Garner Sports League (GSL) has partnered with the Town of Garner, North Carolina provide recreational baseball and softball programs that offer boys (baseball) and girls (baseball or softball) a great opportunity to learn and love the game of baseball or softball. Recreational baseball, softball, and teeball offer an introductory, fun playing environment for players of all skill levels.
We offer various instructional and competitive programs for participants ages 3 – 14 for girls and 3 – 15 for boys. Eligibility age for boys is determined by their age May 1st and for girls January 1st of the current year for the Spring and the next calendar year for the Fall. The registration site will display the programs that a participant is eligible for based on their birthday when you go to register.
Spring Registration typically begins in January. The Spring Season typically begins around the first weekend of April and ends in mid to late May, and could be extended into June for those that make an All-Star team or have other post season competition options.
Fall Registration begins in June and July, and the Fall Season “Fall Ball” begins with practices in mid August, games in early September, and ends the first weekend of November. There is no post season for Fall Ball.
The program fee includes uniform shirt and hat and covers team equipment, umpires, fields, and lights. Batting helmets, bats, gloves, baseball pants and cleats are not included. Visit the corresponding age division page for more details around required equipment for your player’s age division.
Divisions:
GSL currently offers different sports with participants placed into divisions, based on age and gender.
An evaluation day is also held for the recreational programs (baseball and softball) to distribute talent throughout the recreational program to create as much balance as possible.
Teams typically practice once during the week and once on weekends prior to the start of games. Once games start teams will play 1-2 games each week on weeknights and will practice on the weekend. The game and practice schedule will be determined based on the number of teams in each age group and the available field space.
Volunteer coaches are always needed and are required to pass a background check prior to interacting with the children.
Garner Sports League recreational baseball and softball divisions follow USA Baseball, BBCOR and USSSA Softball bat standards and a bat must carry the corresponding stamp. For Coach Pitch (8U) and player pitch 10U and 12U baseball, all bats must be USA Baseball approved and carry the USA Baseball Stamp. For 15U baseball, bats must be USA Baseball approved or they must be NFHS approved and carry the BBCOR stamp (High School). Bats may not exceed 2 5/8” in diameter nor 34” inches in length. There is no rule regarding weight / length ratio. For recreational fast-pitch softball play, all bats must meet the BPF 1.20 standard and carry the USA Softball or USSSA Softball stamp.