After spending as much as half their lives honing their baseball and softball skills at Major League Baseball’s first youth academy in Compton, Calif., a talented group of high school student-athletes are heading to college next year.

Fittingly, they took that next step in the very place where it all began.

On Saturday, 10 soon-to-be high school graduates signed letters of intent at the Compton Youth Academy, committing to play baseball and softball at college across the country. Families gathered at the Academy, where each athlete was recognized and applauded for their efforts.

“You have sacrificed a great deal to get where you are today, and this is the next step of the next step of the next step,” Darrell Miller, MLB’s vice president of youth and facility development, said to the student-athletes. “These aren’t things to take lightly. Let’s make sure we realize that we’re making a difference.”

Signing events take place all over the country, several times a year. On Nov. 10, the White Sox hosted their annual letter of intent signing night for 20 of their ACE players.

The first MLB Youth Academy was built in Compton in 2006, and since then, 10 more have opened. Baseball and softball is the hook, of course, but equal importance is placed on education. Kids are coached on the field and mentored off it, and as a result, hundreds of kids have gone on to compete in baseball and softball in college while pursuing their degrees.

“The biggest challenge for us is always going to be getting to that next level educationally,” Miller said to the crowd of families that gathered in Compton. “That’s why this is so important, for Major League Baseball’s Youth Academies to focus on education and focus on playing the game of baseball and softball the right way.

“That teaches us how to be a better person, how to lose, how to win, how to support your teammates, how to handle failure and success. Those are the lessons of life sports will naturally teach us.”

The kids have been listening.

“Growing up here since I was nine years old, and seeing the hard work I’ve done here pay off, really means a lot,” said Gavin Taylor, who signed a letter of intent to play at Brigham Young University. “The mentorship I’ve had here is second to none. It’s a really great experience, it truly feels like home here.”

Kyleigh Peters, who will play softball for Jackson State University, is a relative newcomer to the youth academy -- she started attending just two years ago -- but credits the programming with setting her on the right pathway to begin her collegiate career.

“They welcomed me in as family,” Peters said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was little. I’m really excited.”

Adam Magpoc, who spent eight years at the Academy, will play baseball for Boston College. He credited the programming for making him a “better man and a better baseball player.”

“I’ve been here for so long,” Magpoc said. “These guys have helped me in every way possible.”

Here is a complete list of the 10 players who signed letters of intent in Compton:

Hunter Backstrom
High School: Junipero Serra High School
College/University Attending: Fresno State

Tomas Lopez
High School: Redondo Union High School
College/University Attending: Columbia University

Adam Magpoc
High School: Loyola High School
College/University Attending: Boston College

Josh Martinez
High School: Heritage High School
College/University Attending: Cal State Northridge

Casey Molina
High School: San Pedro High School
College/University Attending: University of California, Riverside

Kyleigh Peters
High School: Rancho Cucamonga High School
College/University Attending: Jackson State University

Alyssa Quary
High School: Los Alamitos High School
College/University Attending: New York University

Kayla Seto
High School: Perry High School
College/University Attending: South Dakota State

Gavin Taylor
High School: Birmingham High School
College/University Attending: Brigham Young University (BYU)

Amari Yolas
High School: Palisades Charter High School
College/University Attending: Cal State Northridge