Teams for 10, 11, and 12-year-olds from Jericho, Oyster Bay, Syosset, Woodbury, and Plainview are now being formed for the National Junior Baseball League (NJBL). Long Island's premier travel baseball league, the NJBL has served the baseball community with quality competition during the spring, summer and fall since 1990. Every year teams from Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn compete with the goals of providing the community with a well organized baseball league. Registration for the spring, summer, and/or fall 2008 travel seasons is now available online by sending an email to info@swyankeesbaseball.com.

The spring season starts in the beginning of April 2008. Indoor practices and training will begin in March. All teams play doubleheaders on weekends with a practice during the week. Scheduling is flexible. We work around lacrosse and soccer. The level of play is competitive. There is no need to play intramurals. Our tryouts are held at team mini practices in an attempt to evaluate the kids in a non pressurized setting. The purposes of these practices are to spend a little more time focused on the individual needs, and to give the kids some individual attention. We also spend a little time discussing with the kids' positions and where they might fit on the team. Baseball skill and attitude are equally important to us and are given equal weight in the decision-making process.

Our next tryouts will be held on Sunday, Feb. 10. To be eligible the player must have been born after April 30, 1996. The number of teams formed will be directly dependant on the number of eligible players who sign up and the availability of parent volunteers. All those interested should send an email to info@swyankeesbaseball.com.

SW Yankees announce plans to attend Cooperstown Tournament.

The Syosset Woodbury Yankees announced its intention to attend the 2009 Cooperstown Baseball Program.

Located on the outskirts of the Home of Baseball, Cooperstown, NY, the Cooperstown All Star Village is the crown jewel of Youth Tournament Baseball in America.

This program allows 10u and 12u sanctioned, independent, travel and select baseball teams from all over the country to come together in weekly tournaments culminating with every team and player being inducted into our Cooperstown Youth Baseball Hall of Fame. This is the Cooperstown Experience!

Teams come from around the country so the competition is tough. The experience is amazing for the kids and the families. The rules include 75-foot bases with leading and holding runners on base. In order to be competitive in this week-long tournament the Yankees will start practicing these new skills now.

In other news, the Yankees announced a team trip to Bobby Valentine's Baseball Academy for a clinic to kick off spring training 2008.

The Yankees are still looking for a power-hitting left fielder and another pitcher (you can never have too much pitching). Also, the Yankees announced a roster expansion to accommodate preparation for Cooperstown. All those interested in being considered should send an email to info@swyankeesbaseball.com.

The Yankees have players from Jericho, Oyster Bay, Syosset, Woodbury and New Jersey but there are no residence requirements. To be eligible the player must have been born after April 30, 1996, must play competitive baseball, and must have families who recognize the commitment but understand the priorities.