derived from the Little League Association of American and only slightly modified by the Quadtown Board (The Assistant Commissioner – Girl’s represents HAYAA on the Quadtown Board)

Below is a summary of the major points concerning this league:

• Emphasis is placed on skills development and teaching players how softball is played
• We use a tension spring pitching machine
• Players have 3 strikes or a total of 8 pitches to get a hit
• No stealing bases
• No walks
• Play stops when the ball gets back in the infield
• A maximum of 10 players play in the field (including a pitcher, catcher and 4 outfielders
• Switch sides after 3 outs
• Scores are kept at each game
• League standings are not kept. 

Other Leagues: We continue to emphasize instruction in all of our programs. However, there are differences between Machine Pitch and our other programs. The main differences between Machine Pitch and these other leagues are:

• Players Pitch
• Umpires are used 
• Standings kept

The differences in these other leagues are driven by:

• The rules that govern each league (each league has a governing body who oversees and sets the rules these leagues play under)
• The age group of each league
• The level of competition
• Whether we have enough to offer an in-house program or we participate with other communities
• The size of field for each league

Quadtown Softball: Starting at Minors (9-10), the softball programs are “fast pitch”.  We participate in a league called “Quadtown” which is made up of Hartland, Fenton, Lake Fenton and Linden (sometimes Holly).  Home games are played in Hartland, away games are played in these other communities. The rules for this league are derived from the Little League Association of American and only slightly modified by the Quadtown Board (The Assistant Commissioner – Girl’s represents HAYAA on the Quadtown Board).

In-house Baseball: We offer an “In-house” baseball program for players 10 & under. All teams are “Hartland Based” and all games are player in Hartland. The rules for this league are derived from the Little League Association of American and only slightly modified by the HAYAA Baseball/Softball Board.

Quadtown Baseball: We offer baseball programs for players 12 & under and 14 & under. We participate in a league called “Quadtown” which is made up of Hartland, Fenton, Lake Fenton and Linden (sometimes Holly). Home games are played in Hartland, away games are played in these other communities. The rules for this league are derived from the Little League Association of American and only slightly modified by the Quadtown Board (The Assistant Commissioner – Boy’s represents HAYAA on the Quadtown Board).

Travel Baseball: We offer travel baseball programs for every age group between 9 & under and 14 & under dependent upon having enough interest from players and parents and having a coach that is willing to run the team. Our travel teams play in the Kensington Valley Baseball Association (KVBSA) and they are governed by KBBSA rules. Home games will be played in Hartland. Away games are dependent upon what other communities join the KVBSA. This is a very competitive league. Many of these teams start practicing in the winter (in-doors), they play more nights, they play some weekend tournaments and they may play into the summer. The specifics of how many practices or how many games will be determined by the coach and player’s parents. This league will cost you more than our other leagues (exactly how much will depend on how much the coach and parents decide to do).