ABOUT OUR LEAGUE
The Eastern Lehigh Valley Softball League was established in 1989. Twelve of our member organizations have been with the league for 20 or more years. Eight of the organizations have been with the league right from the beginning.
The league's philosophy is teaching the game of softball whereas the rules and size of the playing fields are designed to accommodate the skills of the age level.
Last year, our league provided 6 different playing levels that consisted of a total of 109 teams from 16 different organizations which resulted in 1700 girls playing softball during the regular season. This year we will have 6 different playing levels.
The Metzger tournaments featured numerous teams at the Coach Pitch, Minor's, Major's and Junior's Levels
Our Fall Softball Program had numerous teams at 4 age levels of participation
Following are age levels and you can see the various rules, schedules, game scores & standings under the individual age levels:
PreK/K – T-ball - Start at 4 years old - First Grade only if don't have a Coach Pitch Team - 30' Mound - 50' Bases - 9" Safe-T ball - No Playoffs
1st & 2nd grades (Coach Pitch) – No PreK allowed - 32' Mound - 55' Bases - 11" Safe-T Softball - No Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
3rd & 4th grades (Minors) - 11” optic yellow ball, pitch 35’, bases set at 55’ - Kid Pitch/Coach Pitch combined - No Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
NOTE: Experienced 2nd grade players can play at this level
5th & 6th grades (Majors) - 12” optic yellow ball – pitch 40’, bases set at 60’ - Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
NOTE: Experienced 4th grade players can play at this level
7th - 9th (Juniors) - 43' Mound - 60' Bases - 12" Ball - Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
9th - 20yrs (Senior's) - Senior's - Players not to be 21 prior to July 1st - 12” optic yellow ball – pitch 43’, bases set at 60’
NOTE: Any eligible Junior can play at this level when needed and experienced players can play at this level full time
The ELV has strict guidelines on territories and this impacts where your daughter has to register to play. The best way to determine which organization you should register with is to sign up where you pay your taxes.
The Eastern Lehigh Valley Softball League was established in 1989. Twelve of our member organizations have been with the league for 20 or more years. Eight of the organizations have been with the league right from the beginning.
The league's philosophy is teaching the game of softball whereas the rules and size of the playing fields are designed to accommodate the skills of the age level.
Last year, our league provided 6 different playing levels that consisted of a total of 109 teams from 16 different organizations which resulted in 1700 girls playing softball during the regular season. This year we will have 6 different playing levels.
The Metzger tournaments featured numerous teams at the Coach Pitch, Minor's, Major's and Junior's Levels
Our Fall Softball Program had numerous teams at 4 age levels of participation
Following are age levels and you can see the various rules, schedules, game scores & standings under the individual age levels:
PreK/K – T-ball - Start at 4 years old - First Grade only if don't have a Coach Pitch Team - 30' Mound - 50' Bases - 9" Safe-T ball - No Playoffs
1st & 2nd grades (Coach Pitch) – No PreK allowed - 32' Mound - 55' Bases - 11" Safe-T Softball - No Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
3rd & 4th grades (Minors) - 11” optic yellow ball, pitch 35’, bases set at 55’ - Kid Pitch/Coach Pitch combined - No Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
NOTE: Experienced 2nd grade players can play at this level
5th & 6th grades (Majors) - 12” optic yellow ball – pitch 40’, bases set at 60’ - Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
NOTE: Experienced 4th grade players can play at this level
7th - 9th (Juniors) - 43' Mound - 60' Bases - 12" Ball - Playoffs - Metzger Tournament
9th - 20yrs (Senior's) - Senior's - Players not to be 21 prior to July 1st - 12” optic yellow ball – pitch 43’, bases set at 60’
NOTE: Any eligible Junior can play at this level when needed and experienced players can play at this level full time
The ELV has strict guidelines on territories and this impacts where your daughter has to register to play. The best way to determine which organization you should register with is to sign up where you pay your taxes.
In Memoriam
Gary Kevin Metzger, 73, of Lower Nazareth, died Sunday August 6, 2017 following a brief illness. He was the son of Llewellyn and Pauline Metzger (née Eckert), who preceded him in death. Gary attended Hellertown-Lower Saucon High School and Bethlehem Business School. He worked in the advertising, insurance, and financial industries, but his lifelong passion was baseball. As a young man he played and, in later years, he remained active in it by umpiring, coaching youth teams, and organizing for community youth baseball and softball leagues.
He is survived by Donna (née Coates), his devoted wife of seventeen years, brother Richard, children Tricia Scott, Cheryl Streeper, Dale Metzger, Nicole Shafer, and stepdaughter Mindy Honey and their families, as well as fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also remaining are Gary and Donna’s beloved dog and cat, Jeter and Scooter.
He is survived by Donna (née Coates), his devoted wife of seventeen years, brother Richard, children Tricia Scott, Cheryl Streeper, Dale Metzger, Nicole Shafer, and stepdaughter Mindy Honey and their families, as well as fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Also remaining are Gary and Donna’s beloved dog and cat, Jeter and Scooter.
