Howick-Pakuranga Baseball Club
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14U league (14 years old)

The 14U League is played under the Little League Baseball 60/90 rules. Auckland Baseball enters a team to qualify for New Zealand's place in the Little League World Series Asia Zone Qualifier.

All kids, boys and girls, are welcome to register. This grade is about learning the game, having fun, and some competition.

14U League games are played on a senior diamond - with 90' base-paths and a 60'6" pitching distance. Many of the players at this age have played through the younger league grades, but we also get many new players joining. These new players are taught the skills and soon learn the game.

14U league is a competition grade under Auckland Baseball Association – this means that games are scored and results tracked on My Ball Club.

Pre-Season

Pre-Season training begins mid-September

Season

The season starts late October (after Labour Weekend) and runs until March. There is a break in the season over Christmas.

Age

For the 2023/2024 season players who will turn 14 after 31 August 2023 are eligible to play in the 14U League grade.

  • Example #1 - the child will turn 14 on 28 August 2023, they must register for the 16U league grade

  • Example #2 - the child will turn 14 on 13 October 2023, they are eligible for the 14U League grade

Safety

Many of the rules of baseball, particularly at the younger age groups are focused on player safety. 14U League grade falls under the Auckland Baseball Association junior baseball rules, and we enforce these rules to ensure player safety.

Gear

At 14U League grade players are provided with a club jersey for games, which must be returned at the end of the season, and a hat they can keep.

Equipment

Players will need to provide the following equipment - see the guys at the Fieldhouse - 57 Ben Lomond Crescent, Pakuranga:

  • Pants - white baseball pants

  • Glove - players will need their own baseball glove, and the size will depend on the size of your child! Typically an 11"-11.5" glove is a good size for 14U League players. Please don’t get a glove that is too big, thinking that the bigger the glove, the better the chance of catching the ball. This is not the case at all - the key thing is to get a glove that is the correct size and weight that the player can move quickly to catch and transfer the ball to the throwing hand. If in doubt - ask your coach.

  • Shoes - at 14U League, players can wear normal running shoes, many wear Touch, football and rugby boots with moulded plastic/rubber blades are OK. NO metal cleats are allowed at all.

  • Male players require a box / athletic protector - Auckland and New Zealand baseball rules require every male player to wear a box / athletic support.

  • Optional - some players like to have their own bats, helmets or catchers gear. This is fine as long as it is suitable for the game - your coach will be able to advise on this. If purchasing a new bat, make sure it has the "BBCOR" certification to ensure it will be future-proofed for your child's use. If you are unsure, please contact your coach or grade coordinator. Please note that equipment such as softball bats will not be allowed in the game.

All other gear is provided by the club, including bats, batting helmets, catchers gear, balls, etc.

Games

Our home games are played on the No1 or No2 diamond at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga. 14U League games are held on Saturday afternoons and typically start at 1 pm.

Away games will be played during the season at other clubs with 14U League teams, such as:

  • Counties - based at Karaka Sports Complex, Karaka.

  • Bayside Westhaven - based at Crossfield Domain, Glendowie.

  • Central City - based at War Memorial Park, Mt Roskill.

  • West City - based at McLeod Park, Te Atatu.

  • Waitakere Bears - based at Starling Park, Waitakere.

  • North Shore - based at Albany Domain, Albany.

  • Orewa - based at Victor Eaves sports complex, Orewa