Baseball Boom: Number of select baseball players in SETX skyrocketing – 12NewsNow.Com

Select  baseball is one of the fastest growing sports in Southeast Texas and statistics show more athletes will continue to play the game in years to come.

Ford Park is one of the premier youth baseball facilities in the region. General Manager John Hughes said last year an average of 79 competitive teams played in their tournaments. This year he expects that number to jump to 90 teams.

Lumberton High School Senior Pitcher Brandon Young has been playing baseball since he was 7-years-old.

The righty is headed to Howard Junior College next year and said the increase of talent and teams locally have helped him compete on a national level.

“It takes a lot of work, day in and day out I probably do something every day to get better,” Young said. “You have to keep working if you want to get better at baseball because people will pass you up if you don’t.”

Young hopes to one day join former Lumberton Raider Clay Buchholz in the majors.

Future Raider, Ryan Connor, works with Coach Jason Tyner when most of his competition takes the day off.

“I like playing baseball more than playing video games,” the third grader said.

He knows his extra work gives him an advantage in the batter’s box.

“I like hitting the baseball, far far,” the third baseman said. “I hit it like all the way to the fence (one time). (It made me) really happy because there’s not that many kids out here that can do that.”

Jason Tyner is the owner of Southeast Texas Baseball Academy and he played in the majors leagues. He said every year 25% more kids try out for his travel team the Piranhas.  
 

“The baseball talent in this area is incredible,” the former pro said. “We’ve got kids that come in here every weekend or week that have signed with top 20 baseball programs and it’s only getting stronger. The younger kids are probably better than those kids.”

Brandon Young’s select team coach, Matt Thompson, knows the potential of local athletes. His organization has produced 66 draft picks and put nearly 200 players in the college level. On top of coaching, he is also a scout for the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He said passing down his knowledge of the game to players young and old is crucial for their development.
           
“We want it to be fun, we want to encourage them to keep playing this game,” Thompson said.

Cary Young, Brandon’s father, grew up around the game. He said he is amazed by the number of opportunities there are for younger players.  
           
“All we had basically growing up was little league ball and a certain segment at the beginning of the year that we played ball,” Brandon’s dad said.

Being there for every pitch of his son’s journey, he knows the investment it takes in order to succeed in today’s competitive environment.

“As a parent you’re willing to go the extra mile for the possibility to get these kids seen and scouted,” Young said.

He said he spent $30,000 to have Ligament Reconstruction or “Tommy John” surgery on Brandon’s throwing arm. Add that to the tens of thousands a seasons for equipment, traveling and other expenses Brandon’s dad said everything adds up. But he has no doubts that every penny is worth his son’s success.   

Coach Tyner said he takes no credit for the kids achievements but is happy to give them the tools for success so they can live out their dreams.

“Tons and tons of talent in this areas Tyner said. “There’s only more kids coming through the system.”