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Medicine Hat Little League making changes to Intermediate Division

Jan 11, 2019 | 12:44 PM

 

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Medicine Hat Little League Baseball will be making changes to its intermediate division in the 2019 season.

The association announced the change on Thursday, noting they would be allowing 12-year-old players to play in the Intermediate Division, alongside 13 year old players.

The change was made after Medicine Hat Little League noticed the competitive level of the Junior Division (which involves children aged 12-14, according to Little League International) was regressing from the Major Division (for children aged 9-12). The organization also notes a recurring theme when speaking with the local baseball community is having 13 year old players having to play against players aged 15 and 16.

The Intermediate Division uses a diamond with a 50 foot mound and 70 foot base paths, which is is larger than the Major Division, but smaller than the Junior Division. The division has been played in Medicine Hat, with mixed results, according to a statement from the league. “All 13 yr. old players would play in the Intermediate Division, and any 12 yr. old will be evaluated by MHLL during assessments to determine which division their abilities are better suited for.”

Medicine Hat Little League says a short-term problem with the decision will be finding enough players to fill a competitive junior division, which only had four teams last season. The league says they’re hoping the players in the division will find success and want to keep playing longer.

More information can be found here.