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By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

The Elizabethton Carter County Youth Baseball and Softball Association will kick off sign-up this Saturday, January 13th between 11 am-4 pm at Lions Field. And then have sign-ups every Saturday in January and February from 11-4. Registration for the Spring 2024 season will be $75 for the first child and $50 for each additional sibling. Forms of payment will include cash, check or card. Coach and volunteer applications will be available to all those interested.

League age groups this year will consist of 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 for baseball and 7-9 and 10-12 for our softball teams. The League is looking at adding a 13-14 age division depending on the participation numbers. If you are interested in this age division, please message the league directly so we can gauge the numbers before accepting a signup fee. Sign-up age will be the participant’s age as of May 1, 2024. For registration, please bring a valid ID or copy of your child’s Birth Certificate. Parents will need to fill out the registration form as well as a parent code of conduct and pay the fees before their child is added to the league roster. Parking passes will be sold at signups as well. A pass for the spring season will be $50 dollars, and a pass that will cover both Spring and Fall ball will be $100.

League President Andy Hilton also excitedly announced that ECCYBSA will officially join The Atlanta Braves in their inaugural season of Braves Country Baseball and Softball. Braves Country participants in the league will receive a Braves Country gift bag that includes the drawstring bag with the Braves logo on it, sweatbands, a Braves hat, discounted Braves tickets and a Braves Country registration card for each participant. With this registration card, each participant will be able to log onto the Braves Country webpage and access instructional videos presented by former and current players as well as former Team USA softball members. In addition, ECCYBSA players will now have the opportunity to represent Elizabethton and Carter County in the Braves Country All-Star Tournament Path. This will take place after the regular season and teams will be created from the chosen All Stars in each age division. The All-Star path will consist of games in Knoxville, Nashville, and Atlanta. If one of our teams is fortunate enough to win their way to Atlanta, games will be played around or on Truist Park and be televised.

ECCYBSA President Hilton discussed what joining Braves Country Baseball and Softball will mean for the League and Community. “What an opportunity this represents; it means our kids can continue their season and have something more to play for, to represent our area in All-Star play. Braves Country will also be providing grants to random leagues; just being affiliated with the Atlanta Brave organization overall will just heighten the experience for kids in our area.” Hilton shared.  

If you have any questions, go to the Elizabethton Carter County Youth Baseball and Softball Facebook page.