FAQ
Level of play, tryouts, cost, playing time, and what a season actually demands.
Pistols is a B-level program, meaning we do not openly recruit players from other communities. The majority of our players live in Park Ridge. Players from other communities can try out, but preference is given to players from Park Ridge.
Yes. The Pistols are the only travel softball program affiliated with the Park Ridge Park District, through Park Ridge Baseball & Softball. That affiliation is what gives our teams access to Park Ridge fields, the Park Ridge Baseball & Softball indoor facility, and the Maine South field house and varsity fields. Other teams sometimes carry the Park Ridge name without that affiliation, so it is worth asking any program where its teams practice and play.
No. The Pistols are a dedicated travel program and don't mix with house league play. We're also not a “bring your own team” program, and we don't make team decisions based on friendships.
The Pistols are for girls 8 to 18. New for the 2026 season, the program added an 8U team designed for the younger player who is showing a true passion for softball and is willing to make it a priority from April 1 through mid-July.
Pistols follows the USA Softball age guidelines for new teams. It's the same as the grade year for school, with a September 1 cutoff. That keeps girls with their grade and lines the program up with how high school softball is organized.
Tryouts are held in late June and early July, forming teams for the following season. An information session comes first; for 8U, a parent must attend that session for their daughter to be eligible to try out.
Everyone registers ahead of time at prbaseball.com, including returning players. There is a $15 tryout fee that goes toward the annual fee if your daughter is offered a spot on the Pistols. Tryouts are held at Centennial 4D and begin at 6:00 PM; arrive at least 20 minutes early to check in.
Email prpistolstravel@gmail.com. We recommend trying out with your own age group, since we can't always accommodate a schedule request, but we'll do what we can.
Current and past Pistols coaches run tryouts. Coaches are not permitted to evaluate their own daughter or their own players.
Teams for the following year are formed in July. Most teams practice and play 10 to 15 games in the fall. Pitchers and catchers practice three to four times a month from October through March on Saturday mornings; teams practice one to two times a week from January through March. In season, April through July, teams practice twice a week, play one to two games a week, and participate in five to eight tournaments. Most teams play 40 to 50 games per season. 8U is lighter: one practice a week in winter, two in season, one to two games a week, and three tournaments.
Yes, and we encourage it. In the fall and winter, softball is expected to be secondary to any sport that is in season, and a practice missed for that sport is an excused absence. Once softball is in season from April through July, we ask that softball be the priority. Excessive absences that aren't injury-related can result in a player losing her spot on a team.
No. Playing time decisions are entirely at the discretion of the coach, and as a competitive travel program playing time is not guaranteed. Every player has the right to know what she can work on to increase her playing time. For 8U, 10U and first-year 12U we focus on development and distributed playing time in friendly games and tournament pool play; during elimination play on tournament Sundays we have our best nine on the field at every level except 8U.
The typical cost for a first year in the Pistols is roughly $1,100, which includes uniforms, helmet and bag. After the first year the average cost is $700 to $900. First-year 8U is $850 with two uniforms, a helmet and a bag. The season fee is under $1,000.
For a first year with the Pistols you'll purchase a helmet, a bat bag, and a minimum of two jerseys, two pants, two pairs of socks and one belt. Teams usually get new uniforms every two to three years depending on the team and the coach, and each year there's an opportunity to try on sizes and order new or additional items.
Offseason training happens at the Park Ridge Baseball & Softball private indoor facility in Mt. Prospect, the Oakton Sports Complex, and the Maine South High School field house. Games and outdoor practices use Northwest 13, Brickton Park and the Maine South fields. Tryouts are at Centennial 4D.
Tournament schedules usually aren't known until the week before.
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Tryouts are held in late June and early July for the following season. Dates are posted each spring. Check the tryouts page or follow us on Instagram so you don't miss them.