Travel Baseball
TRAVEL BASEBALL:
The West Orange PAL Mustangs are more than just a baseball team; we are a community dedicated to fostering growth, teamwork, and the love of the game. Competing in the United States Amateur Baseball League (USABL), which proudly boasts over 2,500 teams across New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and the New York metro area, we embrace the thrill of competition during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Our journey includes playoffs, aspirations for Championship glory, and the dream of qualifying for the prestigious USABL League World Series. At the heart of our program is a commitment to teaching the values of competition and good sportsmanship. Each team is carefully placed by skill, ensuring an environment where players can thrive and support one another. As we gear up for the 2025 season, we are excited to announce that the WOPAL has been granted our Williamsport Little League Charter! This will open doors for our teams to compete in District 8 regular season spring games, paving the way for the Summer International Tournament.
Our approach to team selection is rooted in recognizing each player’s unique skill set and baseball knowledge. Under the mentorship of WOHS Head Baseball Coach Tim Blumkin, we organize teams by age and grade, emphasizing skill development while nurturing a love for the game.
As the proud feeder program to WOHS, we believe in building not just players, but lifelong friendships. Through events and collaborations with our WOHS players, the "Mustangs2Mountaineers" initiative fosters camaraderie and team spirit, creating bonds that extend beyond the baseball field. Together, we strive to inspire each other to reach new heights and embrace the journey ahead, on and off the field. Let’s play ball and make memories that last a lifetime!
Below is the progression of levels WOPAL offers for our TRAVEL baseball program through USABL and Williamsport Little League.
TRAVEL COACH/PLAYER PITCH (ages 5-7 year olds)
Location: PAL Baseball Field
This division is played on a 46/60 little league diamond. (46/60 diamond means 46’ from pitching mound to home plate and 60’ between bases). Standard little league rules apply with modifications for 7U. Coaches pitch the first two & last two innings; players pitch the 3rd and 4th innings. This program is built to teach the fundamentals of baseball, competition, teamwork and sportsmanship. Practice is required and you can expect 2-3 practices a week in order to prepare weekly games.
46/60 TRAVEL DIVISION (ages 8 – 10 year olds)
Location: PAL Baseball Field
This division is played on a 46/60 little league diamond. (46/60 diamond means 46’ from pitching mound to home plate and 60’ between bases). Standard little league rules apply with modified pitching rules. This program builds on the fundamentals of baseball, progressing from 7U through 10U. Teams participate in League and Tournament play. Practice is required and you can expect 3-4 practices a week in order to prepare the players for the next level.
50/70 TRAVEL DIVISON (ages 11-12 years old)
Location: PAL Field, Degnan Park, Colgate Field
This division develops the skills learned in Traditional Little League and focuses on the transition from 46/60 to the big diamond. Leading and stealing off the pitcher's motion and balks are introduced on a 50/70 field (pitching mound 50’ to home plate and base paths are 70’). The concept of the 50/70 design is to bring high school rules to a manageable field size, allowing players to transition for success in high school on the 60/90 diamond. As you advance from each division it takes you one step closer to true baseball. Playing time is not guaranteed. Teams participate in League and Tournament play.
60/90 TRAVEL SENIOR BASEBALL (7- 8th Grade)
Location: West Orange High School
The objective of this program is to provide players the opportunity to stay involved in organized baseball while sharpening their skills against local competition. Playing on a real full-size field (60/90), players will engage in different aspects of the game using regulation baseball rules. This program prepares players for high school play and a greater respect for the game of baseball. Playing time is not guaranteed. The team has an annual tradition of playing Verona at the Home of Baseball: Doubleday Field Cooperstown, NY. This annual event includes a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame and a tour of the flagship Baseballism store.
Select Tournament Teams - 10U, 12U, & 14U
Location: PAL Field, West Orange High School
The objective of this program is to provide players with supplemental opportunities to the spring league season. Best of the best 9-14 years are selected to represent West Orange in tournaments. Teams practice 1-2 days per week with tournaments on weekends. Tournaments will be in USABL, Diamond Nation, and/or Perfect Game (PG).
