WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball is thinking big for 2015.

 

For the first time, the league will implement the 50/70 rule for teams in its Majors division.

 

The players in the 10- to 12-year-old division will play on a field where the basepaths are 70-feet long and the pitching rubber is 50 feet from home plate -- increases of 10 feet and 4 feet, respectively.

 

"When we do that, it allows the kids to play straight baseball," league president Allen Hall explained. "Runners can take leads. Pitchers can pick off runners. A dropped third strike comes into play.

 

"It's a much faster, more exciting game for the kids."

 

It also helps better prepare the youngsters for the next level of Babe Ruth baseball that many aspire to -- not to mention baseball at the middle school level.

 

"It changes the whole world for pitchers," Hall said. "Now they're checking runners. They can pick a guy off. It helps with catchers throwing to first, trying to throw out runners.

 

"The activity going on during the game is a lot more instense."

 

Area youngsters today may have been more focused on the deep freeze that allowed them to sleep in for a couple of hours on Tuesday. But this evening, Cal Ripken Baseball will be one of several area youth baseball leagues holding signups for the 2015 season.

 

* Williamstown Cal Ripken will register children (aged 4 to 12 as of April 30) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Thursday, Feb. 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Williamstown Elementary School or any time online at www.williamstowncalripken.com.

 

* North Adams' Little League signups continue Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Elks Lodge.

 

* South County Cal Ripken will hold registration in March and will offer free indoor spring training on March 8 at the Farmington River School in Otis.

 

* Pittsfield Little League will hold registrations starting March 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lobby of the Boys and Girls Club and on various dates throughout March.

 

Hall said the Williamstown Cal Ripken league has been growing every year, and the challenge has been to get enough sponsors and coaches to keep up with the number of children interested in playing. The league plans to expand its tee-ball league from six teams to eight teams this spring.

 

To help the league's sponors -- and maintain excitement for the kids -- this year the older players will keep their jerseys after the season ends. That way they sponsors will continue to get exposure throughout the year.

 

"The sponsors have been absolutely terrific -- from the Clark to Village Ambulance to iBerkshires," Hall said. "We have some great sponsors who have been around for a long time."

 

As for coaches, the 50-70 rule is going to give the even more to do, and the league is going to have to add an extra umpire for the basepaths in the Majors division.

 

Williamstown Cal Ripken tried out the 50-70 rule last year in a Memorial Day Weekend tournament, and it was well received, Hall said.

 

"I think for the older age player, it's going to be a whole world of excitement," he said.