Youth Baseball and Softball in Reno
[Updated for 2021]
It’s that time of year again when registration for spring youth sports are opening up and parents all over Reno are clearing their calendars for baseball, softball, soccer, and every other sport hosting spring leagues.
With so many options, we wanted to compile a list of community and private organizations below concentrating on the younger kids (as most teens are already familiar with their league and options). For those that aren’t, feel free to reach out and we can assist in getting you to the right place.
This article focuses on youth baseball and softball in the Reno, Sparks, and Carson City areas. Ideally, we would like to compile a resource for other sports, so feel free to share some sports you’d like to know about and we will try to do some digging around for you! If you notice that a league or team is missing or want us to add your organization, please let us know and we can add it to the list.
Little League – Baseball
Most people are familiar with Little League. Little League is for boys and girls ages 4-12 and is the quintessential place to experience youth baseball in a safe and fun environment and is the main organization in the Reno area. Little League offers recreational baseball for the communities they serve with each organization supported by the community itself from parent volunteers to local businesses sponsoring each league. If you are new to baseball, this is where you start.
Each league works off a zoning system where a player is eligible based on where they live or go to school. If you are unsure what league you are in, check out the link below and input your address. You can then go to your league’s page and reach out to the league administrator for further assistance on registration and other questions.
Reno
Reno Continental Little League – closes 2/28!
Reno National Little League (RNLL also has a Challenger League for children with special needs) – closes 2/27!
Washoe Little League – closes 3/3 for upper division, 3/10 for lower
Reno American Little League – closes 2/28!
Valley Providence Little League – assuming soon
Sparks
Sparks Centennial Little League – closes 3/1!
Sparks National Little League – assuming soon
Carson City / Gardnerville
Carson City Little League – check their FB for dates
Carson Valley Little League – closes 2/28 for upper division, 3/15 for lower
Tahoe/Truckee
North Tahoe Little League – closes 3/31
South Tahoe Little League
Truckee Little League
Cal Ripken – Baseball
Cal Ripken is another option for folks who live in areas where Cal Ripken is offered. Local Cal Ripken Baseball leagues have been challenging to find online. We know they exist in some areas up in northern Reno and Sparks, but we are too unfamiliar with the organization to know where else to look up their information. If you know of some Cal Ripken leagues, please let us know and we can add them to our list.
Spanish Springs Cal Ripken Baseball – closes 2/28!
Silver State Cal Ripken Baseball – closes soon!
Sun Valley Cal Ripken Baseball – closes 3/27
Boys and Girls Club
Junior Giants is a free, noncompetitive coed baseball program. The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows is proud to be the Reno area sponsor. Divisions include T-ball (5 & 6 year olds), Minors (7-9 year olds), and Majors (10-13 year olds).
Junior Giants – not sure if they are active this season
Travel Ball – Baseball
Travel ball is another option for kids who want more time playing baseball or are not getting as much out of community baseball as they need or want. These teams are private organizations unaffiliated with any particular league. The teams play a more competitive level of baseball, as opposed to recreational baseball offered through Little League and Cal Ripken.
The competitive nature of travel ball is a fantastic opportunity for your kid to take their skills to the next level. Each team offers their own unique experience and approach to coaching baseball. Before investing in one team, ask around among other parents in your Little League to see what other folks involved in travel ball think about the various options. Also make sure to attend a local tournament and check out the teams for yourself. Attend a practice or two once you settle on a couple teams you’d like to check out. You know your kid, you know what coaching style and environment is most effective for their growth. You’ll be investing hundreds to thousands of dollars a year on a program, do your homework beforehand.
Check out this article on the 9 Things to Consider Before Joining a Youth Baseball Team and be mindful that travel ball is ran like a business rather than community baseball.
Divisions are organized strictly by age so kids compete against other kids their age (ex. 9U is for kids league age 9, 10U for kids league age 10, etc.) and 7 or 8 is generally the youngest, though some organizations will take younger. Seasons run August through July and your kid’s “league age” is whatever his actual age is on April 30th of the upcoming season.
