Here are some frequently asked questions

Can I play if I live in another community or have a family member I want to play with?

YES! Even if you live in another community that has Hot Stove, we will need to get a waiver complete from that community, signing off on you joining North Olmsted.

What do the fees cover?

They cover umpires, practice facilities, uniforms, game balls and field usage. They do not cover equipment like cleats, gloves, sliding mitts. 

Why am I waitlisted and what is the procedure for this?

We have our registration set to hold enough for one team (12), once we have another group of 12 signed up you will be notified you have been removed from the waitlist.

What if there are not enough kids to make a full team for our age group?

If there are not enough kids, then we will notify you you have some options. You can join another Hot Stove Community who doesn't have enough kids. You can play for the rec. You can withdrawal for a full refund, 

What are the birthday cutoffs for baseball and softball?

*Baseball: Birthday as of May 1, 2025

*Softball: Birthday as of July 31, 2025

Can my kid play up or down?

Your kid can play in the bracket they are most appropriate for based on their birthday. They cannot play down unless their birthday allows them to do so. If you would like your kid moved up to the next league, please sign up at the age group you would like them to play in.

Where are tournaments held?

*Baseball Tournaments are held all over Lorain and County. There will be two weekends of regional tournaments. The State tournament will be held in Alliance, OH. Families typically rent hotel rooms and make a weekend out of the experience.

*Softball Tournaments both regional and states are held in Lorain or Cuyahoga County.

How far do we have to travel for games?

Some games can be as close as 15 minutes away and the farthest we go is Litchfield or Spencer which is about 45 minutes away.

When do practices start and where are they held?

Practices will start in March at the North Olmsted Rec Center and are typically one hour in length on Sundays. Then we will switch to Triple Play in North Ridgeville, where the teams will play on the same night, once a week over the course of three weeks.

When are uniform try-ons?

We tend to host these towards the end of February/beginning of March. See our calendar for exact dates.

Who is our uniform supplier?

We use Ryco Sports in Olmsted Falls.

What if I cannot afford the fee to sign my kid up?

No worries! We offer payment plans.

What if my kid has never played before?

If your child is just entering baseball for the first time we want them to have a concept of baseball and have basic mechanics down. 

What if my kid gets injured during a game?

We hope this doesn't happen, but if it does we have insurance. Please contact our President for the process.

What happens if my kids gets injured during the season, can they still play?

If a doctor notes the child is unable to play, the President must be notified immediately so they can notify the State Board. If a player is found playing while injured and the doctor has confirmed they should not play, they will not be able to play until the Doctor verifies they are able to play again.

My child also plays for another league, can they still play Hot Stove?

Yes, however, they will need to play 50% of the games in order to be eligible to play in tournaments.

How far apart are the bases in each league for baseball?

The pitcher’s plate for all classifications shall be a rectangular slab of whitened rubber 24 inches by 6 inches. It shall be set in the ground so that the distance between the front edge of the pitcher’s plate and home base (the rear point of home plate) shall be 40 feet for I, shall be 46 feet for HH and H League, 50 feet for G League, 55 feet for F League, and 60 feet 6 inches for EE, E and D League.

How far apart are the bases in each league for softball?

Farm Major (8-Under) ……. 38ft.  Class A (10-Under) ……. 35 ft.   Class B (12-Under) ……. 40 ft. Class C (14-Under) ……. 43 ft.    Class D (18-Under) ……. 43 ft.