In this edition of Around the Horn, you will find reminders and/or details for the following:
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- Dick’s Sporting Goods Shopping Day (this weekend – see attached coupon)
- Final Pitching & Catching Clinics
- Getting Ready for Opening Day
- Who are the DH Coaches?
- Sponsorship Opportunities
- Registration Update
- Free Agent Assignments Are Coming
- Coaches Meetings
- Team To-Do Lists
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Important Links:
Team Rosters
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Remaining Shopping Days:
February 24th – 27th
March 3rd – 6th
Get 20% off your entire purchase with the Coupon attached below (some exclusions apply).
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Pitching & Catching Clinics
For 6 weeks now it has been a pleasure to watch boys who have never pitched, learn from Coach Tanner. Final dates for pitching instruction from a former Division 1 & professional pitcher-Coach Tanner; and specialized catcher training from Coach Lawson (open spots in parentheses):
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2/25
9:00-10:30 am – Pitchers (8)
10:30-12:00 pm – Catchers (6)
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2/26
2:00-3:30 pm – Pitchers (3)
3:30-5:00 pm – Catchers (9)
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Spring Break Clinic
Hardball is bringing back a player favorite, Good Development Clinics with Coach Greg Good. These clinics will take place over Spring Break as a final tune up for the season opener. Groups will be split by age division, and like last time, spots will go to the first 10 players from each division to sign up.
Also look out for details on a hitting clinic to popup in the next week or two.
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Introducing the DH Coaches
Hardball is expanding and building our roster of coaches as we prepare for the indoor facility. Be on the lookout for more details on the facility, mini camps, pitching development programs, catcher’s clinics, pop-up hitting clinics, and more as the we get closer to the official grand opening. Click here:
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Tanner McElroy – Pitcher
Tanner McElroy is a former professional pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization and former number 1 starting pitcher for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. Named the 2005 Player of the Year. Coach Tanner has been coaching the boys in pitching clinics for weeks now. Known for his trademark high leg kick that helped him hit mid to high 90s.
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Collin Ethridge – OF
Coach Collin is a current University of Texas at Dallas outfielder known for his speed, quickness, and solid hitting. Collin has been coaching Dallas Hardball players ages 5-12 for several seasons now in hitting, fielding and catching. As a current player, his schedule is limited so if you can find an opening, grab it before its gone.
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Evan Sack – 3B
Evan Sack is a former Emory HS Texas State Champ, All-Houston Area hitting champ, and starting 3B at the hard-hitting McClennan Community College. Known for power hitting and a cannon for an arm. Coach Evan coaches players of all ages and specializes in hitting and fielding.
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Hayden Clark – LH Pitcher
As a standout lefty pitcher in high school, Hayden Clark won 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-District, District MVP and Team MVP honors. Coach Hayden went on to pitch for Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas for 5 years where he won several All-American Southwest Conference and HSU team honors and records including Top-10 career innings pitched. Coach Hayden is available daily for pitching, hitting, and fielding lessons at the Village field.
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Lawson Hill – Catcher
Lawson Hill attended Wofford College where he was the starting catcher for all 5 years and captained the team from 2018-2022, won 2022 Southern Conference Player of the Year honors, and holds the career hits record (300). Coach Lawson has been coaching youth baseball and giving private lessons for 2 years and is available daily at the Village field for hitting, fielding, and catching.
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Sponsorship Opportunities
Check This season there will be opportunities to have your company logos displayed on the scoreboard, and dugout banners. Email jeremy@dallashardball.com for more details.
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Check out the FAQs page for more info.
Participation is not required, but highly encouraged. Don’t let your players miss out on this fun and exciting experience.
Registration Update
The Hardball Spring Season team lineup is full. A special welcome to all the new parents and players. Coaches/Parents, please get your remaining players registered. Please check rosters online to see if any are missing.
