Academy Notebook: Jr. Home Run Derby & Pitch, Hit, Run recap; Mexico Olympic Team softball clinic
Champions Crowned
The past several days at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy have been jam-packed with action. Last Saturday, April 24, two new Jr. Home Run Derby winners out slugged the competition to claim the title of homer champs at the Academy. And, just last night, April 29, eight baseball and softball champions were crowned at the Pitch, Hit & Run Competition.
While the competition was fierce, the true emphasis this past week was leaving behind the pressure of playing in competitive games and just having fun. “I think there's people that made some new friends,” said Juan Leonel Gárciga, Director of Youth Baseball & Academy Programs. “It's always fun to see the reactions and everyone being supportive like the parents in the stands, clapping for every kid that comes up there.
“Even the kids that didn't [win] got to come out, show off what they can do and see where they need to get to, which is always just a great time and a great experience for the staff, volunteers and everybody in attendance.”
Jr. Home Run Derby Results:
14U Round One Winners – Amaad Garrett 6 HR; Christian Salazar 4 HR
14U Final Round – Christian Salazar 3 HR; Amaad Garrett 1 HR
14U Competition Highlights – During round one, Christian Salazar had one home run with five pitches remaining when he proceeded to hit three over the fence to qualify for the final round. Salazar went on to win the competition beating what some would consider the favorite in Amaad Garrett.
12U Round One Winners – Elijah Gillespie 5 HR; Maddox Johnson 4 HR
12U Final Round – Maddox Johnson 7 HR; Elijah Gillespie 3 HR
12U Competition Highlights – Both Elijah Gillespie and Maddox Johnson set a Youth Academy record for most single-round home runs in the 12U age division. Champion Maddox Johnson showed his power by hitting balls far beyond the left field wall measuring 220 feet from home plate, soaring over six lanes of traffic, and finally landing on the opposite side of North Hampton Road.
Pitch, Hit & Run Results:
14U Baseball Champion – Evan Smith: 1052 points
14U Softball Champion – Rihanna Ramirez: 934 points
12U Baseball Champion – Emiliano Maldanado: 1193 points
12U Softball Champion – Addison Hicks: 815 points
10U Baseball Champion – Nathan Salinas: 971 points
10U Softball Champion – Savannah Vargas: 674 points
8U Baseball Champion – Greylon Lawrence: 951 Total Points
8U Softball Champion – Sarah Joyce Mercado: 615 points
Vamos México: Youth Academy athletes train with Team Mexico
Youth Academy softball players were treated to an exclusive clinic on Saturday, April 24, hosted by the Mexico Olympic Team. The team made a stop in the West Dallas area and spent time practicing at the Youth Academy facilities for their upcoming trip to the Tokyo Summer Olympics. While they were visiting the Academy, Team Mexico hosted a clinic for the next generation of North Texas softball players supporting their desire to give back to the community and grow the sport.
Around 50 Texas Rangers Youth Academy softball players attended the three-hour clinic on Oates Field where they participated in a world-class training session. Players and coaches from the Mexico Olympic Team worked on specialized drills with infielders, outfielders, pitchers and catchers, and everyone hit the batting cages to work on their swings.
The Texas Rangers Youth Academy is excited to cheer on the women of Team Mexico as they make their run for the Gold Medal during the 2021 Summer Olympics.