Metro East youth baseball programs
Travel clubs and rec leagues on the Illinois side of St. Louis. Facts come from each club's own public pages, last checked 2026-10-13. Where we could not confirm something, it says "check with club."
Coaching guides · Metro East youth programs · Feature your club
Jordan's firsthand pick
Recruits Baseball Club
I played for Recruits. They actually teach baseball and develop players, and that is the first thing I would look for in any club. — Jordan, Bench Coach
This is one person's experience as a former player, not a ranking. We do not rank any other club.
- Location
- St. Louis, MO (draws players from both sides of the river)
- Type
- Travel club and training facility
- Age groups
- 6U to 18U
- Tryouts
- Year-round; request a tryout through the club's form (recruitsbaseball.com/join-recruits/player-tryouts)
- Cost
- Not published. Club asks families to contact admin@recruitsbaseball.com
- Indoor facility
- Yes, club training facility
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Other Metro East clubs and leagues (alphabetical)
District 19
- Location
- Columbia and nearby towns
- Type
- Rec league
- Age groups
- Grades 2 to 8
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Player fees set by each town; check with your town's association. (League handbook lists a $35 team entry fee, 2025.)
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Extreme Baseball & Softball Club
- Location
- Collinsville
- Type
- Travel club
- Age groups
- Developmental to elite tiers
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Yes, Extreme Annex, 103 Complex Dr
- Contact
- info@extremepride.org
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Gateway Stallions
- Location
- Granite City
- Type
- Travel club
- Age groups
- 9U to 15U teams listed
- Tryouts
- 2026 tryouts and make-ups were held in July
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Yes, Gateway Field House
- Contact
- gatewayfieldhouse@gmail.com
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Illinois Gators
- Location
- Edwardsville
- Type
- Travel club (part of Gators Baseball Academy)
- Age groups
- 6U to 18U
- Tryouts
- Some 2026 team tryouts were held in summer; check club for 2027
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Contact
- jim.cromer@gatorsba.com
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
MERBL (Metro East Recreational Baseball League)
- Location
- Collinsville area
- Type
- Rec league
- Age groups
- Middle school, high school and adult divisions
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Contact
- (618) 406-4979
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Metro East Expos
- Location
- Belleville
- Type
- Travel club (nonprofit)
- Age groups
- 10U, 12U and 13U teams listed
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Metro Xplosion / Millstadt Xplosion
- Location
- Millstadt
- Type
- Travel and showcase club
- Age groups
- Youth club; Metro Xplosion is the 15U to 18U showcase program
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
O-Town Bats
- Location
- O'Fallon
- Type
- Travel team
- Age groups
- 13U team listed in 2026
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
O'Fallon Athletics
- Location
- O'Fallon
- Type
- Travel teams
- Age groups
- 10U to 14U teams listed in 2026
- Tryouts
- Check with club
- Cost
- Check with club
- Indoor facility
- Check with club
- Source
- Public club or team page (as of 2026-10-13)
Submit or correct your club
If something here is wrong or out of date, or your club is missing, use this form. Every submission is reviewed before anything changes. You can also email hymetalab@gmail.com with a link to your club page. We fix factual errors free. Want extra visibility? Feature your club.
New to all this? Read rec vs travel baseball for Illinois families.