Girls Softball Program Overview

The Girls Softball Program has provided a great experience for thousands of girls in Merrimack.  Our program provides many great activities for all types of players – from beginners to experienced players and from girls who want a recreational experience as well as girls who want the more competitive tournament team experience playing teams from other communities.  The Girls Softball program has four main components:

• Skills Clinics - the year starts with skills clinics (pitching, hitting and fielding) on 6 successive Sunday afternoons in February and March. Please visit the Clinics page for more details.
• Regular Season - The regular season runs between April 1st and the end of the school year.  We practice indoors during the month of April and then go outside for team games starting in May.  The season extends until about a week before the end of the school year.  Registrations happen in February and March.  Look for more information on where, when and how to register here.
• Tournament Season - Each year MYA softball holds tryouts from the ranks of the MYA girls registered that season for a single select team at each age level - U10, U12, U14, and U16.  These select teams play against teams in other towns for Babe Ruth Softball tournaments, regional and state championships. These teams are called "Marrimack Magic" and many of the finest softball players that Merrimack has seen have been on these teams over the years. The tournament teams practice during the regular season but play longer into the summer.
• Fall Softball - Over the past couple of years, there has been an increased interest in playing organized softball with other towns.  Each year we will make a team in each age division available and will field as many teams as there is interest in.  Fall softball emplasizes fun while competing with other towns during a season that often has some of the nicest weather - September and October. Look for more information as the season progresses. 

In 2008 approximately 270 girls participated in the Softball program  The program is open to girls age 5 through 18 and is open to all girls who want to play.  Last year there were 19 teams in the recreational league (19 teams) broken down into four divisions: Instructional (U10), Minors (U12), Majors (U14), and Seniors (U18).  The clinics have grown in popularity every year and we are constantly striving to provide the best experience possible for the girls in our community.

In addition to the girls there are approximately 75 adult volunteers associated with the program. They include coaches, assistant coaches, and team parents. There is also a board of directors that oversees the program and is active all year long.  The board meets on the first Tuesday of every month from Sept through June each year.  These meetings are open to all and volunteers and ideas are always welcome.  Please come and join us.  If you have questions, please email or call any of the members of the board.  You can find them listed here. 

The steady increase of players over the past several years show that the popularity of Girls Softball in Merrimack is stronger than ever!

About the Four Softball Leagues

Instructional League - The instructional league this consists of girls in ages 5, 6, 7, and 8 where the focus is on the beginning player.  Emphasis in this league is on teaching the basic skills and sportsmanship where scores are not the focus.  All Instructional League games are played at Reeds #5 - the field closest to the school up on the hill.

Senior League - This league consists of girls from ages 13 through 18.  This league puts an egual emphasis on sportsmanship and competition, all while having fun.  Freshmen and JV high school players are welcome and eligible to play.  Playoffs determine a league championship and runner-up.  All-Star teams are also selected.

Remember, MYA Softball now uses the Babe Ruth Softball Age Guidelines to determine the playing age for the girls.  To get a copy of that, please go the forms page.