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2009-2010 Winter Aluminum Bat Champions
THE DREAM THAT NEVER DIES...
Toby Nordman (signed by the Tucson Toros) was a player in spring 2009 season.
Arizona Amateur Baseball League (AABL)
It's every boy's dream to grow up, and play Major League baseball for his home team. Only a few actually get the opportunity to pursue their dream professionally, and even fewer actually play for their home team. But a child doesn't understand the law of averages, and nothing is going to stop him from attaining his goal of playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks, or any other professional team or franchise.
So he plays Little League, makes the All-Star teams, starts on his high school Varsity team, goes on to play college ball. Then he gives the draft a shot, but comes away with only an education. As you know only few advance and out of the few that do advance their opportunities are limited. With his dream officially over, and the nightmare of the working man's reality barreling down on him, our dreamer is in for a rude awakening.
So what happens to all of the dreamers? They can't all end up in sports journalism, sports agents or TV analysts. Since your name isn't Kevin Costner, Billy Crystal or Garth Brooks, you probably won't be invited to take batting practice with the Yankees or any Big League squad.
In 2008, Brian Kreps founded the Arizona Amateur Baseball League (AABL), which offers an organized alternative to softball, Over-the-Line, or doctoring your birth certificate so you can re-enter junior college with four years of eligibility. His goal was two sided. One to bring adult baseball to Arizona year round and offer this at an affordable rate, and second to develop quality umpires for this. As an umpire at various levels (professional, junior college, adult and youth), Brian hears all things that people, players and coaches complain about. With that came knowledge to put a product out there and try and eliminate some of these issues.
The Arizona Amateur Baseball League (AABL), has 3 divisions to accommodate three different levels of competition. The WOOD division, is for more experienced players. National Division is for talented players, but not wanting to step up to wood. The American Division, for your more entry level competition.
Teams play on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays. They show up to win. The games are held at a variety of local high school and college fields, and are officiated by two certified umpires during the season and three umpires during the playoffs.
O.K., so some of these guys never mentally matured past Little League, but with uniforms and crotch adjustments that would rival any big league club, the Arizona Amateur Baseball League is a great way to live out your dream, while balancing reality Monday through Friday.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Arizona Amateur Baseball League was developed with the belief that individuals should have the opportunity to play baseball and participate in team sports in an organized and competitive manner, and to provide the respect that baseball as a sport deserves. Just because a child that has the dream of playing baseball grows up and becomes an adult, his dreams of playing baseball should still be achievable.
WHAT IS Arizona Amateur Baseball?
Since 2008, the Arizona Amateur Baseball League remains committed to bringing quality and top notch baseball to Arizona. Softball as mentioned is not the answer the little boy inside of you wants to hear or dreamed of. Currently there are two seasons and various tournaments each year. We provide a venue to multiple teams and over 1,000 players to develop their skills while maintaining good sportsmanship, teamwork and competitive baseball in a fun and exciting format.
We are a non-profit adult sports organization and your registration covers field rental, baseballs, insurance, officials, staff, equipment cost and operating expenses. Season rates may increase occasionally to off-set rate increases for field rental (school district mandated by law) and insurance costs. We do everything we can to keep the costs down to make the DREAM OF PLAYING BASEBALL a reality. Your tax deductible contributions for team sponsorship are greatly appreciated and help cover the cost of fields, trophies & league website.
In the spring season, the Arizona Amateur Baseball League (AABL), was proud to have 3 players sign professional contracts, and have a shot at that DREAM, when they were that little boy.