Open Baseball League
League Description
The Open Baseball League of West Des Moines is a recreational baseball league for ages 5U - 15U.
Dates of Play
Regular Season - April 15 - June 7
Weather Reschedules (if needed) - June 10 - June 21
Games will be played at Holiday Park. 10U/11U and 12U/13U will combine with Grimes Rec League and will have games played at Grimes South Sports Complex.
Practices
Practice time is provided to all teams.
A schedule with open times will be made available after the deadline.
Coaches will be responsible for booking practice time with league staff.
Practices will start the week of April 1 (weather permitting).
Locations for practices will be Holiday Park (West Des Moines) and Sportsplex West (Waukee).
Registration
Individual only, player requests will be honored. Please include those player requests on your registration in the comments section.
5U/6U - $145 + tax
7U - $180 + tax
8U/9U - $205 + tax
10U/11U - $225 + tax
12U/13U - $245 + tax
14U/15U - $245 + tax
*Registration fees cover hat and jersey fees, practice times and games.
For more information, click register online or contact Austin Marchant austin@sportsplexwest.com.
7U
Iowa Sticks White
WDM Cubs
Norwalk Naturals
Iowa Storm
Iowa Sticks Red
Iowa Saints
DCG Mustangs
9U A/AA
Norwalk Naturals AA
Waukee Bandits AA
Waukee Red Sox AA
WDM Iron Birds A
WDM Cubs A
Waukee Wolves AA
Waukee Flyers AA
Waukee Dirt Dogs AA
Waukee Bombers AA
Tiger Heat A
Iowa Sticks SBA Dunker A
Iowa Sticks SBA Raymer AA
Iowa SeaWolves AA
Iowa Rockhounds A
DCG Mustangs Red AA
DCG Bombers AA
Centennial Storm AA
10U A/AA
Southside Sharks AA
Des Moines Aces AA
Waukee Force AA
The Bolts A
West Des Moines Vipers A
Waukee Wolves AA
Waukee Wolf Pack AA
Waukee Wolfpack A
Waukee Cubs A
Waukee Bolts A
Redhawks A
Norwalk Warriors A
Iowa Sticks SBA Regulators A
Iowa Sticks Grey A
Des Moines Stars A
DCG Mustangs 2028 A
Ankeny Arsenal AA
ADM Tigers AA
11U A/AA
DCG Stampede AA
WDM Tigers AA
WDM Miners AA
Waukee Wild AA
Waukee Panthers A
Waukee Lightning AA
Waukee Dirt Dogs AA
Waukee Crush AA
Warriors AA
Norwalk Force AA
Iowa Sticks White AA
Iowa Iron Hawks AA
Heat AA
Grand Slam Titans AA
Game Ready Grey A
DCG Mustangs 2027 AA
Comets Baseball AA
Central Iowa Dirt Kickers AA
Carlisle Wildcats AA
ADM Tiger C-C-C AA
Ankeny Jaghawks AA
515 Select Rippers AA
12U
Iowa Sticks SBA Brown AA
WDM Lions AAA
WDM Knights - White AA
WDM Knights - Blue A
WDM Blaze AAA
Knoxville AA
Iowa Sticks SBA Nielsen AA
Iowa Sticks White AA
Indianola Tribe AA
Des Moines Demons AA
DCG Mustangs Baseball AA
Chopstix AA
Bearcats AA
14U
Central Iowa Redbirds AA
WDM Saints AAA
Walnut Creek Thunderbolts A
Titans-Navy AA
Ninjas AA
Des Moines Irish AAA
Ankeny Blaze MAJ
8U
DCG Mustangs 8U
WDM Storm
Waukee Wolves
Waukee Whalers
Waukee Sharks
Norwalk United
Norwalk Naturals
Norwalk Elite
Mustangs Red Wilkens
Mustangs Red Zehring
Knights
Iowa Sticks White
Iowa Sticks Red
Iowa Sticks Black
Iowa Bulls
Dirtbags
Des Moines Cubs 8U
Central Iowa Velocity
Ankeny Magic 8U
Ankeny Arsenal
9U AAA/MAJ
Norwalk Nitro 9U AAA
Iowa Sticks White AAA
Iowa Sticks Red AAA
Iowa Saints MAJ
Iowa Gators AAA
DCG Mustangs Baseball 9U MAJ
Bondurant Bluejays MAJ
ADM Tigers AAA
10U AAA/MAJ
Magic MAJ
Roughriders MAJ
Norwalk Naturals AAA
Iowa Sticks White AAA
Iowa Sticks Red MAJ
Des Moines Cubs 10U MAJ
11U AAA/MAJ
Westside Aces AAA
Waukee Lightning - GS MAJ
Iowa Sticks SBA AAA
Iowa Sticks Red AAA
Iowa Stars MAJ
Iowa Impact AAA
DM Spartans AAA
13U
DCG Mustangs Baseball AA
Van Meter Bulldogs AA
Game Ready 13U Blue AAA
West Des Moines Bulldogs A
Iowa Scorpions A
WDM Titans A
Waukee Rampage A
Waukee Lightning 13U AA
