Blue Sox Team Information

Overview

A few items item that we want to be clear on:

1) We do support multi-sport athletes, but we do expect players to attend as many practices as possible in the off-season (we will work with families within reason) and all practices and games in-season.

2) We support town baseball and don't have an issue with anyone playing for their town, but pitchers must make the Blue Sox their first priority. We cannot play games if we do not have enough pitching. Pitchers should be in constant communication with their Blue Sox coach to see when they will be needed to pitch. We are very careful with our pitchers and will not risk injury to them.

  • Professional paid coaches (8 to 1 ratio) will organize and assist with all practices (instruction is a key priority) and one coach will be assigned to manage the team during game days.
  • We have some of the best coaches in the area, from past and current minor leaguers, a big leaguer, former and current college players and coaches and current and former high school coaches. Throughout the off-season players will not just work with their assigned coaches, but numerous members of our staff.

11u & 12u Team Details

Off-Season (January-March 2023)

  • One session will focus on hitting at the Route 2 Athletics Facility
    • There will be 2-3 slots per week for players to choose from -- these slots will be published at the beginning of each month and each player can sign up for one hitting session a week.
    • This will be on a first come, first serve basis. There will be more than enough slots for all players, but we cannot guarantee your first choice will be available, once they are filled. Hitting sessions may take place on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
  • Our second session each week will focus on defense at the newly constructed Winchester Sports Complex (120 Cross St., Winchester, MA) or at The Edge Bubble in Bedford, MA on either Saturday or Sunday.
  • Beginning in February, we will also offer numerous sessions for our pitchers to focus on that part of their game, some of these sessions may take place during our defensive practice and some will be seperate sessions.
  • (4) pre-season TEAM practices the last two weeks of March
    • Locations and Times are TBD -- player attendance will be mandatory

In-Season (2023)

  • One weekly in-season (April-May) practices that may move indoors depending on inclement weather.
  • 20 games (weather pending) in the New Balance Select Baseball League - this may include entry in a local tournament.
    • Divisional placement of our teams will be decided in February after evaluating and observing the strength of each team roster.

11u-12u Divisions:

  • MA Regular Season: (D1, D1A and D2)
    • April 2nd – May 22nd (8 Weekends)
    • 2 Weekends of Saturday & Sunday double headers
    • 3 weeks with a doubleheader on either Saturday or Sunday.
    • 14 Division Games
  • MA State Playoffs:
    • June 4th, 5th, 11th & 12th.
    • Must advance for the 11th and 12th dates
  • Regional Playoffs: June 18th & 19th
    • Must win MA State Championship

13u & 14u Team Details

Off-Season (January-March 2023)

  • One session will focus on hitting at the Route 2 Athletics Facility
    • There will be 2-3 slots per week for players to choose from -- these slots will be published at the beginning of each month and each player can sign up for one hitting session a week.
    • This will be on a first come, first serve basis. There will be more than enough slots for all players, but we cannot guarantee your first choice will be available, once they are filled. Hitting sessions may take place on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
  • Our second session each week will focus on defense at the newly constructed Winchester Sports Complex (120 Cross St., Winchester, MA) or at The Edge Bubble in Bedford, MA on either Saturday or Sunday.
  • Beginning in February, we will also offer numerous sessions for our pitchers to focus on that part of their game, some of these sessions may take place during our defensive practice and some will be seperate sessions.
  • (4) pre-season TEAM practices the last two weeks of March
    • Locations and Times are TBD -- player attendance will be mandatory

In-Season (2023)

  • (1) weekly in-season one hour practice (April until early/ mid July) that may move indoors depending on inclement weather.
  • 25 to 30 games (weather pending) in the New Balance Elite Baseball League and/or tournaments.
    • Divisional Placement of our teams will be decided upon in late January, after evaluating and observing the strength of each team roster.

13u-14u Divisions:

  • MA Elite Division Regular Season:
    • April 1st – June 24th/ 25th (13 weekends)
  • MA Regular Season: (D1,1A and 2)
    • April 1st – June 24th/ 25th (13 weekends)
  • MA State Playoffs:
    • July 8th and 9th
    • Must Advance for the 18th and 19th.

High School Team Details

Commitment

All families need to seriously consider if their son can and wants to put the time into playing for the Blue Sox. We support multi-sport athletes, but this is not a recreation program and players need to find the time in their schedule to improve in the off-season and need to make a one hundred percent commitment to attending the in-season games and practices. Families have to be willing to give up weekend get aways and summer vacations to attend all required events. In addition we have no issue with players participating in the their town leagues, but they cannot miss Blue Sox events for town games and all pitchers need to be ready and rested to pitch for us whenever called upon. We completely understand if a family is not able or willing to make this commitment and for those families we are willing to offer a train only spot, which would allow players to train with us in the off season, but not participate throughout the summer game/ tournament schedule.

  • If interested in this option, then please email Chris Aufiero at info@route2athletics.org

 

Playing Time

For our high school age teams, playing time is earned, not guaranteed. Skill level, attitude, work ethic and game situations all factor into playing time decisions. The off-season and in season practices are the time when ALL players will receive equal opportunities to improve and develop. We will allow position players to select the position they want to work on in the off- season to prepare them for their high school season as they may play (or feel they have the best chance to play) a certain position for their high school team, but please understand they may not play that same position for us in the summer.

Off-Season (2023)

  • (2) indoor practices from January to mid-March (excluding holidays/school vacation weeks for November and December)
    • One session will focus on hitting at the Route 2 Athletics Facility
      • There will be 2-3 slots per week for players to choose from -- these slots will be published at the beginning of each month and each player can sign up for one hitting session a week.
      • Hitting practices will take place Sunday’s to Friday’s
  • Our second session each week will focus on defense at the newly constructed Winchester Sports Complex (120 Cross St., Winchester, MA) or at The Edge Bubble in Bedford, MA.
    • Defensive practices will take place Friday night to Sunday night.
    • Practices will be team/age orientated. If a player cannot make a practice we will offer some flexibility to attend another groups practice. We want and need players to attend!
  • Please understand that the primary focus of the off-season is hitting and defense for position players and pitching (2 sessions) for those who have accepted a Pitcher Only spot.
  • For players who consider themselves a pitcher first, but do not accept a Pitcher Only spot, we will offer additional pitching programs for a separate cost.
    • Those accepting a Pitcher Only spot, the two sessions a week will focus on developing efficient mechanics, power and a healthy arm path. We will also work on pitch design -- the development of secondary pitches through our Trackman system.

In-Season: Tournament Teams (2023)

  • Weekly one hour practices (Early June to late July/early August) that may move indoors depending on inclement weather.
  • 25 games (weather pending) in the New Balance Elite Baseball League and/or 6-7 tournaments (a few may require travel and an additional cost to families for lodging, etc.).
    • League play vs Tournaments will depend on team placement.

15u (Freshman) Divisions and 16u/18u (Sophomore and Junior) Divisions

  • Elite Division
    • June 11th – July 10th (5 Weekends)
    • The amount of division games will be determined in September 2021
  • Elite Division Playoffs:
    • July 23-August 7th
    • Must advance after every weekend after Saturday, July 23rd and Sunday, July 24th
  • MA Regular Season (D1, 1A and 2):
    • June 11th – July 10th (5 Weekends)
    • The amount of division games will be determined in September 2021
  • MA State Playoffs:
    • July 23rd, 24th, 30th & 31st
  • Regional Playoffs: August 6th & 7th
    • Must win MA State Championship