Located in SE Portland on the corner of SE Harney St. & SE 72nd Ave!

Registration Listing

Challengers

Our Mission: Everyone Deserves a Chance to Play

The Little League Challenger Division® is an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and fun environment where players can experience the joy of being part of a team, build self-esteem, and make lifelong friends—all while playing the game of baseball.

Who Can Play:
Participation is open to any individual with a physical or intellectual challenge. We offer two levels of play based on age:
  • Little League Challenger Division: Ages 4 to 18 (or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school).
  • Senior League Challenger Division: Ages 15 and above (no maximum age limit).

The Challenger Experience:
To ensure every athlete succeeds, we modify the traditional rules of baseball to meet each player's unique abilities:
  • The "Buddy" System: Each player is paired with a peer "buddy"—typically a volunteer from our standard baseball or softball divisions—who assists with batting, base running, and fielding as needed.
  • Adaptive Gameplay: We use tees or coach-pitching to ensure every player gets a hit. Every player on the roster bats and plays defensively in the field every inning.
  • Fun Over Scores: Games are typically 1–2 innings long (about one hour). We do not keep score or record outs, ensuring every game ends with a high-five and a sense of accomplishment.
  • Full Inclusion: Challenger players wear the same uniforms and use the same fields as our other divisions to ensure they are a fully integrated part of our Little League community.

We are actively seeking sponsors so that we can offer this program at no cost to our players. Volunteer coaches, team parents, and player buddies are also needed.

More about Challengers: https://www.littleleague.org/play-little-league/challenger/


More about our Buddy Program: Be a Friend on the Field
At the heart of the Challenger Division is the Buddy System. Buddies are volunteers—often peer athletes from our standard baseball and softball divisions, or local students—who are paired with Challenger players to provide support, safety, and encouragement.

What Does a Buddy Do?
The primary goal of a Buddy is to be a friend and mentor to their player, helping them experience the game to its fullest. While specific needs vary for every athlete, common responsibilities include:
  • Safety First: Standing near the player in the field to protect them from batted or thrown balls.
  • On-Field Assistance: Assisting with batting (holding a tee), base running (guiding or pushing a wheelchair), and fielding (directing where to throw).
  • Encouraging Independence: Helping the player learn the game, not playing the game for them. Buddies encourage players to hit and make plays on their own whenever possible.
  • Social Connection: Building a bond through pre-game warm-ups and positive interaction throughout the season.

Volunteer Requirements
  • Age: Volunteers are typically ages 10 and up. Middle and high school students can often earn required community service hours by participating.
  • No Experience Needed: You do not need to be a baseball expert to be a Buddy; you only need patience, a warm heart, and a love for our community.
  • Commitment: Consistency is key for our athletes. We ask that Buddies commit to attending at least [will be determined per season dates] games per season to build trust with their paired player.

Safety & Training Protocols
To ensure a safe environment for all participants, Little League International requires the following:
  • Background Checks: All adult volunteers (18+) must pass an annual national background check through JDP. Minor volunteers (under 18) may also be required to register and, depending on age, provide parental consent for screening.
  • Abuse Awareness Training: All volunteers must complete the Little League Abuse Awareness Course annually.
  • Mandatory Training Session: New Buddies must attend a pre-season orientation to learn about adaptive play, safety guidelines, and how to interact effectively with players of all abilities.

Challenger - Little League Challenger Division

Registration closes on 04/04/2026 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 04/11/2026 to 06/13/2026
Show Details
$65.00

Senior Challenger - Little League Challenger Division

Registration closes on 04/04/2026 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 04/11/2026 to 06/13/2026
Show Details
$65.00

Spring 2026 Baseball


Tee Ball
Ages 4 to 5 years
This division is for players who need to learn the fundamentals of the sport. Coaches help players learn proper ways to throw, catch and hit off a tee. Most kids need one or two years of tee ball to be ready to play in other divisions. Teams typically practice 1 time a week and have 1 game per week on Saturday.

Rookie
Ages 6-7 years
This division is for players who already have the basic fundamentals of the sport and are ready for developing those skills. Coaches help players strengthen their throwing and catching skills, as well as building on fielding skills. Kids will be hitting pitches thrown by coaches. Teams typically practice 1 time a week and have 1-2 games per week, one game on Saturday and possibly one game during the week.

Farm (Coach Pitch)
Ages 7-9 years
This division is for players who already have the basic fundamentals of the sport and are ready for developing those skills. Coaches help players strengthen their throwing and catching skills, as well as building on fielding skills. Kids begin the season hitting pitches thrown by coaches and by mid-season, both players and coaches are pitching to the batters. Teams typically practice 1-2 times a week and have 2 games per week, one during the week and one on Saturday.

Minors (Player Pitch)
Ages 9-11
This division is for players who have solid fundamentals and are ready to play exclusively player pitch. Coaches help players learn the strategy of the game and continue to develop fielding and base running skills. All players will make a team, but must attend tryouts to play minors. Teams typically practice 1-2 times a week and have 2 games per week, one during the week and one on Saturday.

Majors
Ages 10-12
This division is for players who have a solid fundamental of skills and game strategy. All players will make a team, but must attend tryouts to play majors if they have not played majors in a previous year. Teams typically practice 1-2 times a week and have 2 games per week, one during the week and one on Saturday.

Rookie - Baseball (Coed)

Registration closes on 03/31/2026 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 04/11/2026 to 10/01/2026
Show Details
$120.00

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