Season one tryouts are complete. Thanks to everyone who came out on July 30 & August 6 — here's what to expect for 2027.

How to become a Fireball

Tryouts.

No pressure, no spectacle. A couple of hours on the field so we can see how she moves, how she listens, and how she competes. Come as she is — it costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Here's what to expect once 2027 dates are set.

When TBD · 2027 Dates aren't set yet. We'll post them here and email everyone on the list.
Where Sherwood, OR Same as season one — local fields in Sherwood.
Who 10U · ages 9–10 Coming out of rec and ready for more. Every skill level is welcome to try.

How the day goes

  1. 1

    Warm up together

    We start easy. Light throwing, a little running, a chance to shake the nerves and meet the coaches.

  2. 2

    Take some swings

    A few rounds of hitting. We're watching her swing and her approach, not counting home runs.

  3. 3

    Show some leather

    Ground balls, fly balls, and a few throws. We want to see her hands, her feet, and her hustle.

  4. 4

    Play a little

    We put it together with some live reps, so we can see how she reads the game and picks up her teammates.

On the fence?

Three good reasons to hesitate.
Three honest answers.

"Club ball costs too much."

It's a real investment, about $1,060 for year one before fundraising, and we won't pretend otherwise. Local-first scheduling and two team fundraisers keep it as low as we can, and we've published the honest breakdown so there are no surprises. If money is the only thing holding you back, talk to us before you count yourselves out.

"We can't sign our lives away."

Good — we're not asking you to. This is more than rec, but it's not the every-weekend travel grind: fall is four Sundays at Sherwood Middle School, winter is entirely optional, and spring/summer brings about seven tournaments — most close to home, plus one fun trip like Seaside. Most nights end with dinner at home.

"She might not be good enough."

This is a first-year team at the entry competitive level — we're building players, not collecting stars. If she loves the game and wants to be coached, she is exactly who tryouts are for. The girls who grow the most here won't be the ones who arrived polished.

And the tryout itself? It costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Come spend an evening on the field and see how it feels.

Questions, answered straight

What level of team is this?

A first-year 10U club team playing 10C, the entry level for club ball — a real step up from rec for girls who want more. We compete to win, and that pursuit is part of how these girls grow: we chase it hard, we celebrate it, and we develop every girl while we do.

Where are you based?

We're a first-year 10U club team based in Sherwood, Oregon, playing under the Sherwood Fireballs organization. This is a 10U team, so by USA Softball's age chart, players are 10 or younger as of September 1, 2026.

What were you looking for at tryouts?

Something simpler than talent: loving the game, listening, working hard, and caring about doing your best. That's what got these girls on this team, and it's what we keep coaching for at every practice.

How big a commitment is this?

More than rec, and we want you to know going in. Practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–8pm. Fall ball is four Sunday doubleheaders at Sherwood Middle School — 8/30, 9/6, 9/13, and 9/20 — plus a season-closing tournament or round robin we'll decide as a team. Winter (November–March) is entirely optional. Spring and summer bring about seven tournaments, most close to home around Newberg and Sherwood, plus one fun destination trip like Seaside. Think of season one as a year together, not a few weekends — we keep travel light and mostly local, but the time and the togetherness are real.

What does it cost?

We've laid out the honest math in What it costs to play — year one runs about $1,060 per player before fundraising, split between Fireballs organization fees (insurance, registration, a uniform shirt) and team fees (extra uniform pieces, equipment, and tournaments). Fundraising, and the tournaments we host ourselves, bring that down.

What's expected of parents?

Show up, stay positive, and pitch in. Someone runs the GameChanger, someone organizes snacks, someone picks the walk-up songs, everyone lends a hand with the two team fundraisers, and everyone helps clean up. Family means everyone has a job, and that's a big part of why this works.

What organization is this part of?

We're a club team under the Sherwood Fireballs (SFPA).

Want to be first to know when 2027 tryout dates are announced?