Academy Notebook: DISD baseball & softball at the Youth Academy; 12U & 9U winter programming; College baseball at the Youth Academy

DISD baseball & softball begin 2022 season at Academy

For years, Dallas ISD baseball and softball programs have been utilizing the fields at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy at the Mercy Sports Complex, presented by Toyota to play home games.

During the 2022 season, Pinkston High School, Sunset High School and Thomas Jefferson High School will play several regular-season home games at the Youth Academy’s West Dallas facility.

“Giving kids from the neighborhood an opportunity to play their high school games on nice quality fields is a treat,” said Juan Leonel Gárciga, director of youth baseball & Academy programs. “Our fields are all turf, so they know they’re going to get the games in, they are going to get true hops and just have an overall good experience on the field, which isn’t always the case with some of the traditional grass, clay diamonds in the neighborhood.”

Both Pinkston High School and Sunset High School will rely on the Youth Academy for fewer games than in years past as they have each built brand new fields ready to be used for the 2022 season. They will, however, continue to use the fields at the Youth Academy for select games throughout the season.

Thomas Jefferson High School joined Pinkston and Sunset in calling the Academy fields home after a 2019 tornado caused severe damage to the baseball and softball facilities on campus. Now entering the third season in their new home, Thomas Jefferson baseball and softball will play all home games at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy.

“We know that Thomas Jefferson High School has faced unique challenges since losing their campus and baseball and softball complexes in 2019,” said Jesse Malone, manager of Youth Academy outreach and education. “We are honored to be able to provide a stable place for their teams to practice and play. We hope it feels like home, and they notice a home-field advantage when they play at our facility.”

“Playing high school games at the Youth Academy is great for the kids because it exposes them to all the other offerings and services we provide. For us, it’s not just about the chance to play one game, but an opportunity to welcome them into the Academy family,” said Gárciga.

Thomas Jefferson, Sunset and Pinkston are currently scheduled to play a combined 43 junior varsity and varsity baseball and softball games at the Youth Academy during the 2022 regular season.

Admission is free for all high school games played at the Academy.

Dallas Independent School District high school baseball and softball games to be played at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in February.

Winter programming at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy

This week marked the official conclusion of the 18U winter training session at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy. Hundreds of student-athletes from the Metroplex attended programming multiple nights a week to prepare for the start of the high school baseball and softball seasons.

As the older athletes transition into the spring season, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will officially begin the winter training session for 12U and 9U athletes. The first youth training session of 2022 will be Tuesday, Feb. 15, with programming concluding Thursday, March 10.

Athletes will have a chance to learn the ins and outs of baseball and softball from the Youth Academy’s hand-selected coaching staff, many of whom have proven success on the diamond. Training will take place multiple nights per week, offering kids 8-12 years old a chance to improve their baseball and softball skills. Participants will be designated into training groups for specialized coaching based on age and skill level, ranging from beginner to advanced, as assessed by Rangers Youth Academy coaches and staff.

To register your child for free 12U or 9U baseball and softball training, visit texasrangers.com/academy. Registration will remain open throughout the session.

Texas Wesleyan vs. Sterling College at the Youth Academy

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy hosts its first-ever college baseball games Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12. This NAIA match-up will see home team Texas Wesleyan University face Kansas-based Sterling College in a three-game series on Johnny Oates Field.

First pitch for Friday’s game was tossed at 10:30 a.m. On Saturday, the teams will conclude the series with a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon and 2:30 p.m.

This weekend’s series marks the first time the Texas Wesleyan Rams (5-4) and the Sterling College Warriors (0-4) have played since their initial meeting in 2013 when Texas Wesleyan beat Sterling, 3-0.

Fort Worth-based Texas Wesleyan, which typically plays home games at its Sycamore Park facilities, worked alongside the Texas Rangers Youth Academy to organize this first-of-its-kind neutral site series.

Admission is free for all Texas Wesleyan, Sterling College games at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy. To access live game stats for the series, visit ramsports.net.