By Chris Winston
If you drive down the roads of Lexington County and look around, on any day of the week and any month of the year, you will probably see kids playing baseball. Some play in their yard, some in a local schoolyard, and others on one of the dozens
From a young age children learn the importance of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork from baseball. They experience the thrill of victory and the disappointment of defeat. Baseball teaches them to handle pressure, make split-second decisions, and adapt to changing circumstances. These skills go beyond the playing field and are invaluable in all aspects of life.
It’s easy to get started — as there is no shortage of opportunities to play baseball in the Midlands. Almost every community (Lexington, Gilbert,
Midland, Cayce West Columbia, Pineview, and Gaston, just to name a few) has a Dixie Youth Baseball franchise and it’s easy to get started. In Irmo, there are other options such as S.O.A.R., a faith-based sports organization, as well as a Little League franchise. There are also dozens of independent teams that participate in the U.S. Specialty Sport Association (USSSA), otherwise known as “travel ball.”
Like many families, we started young with Dixie Youth, with T-ball for those 6 and under. It doesn’t resemble baseball really, but it’s very entertaining if you don’t take yourself too seriously. Then on to Coaches Pitch, my favorite, and where it starts to resemble the sport you know. Then comes the competitive worlds of Minors (9/10), Ozone (11/12), and Dixie Boys (13/14). Dixie Youth is a great way to get started in baseball at any age. It runs each year from February-May. If you’re worried about committing to 3-4 afternoons a week to baseball, look into “fall ball” options that are less time-consuming.
For those looking for more competition, these years are often spent at USSSA tournaments, where the time and financial commitment trend upward along with the competition and (typically) coaching prowess. In this world, baseball is life — 12 months a year — and your weekends are no longer yours. It’s a commitment for the entire family.
There are dozens of local teams with different age groups, but typically you end up seeing the same kids and the same families throughout the years. It can lead to some amazing relationships and friendships — for the players, their siblings, and their parents. I still closely follow the lives of young people who played with my sons; it delights me to see their successes in academics, athletics, and the working world.
I had the privilege of volunteering as a coach for our children and dozens of other young people. No matter what age or what level your child is playing, I suggest you look into volunteering on or off the field. Coaching has an impact beyond the technical aspects of the game. It is an opportunity to teach sportsmanship, respect, and the importance of hard work. Through coaching, we not only shape baseball abilities, but also character; volunteer coaches get those same rewards, and none of these organizations can exist without generous volunteers.
If your children stick with it through the formative years, one day you will suddenly find yourself with your middle-schooler at a high school for B-team tryouts.
Baseball is more than just a sport: It is a journey that eventually leads to the bittersweet experience of watching baseball careers come to an end. It’s the last lesson of overcoming defeat this great game teaches us.
