By now, our older guys are gearing up to start their high school season while our younger guys should be getting started with pratices.  Scrimmages and first tournaments are just around the corner.  Good luck to everyone.

Our college guys are kicking off their seasons too, and I wanted to share this photo that a dad sent me today from Sunday’s UT Alumni game.  Below are former Dallas Tigers Curtis Thigpen (currently with the Oakland As) catching while Jonathan Walsh is hitting.  Walsh is the third Tiger catcher that has played for UT in recent years (Thigpen-’01 Tigers, Preston Clark-’04 Tigers and Walsh-’09 Tigers).  For me, it is awesome to watch Tigers of all ages still playing together.

Other big news came from Tusla with Dennis Bigley (Tigers ‘01) was inducted into the Oral Roberts Hall of Fame this last weekend.  Dennis was drafted by the Blue Jays and played pro ball for several years.  His younger brother Evan is currently playing in the Twins organization.

That’s news from our older guys, and now to our youngest guys. I want to welcome our newest Dallas Tigers team – our eight year olds!  Think back to when each of you older guys were 8, playing coach pitch and just starting your baseball careers.  Remember, these guys not only look up to you, but you set the standard for them to follow in your footsteps.  Tigers, keep making us proud!

And what about the girls?  I am also proud to announce that for the second year, we are welcoming the Dallas Tigers Softball Club-yes, girls! My neice, Sara Hernandez, is heading up the Tigers Softball Club.  Sara is a graduate of UT-El Paso and is a four year letterman in softball and a two-year soccer letterman.  We are excited and proud to have the girls join us.

But it’s not all about baseball.  We are fortunate to be able to play select baseball and I expect every member of the Club to give back to our community.  Along those lines, we are participating in a new service project with the softball club. See the details below about the service project and please make an effort to participate.  Let’s turn out to help our servicemen and women!

Sincerely,
Tommy Hernandez, President
Dallas Tigers Baseball Club

We will be collecting gently used books and magazines to send them to American troops deployed overseas.  The collection begins 2/1/2010 and concludes 2/21/2010.  The magazine do not need to be current issues.

Many of our troops are serving far from home and living in facilities that provide few of the comforts of home. At the end of the duty day, the opportunity to escape into a good book or magazine is welcomed. Our service members make sacrifices every day for our country. It takes so little to let them know that we appreciate what they are doing for us. When you donate to Dallas Tigers Operation Paperback, you will let our troops know that you support them, and you have not forgotten them.

You can drop off boxes at 224 Cove, Coppell any time up until the deadline.  THEN, later in the month we’ll go out to the airport to meet the troops when they come in.  Watch your emails for the date and time.  If you haven’t done this before, it is an amazing experience for kids and adults to show our troops we appreciate them.

DFW Tournament Baseball is set to open baseball tournaments at the NEW Railroad Baseball Park in Lewisville, TX.  Magnificent facility and ready to be played.   Find a tournament for your team and register today.  Tournaments start in February 2010.  Numerous tournaments are World Series Qualifiers.

DFW Tournament Baseball is an organization specializing in providing competitive baseball tournaments and leagues in North Texas as well as venues for national tournaments for select and travel baseball teams. For more information and to receive emails regarding upcoming events, please register with us.

Tiger Battery Brett Byrum and Zach Metzger impressing scouts in Florida

Brett Byrum and Zach Metzer (Ingram 16U) attended the January 9-10 Perfect Game National Underclass Showcase in Ft. Myers, FL.

Jake Thompson (Ingram 16U) and Jackson Morris (Arias 17U)

Jake Thompson and Jackson Morris were invited to compete in the 4th Annual International Power Showcase held at Tropicana Field in Tampa, Florida.  The event consisted of workouts at the IMG Baseball Training Facility in Bradenton, FL,  a tour and batting practice at Steinbrenner Field (the New York Yankees Spring Training Facility), a banquet honoring the players and finally the competition. Check out the details at www.power-showcase.com.

This camp will feature the head coach from Arizona State University, Tim Esmay, and assistant coach Mike Benjamin.  It is exceedingly rare for head coaches to do remote camps.  ASU recruits heavily in the Dallas select baseball area and it is a chance for you to get on their recruiting radar!

Space is limited and spots are filling up. Register Here Today!

Featured Coaches:
Tim Esmay (ASU Head Coach)
Mike Benjamin (ASU Assistant Coach)

Where:
Centerfield Baseball Academy
1805 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75074
972-424-0723

When:
January 15, 2010 6:00pm – 9:00pm
January 16, 2010 9:00am – 12:00pm (ages 7-13)
January 16, 2010 1:00pm – 4:00pm (ages 14-18)
January 17, 2010 10:00am – 1:00pm (all ages)

Information:
3 day camp with 3 sessions for each age group
See Details Click Here

Costs:
$140 Register Here

The Dallas Tigers Baseball Club is forming an 8U Coach Pitch team for Spring/Summer 2010.  Tryout location and time will be posted in the coming weeks.

Parents must submit the following information prior to the tryout to michael.baker@dallastigersbaseball.com:

Player Name
Player Birthdate
Throws/Hits (R/L)
Positions played
Comments

Father & Mothers names
Home Address
Email
Phone(s)

Go Tigers!

Dallas Tigers Softball Club will be holding tryouts in January for players born in 1994 & 1995.  Coach Paula Davis will be evaluating players for the 2010 roster spots.  Check out the details:

When:
January 10th : 2:00 – 4:00pm
January 24th : 2:00 – 4:00pm

Where:
Collin County Community College baseball field
(if inclement weather, tryouts will be at Centerfield Baseball & Softball Academy)

Costs:
No costs for the tryouts

Centerfield Academy
1805 E. Springcreek Parkway
Plano, TX  75074
972-424-0723
www.centerfieldacademy.com

Featured Coach:
Skip Johnson (UT Pitching Coach)

When:
January 23, 2010
Session 1 9:00am – 12:00pm (ages 9-13)
Session 2 1:00pm – 4:00pm (ages 14-18)
1 Day Camp (2 sessions)

Cost:
$80 Register Here

Camp Details Click Here

Featured Coaches:
Rudy Jaramillo (Chicago Cubs)
Don Long (Pittsburg Pirates)
Ronnie Ortegon (Cincinnati Reds)
Tony Jaramillo (Cincinnati Reds)

When:
Saturday, Jan 9, 2010
1 Day Camp
Session 1 : 9:00am – 12:00pm
Session 2 : 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Cost: $250 Register Here
Ages: 12 & up
Camp Details Click Here