Travel Ball Organizations
Most teams practice twice per week and have their own indoor facilities for year round practice. Tournaments are generally held once a month. Most tournaments are typically limited to the Reno, Sparks, and Carson City areas. During the winter months, many teams will travel to the Stockton, California area for weekend tournaments or even further for the more ambitious teams. Naturally, membership costs are associated with each team, generally between $50-125 per month depending on the team, with additional fees for tournaments, jerseys, and costs associated with travel for out of town tournaments. Many organizations offer private lessons (for a fee) in addition to or independent of travel ball membership.
** If I am missing a team, please let me know and I can add them.**
The Scorpions, Mustangs, and Muckdogs are probably the three “main” organizations in town. Not to say “better” – their players come from all corners of the region, they have year round teams using their own facilities, and they consistently put together a team (or more) for each age group. Most other teams are built around a couple age groups or they don’t have a website to communicate otherwise.
Scorpions Baseball Academy – Facebook
The Scorpions practice at Jack Tighe Park off of Moana Lane in Reno and have a large training facility near Rock/Glendale.
Reno Mustangs – Facebook
The Mustangs practice at the Terrace Little League Fields in northwest Reno up the street from McQueen High School. They have a facility near Patagonia.
Muckdogs Baseball Club – Facebook
The Muckdogs practice in Spanish Springs and have a facility on Glendale.
The teams below have Facebook pages to contact the teams for more information. I have included a general area where the teams practice or pull from, but kids can generally play anywhere they are willing to drive to.
Cap City Baseball – Facebook (Carson City area)
Carson City Dirt Dawgs – Facebook (Carson City area)
Nevada Gunslingers – Facebook (South Reno area)
Northern Nevada Baseball Club – Facebook; facility near airport
Reno Bombers – Facebook
Team Velocity – Facebook (Spanish Springs area)
Dormant
South Reno Bulldogs – Facebook
Girls Softball
Softball is another option for girls in the Reno area. These programs strive to teach girls the fundamentals of softball in the same type of environment as youth baseball.
Carson City Girls Softball
Carson City Girls Softball serves girls age 3 to 18 in the Carson City area.
Carson Valley Fast Pitch
Carson Valley Fast Pitch Softball serves the Carson Valley, Minden, and Gardnerville areas.
Sierra Girls Softball League (in process of merging with Reno Fastpitch Softball)
The Sierra Girls Softball League has been around since 1975 and runs two seasons (Spring and Fall) that serve girls age 4 to 14. Games are played at Vaughn Middle School in Reno.
Reno Fast Pitch Softball (in process of merging with Sierra Girls Softball League)
Reno Fast Pitch Softball has been around since the late 1970s and is affiliated with USA Softball, offering divisions for girls from age 5 to 16. The teams are organized by school or area the children live and teams play on the softball fields at Jamaica Park-Pine Middle School and at Hilltop Park in Northwest Reno.
North Valleys Babe Ruth Softball
North Valleys Babe Ruth Softball serves girls 8 to 18.
Washoe Little League has started a softball program for girls 4 to 12 for the fall of 2021 to continue as a regular offering each year. Here is one dad’s experience with WLL softball.
Travel Ball – Softball
Nevada Lightning Fast Pitch – Facebook
Founded in 1990, Nevada Lightning Girls fast pitch strives to provide an environment conducive to the positive athletic, academic and social development of young women.
Scorpions Fast Pitch – Facebook
The Scorpions have a large training facility near Rock/Glendale and are affiliated with the Scorpions Baseball Academy.
Northern Nevada Tilt – Facebook
Highly competitive youth softball Program to provide and promote girls opportunities beyond youth softball. They have a facility near the airport.
Reno Heat – Facebook – are they active?
Nevada Sharks Fastpitch – Facebook
Nevada Hotshots Softball – Facebook
The author is on the board of Washoe Little League, coaches his two sons, and has both sons playing for the Scorpions Baseball Academy travel ball team.
If you enjoyed this article, check out A Coach’s Promise To Your Kids and Help Me Coach Your Kids, both based on the author’s experience coaching community baseball. As always, thanks for your support.
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