Travel Baseball Tournament Organizers and Tournaments in Tennessee
Upcoming Baseball Tournaments in Tennessee
Tennessee Baseball Association
Baseball tournaments in the Mufreesboro, Nashville and Hermitage.
Midsouth USSSA Baseball
Several tournaments in the region are listed 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
Those who follow Fantasy 2014 baseball will likely be familiar with the names David Price, Zack Cozart, Rex Brothers, and Sonny Gray. All were born in Tennessee. They are among 24 Tennessee-born MLB players currently active in the pros.
Pitcher David Price was born in Murfreesboro in 1985. Baseball has been always been a part of his life. He would run around with a bat when he was only a toddler. In elementary school, he was playing competitively. By 11, he was ready for elite travel ball (http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/D_Price/D_Price_bio.html).
Price began playing varsity baseball at Blackman High School his freshman year. He turned down a 19th round draft pick in 2004 to attend Vanderbilt University. He had an outstanding junior year. His value went up. Price was the first pick of the 2007 draft. He went from A Verano Beach to AA Montgomery to AAA Durham – quickly. He made his MLB debut in 2008 at age 23.
His awards have included the Cy Young Award and Players Choice AL Outstanding Pitcher. He was an All-Star in 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2011, his team modeled an action figure after him.
Price is involved in youth charities. He is credited with helping start the Dugout Club program. His own foundation is called Project One Four.
Sonny Gray was born in Nashville in 1989. As a youth, he was involved in USSSA baseball, beginning with the 13U Tennessee Copperheads (http://usssaframe.com/sports/viewteamhistory.asp?CurrentSeasonOnly=1). He pitched for Smyrna High School and also played on the football team. He continued to play some travel ball on the side; his teams included the LA Hurricanes, UNA Legends, Nashville Elite, and Tennessee Elite.
Like Price, Gray pitched for Vanderbilt University, choosing to forego a 27th round draft pick. He was on the U.S. National Team the summer after his freshman year. He also had a strong junior year and entered the draft afterward. While he wasn’t the top pick of the 2011 draft, he was selected in the first round. His minor league teams included the AA Midland RockHounds and AAA Sacramento RiverCats.
Gray was called up to the majors in 2013. He was 23.
Another pitcher from Murfreesboro, Rex Brothers was born in 1987 (http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=571521#gameType='S'). He, too, played USSSA baseball, though briefly. His team was the 15U Tennessee Rebels (https://www.usssa.com/sports/FindPlayerHistory.asp?PlaID=428531). He was on the team at Shelbyville High School and later played for Lipscomb University.
Brothers was a first round draft pick in 2009, following his third year of college. He played in the minors for the Tri City Dust Devils, Asheville Tourists, Modesto Nuts, Tulsa Drillers, and Colorado Springs SkySox. His major league debut came June 6, 2011. He, too, was 23.
Pro ball players tend to have some things in common besides natural ability. It isn’t being drafted after junior year, or entering the MLB at 23, or even being born in Murfreesboro in odd-numbered years.
Pro ball players love baseball, and they enjoy competition. “I was always playing with my brothers, who are older than me, and they were better than me at everything until I hit a certain age,” Price has said. “I just got tired of losing. I never wanted to lose (http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/D_Price/D_Price_my-say.html).”
Youth sports are vital to future athletes. And for a lot of kids who aren’t bound for the pros, they are just plain fun. They can also be an opportunity to learn team skills and begin to manage the competitive spirit. After all, those who go far are team players. When the position as closer went to another player, Brothers noted he was ready to do whatever the team wanted him to do (http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_25309465/rex-brothers-has-big-role-colorado-rockies-rebuilt).
Tennessee Nationals
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