When the Whitehorse Mixed Slo-pitch League begins its season next week, there’ll be six fewer teams than last year.

League president Mel Brais said Tuesday she suspects the reduction from 58 teams to 52 is due to a variety of factors.

Some young parents are now having to give priority to their kids who are becoming old enough to enrol in outdoor sporting activities.

There are some players scheduled to play in the Canadian Slo-pitch Championships being hosted by Whitehorse in August who may be resigning themselves to focus on training rather than risk injury in league play, she said.

Brais said the cross-over rule that limits teams to having more than four players who play in two divisions may also be a factor.

The are six teams in Division 1, 15 in Division 2, 14 in Division 3 and 17 teams in Division 4.

Brais said there are no rule changes this year, but she suspects there’ll be some next year as there are generally rule changes coming down from the national organization every two years.

She said the league is also planning to revisit the cross-over rule for the 2017 season.

There are new dugouts at Robert Service diamond one, and the league is also having the field re-surfaced in partnership with Softball Yukon.

“They’ve started it and it’s looking fabulous,” she said. “I looks like it will be done for the start of the season Monday. I’m excited.”

Brais said this season has come together smoothly, with an ease amongst the players but also an excitement.

“People are just pumped,” she said. “It’s just going to be a great year.”

As usual, the league will ensure umpires are available for games inside the complex and at Takhini 3, but teams will otherwise be expected to provide players to share umpiring duties.

League play will begin Monday with Divisions 1 and 4. Divisions 2 and 3 will begin the season Tuesday.

The opening tournament for Divisions 1 and 4 is scheduled for the May 27 weekend, with the opening tournament for Divisions 2 and 3 going the following weekend.

Brais said with the early spring, the fields are in good shape.