Academy Notebook: Academy Hosts Senior Nights for RBI Athletes
When the 2020 high school baseball and softball seasons ended abruptly in March due to COVID-19, many seniors saw their high school careers end without the traditional Senior Night festivities. But a few of those athletes will have a second chance to celebrate Senior Night, this time at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex, Presented by Toyota.
The Academy is hosting Senior Nights to honor graduating athletes during the Rangers Baseball and Softball RBI League play.
Tuesday, June 30, was the first such night at the facility, as Rough Riders RBI Senior Night honored Leo Garcia (Hillcrest High School) and Joshua Marcellus (Sachse High School) on Oates Field prior to the game.
On Wednesday, July 1, it was softball’s turn, as Julie Leggett (Duncanville High School), Jordyn Reyes (Bishop Dunne High School), Jenae Hardgrove (Duncanville High School), Destiney Rodriguez (Duncanville High School), and McKenzie Bales (Desoto High School) were honored on Panthers RBI Senior Night prior to their game on Kershaw Field.
Fabian Lopez (Molina High School) and Adolfo Verdin (Molina High School) were honored in Jaguars RBI Senior Night on Thursday, July 2, while Lizet Mendez (Samuel High School) was recognized for Hickory’s RBI Senior Night.
“Hosting Senior Nights is not something we have ever done in the past, but this year with so much having been taken away from these athletes, we really wanted to give them and their parents this moment,” Academy Director Juan Leonel Garciga explained. “Seeing the reaction of the parents and how emotional they get is special, and we look forward to making sure every class of 2020 player and family gets their moment.”
Additional Senior Nights are scheduled throughout the remaining RBI season. Senior Night teams are highlighted on the schedule listings below.
Remaining regular season schedules for the baseball and softball Junior and Senior Division teams are listed below. Scheduling is subject to change. Updates are available via @RangersYA on Twitter and Instagram. Playoff schedules will be listed in future Notebooks.
Baseball Senior Division
DATE TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM FIELD
7/6 7:00 PM Vikings Hard Hitters Oates Field
7/6 7:00 PM Crawdads Jaguars Field of Dreams
7/7 7:00 PM Down East Raiders Oates Field
7/9 7:00 PM Vikings Cougars Oates Field
7/9 7:00 PM Eagles Jaguars Field of Dreams
7/11 9:00 AM Hard Hitters Raiders Field of Dreams
7/11 12:00 PM Down East Crawdads Field of Dreams
7/11 3:00 PM Rough Riders Cougars Field of Dreams
7/13 7:00 PM Vikings Raiders Field of Dreams
7/13 7:00 PM Eagles Down East Oates Field
7/14 7:00 PM Hard Hitters Crawdads Oates Field
7/16 7:00 PM Rough Riders Jaguars Field of Dreams
7/16 7:00 PM Cougars Raiders Oates Field
7/18 9:00 AM Vikings Crawdads Oates Field
7/18 12:00 PM Hard Hitters Eagles Oates Field
Softball Senior Division
DATE TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM FIELD
7/6 7:00 PM Wildcats Alliance Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/6 7:00 PM Wood Ducks Panthers Josh Hamilton Field
7/7 7:00 PM Hickory Gophers Josh Hamilton Field
7/8 7:00 PM Crush Wildcats Josh Hamilton Field
7/8 7:00 PM Alliance Panthers Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/9 7:00 PM Gophers Wood Ducks Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/9 7:00 PM Jaguars Hickory Josh Hamilton Field
7/13 7:00 PM Alliance Crush Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/13 7:00 PM Gophers Panthers Josh Hamilton Field
7/14 7:00 PM Hickory Wildcats Josh Hamilton Field
7/14 7:00 PM Spokane Wood Ducks Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/15 7:00 PM Alliance Gophers Josh Hamilton Field
7/15 7:00 PM Wood Ducks Wildcats Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/16 7:00 PM Hickory Crush Kershaw's Challenge Field
Baseball Junior Division
DATE TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM FIELD
7/7 7:00 PM Seahawks Nashville Field of Dreams
7/8 7:00 PM Patriots Sounds Oates Field
7/8 7:00 PM Monarchs Raiders Field of Dreams
7/11 9:00 AM Patriots Raiders Oates Field
7/11 12:00 PM Nashville Monarchs Oates Field
7/11 3:00 PM Sounds Lancaster Oates Field
7/14 7:00 PM Seahawks Lancaster Field of Dreams
7/15 7:00 PM Sounds Raiders Oates Field
7/15 7:00 PM Patriots Nashville Field of Dreams
7/18 9:00 AM Nashville Sounds Field of Dreams
7/18 12:00 PM Lancaster Raiders Field of Dreams
7/18 3:00 PM Monarchs Seahawks Oates Field
7/21 7:00 PM Lancaster Monarchs Field of Dreams
7/22 7:00 PM Nashville Raiders Oates Field
7/22 7:00 PM Patriots Seahawks Field of Dreams
Softball Junior Division
DATE TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM FIELD
7/7 7:00 PM Jaguars Spokane Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/9 7:00 PM Jaguars Hickory Josh Hamilton Field
7/11 10:00 AM Jaguars Spokane Josh Hamilton Field
7/11 12:45 PM Sounds Spokane Josh Hamilton Field
7/14 7:00 PM Spokane Wood Ducks Kershaw's Challenge Field
7/16 7:00 PM Jaguars Sounds Josh Hamilton Field
Rangers Baseball and Softball RBI leagues were the first Academy programming to get underway after the three-month pause for COVID-19 regulations. Approximately 450 high school baseball and softball players are competing on the 26 RBI teams in Junior and Senior division play during the seven-week season.
Baseball games are being played on Oates Field and Field of Dreams, with softball competition taking place on Hambone Field and Clayton Kershaw Challenge Field. Due to safety protocols, the Globe Life Indoor Training Center will remain closed at the present time. The facility is operating under the guidelines established for youth sports participation as part of the State of Texas’ reopening.
Feeding Families
Over $10,000 worth of grocery gift cards was given away to families of Rangers Academy participants on Tuesday, June 30. The donation was thanks to Tom Thumb, Albertson’s, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation.
Science of Baseball Goes Virtual
Virtual Science of Baseball presented by Nike will allow students to play the new gaming app STEMadium, which teaches science, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The three-week, virtual summer camp is designed for students entering fifth through eighth grades. Activities begin July 20. Registration is now available at www.bit.ly/STEMadiumRangersYA.
Buckner Virtual Programming
Academy athletes are continuing to take part in virtual classes offered by Buckner International’s Family Hope Center at the Rangers MLB Youth Academy. Online summer classes in both English and Spanish began three weeks ago, while in-person classes will resume once the Academy’s indoor facilities reopen.