BLL All-Star Teams


INTRODUCTION

The goal of this page is to inform BLL's community about our District teams (often referred to as Little League All-Star teams).  Each season in July, BLL sends at least one (1) team to participate in the District 4 Little League tournament at 8U, 9U, 10U (referred to as Minors), 11U, 12U (referred to as Majors) and Juniors (which is 13U and 14U).  To determine a child's "Little League Age" and, therefore, his/her eligibility, note the child's age on August 31st of that particular baseball season.  So, for example, if during the 2023 season, a child will turn 9 on September 2, 2023, he/she is 8U for Little League purposes during 2023 District play.  If it's helpful, consider September 1st the "best" Little League birthday and August 31st the "worst."  As many know, this September 1st cutoff is different than travel baseball, which uses a May 1st date.  

TEAM FORMATION

Preparation for the District tournaments starts in August of the preceding season when Bulldog tryouts commence.  At this time, the Bulldogs coaching staff selects players whom they believe will be good candidates to participate in the aforementioned July tournaments.  These players are committed to the Bulldog program (see the separate Birmingham Bulldogs tab) and playing in the BLL regular season.  While making the Bulldogs often provides a player an advantage to making the District team, making the Bulldogs is NOT guarantee a player will be selected for Districts.  Instead, each coaching staff must conduct a non-perfunctory tryout in June of each season for the District tournament.  These teams can have as many as 14 players, but a minimum of 12.  Moreover, each player must have played at least 60% of their BLL games (not including playoffs) and each coach on the District staff must have been a Manager or Coach on a house team.  

As many in the BLL community know, it is the Board of Director's strong preference to field two (2) District teams at each age level to provide more children the thrill of District play and to maintain more players in BLL.  Moreover, recent history illustrates that players on one team (Red) are often promoted to what's considered the more talented team (Blue) during their Little League careers.  

DISTRICT TOURNAMENT AND BEYOND

As anyone who has ever been a part of a District tournament knows, the experience provides an almost indescribable atmosphere, the product of competition, community and the collective spirit of coaches/players/families having a singular goal (District champs!).  The District Tournament for each age group occurs at one of the District 4 sites (most often Commerce, Birmingham or Rochester) in early to mid July (but never before 7/4).  Each tournament lasts roughly one (1) week and can involve near daily games.   Starting at 10U, District Tournament winners advance to State Tournaments in late July or early August, where the atmosphere is just as exciting as the Districts, but many times over.  At 12U and beyond, players can dream about moving onto Regional Tournaments and the Little League World Series, these latter events nationally televised!  Given the work, planning and execution needed to have a successful run, each player trying out for Districts (or Bulldogs for that matter) is expected to clear their summer calendars so they are available for Districts, States and anything beyond.  

BLL takes great pride in its District Team program (check out recent championships below and note its 1973 Little League World Series appearance).  We strongly encouraged players who love the game, are committed to the team and dream high to be an integral part of the precious District team experience.  Go Birmingham! 

All-Star Team Accomplishments

       
2023 14District Champs (Gates/Farrell)Lost in State Semifinal
2022 14 State Champions (Faust/Kovachevich/Fedor/Gill)Lost in Regional 
202211District Champs (Harris/Brayman/Chinnaiyan)Lost in Sectional 
2021  10District Champs (Harris/Brayman/Chinnaiyan)Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
 202112District Champs (Connaughton/Peiser/Zilka)Lost in Pool Play State Tourney 
2019
10
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2018
Majors
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2018
10
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2018
9
District Champs
N/A
2017 MajorsDistrict Champs
 Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
201711District Champs
Lost in Sectional
2017 8
District Champs
 N/A
2016 MajorsDistrict Champs
3rd place State Tourney
2016
11
District Champs
4th place in State Tourney
2016
 9-10District Champs
Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2015
11District Champs; Sectional Champs
3rd place State Tourney
2014Majors
District Champs
 Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2014
11
District Champs
 Lost in Sectional
20149-10
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2013
 MajorsDistrict Champs
2ND Place State Tourney
2013
11
District Champs
Lost in Sectional
2013
 9-10District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2012 MajorsDistrict Champs
3rd place State Tourney
2012
11
District Champs
2ND Place State Tourney
20129-10
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2011Majors
District Champs
Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2011
9-10
District Champs
4th Place State Tourney
2010
Majors
District Champs
Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2009
11
District Champs
Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2008
Majors
District Champs
6th Place State Tourney
20089-10
District Champs
9-10 MICHIGAN STATE CHAMPIONS
2007
 MajorsDistrict Champs
5th Place State Tourney
2007 11District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2006
9-10
District Champs
2ND Place State Tourney
2005
11
District Champs
Lost in Q-finals State Tourney
2005
9-10
District Champs
 Lost in Pool Play State Tourney
2004
Majors
District Champs
3rd Place State Tourney
2004
11
District Champs
Lost in Sectional
2004
9-10
District Champs
3rd Place State Tourney
2003
Majors
District Champs; Sectional Champs
3rd Place State Tourney
2002Majors
District Champs
Lost in Pool Play State Tourney

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