Travel Baseball Tournament Organizers and Tournaments in Maine
Travel Baseball Tournaments in the Northeast
Tournaments posted for the northeast.
*Do you have a tournament scheduled in Maine? Please contact us with information and we will post it here.
Articles For Those New to Travel Baseball
What is Travel Baseball?
Clarkstown Baseball Association provides a cut and dry overview of what travel or elite baseball is and the differences between it and "Recreational" baseball.
Choosing a Youth Travel Baseball Team
This is a great introductory article for those new to the travel baseball scene that can help you narrow down what you are looking for.
Picking the Right Travel Baseball Team
By John Pinkman
Taking a look at Coaches, Mission, costs, size of team and much more.
Overuse Injuries in Youth Baseball
Pitchers aren't the only ones with overuse injuries in baseball. Check out the latest data and prevention tactics.
Pros and Cons of Parent Coaches and Being One Yourself
Parent coaches in travel baseball, good thing or bad thing? Is it a good fit for you?
Youth Sports: Maintaining Reasonable Expectations
What are the chances your kid will play college baseball or softball? Professional baseball or softball? You should read this article.
Where the Elite Kids Shouldn't Meet
By Tim Keown, ESPN Writer
A raw and honest look into Travel / Elite Baseball
Sites, Organizations and Articles We Like
American Legion Baseball
Teams from 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Regional tournaments, State tournaments and a World Series make this one of the most popular baseball organizations around.
Dixie Youth Baseball
They play great baseball and players have an opportunity to play in tournaments and a league World Series. Find a team or start a franchise.
Babe Ruth League Youth Baseball
Great organization and great baseball. This is another option for youth baseball players to continue developing their skills. Start or find a charter here.
Travel Ball Select
Travel Ball News, Forums, Scores, Travel Ball TV and other cool stuff.
Game Changer
Sign your team up, keep stats during the game, track other teams. It's great!
Little League News
College Baseball News
MLB News and Rumors from Yard Barker
Maine has produced plenty of major league baseball players since the late 1800s. There are five who are currently active: Charlie Furbush, Tim Stauffer, Ryan Flaherty, Ryan Reid, and Mark Rogers.
Charlie Furbush was born in 1986 in South Portland. He played ball at South Portland High School. His senior year, he was South Maine Athletic Association MVP (http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml/a>).
Furbush was involved in the Cape Cod Baseball League, a collegiate league, during his time at St. Joseph’s College of Maine (http://www.capecodbaseball.org/news/garner/index.html?article_id=753). He later transferred to Louisiana State University. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2007 draft at age 21. The West Michigan Whitecaps, Lakeland Flying Tigers, and Toledo Mud Hens were among his minor league teams. He was called up to the majors in 2011.
Ryan Flaherty was born in 1986 in Portland, Maine. He notes that his parents introduced him to lots of sports and let him decide what his favorite was.
Flaherty was on the team at Deering High School. He played baseball for a while with the American Legion, helping them to a World Series championship in 2004 (http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/flaherty_ryan00.html). He also played in the Telegram League. He was named Mr. Baseball Player of the Year for Maine.
Flaherty played in the infield at Vanderbilt University. Among his honors was making the ABCA All-South Region Team. His college roommate, Pedro Alvarez, would also make the pros.
Flaherty was selected in the 1st round of the 2009 draft. His major league debut came in 2012 when he was 25.
Tim Stauffer was born in Portland, Maine in 1982. He played in Little League as a boy. In The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream, author Jim Collins notes that even as a seven-year-old, Stauffer had quite a competitive spirit. Stauffer's father supported him, teaching his son to think out situations through a "what if" game.
Stauffer played baseball at Saratoga Central Catholic High School (along with soccer and golf). He turned down a 2000 draft selection, opting instead to pitch for the University of Richmond Spiders – where he set a school strikeout record (http://www.richmondspiders.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26800&ATCLID=205198535). He was selected as Pitcher of the Year two years running.
Stauffer was a first round draft pick coming off of his junior year (2003). The Lake Elsinore Storm and Portland Beavers were among his minor league teams. His major league debut came in 2005, a few weeks before his 23rd birthday.
Following a shoulder injury, he spent some time back in the minors, but 2014 finds him pitching for the San Diego Padres.
Long ago, Tim Stauffer was a sports-obsessed child who collected baseball cards, decorated his room with baseball memorabilia... and played ball. He benefited from the opportunity to participate in team sports.
Today's young baseball aficionados can also benefit from team sports – one reason Stauffer’s father presented a check to the Little League in his own hometown.
Young ball players also need role models. Some become them themselves down the road. Flaherty says, "To be able to have a little kid look up to you and use you as a role model is one of the most rewarding things (http://soletron.com/soletron-mlb-next-generation-ryan-flaherty/)."
When asked to give some advice to young players who aspire to the pros, he said "You have got to love the game and have to work hard."
Chances are there will be more pro ball players from Maine. “People ask me why I return to Maine during the offseason,” said Furbush. “That’s where it all started… I can do everything I need to do to get ready. (http://www.pressherald.com/sports/Furbush_secure_in_Mariners__bullpen_.html).”
Maine Lightning Baseball
The Maine Lightning Baseball program is a youth travel baseball organization directed by Mike D'Andrea (former Atlanta Brave, Deering High Coach)
Southern Maine River Rats
More teams are coming soon!
* required field.