Spring 2025 TRAVEL
West Orange PAL has officially been chartered with Williamsport Little League!
Registeration is open to athletes ages 7-14. Must be a resident of West Orange. This is TRAVEL baseball. Teams will play other towns in District 8 (Montclair, Livingston, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Nutley, Belleville, Newark, and Union).
Important Links
Summer Travel Team Tryout Schedule
West Orange PAL is looking for players interested in the Summer season. Players must be registered with the WOPAL for the Spring Travel season to participate in the Williamsport International Tournament (Little League World Series). Those not on a PAL spring team will only be eligible for the Summer regular season team.
Contact INFO@wopal.org for more details. Ages 7-14.
Register Here to Participate in the Summer Season:
Roster Spots Available
8u - 2 spots
10U - 2 spots
Please contact info@wopal.org
Spring Baseball Registration Fee: 7U-14U Teams: $375
(includes spring league fees, umpires, and insurance)
Summer Baseball Registration Fee: 7U-14U Teams: $375
(includes spring league fees, umpires, and insurance)
Contact the PAL if you are unable to attend evaluations.
Spring Games will be as follows, but subject to change depending on team/field availability:
USABL 7U-14U: Sundays
Williamsport LL Games 7U-14U: any weekday night or weekends
Summer Games: weekday evenings, Mon/Tues/Thurs.
Weekends will be utilized for make up games and tournaments.
Practices will be determined by coaches
If you have a financial challenge preventing you from registering for the season, please contact Info@wopal.org. We believe every child should have the opportunity to participate in sports, and we're here to work with families to ensure that financial barriers don’t prevent your child from playing.
WO Baseball team must be your priority team for Spring and Summer teams. USABL, PG, and Diamond Nation Tournaments can run Friday-Sunday. Williamsport Little League Tournament runs weekdays and weekends.
Playing Time is earned - not guaranteed.
Common Questions:
When does practice start?
Spring Season:
The Spring season begins with tryouts in October/November, winter training in January & February and the season running through mid June.
Winter training is 1 day a week during January and February. There is also winter clinics with the WOHS staff 1 day a week. In March practices move outdoors with 3-4 practices a week and games on weekends (usually Sunday).
Summer Season:
Summer rosters are selected in May with practices and games picking up at the conclusion of the Spring season. There are typically 2 games a week, with 2-3 practices during the week/weekend. The season concludes at the end of July.
Fall Season:
The Fall season begins with tryouts in August and the game season beginning in September. Teams practice 2-3 days a week with games on weekends (usually Saturday). *The Fall Ball program works around the PAL Football schedule; if a team has a significant number of players on 1 soccer team, additional baseball practices may be added to accommodate the soccer schedule. Baseball games, once scheduled, can not be moved due to limited field availability.
Do I need my own equipment?
Yes. Players will order their customized game jerseys, hats, & warm up shirts. You will also need to provide a navy belt, navy socks, white baseball pants, and cleats/sneakers, batting gloves, etc. While the PAL does have equipment most players provide their own mitt, bat, helmet, cleats, etc.
How is playing time determined?
The WO PAL is a competitive town baseball program. Playing time may vary as the season progresses. It is not guaranteed. We believe in developing players through practices but game time decisions can vary on a number of factors. Tournament and Playoff games MAY be coached differently than regular season games.
How do I contact the coach?
Each team will have a TeamSnap account which will allow you to reach out to the coaches.
What league do you play in?
The PAL participates in the United States Amateur Baseball League (USABL). Teams also compete in tournaments in the spring. In the summer, teams may play in the New Providence Summer League. Our 12U 50/70 team will participate in the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, MD and the 13U/14U teams play at the historic Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY.
How do I get involved in the PAL Baseball Program?
PAL is always looking for volunteers to help promote and create a positive experience for the youth of West Orange. Volunteer options include but are not limited to coaching, game day support, field maintenance, public relations and fundraising.
To get involved or for additional information, please e-mail info@wopal.org.
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