Registration for spring sports—softball, baseball, and tee-ball—is now underway and Botetourt County Parks & Recreation recently provided some updates that will enhance the experience for recreation sports families. Early registration runs through Jan. 15 and continues from Jan. 16 until Jan. 31. Extended registration is from Feb. 1 until Feb. 14. The county notes that placement on a team is not guaranteed during the extended registration period.
Here is what’s new:
Tee-Ball & Coach Pitch (Ages 5-8)
Tee-ball and coach pitch leagues will remain independent with no major changes from recent seasons.
Ages 9 & Up – Changes Ahead
After careful consideration, research, and conversations with families and coaches, the county is making a shift to improve the experience for older players:
Switching to RAYSA & RAYBA
- Starting this spring, Botetourt is moving away from Little League and officially joining the Roanoke Area Youth Softball Association (RAYSA) and Roanoke Area Youth Baseball Association (RAYBA). These leagues are already home to teams from Roanoke County, Roanoke City, Salem, Craig County, and Clifton Forge. This means more regional competition, better alignment, and exciting opportunities for athletes.
- Each team will play 10 regular-season games and will have the option to participate in a playoff tournament (format TBD).
- If the county has 6+ Botetourt teams in a league, games will stay within Botetourt. For fewer teams, they will play against teams from nearby localities.
- Details on all-star tournament participation are still being finalized.
Key Benefits of Joining RAYSA & RAYBA
- Regional Team Formation: Teams can continue to be formed by elementary school zones. Current Little League regulations would require a county-wide player draft for compliance.
- Expanded Options for Older Athletes: Additional opportunities for players age 12+.
- All-Star Access: Botetourt County athletes can still participate in regional all-star tournaments.
- The county has already seen success with RAYSA through its 17U softball team over the past two seasons, and confident this transition will benefit all Botetourt families.
Practices are scheduled to begin the week of April 1. The game schedule for tee-ball and coach pitch leagues begins April 12. For older players in RAYBA/RAYSA, game schedules are created by Roanoke County; Roanoke County has not set a schedule release date. Once game schedules are available, they will be posted on the Botetourt County website.
Other important information
- Youth ages 5 to 17 are eligible to play
- The spring baseball and tee-ball age cut-off is April 30. The spring softball age cut-off date is December 31 of the previous year (ex. December 31, 2024). The age charts for baseball and softball players, rules and regulations, coach and volunteer registration info, and more can be found at www.botetourtva.gov/345/Youth-Athletics (Baseball & Softball).
Contact Botetourt County Parks & Recreation at recreation@botetourtva.gov or call 540-928-2130 for more information.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
