Our First Baseball Experience in Minnesota

Our boys took interest in baseball, high interest. It wasn’t the only sport but, they both love playing baseball. We didn’t have a great amount of exposure in MN, at least in Central MN where we were. Waite Park Babe Ruth was pretty much the league you played for if you wanted AA or AAA ball from age 9U and up. They also had a recreational or “in-house” league as well. But, you want competitive and didn’t want to travel to the Twin Cities, that’s where you were…. At the time. Even in the cities, usually it was the schools that would collaborate to form a club team. My boys did play for Waite Park Baseball. My oldest played AAA ball and my youngest played in-house.

Finding Our Place with Rawlings Tigers and Northside Dirt Devils

First tryout he did not make it. Which was before his second summer in rec ball. He tried out again for the Force and again, did not make the team. And it was at that time, the coach that I coached both rec seasons with, who is awesome by the way, shout out to Adam, mentioned he knew of another rec coach that was starting a 13U club team with Rawlings (Rawlings Tigers) and he was looking for a few more players. Our son was 12 at the time and was a little reluctant to play up but, he tried out anyway and made the team.

Our oldest found his club team through his teammates at Fossil, tried out and made the team. He played through his senior season and had great opportunities to get in touch with college scouts his last 2 years of playing through the Northside Dirt Devils out of Loveland. Which is what we wanted for our boys if that is what they chose to do and we wouldn’t have found these opportunities without chatting with the right people. 

Top Resources to Help You Find a Team

And here are a couple of resources that may help you find what you’re looking for:

1. Locally, DBAT in Windsor is a GREAT resource in Northern Colorado that has made great efforts to connect with club teams in the area, they relay tryout information and DBAT will post it on their social media, website, etc. They are easy to find on the web or on social media. Just search DBAT Norco. 
2. Also locally, if you have middle or high schoolers, have your kids talk to their friends at school. We have kids all over NOCO on our team and if they’re showing interest in baseball, pretty sure they will find a friend who also loves baseball and is playing for a team. If they can get the team name you should be able to find a contact online or on social. 
3. SOCIAL MEDIA:
   1. Most teams have a social media presence. But, one place to check out on Facebook is (the title of this blog) “Baseball Life In Colorado”  There is a lot of conversation on that page but, you’ll get some insight on organizations to look into and not look into. Many baseball teams will post tryout information on that site mid summer. As well as any camps or showcase info. So keep an eye out on that.
   2. On Facebook(and In Messenger) look for “Colorado Baseball Network”. You’ll be in the group but, where the meat is, is in Messenger. They have about 6 conversations going at any given time with “Players looking for teams”, “Teams looking for players”, “Tryouts”, “baseball equipment for sale”, “adult leagues” you name it. 

I am not the head coach of my son’s club team the Rawlings Tigers but, I am on the coaching staff. Our best resources for looking for players have been DBAT and Colorado Baseball Network. Outside of word of mouth, those have been great for us. If I may offer a perspective from the organization side.  Once you begin to make connections, many opportunities will open up. And if it’s collegiate ball your player is looking for, there are quite a few that will assist. Rawlings being one of them.

We’re Here to Help

Colorado has a competitive and tightly knit baseball community. But, it is a wonderful community. Full of amazing players and families. There is an abundant of organizations that are working tirelessly and most of the time voluntarily to give the best opportunity for players that want to go far with Americas Favorite Past Time, the sport of Baseball. But, be aware, there are a few teams/coaches that are a struggle as well. So when you find a team, do your research, ask around, become as informed as you can be. We as coaches take pride in being influential and a part of the molding of young people in our community. But, that’s a key term, influential! Make sure it’s good influence! We have been fortunate to be a part of 2 great NOCO club organizations, Northside Dirt Devils and Rawlings Tigers.

I am always here to help, to answer any question I can, to help point you in the right direction. Please feel free to reach out at any time.

Written by Matt Ryan with the Weinland Team at RE/MAX Alliance

Phone: (970) 988-3127

Email: Matt@TheWeinlandTeam.com