Building the Future of Youth Sports One Player at a Time

Development First Mindset

Our Vision

To be the foundation of youth sports development in St. Mary Parish by developing athletes to strengthen our local athletic programs through fundamentals, discipline and confidence while building a community recognized for excellence in sports and producing athletes who are prepared, competitive and built for the next level.

Our Mission

Our league is dedicated to providing a structured, inclusive and development-focused environment for youth athletes in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.

Our mission is to create meaningful opportunities for athletes to develop fundamental skills, build confidence, strengthen character and foster a lifelong love for the game.

• Emphasis is placed on skill development, repetition, and understanding the game.

• Winning is secondary to player growth and experience.

• Coaches prioritize teaching, encouragement, and inclusion.

• The league aims to create a positive, structured, and competitive learning environment.

St. Mary Parish,

I want to take a moment to speak directly to our community about the vision behind this developmental league and why we believe it can be something truly special for our kids. We are excited about the future of this league and how it can help serve as a feeder program for our schools and travel organizations.

First and foremost, this program is NOT designed to replace or interfere with our local recreation departments or rec ball programs. In fact, our goal is the complete opposite. We want to help strengthen them.

Rec ball has always been the heart of youth sports in our communities. It gives kids a place to compete, build friendships, learn teamwork, and fall in love with the game. Volunteer coaches/parents give their time and energy because they care about children, and that deserves respect and appreciation.

When players already have those foundational skills, volunteer coaches can spend more time actually coaching their teams instead of trying to teach the entire game in a limited timeframe.

That benefits everybody. It benefits the players because they feel more confident and prepared. It benefits the volunteer coaches because practices become more productive and enjoyable. It benefits the rec departments because the overall quality of play continues to grow. And most importantly, it benefits the future of youth baseball and softball in our community. That is also why our developmental season will end BEFORE rec season begins.

We fully encourage our players to continue into rec ball and compete for their local teams. We want kids playing more baseball and softball, not less. We want them involved in their communities, representing their schools and recreation programs with confidence and pride.

This is about development.

This is about building stronger athletes, stronger teams, and ultimately a stronger rec program for everyone involved. We believe communities grow when people work together, not against each other. Our hope is that this league becomes a positive tool that supports youth sports across the board and creates more opportunities for kids to succeed.

We’re excited about what’s ahead, and we truly appreciate all of the support, encouragement, coaches, volunteers, and families who believe in this vision.

The mission has always been bigger than the sports. It’s about investing in kids the right way.

What we also recognize, though, is that rec seasons are short. Coaches often have just a few weeks to organize teams, prepare for games, and somehow also teach players the basic fundamentals of baseball and softball from the ground up. That’s a difficult task for anyone, especially volunteer parents who are already sacrificing their time to help. That’s where this developmental league comes in.

Our mission is to help bridge that gap by focusing heavily on skill development, baseball and softball IQ, fundamentals, mechanics, situational awareness, teamwork, discipline, and confidence BEFORE rec season begins.

We want players entering rec ball already understanding:

• How to properly throw and catch

• Field awareness and positioning

• Base running fundamentals

• Situational understanding

• Communication on the field

• Proper hitting mechanics

• Game awareness and effort

Message from our League Director

Coach J. Lightfoot

This is a not-for-profit Developmental League designed to create more opportunities for players and coaches to gain valuable experience and improve their skills.

Think of it as a youth version of college intramurals — competitive, structured, and focused on development.

Our goal?

• Help build this area into a pipeline for standout athletes.

• Build on what we already have and take it to the next level.

This league is built for EVERY type of player:

Want to keep playing after Rec Ball ends? Bring your team and keep getting reps in the off-season.

Don’t have a team? We got you! — we’ll place players on teams so everyone has the chance to play and grow.

Not sure if you’re ready for travel ball? This is your lane. It’s more competitive than Rec, but not as intense as travel — the perfect bridge to build confidence and skill before making that commitment.

Already on a travel team? Use this as a way to scrimmage locally, stay sharp and in sync during slow periods, and get real game-speed reps — without leaving the parish or paying high tournament fees.

Already on a team but you want to play more or try different positions? This gives players the chance to grow their game in a real, competitive setting.

What does it cost? $150 per player ($25 discount per additional player) for the inaugural summer season; all league fees cover expenses related to venue rental, equipment purchases, uniforms, etc. The R.E.C. will be hosting mini camps and clinics during the summer. League participants receive a 50% discount on all clinics and mini camps.

At the end of the day, this is about:

• More reps. More development. More opportunity.

• Preparing our area athletes for the next level.

We’re building something special for this area — but it takes the community to make it grow!

About Our League

Tentative Schedule

Registration Deadline for Summer Season: May 31, 2026

Draft Day (June 5-7) Location to be determined

Week 1: June 8-12

Week 2: June 15-19

Week 3: June 22-26

Opening Ceremonies June 27th (All Day Event)

SEASON BREAK - JUNE 29 - JULY 5

Week 4: July 6-10

Week 5: July 13-17

Game Day July 18th (All Day Event)

Week 6: July 20-24

Week 7: July 27-30

Game Day August 1st (BV)

Week 8: August 3-7

Week 9: August 10-14

Week 10: August 17-21

Game Day August 22nd

Week 11: August 24-28

Week 12: August 31 - Sept 4

Optional Light Practice Sept 8-11

September 12th - Championship Tournament + Closing Ceremony

Summer Season 2026

Optional Clinics (Hosted by The R.E.C.)

June 13-14 Defensive Fielding

June 20 Hit Camp

July 11 Defensive Fielding

July 25 Hit Camp

August 15 Defensive Fielding

League participants receive a 50% discount ($25 per clinic)