Norwalk Thunder AAA
Newton Crush AA
Mustang Red A
Midwest Shock AAA
Johnston Strikers AA
Iowa Metro Knights AA
Indianola Baseball Club A
League Rules
Age requirements and bat rules follow USSSA guidelines outlined in the USSSA rules that can be found on www.usssa.com
5u Division Rules (T-Ball division)
OBL 5u Division will play 8 games.
- 9 players per team on the field. A catcher position is not required (extra infielder or outfielder allowed instead).
- Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 45 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:30, no new inning will begin past 6:15. (A new inning begins after last batter from home team bats.)
- Safety balls will be used and no score will be kept.
- Players will hit off of the tee with no swing limit and will swing until they hit the ball into fair territory.
- No leading off or stealing.
- On a ball hit to the outfield, the outfielder needs to get the ball to an infielder. Once an infielder gets the ball and raises their hands for time, the ball is dead. Runners that have not made it half way to the next base, must return to the previous base.
- Base runners should advance one base on an infield hit; please no additional advances on bad throws to 1st base (or other bases). We want the kids to spend time batting and fielding, rather than running around bases because of poor throws.
- Runners must be batted home.
- Entire lineup bats through each inning. The last batter in each inning hits a home run.
6u Division Rules (T-Ball division)
OBL 6u Division will play 8 games.
- 9 players per team on the field. A catcher position is not required (extra infielder or outfielder allowed instead).
- Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 45 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:30, no new inning will begin past 6:15. (A new inning begins after last batter from home team bats.)
- Safety balls will be used and no score will be kept.
- Hitters cannot strike out or walk.
- No leading off or stealing.
- On a ball hit to the outfield, the outfielder needs to get the ball to an infielder. Once an infielder gets the ball and raises their hands for time, the ball is dead. Runners that have not made it half way to the next base, must return to the previous base.
- Base runners should advance one base on an infield hit; please no additional advances on bad throws to 1st base (or other bases). We want the kids to spend time batting and fielding, rather than running around bases because of poor throws.
- Runners have to be batted home.
- Entire lineup bats through each inning. The last batter in each inning hits a home run.
7u Division Rules (Coach Pitch/T-Ball division)
OBL 7u Division will play 8 games.
- 10 players per team on the field (extra outfielder only, no extra infielder) with no player sitting consecutive innings. To expedite play, please have a coach behind the catcher to to help with passed balls. Best if coach pitches up to 5 balls at a time before getting the balls back from the catcher.
- Games are 6 innings or less, with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 10 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 6:50. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.)
- Safety balls will be used and no official score will be kept.
- Each hitter will get a maximum of 5 pitches to hit (foul balls do not count as last pitch), and then will hit off of the tee. ***Please keep it to 5 pitches, as that helps keep the game moving at a faster pace particularly for these younger kids standing in the field and in the dugouts.***
- Hitters cannot strike out or walk.
