Academy Notebook: Little League Opening Day; Women’s History Month

Mercy Street Sports Spring League commences tomorrow, March 6, for the first time since 2019. The event is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy fields and will include a parade, lunch, team pictures and giveaways.

David Hatteburg, Development Team Manager at Mercy West, explains they are ecstatic for Saturday.

“Opening Day has been long awaited because we see baseball as a sweet relief for many families we serve here in West and South Dallas,” he said.

“This time last year, we had to cancel our spring leagues due to the city-wide lockdown because of the pandemic. After this happened, we spent the following weeks calling every family who signed up for our sports programs throughout the summer. What we found out then has proven true throughout the entire year -- families are eager to get their kids out of the house and have a safe active place for them to play,” he continued.

Mercy West has been taking steps to ensure the 2021 Little League season runs smoothly.

“In preparation for this spring season, we realize the neighborhoods we serve have disproportionately been affected by the pandemic personally and economically,” Hatteburg added. “Therefore, we decided to open all spring leagues to West (75212) and South (75215, 75210) zip codes for FREE. We don’t want funding to be an issue for any family who wants their kids to play in our baseball, football, and soccer leagues.”

Hatteburg expects Opening Day to be a “fun-filled community event where the community can gather and celebrate the start of our spring leagues.”

Schedule for the event is listed below. Subject to change.

10 a.m. Parade

10:30 a.m. Ceremony Begins

11:30 a.m. Activities & Lunch

The Girl Has Game

March is Women’s History Month, which celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of women with stories, movies and books that center around their experiences in history. Throughout the month of March, the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex will continue to recognize and appreciate the women and girls who continue to make an impact on the community and beyond.

Academy players Carrington Tanner (Desoto, 2021), Alexandra Cerda (Townview Health Magnet, 2022) and Destiny Castillo (Duncanville, 2023) reflect on how they are impacted by Women’s History Month and how the programs offered at the Academy foster an environment of female empowerment.

"Softball has taught me to be the best version of myself on and off the field and to always work my hardest to get myself where I want to be,” Tanner says. Recognizing the role softball has played in her life, Tanner believes she truly “inspires herself” and finds motivation from within. She adds, “Women’s History Month to me means recognizing the achievements of women in all facets of life.”

Castillo looks to University of Texas softball player Janae Jefferson for inspiration. This month represents “a time for action, pride and all different accomplishments that women do across the world. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you have the right support behind you,” she says. “Softball has taught me to be a leader on and off the field, role model and help others as much as I can.”

“The softball player that inspires me the most is Madilyn “Bubba” Nickels,” Cerda explains. “She plays for UCLA and is a utility player, who is currently playing center field. I have so much respect for her because she puts lots of dedication and love on the field. She plays so effortlessly, especially offensively and I aspire to one day be just like her.”

Cerda has learned that on the field “communication is key.” Using and finding her voice in a team setting has been extremely rewarding for her. “Women’s History Month to me is a month where we show our appreciation to women throughout the years who’ve shaped us to be who we are today.”

In this month we celebrate and recognize the amazing acts of braveness and courage each woman has shown throughout tough and treacherous times” she concludes.

In an ever-evolving world, Academy players strive to make a difference.

High School Baseball & Softball Spring into March

Below is the schedule of the remaining Pinkston, Sunset and Thomas Jefferson High School baseball 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.

Below is the March softball schedule for DISD high school games to be played at the Academy. Scheduling is subject to change. April 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.

Spring Programming Coming Soon

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.