Spring is here, and so is baseball at the Backyard Sports Academy.

BSA opened its inaugural Spring Wood Bat Leagues on Saturday morning at the Backyard Ballpark in Turlock.

The 7-8 age division kicked off with the Fire taking on the Pride. The Giants and A’s played later in the day. The 5-6 league held skills clinics to begin its season.

The Spring WBL is the third WBL season held at BSA, but the first spring season. The first two WBLs were held during the summer.

There are four teams in the WBL 7-8 age division. Those four teams will each play a total of 12 games this season, until playoffs begin May 28.

The 5-6 age division held the first skills clinic to kick off its season. The 5-6 age division holds skills clinics for the first half of the season, then plays games for the second half of the season.

These skill clinics teach young players the fundamentals of baseball including proper throwing, pitching, fielding, baserunning, and hitting.

The WBL at BSA differs from Turlock’s Little Leagues in that there are not many restrictions on the game. They play what co-owner Jacob Payne describes as “good ol’ National League baseball.”

They want the kids to play as close to professional baseball as possible, said Payne.

Only wood bats are used by players, as opposed to the aluminum used in LL. Players in WBL are also allowed to lead off bases, teaching runners how to steal as they would at higher levels and pitchers how to hold runners.

Memberships and classes/clinics are available through BSA that teach young players baseball fundamentals and give access to indoor and outdoor batting cages, and bullpens.

BSA is holding travel baseball tryouts on April 1 and 3 at 4:30 p.m. for Summer 2014. For more information, call 209-669-8921.

The full schedule of games for the 7-8 age division can be seen here.

The schedule of sports clinics and games for the 5-6 age division can be seen here.

Backyard Sports Academy is located at 6212 W. Main St
.