FOLLOWING THE CLASS OF 2035 — THIS YEAR WE ARE 10U!
Everything you need to know about youth baseball in Bend, Oregon.
From choosing a travel team to finding one-on-one coaching to what to focus on for development at this age — an updated information guide to Central Oregon baseball.
LEAD STORY
Travel ball need to knows? How Bend parents are deciding.
The 10u year is when the paths split. We break down programs, commitment, what to know going in and more...
Continue reading →
Guide to Bend Travel Programs
Guide to Bend Little Leagues
Guide to Bend Coaching Programs
Best of Bend Baseball — The Stats
Where to Watch Baseball
FAQ
01 · GUIDE
10U travel baseball in Bend, Oregon
Travel (club) ball runs on the USSSA May 1 age cutoff — 2027 10U means born on or after May 1, 2016. Tryouts are free, one-day, and land in early September; rosters form in fall, and clubs still add players through winter. A typical local 10U season: 4–8 weekend tournaments from March to July, roughly 20–40 games, plus 1–3 practices a week.
2026 records and tournament finishes are for the 9U season (this cohort's age last year). Most clubs also field 9U–14U teams — see each club's website for other age groups.
What it costs. The real commitment. Whether year one at 10U is too late.
Our complete guide to Bend travel baseball answers all of it — fees and tournament costs, weekends and practice load, how tryouts work, and how to pick a club.
02 · GUIDE
Bend little leagues: North vs. South
Two chartered leagues split the city — you qualify by home address inside the boundary or by attending a school inside it. The dividing line runs Skyliner Rd → NW Galveston → Wall St → Newport/Greenwood → Hwy 20 east. North of the line is Bend North (up to Tumalo); south is Bend South (down to Lava Butte). A 10-year-old plays AAA "Minors," or is drafted up to Majors.
Bend North LL
bnll.org →The dominant District 5 program — 2026 state champions at both 10U and 11U, six of eight D5 divisions won, and a 2024 trip to the LLWS Northwest Regional. Runs 8 baseball divisions from T-Ball to Juniors, covering north Bend out to Tumalo.
Bend South LL
bendsouthll.org →A solid rec program serving 500+ players a year, ages 5–14, from south Bend down to Lava Butte. Six baseball divisions from Tee Ball to Juniors; qualifying schools include Elk Meadow, Jewell, Pine Ridge, Silver Rail, Bear Creek and Buckingham.
Boundaries, registration, assessments, all-stars — how Bend little league actually works.
Our complete guide to Bend little league covers which league you're zoned for, fees and financial aid, the draft, and the all-star path.
Play both? Most kids do.
Most players on the Bend travel teams also played Bend North or Bend South last year. The calendars are built around each other — travel clubs generally avoid tournaments during LL all-stars (late June–July). The one real conflict is June all-star selection vs. travel events: if your kid is an all-star candidate, talk to both coaches in May. And track combined pitching volume — Pitch Smart for ages 9–10 is 75 pitches/day max.
03 · GUIDE
Coaching, lessons & training in Bend
This market is word-of-mouth — no marketplace lists Bend's coaches. At 9–10, focus development on throwing mechanics and arm care first, contact hitting (tee and front-toss volume over exit velo), routine defense, and baserunning IQ. Stay multi-sport; local clubs encourage it.
PRIVATE INSTRUCTORS
Humble Hitting — E.J. Aponte
Diaz Infield Development — David Diaz
DBar 49 — Doug Davis
MacDougall Training
Fieldhouse instructors
CAMPS
FACILITIES & CAGES
What should a 10U player actually be working on?
Our complete guide to skills for success at 10U — throwing mechanics and arm care, contact hitting, routine defense, baserunning IQ, and Pitch Smart limits.
04 · THE STATS
Best of Bend baseball
The 10u class, measured against the whole state — GameChanger statistics plus our own custom analysis of every Oregon 9U travel player.
Rankings are our estimates from 2026 season data — reasonable people can debate them.
