The Amateur Athletic Union, headquartered at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, has unveiled for 2009 its brand new AAU Baseball National League (AAUBNL). Ed Skovron, AAU National Baseball Chairman, states, "Clubs have opportunities to play in many tournaments across the country and through many organizations. However, AAU has implemented a unique new Power Ranking system." Often in national level championships throughout the youth baseball industry, it is nearly impossible to accurately gauge the level of competition a team will encounter at an event. AAU's Power Rankings are designed to ensure that only the most elite teams will be participating at the final event - the AAU National Baseball League World Series. Non-AAU clubs can participate in this program as well. Clubs registered with any other organization need only file their scheduled games on the AAUBNL Power Rankings website and later report their results against other clubs listed on that website. Both AAU and non-AAU clubs will be invited to the World Series based on their Power Rankings scores. The League has given AAU and Non-AAU clubs the chance to compete in a true World Series. Teams from other baseball organizations, Babe Ruth, American Legion, and even Little League, are welcome to compete in the World Series as well," Skovron added. All scheduled games played between two teams listed in the Power Rankings will be considered league games. Teams earn points based on the winning percentage of their opponents as reflected at that time on the National League website. By utilizing the Power Rankings system, teams can see where they rank by age group within their district, and nationally. All games scheduled between two teams listed on the Power Rankings site are eligible for points: league games, practice games, tournament games, and any other scheduled games between two Power Rankings teams. It is not necessary for athletes on teams to purchase an individual AAU membership in order to be eligible for the National League. Though for registration purposes, the team will need to purchase an AAU Club Membership and a non-athlete membership for the team contact. The membership fee is nominal. Clubs whose athletes are registered with AUU will be awarded approximately 60% of the World Series berths, and clubs whose athletes are not registered with AAU will comprise the remaining 40%. The AAU Baseball National League World Series will be held July 10 - July 16 at the prestigious Game Day Baseball Complex, home of First Tennessee Fields in Cordova, Tennessee (Memphis area). The complex boasts 10 diamonds, all with manicured T-10 Bermuda, covered spectator seating for all fields, tarps for all fields, sub-surface drainage, bullpen mounds on every field, large air-conditioned clubhouse with a food court and arcade, and a cool-down mister park for the kids. This is the same site where the Major Youth Baseball Alliance (MYBA) will be held in August. The Champions of Champions MYBA National Youth Baseball Championship will field the best 10U team and 12U team from each of the national youth baseball organizations. The AAU 10U National Championship (June 26 - July 1) and the AAU 12U National Championship (June 21 - June 26) will be the qualifying events for the teams that will represent AAU in the MYBA. For more detailed information on the AAU Baseball World Series, go to www.aaubaseball.org and click on National League World Series, or contact Debra Horn, Senior Sports Manager for AAU Baseball and Softball at 407.828.3459. Skovron concluded, "The National AAU Baseball League has been one of the most exciting things to happen to AAU Baseball in fifteen years. This innovative new program is going to create one of the best tournaments in youth baseball."
Skovron continued, "Another thing that differentiates this event from all others is the entry fee and housing costs. There are none! Teams that earn their way to the World Series will not be charged any entry fee at all, and they will be provided four hotel rooms for five nights at no charge to the club."
