Welcome to MARA Challenge Baseball!
Challenge Baseball Tryouts
Register to try out for Fall Challenge Baseball. To participate, each player must be
registered in a Fall Rec Baseball program unless also playing an additional Fall sport.
There is no fee to attend a tryout. If selected, the head coach will notify each parent via
email. The total cost for each player will be provided by the head coach and added to your account for payment.
MARA will be fielding teams for the following age groups: 7U and 8U (coach pitch), and
9U-12U (kid pitch). There will be a tryout, and players will have the opportunity to be
selected to play on the appropriate team based on performance at tryouts and/or the
coach's prior knowledge of the player's skills. Please note that the number of players
that tryout at each level will directly impact the team selection process. The age of a
player as of 4/30/2026 will be used in determining which group a player can try out.
What is Challenge Baseball?
Challenge Baseball is designed for recreational players who show advanced skills and
want more competitive opportunities without committing to full-time travel baseball.
Players will participate in additional games and face tougher competition against other
Challenge teams in the local Charlotte area.
Practices
Practices will be held on Friday evenings and Sunday’s when teams are not competing
in games. Practice times will be based on field availability and determined by the
Challenge Commissioner in coordination with each head coach.
Games/Tournaments
Teams will have an opportunity to participate in a variety of games/tournament formats
which include Queen City Baseball League, HQ4, USSSA, Top Gun, and/or Perfect
Game. This will be determined by the head coach for each age group and typically
consist of Sunday Only games (2 games per team). There is also an opportunity for
teams to participate in full weekend events as well (4 games minimum per team on
Sat/Sun). Over the course of the Challenge Season, the team will participate in a
minimum of 3 events but can participate in more based on availability, cost and interest
from parents.
Cost
The cost for Challenge Baseball varies based on the number and format of events
played. Generally, this cost can range between $250 and $350 dollars. The cost covers
uniforms (hat and jersey only), a minimum of 3 events, and guaranteed field time at
MARA for practices and games. The teams are responsible for admission fees that are
charged either per person, or per team by the Host Park location. This is not a MARA
fee, but a Park fee, like other local parks charge and typically costs between $5 to $10
per person depending on age (child/adult/senior).