Academy Notebook: Little League Opening Day recap; Comeback Kids

Baseball is Back

Everyone was a winner at this year’s Mercy Street Sports Spring League Opening Day celebration. More than a year after the 2019 season concluded, Spring League baseball is back at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy fields.

Last weekend’s Opening Day saw over 150 kids take the field. The season commenced with the distribution of uniforms representing some of MLB’s most popular teams, including our favorite, the Texas Rangers. Before gameplay, community leaders like pastor Marcus Wilson from West Dallas Community Church and Councilman Omar Narvaez from District 6 participated in the opening ceremony and first pitch.

“Not only did the kids feel honored, but we were able to share our vision for our sports leagues,” said David Hatteberg, Mercy West development team manager. “Ultimately, we want kids to not only learn the fundamentals of a sport, but being a Christian program, we want them to learn the fundamentals of the faith. We believe sport is a great avenue to unify the community and teach kids Christian values on the field so they can put their faith into practice off the field.”

Hatteberg shared that after a long year without baseball, players and their families enjoyed the Opening Day parade, ceremonies, food and activities, and are excited for the 2021 Spring League season.

He explained that several parents approached him after the ceremony to express their relief that spring league baseball has returned, especially after facing months of online schooling and canceled extracurriculars leaving kids with nothing to do. “These sports serve them by offering a safe and positive outlet for them to play and get their energy out,” added Hatteberg.

Comeback Kids

While we never want an athlete to face injury, reality often has a different plan. In the coming weeks, the Academy Notebook will highlight Youth Academy All-Stars Yamilet Martinez, Caleb Richardson, Miranda Lopez, Jazmine Garcia and Josh Marcellus. These student-athletes have all faced severe injury and successfully battled back to the plate.

Their skill on the field is unmatched, and their determination to play means not even major injuries can stop them. These student-athletes have received multiple all-star and elite accolades after showcasing their talent in the Academy’s RBI leagues and ISD games.

We will discuss the road to recovery post injury, the journey back to the field and the dedication needed to succeed in baseball and softball. The student-athletes we will feature are inspirational examples to fellow Texas Ranges Youth Academy participants and athletes across the entire North Texas region.

Come back next week where we will highlight our first player and tell the story of how they conquered what could have been a career-ending injury.

Spring Programming Registration

Spring programming begins Monday, March 22, and runs through Wednesday, May 12.

Baseball and softball players ages 7 through 18 will be invited to train with sessions tailored for individual age groups.

Registration is available at texasrangers.com/academy.

High School Baseball & Softball Spring into March

Below is the schedule of the remaining Pinkston, Sunset and Thomas Jefferson High School baseball and softball games to be played at the Academy in March. Scheduling is subject to change. Additional April and May dates and opponents will be included in future notebooks.

For the fourth straight year, Pinkston High School baseball and softball teams are calling the Academy home. The Sunset High School baseball and softball squad will also join them in playing their 2021 home games at the facility again this year.

This is also the second season Thomas Jefferson High School baseball and softball teams are playing their home games at the Academy after their fields were damaged by the October 2019 tornadoes that hit Dallas.