Academy Notebook: Black History Month Jamboree; Ajani Lyons commits to Grambling State University; National Girls & Women in Sports Day Celebration rescheduled; Youth Academy winter weather update

Black History Month Jamboree

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will host the annual Black History Month Jamboree, presented by Nike.

To begin the celebration, kids ages 7-12 will participate in the Black History Month Baseball Camp from 9-11 a.m., where they will develop their baseball and softball skills through on-field drills and games while learning about the significance of Black History Month.

Activities will include drills to improve batting, pitching, fielding and base running, as well as a mini combine and home run derby.

Following the camp will be a doubleheader featuring four Dallas ISD high schools— South Oak Cliff High School, W. H. Adamson High School, Wilmer Hutchins High School and David W. Carter High School.

W. H. Adamson and David W. Carter will face off at 1 p.m., with a ceremonial first pitch tossed by former Ranger Mark McLemore and Wilmer Hutchins will match up against South Oak Cliff at 3:30 p.m., with a ceremonial first pitch from former Ranger Curtis Wilkerson.

“This event is a neat way to pay homage to those Black individuals who came before and highlight their generation," said Dash Johnson, manager of Youth Academy baseball & softball operations. "Blacks in baseball have been on a constant decline, and this is a perfect opportunity to combine the two— baseball and Black history— through the Jamboree. I am excited to showcase these young men during this event and kick off Black History Month.”

Ajani Lyons commits to Grambling State University

Texas Rangers Youth Academy athlete Ajani Lyons announced his commitment to further his education and baseball career at Grambling State University.

Lyons, who made his official decision at the end of 2022, is looking forward to beginning this exciting chapter as a collegiate baseball player after completing his senior season and graduating from The Oakridge School in May.

“The college recruitment process was extremely stressful but at the same time really exciting and fun to learn about the next level of the sport I love,” said Lyons.

“Grambling’s culture is just different from all the other schools that were interested in me and the baseball program is amazing. The future of Grambling is bright.”

Lyons, who hopes to study kinesiology or sports management while in school, is excited to be a difference-maker for the team from the moment he steps on campus.

“I am going to bring a big impact as a freshman and show that it doesn’t matter that I am a freshman,” he said. “I will work as hard as anyone else and bring everything I have to the table.”

Lyons is the second Rangers Youth Academy athlete to commit to the HBCU after Chris Marcellus became the first Academy baseball player to sign with a Division I university in Grambling State last summer.

While Lyons hasn’t had much experience playing alongside the older Marcellus, he is eager to play ball with the fellow Rangers Academy athlete in Louisiana.

After reflecting on his recruitment process, Lyons is grateful for the additional exposure and development opportunities he's received from the Youth Academy.

To future Youth Academy athletes that hope to follow in his footsteps of playing college ball, Lyons says, “Focus on the process more than the end goal. Don’t always think about offers and college as a young player, have fun and always make sure you are getting better, and soon the offers and colleges will be chasing you.”

National Girls & Women in Sports Day event rescheduled for Feb. 15

Due to inclement weather, this year’s National Girls & Women in Sports Day celebration with softball star Lauren Chamberlain, originally scheduled for Feb. 1, was postponed to Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Each year the Texas Rangers Youth Academy celebrates National Girls & Women in Sports Day to recognize the softball and girls’ baseball players changing the game on and off the field.

This year, as part of Major League Baseball’s PLAY BALL events across U.S. MLB Youth Academies, Chamberlain will instruct nearly 150 athletes from ages 7-18 at the West Dallas Academy’s indoor field.

Athletes will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive instruction from the decorated University of Oklahoma softball player, who led her team to the 2013 NCAA Championship title before being selected #1 overall in the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch draft.

To register for this free event, visit texasrangers.com/academy.

Texas Rangers Youth Academy winter weather update

Due to winter weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex this week, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy temporarily suspended activities for the safety of its athletes.

Winter programming sessions from Tuesday, Jan.31, to Thursday, Feb. 2, were canceled, but all programming sessions will resume as scheduled beginning next week on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The 2023 College Readiness Workshop, presented by Comerica Bank, scheduled for Jan. 31, was also postponed. The rescheduled event date will be announced at a later time.

For the most up-to-date information on Texas Rangers Youth Academy events and weather-related cancellations, follow @RangersYA on Twitter and Instagram, or visit texasrangers.com/academy.

Baseball & softball

Winter Training Program 9U & 12U – Jan. 18, 2023 – Feb. 15, 2023

Athletes ages 8-12 will participate in free training sessions that expand on the principles of hitting, fielding, throwing, base-running and more. Register here.

Winter Training Program 18U – Jan. 17, 2023 – Feb. 17, 2023

Athletes ages 13-18 will participate in free training sessions that expand on the principles of hitting, fielding, throwing, base-running and more. Register here.

Education & Buckner International programming

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy goes beyond baseball and softball programming to benefit our community. With help from our partner Buckner International, the Academy hosts free education courses for athletes and their families throughout the year. Register Here for all Youth Academy classes.

2023 College Readiness Workshop – Rescheduled date TBA

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy’s 2023 College Readiness Workshop, presented by Comerica Bank, is open to all high school students and parents. Areas of focus include budgeting for college, credit, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA?), and more.