Too soon to think about baseball and softball? Think again.

Early registration for

Sequim Little League’s 2008 season is slated for 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Jan. 12-13 at the Greywolf Elementary School gymnasium at 171 Carlsborg Road.

Players are asked to bring a registration form and legal birth certificate.

Registration forms are available at Greywolf Elementary, Sequim Shoe Repair (425 E. Washington St.), the Sequim Baseball batting cages (775 W. Washington St.), Sequim Boys & Girls Club (400 W. Fir St.) or online at sequimlittleleague.com.

Cost to play is $50 per player or $35 per T-ball player, with a $150 cap (maximum fee) for families.

At the early registration session, players and parents have a chance to order Sequim Little League sweatshirts and/or sweats and car decals, donate used gear at an equipment swap table, get information about an upcoming spaghetti dinner/silent auction fundraising event and learn more about opportunities to volunteer with the league.

Bill Bates, Sequim Little League’s boy teams representative, said the registration process is a little earlier and a little more organized this year.

"(We’re) making sure

everyone is aware of what Little League has to offer and what we expect from players and parents," Bates said, noting that league officials hope the process cuts down on the confusion and questions about events later in the season.

"It’s experimental – hopefully it works out," Bates said.

"We’re really trying to get as many people to volunteer (as we can)," he added.

Randy Perry, Sequim Little League’s president this season, said there are opportunities to help with the concession stand and (most needed) calling balls and strikes.

"Umpires are real tough to get around here," Perry said.

Try-outs begin in February while the season starts mid-April and finishes mid-June. All-star teams are selected soon after the season concludes.

Those unable to attend the registration dates may contact league vice president Shawnna Rigg at 808-5448 or by e-mail at: Shawrigg@aol.com.

Registration deadline is Jan. 13; late registrations are charged a $25 fee.

For more information, see sequimlittleleague.com.

League rule changes

With the new season comes some tweaking of the national Little League rulebook.

All players who were previously on a major league team for softball and baseball will go through a draft process. Players are not automatically on the same team they played with in previous seasons.

All players eligible for a major team (age 9-12 softball and 9-12 baseball) must attend at least 50 percent of tryouts, even if individuals played on a major team last season.

The league features four tryout dates, meaning all majors players must attend at least two dates to be eligible. Try-out dates are to be announced at registration, Rigg said.

All 12-year-old players will be placed on a major team, though parents of 12-year-olds who feel their player isn’t ready for majors yet may appeal by getting a waiver from the league president and district administrator.

Sequim Little League saw about 450 players take to the fields last year, Perry said.

"We have a good program, a longstanding program," he said.