You can also follow the links below:
Rookie Ball
Single A – Coach Pitch (6U MTB)
Double A – Coach Pitch (7U)
Triple A – Coach Pitch (8U)
Majors – Player Pitch (9U)
If your player is registered as a Free Agent, they will be placed on teams with open spots prior to Monday, February 13, 2023 to allow enough time for uniforms, etc.
Coaches Meeting
Each team is required to have at least one coach/team manager/parent rep at the coaches meeting. All meetings will be on February 23, 2023 at Over/Under Sports Bar in the Village. If the weather is nice, we will be on the rooftop bar:
6:00 pm – Rookie Ball & 6U
7:00 pm – 7U
8:00 pm – 8U & 9U
Coaches, please bring your roster with jersey numbers and have team logos at the meeting. By Thursday morning all teams will have a coach group text set up for them. These are for league official to individual team communications, not for teams to use to communicate with their parents. Please make sure to add any missing coaches that are needed for team-league discussions.
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PRIOR EMAIL NEWS
Important Dates & Details
Teams Can Begin Practices February 20th
For Dallas Teams. The City of Dallas Parks & Rec will be reviewing applications for league status on February 16, 2023. Once approved, Hardball will circulate a field reservation sheet to all teams 7U and above to gather preferred days/times for Glencoe and Norbuck fields. In the meantime, teams can book practice fields individually 2 weeks in advance for a maximum of 2 weeks (Dallas PR Rules, not Hardball’s) using the online portal or in person at the PR office near Flagpole Hill Baseball Fields | Dallas Parks, TX – Official Website
For Park Cities Teams. UP Parks & Rec uses the following online portal for field reservations. Parks & Recreation | City of University Park, Texas (uptexas.org) If perferred, Hardball can reserve practice fields for teams. Reservations are booked on a first come first served basis and Residents have priority over leagues other than the YMCA. If your UP/HP 7U-9U team needs a practice field, please email the preferred field (Coffee, Curtis, Burleson, Caruth, etc.), day of the week, and time (please send 1st and 2nd options). Send email to jeremy@dallashardball.com (please put “Practice Field Request [Division, Team Name]”) in the subject line.
Official team practices (reserved by or reimbursed by Hardball) begin the week following Spring Break. If teams book fields on their own, please forward receipts and submit for reimbursement to Dallas Hardball via email at the end of the Spring season.
Opening Day Ceremony – March 25th
The opening day event is mandatory for all teams this season. Check out the FAQs for more info:
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Games Start Friday March 31st
Game times per age division will vary Saturday and Sunday, and will include a few Friday night games (by special request). As of now, registration is still open and a few teams are still registering. Schedules will be made right after the Opening Day event leveling is completed and should be circulated to coaches by Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Blackout Dates/Times Due March 20th
Each head coach can request up to 2 blackout dates for the Spring Season as well as 1 blanket blackout time for the entire season. These special requests must be received no later than 3/20/23 to be considered. No late requests can be accommodated, so please get them in sooner rather than later.
Regular Season Ends June 4th
Playoffs – June 9th – 11th
The format of the playoffs will depend on a number of variables such as final number of teams, and divisions, but they will take place June 9th through the 11th.
All-Stars Week and Games
All-Stars will be based on participation. The cost per player will be approximately $150 and will include an All-Stars jersey. Registration and Tryouts will take place the week between June 4th and June 11th and all games will be played June 16th -18th.
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Pitchers / Catchers Clinics
Clinics have been a big success. So far, every pitching clinic has sold out. Catching clinics are always slow to catch on even though it is by far the most underdeveloped position in all of baseball for the 7U to 10U age divisions. If your team catcher development, this is a great way to get some pre-season skills training.
Each clinic is 90 minutes for each individual time slot, and $60 each, per player. Players do not have to play in Dallas Hardball to attend clinics. Max 10 players per time slot. Subject to the weather, the clinics will be held at the multisport field next to the Village baseball field. See the above schedule (number of open spots per clinic). Please reply via email with all dates/times preferences according to the schedule. Venmo @jeremycade to reserve your slot. First come first served. Reply here with questions.
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Instagram: Please tag @dallas_hardball
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