2019 New Player Information

New Player

Thank you for interest in the Central Ohio Men’s Adult Baseball League.  The Central Ohio MABL was founded in 1996 as an alternative to softball.  Players who finished high school ball, college ball, or professional ball had no choice prior to 1996 but to play softball.  The Central Ohio MABL gives you a choice.  As a local affiliate to MSBL/MABL National the Central Ohio MABL started with 16 teams playing a 22 game schedule.  Since then, teams and number of games have changed, ranging anywhere from 10-16 teams playing a 20-24 game regular season and tournament.  Games are played predominately on Sundays at area high school fields.  Some Saturday games may be scheduled depending on weather or field availability.  Playoff games are played on Saturday’s and Sunday’s as the playoff format is the best of three series in all rounds. This is a wood bat league.

The 2018 fee to play in the COMABL was approximately $13.00 “per game” or $300 per player for the season.  This fee covers fields, baseballs, umpires, league awards, league party, league t-shirt, all-star game, national registration to MSBL/MABL National, state registration, and national insurance.  Uniforms and equipment are not covered in the league fee.  Each team is required to pay a team fee, based on a minimum roster of 16.  The “per player” fee may vary slightly from team to team depending on any sponsorships or what type of uniforms a team has.  Players must pay their portion of the team fee (as determined by team manger) prior to the season.  Most teams collect in three installments.  Usually in February, March and April.  This “per game” cost is considerably less than other “entertainment”.  18 holes of golf, dinner and a movie, three games at the local bowling alley, or a night out at the local bar will all cost more than the “per game” fee. 

Opening Day is slated for May 5, 2019.  The playoffs are scheduled for August/September, 2019.  The schedule is subject to change pending 2019 manager meetings.  Games consist of 9 inning single games or 7 inning double headers.  Double headers are required in order to get 20-24 games in during the summer.  Further, scheduled single games could turn into doubleheaders depending on weather.

The league will hold an open workout/draft (tentatively scheduled for Sunday, March 17, 2019 at Reynoldsburg High School in the Field House (6699 East Livingston, Reynoldsburg).  Registration will begin at 12:30 PM.  The workout will be held from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM.  The draft will be held after. New players looking to catch on with a team in the COMABL should attend.  The teams that are in need of players to augment their rosters will be present.  Any player that is not drafted will be kept on a waiting list until the conclusion of the regular season.  The league will not know until the day of the workout/draft how many players will be “drafted”.   In the past 23 years, several new players that attend the workout/draft are drafted.  There is a $25.00 (cash) fee to attend the workout/draft.  If drafted to a team, the $25.00 is subtracted from balance of player portion of team fee owed to the league.  If a new player is not drafted, player is moved to the waiting list.  If player prefers not to be on the waiting list, then the money is refunded.

If you have further specific questions regarding the Central Ohio Men’s Adult Baseball League, please send an email.

Don’t Go Soft, Play HARDBALL

Charles McCroskey

President, COMABL