BEST TRAVEL BATTERS
BEST LL BATTERS
BEST TRAVEL PITCHERS
BEST LL PITCHERS
05 · GUIDE
Where to watch baseball
In Bend
Worth the drive
06 · FAQ
Questions every 10u parent asks
First year of travel ball — is 10U too late?
No. 10U is a common entry point; clubs field competitive and developmental teams, and rosters churn year to year. Get on club email lists in August — tryouts are free, around September.
Do teams already have rosters set?
No — travel teams go through tryouts every year. Clubs often have an idea of returning players from last season, but there is real movement and new additions every year. BOSS starts in January, Jr Cougs in December — late inquiries are worthwhile.
Should my kid play both little league and travel?
Most kids do — and the local calendars are built around each other. The one real conflict is June all-star selection vs. travel events: talk to both coaches in May.
How much does it cost to play travel ball?
Roughly $500–$3,000 a year depending on the program — sponsorship and fundraising can drive the price down. The big drivers are tournament entries, uniforms, facility time, and lodging. Little league, by comparison, is $175 (Bend North, 2026) with aid available.
What's the real commitment?
A typical local 10U travel season: 4–8 weekend tournaments × 4–6 games ≈ 20–40 games, plus 1–3 practices a week. Most events are in Bend or Redmond.
Which little league are we zoned for?
North of the Skyliner/Galveston/Newport-Greenwood/Hwy 20 line is Bend North; south is Bend South. Attending a school inside a boundary also qualifies.
What should my kid work on at 9–10?
Throwing mechanics and arm care first — repeatable beats hard. Then contact hitting, routine defense, and baserunning IQ. Stay multi-sport.
Anything special about pitching at 10U?
Pitch Smart for ages 9–10: 75 pitches/day max plus mandated rest. Little league enforces counts; ask travel clubs how they track them.
How do tryouts work — and how do we prep?
Free, one-day, and station-based: hit, field, throw, run, with a simple signup form on each club's site. Prep is August reps — cage time and daily catch. At 10U, clubs pick on athleticism, coachability, and arm action, not stats.
What's my kid's league age?
Two different clocks. Little league uses an Aug 31 cutoff — league age 10 for 2027 means 10 on Aug 31, 2027. Travel runs on USSSA's May 1 cutoff — 2027 10U means born May 1, 2016 or later. The same kid can be one age for little league and another for travel, so check both charts before registering.
When does registration open?
Little league registration for 2027 opens around December 2026 for both leagues; assessments run in late January and registration closes in late February. Travel is on a different calendar — rosters form at free fall tryouts around September, and some clubs keep adding players into winter.
What gear does a 10U player need?
For little league, a USA Baseball-stamped bat; many travel events allow USSSA 1.15 BPF bats — confirm per event. Beyond the bat: an 11–11.5" glove, helmet, rubber cleats for little league, and a cup.
Is Central Oregon baseball actually good, or do we need Portland?
Stay. Bend North won 2026 state titles at both 10U and 11U, swept six of eight District 5 divisions, and reached the 2024 LLWS Northwest Regional. Ex-MLB instruction lives here too — Doug Davis (DBar 49) teaches locally, and retired MLB lefty Alan Embree lives and has coached in Bend.
Why does this site only cover the class of 2035?
Because we live it. This site is run by two Bend parents with active players in the class of 2035 — we're at the same tryouts, tournaments, and fields you are, all season long. Going deep on one class instead of thin on every age group is how we keep it accurate. If your player is older or younger, most of this still applies — same leagues, clubs, coaches, and costs — the age-specific details just shift a year or two. And the site ages up with the class: 10U this year, 11U next.
GO DEEPER
Every guide, by topic
CHOOSE A PATH
Little league or travel ball in Bend?Bend North or Bend South? Find your leagueRegistration 2027: dates, fees & deadlinesWhat's my kid's league age?T-ball in Bend: where 4–6 year olds startTRAVEL BALL
Every club compared (2027 guide)10U baseball in Bend: teams & tryoutsWhat travel baseball really costsTryouts: 2027 dates + what to expectIs travel baseball worth it at 10U?The real 10U commitmentFOLLOW THE CLASS OF 2035