- No leading off or stealing.
- Base runners may only take one total base on an overthrow (except when that base is home). For example, if the batter hits the ball in play and there is an overthrow to 1st base, the base runner may only attempt to advance to 2nd base and may not advance to 3rd base if there is an additional overthrow to 2nd base trying to get the base runner out.
- Runners must be batted home (cannot score on an overthrow).
- Either a team bats through its entire lineup in a half-inning or 3 outs occur, whichever occurs first, is the end of that half-inning.
- Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
8u/9u Division Rules (Kid Pitch Division)
OBL 9u Division will play 10 games.
- Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
- Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 25 minutes from start time. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:05. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
- There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
- Players may not lead off, but may steal once the ball gets over home plate. There is no stealing home or scoring on a passed ball/wild pitch. Players need to be either hit or walked home.
- Base runners may take one base per overthrow but cannot score on an overthrow. For example, if the batter hits the ball in play and there is an overthrow to 1st base, the base runner may attempt to advance to 2nd base. If there is an overthrow to 2nd base, the base runner may attempt to advance to 3rd base.
- There is no bunting, no dropped third strike or infield fly rule.
- Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
- Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited. If a team has 8 players, they will not have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
- Bases will be set at 60’ and pitching will be from 40’.
10u/11u Division Rules
OBL 10u/11u Division will play 12 games.
- Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
- Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
- There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
- Players may not lead off, but may steal any base, including home, once the ball gets over home plate.
- Base runners may take unlimited bases on overthrows and passed balls, including home.
- There is no dropped 3rd strike.
- Bunting is allowed and the infield fly rule will be enforced.
- Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
- Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited. If a team has 8 players, they will not have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
- Bases will be set at 65’ and pitching will be from 46’.
12u/13u Division Rules
OBL 12u/13u Division will play 12 games.
- Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
- Games are 6 innings or less with no new inning beginning after 1 hour and 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 5 runs) after the top of the 6th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
- There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
- Leading off and stealing of any base allowed at any time.
- Dropped 3rd strike is in play.
- Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
- Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited. If a team has 8 players, they will have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
- Bases will be set at 70’ and pitching will be from 50’.
14u/15u Division Rules
OBL 14u/15u Division will play 12 games.
Please Note: Per USSSA Rules all bats must be permanently stamped with the new USSSA mark, be a legal BBCor bat or be made of wood by a licensed USSSA manufacturer.
All rules will follow the official USSSA Rule Book except for the following house rules:
- Teams will play 9 kids at a time with no player sitting consecutive innings.
- Games are 7 innings or less with no new inning starting after 1 hour 35 minutes. For example, if the game starts at 5:40, no new inning will begin past 7:15. (A new inning begins after the 3rd out is made at the bottom of the current inning being played.) If the home team is ahead (or behind by more than 7 runs) after the top of the 7th inning or after the top of the current inning when the no new inning cutoff occurs, the home team will not bat and the game is over.
- There is a 5 run maximum per team per inning.
- Teams will use a continuous batting order. Lineup is set for that game and should not be switched or flipped in the middle of the game.
- Teams need at least 8 players to play otherwise the game is forfeited. If a team has 8 players, they will have to take an out for the 9th position in the batting order.
- Metal spikes are allowed.
- Bases will be set at 80’ and pitching will be from 60’.
Trusted Coaches
ALL Volunteers for the OBL of West Des Moines must complete the Trusted Coaches course before volunteering. https://www.trustedcoaches.org/
The Open Baseball League is in high demand for Volunteer Coaches for the season!
ALL Volunteers for the OBL of West Des Moines must complete the Trusted Coaches course before they can volunteer. Contact Blake Marchant to get your code for the course: bmarchant@sportsplexwest.com
Uniforms
Sports Uniforms and Corporate Apparel. SportsPlex Apparel strives to be the market leader in team apparel. We’re committed to bringing you the fit, quality, and performance your team needs to separate from the field.
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