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Tryouts and Team Selections

2026 Traveling Tryouts

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Traveling tryouts are open to players in 3rd-8th grade and take place over the course of two days (see details below). Players should wear appropriate athletic apparel and provide their own baseball glove, batting helmet, bat and water bottle. No cleats can be worn at tryouts, please wear tennis shoes or turf shoes only.  The tryout process is anonymous, so players should refrain from wearing apparel with their name on it. Parents are not allowed to watch any part of the tryouts. 

Saturday, March 21:

Blizzard Baseball Academy 
3325 Labore Road, Vadnais Heights, MN  55110
 
Focus: Hitting evaluation
* Players are welcome to stay until the end of the tryout time, but it's possible they'll be done early. They can leave when they have finished hitting, as long as they check out with a volunteer. 
 
Tryout times (please arrive 10 minutes early) - players tryout with their CURRENT grade level: 
  • 3rd grade (9U): 9:15 - 10:15 am
  • 4th grade (10U): 10:30 - 11:30 am
  • 5th grade (11U): 12:00 - 1:15 pm
  • 6th grade (12U): 1:15 - 2:30 pm
  • 7th grade (13U): 2:30 -3:45 pm
  • 8th grade (14U): 3:45-5:00 pm

Sunday. March 22

TCO Sports Garden
1490 Co Rd E East, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110
 
Focus: Infield/outfield evaluation
 
Tryout times (please arrive 10 minutes early) - players tryout with their CURRENT grade level: 
  • 3rd grade (9U): 8:00  - 10:30 am
  • 4th grade (10U): 9:15 - 11:45 am
  • 5th grade (11U): 10:30 am - 1:00 pm
  • 6th grade (12U): 11:45 am - 2:15 pm
  • 7th grade (13U): 1:00 - 3:30 pm
  • 8th grade (14U): 2:15 - 4:45 pm

Traveling Tryout format

The White Bear Baseball Association conducts tryouts in two phases.  The first phase will occur indoor on a specified date and location.  Players are graded on infield, outfield, and hitting. 

  • Infield and outfield are scored using the categories as follows: Mechanics, Range, Arm strength, and Accuracy.
  • Hitting is scored using the categories as follows: Mechanics, Contact, Power, and Bat Speed.

Independent graders, not coaches of that age group grade each player based on the information provided above. No one is privy to these scores except for the head coaches themselves. Assistants cannot be named until the teams are selected.

Phase 2 will commence indoor.  Players will be evaluated on fielding, hitting, and pitching through coach led drills.  Phase two also consists of an optional catching portion. The indoor grades (phase one), as well as the players performance in phase two, will aid coaches in making their selections. All players will participate in both phases of tryouts.  Each player will get the same opportunity to be evaluated in the same situations.

The head coach of the “AAA” team will select his/her team followed by the head coach of the “AA” team. An “A” team will be selected next should that age group have the numbers to create an “A” team. After final approval from the board, tryout numbers are posted on the website for those players selected. Any 12 and under player not selected, will be placed on an In-House team based in the area in which they live.  Players who are 13 and older will be placed in the North Star League.

Please note: Players should wear appropriate athletic apparel and provide their own baseball glove, batting helmet, bat and water bottle. No cleats can be worn at tryouts, please wear tennis shoes or turf shoes only. 

The tryout process is anonymous. Players may not wear any apparel that has their name on it.

Parents are not allowed to watch any part of the tryouts. 

Players at the age of 14 will need to bring or use a -5 USSSA approved bat. Lighter bats will NOT be allowed.

Traveling Fee Reimbursement

For those players that registered for a traveling league, but ultimately will be participating in one of our In-House leagues, a reimbursement will be issued for the difference in fees will be sent at a date to be determined after the season starts.

In-House (Non-Traveling) Teams

All players signing up for the In-House league are placed on teams based on the public school boundaries.  Coaches are selected after the completion of an application and background check.  All players will receive 2 White Bear jerseys along with the rest of their uniform and baseballs and some equipment is provided for the team.  Age groups are 1st/2nd graders with coaches pitching, and 3rd/4th & 5th/6th graders, with the players pitching. 

All games are played within the WB School district boundaries.  Each team plays approximately 14 games followed by a Fun Day for the 1st/2nd graders, and playoffs for the 3rd/4th & 5th/6th graders.