Travel Baseball

Ridge Baseball Club's Travel Baseball program allows players aged 8 - 12 to compete in a competitive baseball environment against players from towns across New Jersey while learning and exhibiting the four core principles of Ridge Baseball Club: Teamwork, Loyalty, Sportsmanship and Discipline.

Travel Baseball Objectives:

• Offer a Competitive Baseball program that enables each Travel Baseball player to attain maximum skills development, while having lots of fun.
• Place players at the appropriate Travel team level determined by the player’s baseball skill and ability through independent evaluations along with prior Travel and Recreational League coaches’ input.
  • RBC will endeavor to form as many teams as possible at each age group to ensure as many players as possible can participate.  However, depending on the number of players and their ability levels, not all players who are evaluated will necessarily make a team.  
• Provide opportunities for capable and committed players to improve themselves through excellent coaching and very strong competition.
• Compete against teams from other municipalities in district play, area leagues and tournaments, as well as some out-of-region, high-profile tournaments (older age groups).
• Provide a positive learning experience to enhance a player's overall personal development.

Travel Baseball Eligibility

Players who live or go to school in Basking Ridge or Far Hills are eligible to play on RBC travel teams. Players from other communities may, in the sole discretion of the RBC Travel Committee, be considered for RBC travel teams, but are not eligible to play on a District Team.

Player age for travel baseball is set by our governing organization, Babe Ruth League Baseball.  Please view our age chart to determine your player's baseball age. Players are only permitted to play for a travel team for their age group.  Players are not permitted to "play up". The only circumstance in which RBC will consider allowing a player to play in an older age group is if there are not enough players to complete the roster for an older age group. In such a circumstance, whether a player is permitted to "play up" is in the sole discretion of the RBC Travel Committee.  

Travel Baseball Commitment

The travel baseball program is a competitive-level program which requires commitment from both the player and the player's family. Teams are are formed in the Fall and begin practicing during the Winter.  Teams will play in tournaments and leagues in the Spring and Summer, with most teams' seasons complete by the end of July. Players in our travel program are required to participate in our Spring Recreational Program.  Travel teams may participate in holiday tournaments throughout the Spring and Summer seasons, and depending on the league or tournaments the that the team participates in, may have multiple games in a weekend, or in one day. Participation in another Spring sport is not prohibited, but priority must be given to the Travel Baseball program.

Frequent schedule changes are to be expected due to weather and changing dates in leagues and tournaments, so players and parents must plan to be flexible. Prompt and regular attendance is a must for all Travel players. Parents must plan vacations, other sports and other events to avoid conflict with practices and games.

Managers and Coaches

Managers and coaches for Travel teams will be selected by the Travel committee and consideration will be given to coaching skills, experience and the ability to foster a positive team experience. In addition, managers and coaches must exhibit good sportsmanship and represent Ridge Baseball Club and the communities of Bernards Township in a highly civil and supportive manner when competing at home and in other area communities. Prior year's evaluations will factor into any future consideration.

Cal Ripken District Tournament

The Cal Ripken Baseball Tournament begins in late June and continues through July, with very successful teams continuing to play into August. For RBC, competition begins at the District level, where play is against local teams. District winners progress to State level tournaments with the NJ state champion having the potential to move on to the World Series. Ridge Baseball Club, by direction of the Board of Directors, will make every attempt to field at least one team in all available divisions of the District tournament. Ages are grouped by the following: 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 year old teams.

Typically, the "Green" team at each age group is considered for playing in the Cal Ripken District Tournament.  To be eligible for selection on a Travel team that will play in the Cal Ripken District Tournament, a candidate needs to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must live in Basking Ridge or Far Hills or attend school within Basking Ridge or Far Hills. 
• Due to the time commitment required, player will not be permitted to join a Ridge Travel Team if they play on a non-Ridge 'club' team during the same period.
• Must have participated in at least 75% of the spring recreation league games.
• Must register for Travel baseball to be considered a candidate for selection through evaluations that will be held in October 2023
• Failure to attend the tryouts for Travel baseball will result in the player’s placement on the lowest level team provided enough players are available for the same team.
• Must commit to 100% attendance of games and practices through tournament conclusion.

There are no exceptions to these requirements.