Academy Notebook: Eleven Youth Academy athletes awarded High School All-District honors; Memorial Day Weekend baseball & softball tournaments; Summer programming
Texas Rangers Youth Academy Athletes Awarded High School All-District Honors
As the high school baseball and softball post-season continues, districts across the metroplex are recognizing student-athletes with outstanding regular season performances. The Texas Rangers Youth Academy continues to see its athletes recognized with awards and All-District honors, reaching a total of 15 honorees.
Over the past week, 11 Academy athletes received district awards, joining Julianna Serrano, Ximena Zamarron, Giovanca Frias and Karina Rodriguez in this recognition.
Benbrook High School 每 District 8-4A
- Tyler Madara, All-District First Team
Dallas Christian High School 每 TAPPS Division II District 2
- Trenity Okedele, Defensive MVP, All-District First Team, and Academic All-State
Duncanville High School 每 District 11-6A
- India McMurray, Offensive Player of the Year
Hebron High School 每 District 6-6A
- Aden Howard, All-District Second Team
Hillcrest High School 每 District 11-5A
- Nomar Perez, Underclassman of the Year
North Mesquite High School
- Nicholas Garcia, All-District First Team
The Oakridge School 每 Southwest Preparatory Conference
- David Hogg II, All-District First Team
Sunset High School 每 District 12-5A
- Kalia Torres, All-District First Team
- Lena Escobedo, All-District Second Team
- Yolmarcell Hernandez, Catcher of the Year and Academic All-State Honorable Mention
Woodrow Wilson High School 每 District 11-5A
- Zeke Velazquez, All-District First Team
Texas Rangers Youth Academy baseball and softball teams to compete in Memorial Day Weekend tournaments
Texas Rangers Youth Academy will send three all-star teams to compete in baseball and softball tournaments happening during Memorial Day Weekend.
The Youth Academy will enter its 18U and 15U all-star baseball teams into the Five Tool Texas DFW Kickoff tournament happening from Friday, May 27, to Monday, May 30. Top players in the Rangers RBI league were selected to participate in the Five Tool tournament as they will look to beat the 30 plus teams competing in each age division.
The tournament will begin with pool play, followed by a single elimination play Monday, May 30, to determine the eventual champions.
Also happening over Memorial Day Weekend, is the Texas Glory Memorial Day Showdown softball tournament. The Texas Rangers Youth Academy＊s all-star 18U softball team will play in the two-day tournament Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29.
Rangers RBI softball is expected to compete against top travel teams in Texas and Oklahoma including Texas Glory, Titans Softball, Impact Gold and Oklahoma Athletics Softball.
In the previous two tournament appearance for Rangers RBI softball, the team claimed its first championship victory at the Jennie Finch Classic late last year and finished second at the Cat Osterman Pre-Season Tournament in January. They will look to secure their third consecutive top two finish.
Summer baseball and softball programming
Summer training sessions at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will begin Tuesday, May 31, with 9U and 12U programming. Athletes ages 7-to-12 looking to improve their baseball or softball skills can register to participate in summer sessions at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy at no cost.
Participants will be designated into training groups based on age and skill level for tailored coaching and drills. Training will focus on a range of techniques from basics like hitting, catching and baserunning to more complex lessons around throwing velocity and strike zone recognition.
Youth Academy athletes will have the chance to learn from several hand-selected coaches who have varying experience on the baseball and softball diamond, including seven former Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes.
Academy athletes joining the coaching staff this summer include Mina Schwartz, Erin Ledesma, Josh Marcellus, Gabi Quintanilla, Kylie Cox, Kevin Daniel Cox and Matthew De Leon.
The 2022 summer training session for 9U and 12U athletes will run from Tuesday, May 31, 2022, to Friday, July 1. Training for 18U athletes will begin Tuesday, July 5.
To register for Texas Rangers Youth Academy summer baseball and softball programming, visit texasrangersya.leagueapps.com/camps.
Rangers RBI baseball & softball schedule