The Tosa Titans are the select baseball component to the Tosa Baseball League (TBL) program.
The Titans Program incepted in 2011 and is designed and intended to offer families an option for their
kids to play a more competitive level of baseball without having to play in separate league play. Throughout the spring and
summer the Tosa Titans play in weekend baseball tournaments and leagues located throughout Southeast Wisconsin against
other select baseball teams.
What are the Age Levels?
As for the Titans age requirement, that means each player must be the age of the level they are trying out for as of
May 1st of the season they are trying out for. For example, for the current season, a player trying out for the U9 Titans
team must be nine (9) years old or younger as of May 1, for that season a player trying out for the U10 Titans team must be
ten (10) years old or younger as of May 1, of the season and so on for the other team levels.
Can My Child Play “Down A Grade” Or “Up A Grade” If They Have A Birthday That Otherwise Meets The Age
Requirement For That Titans Level?
Yes – so long as your son or daughter is at or below the appropriate age as of May 1st of the season year at issue (see
above), they can tryout for and play on a Titans team level that corresponds to their age regardless of what grade
they are in at school. However, while TBL and the Titans program will try to accommodate the preferences of
players and parents in this regard, we reserve the right to place players on those teams that are most appropriate in
light of the needs of the program as a whole and their respective skill level.
Do Titans Players Also Play In TBL?
TBL does not require any Titan from U9, thru U15 players to play TBL baseball in addition to their participation in
the Titans program. Each of the Titans teams at all levels will play in a varying number of tournaments or league play. Titan teams will typically have two (2) Titans practices
each week, so the Titans commitment increases significantly.
How Big of a Commitment is it to Play Titans Baseball?
To be a Titans player requires a significant commitment of time and effort on the part of both players and parents.
As explained above, the amount of that commitment increases gradually as a player moves up to older age levels.
Titans player, will be playing in league and roughly 20-25 playoff-atmosphere tournament games over the course of the season. In addition, they will be practicing as a
Titans team twice a week and occasionally scrimmaging other local select teams in between tournaments.
This format is designed to enable our Titans kids to develop more as players, to enable our Titans teams to be more
competitive against their opposition, and to enable families to have a competitive baseball option. We believe strongly that a
player does not get better by playing more games just for the sake of playing games. Rather, players get better by
practicing more, getting more instruction and “reps,” and playing in more meaningful games. We believe a
select baseball option that does not impose league play in addition to tournament play is an attractive option for
many families. That said, in order for players to develop and teams to be competitive, practice must be a
priority not just for the program, but also for all Titans players and families participating in the program.
Does The Titans Program Have Equal or Minimum Playing Time or Position Requirements?
No. As a select baseball program, we do not have equal or minimum playing time or position requirements. The
Titans play in highly competitive baseball tournaments and the coaches need to have flexibility to manage their
lineups in a way that puts them in a position to win ball games.
That said, we strongly encourage all of our coaches to use a continuous batting order (meaning every player hits in
order regardless of whether they are playing in the field that inning) and that is typically what our coaches do. In
addition, we strongly encourage our coaches to ensure that every player gets at least two (2) innings in the field on
defense in every game, and most of our coaches exceed that number.
How Far Do Titans Teams Travel For The Tournaments They Play In?
Titans teams typically stay within the area for tournaments they have
played in. We make a concentrated effort to keep the program as family friendly as possible, and that includes
trying to minimize travel time and costs for our participating families. Occasionally, the older teams may have an overnight stay.
When Will We Know The Tournament Schedule? Do All Titans Teams Participate In The Same Tournaments?
The timing for selecting our tournaments and issuing our resulting schedule depends entirely on when the various
tournaments release their information and open up their registration processes. Historically, we have been able to
communicate a full season schedule to our participating families sometime during the month of January preceding the season at issue, which enables our families to plan out their spring and summer schedules consistent with their
Titans schedule.
We do have a preference as a program to have all Titans teams participate in many of the same tournaments, so that
families who have multiple kids playing in the Titans program are not required to travel to different locations or on
different weekends for each of their participating kids. That said, we also have to be cognizant as a program of the
varying levels of competitiveness that can exist between different age levels within our program. From year to year,
some age levels can be more competitive than others, and thus it may be necessary to try to arrange for some age
levels to go to one or more “B” or"C" level or other tournaments that, in our experience, are not as competitive.
But scheduling is not an exact science, the number of “B” tournaments is can be limited and they do not always
extend to all age levels, and competitiveness is not the only goal and factor that weighs into the tournament selection
process. In addition to competitiveness, we try to (i) send as many Titans teams to the same tournaments as we can,
(ii) schedule around holidays if we can, (iii) avoid having teams go to tournaments three (3) or more weekends in a
row, and (iv) have the season over at all age levels by the end of July so that
families have the month of August free. Trying to meet all of those goals is a difficult task and the result is not
predictable and never perfect.
What Does It Cost To Play In The Titans Program? Are Those Fees In Addition To TBL Fees? What Do The
Fees Cover?
Yes, per player fees for playing in the Titans program are in addition to any fees that are charged to play in TBL.
Also, some Titans teams play in more tournaments than other Titans
teams. So the fee schedule varies depending on what level you are playing.
Titans fees range from $750 at the
lower age levels to $1800 at the upper levels. When the fees are decided we will communicate that to all families and also post the same to the Titans section of the TBL website.
The fees include all Titans uniforms and team equipment. It also includes all tournament, league, indoor and
outdoor facility/field rental costs (excluding any potential scrimmage at Helfaer Field within Miller Park, subject to
coaches’ discretion). You have to supply your own shoes and mitt. We require payment of a first installment of towards your Titans fee at the time you accept your Titans offer - these fees are not refundable. The remainder of your Titans fee will be
required in February or March.
When does the Titans Season Start and End?
All Titans teams have regular team practices at the indoor facility – during the winter and spring months leading up to the outdoor practice, tournament and league season.
Depending on the level of the Titans team and the preferences of the coaches for that team, such practices will start
in either December or January and they will occur either once or twice a week over the course of the winter and into
spring.
Outdoor practices will begin in March or April, weather permitting. The first tournament is typically early May, and
the last tournament is typically toward the end of July. We have always been able to complete the season by the end
of July – we have never played a tournament in August.
Who Do I Contact With Additional Questions?
If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact our Director of Titans Baseball – Jim Hoefgen - jimhoefgen@gmail.com