Play free baseball and softball with the West Medford Tigres.
This new team is recruiting students 10 and younger of Kids Unlimited Academy and Jackson, Washington and Oak Grove elementary schools. Grant funding makes this opportunity free, including uniforms and equipment, to all players.
“We’re targeting the underserved areas of West Medford,” said Program Director Rich Rosenthal. “We’ve got the funding; we’ve got the equipment.”
Try-outs are scheduled for March 17 at Fagone Field in Medford’s Jackson Park (intersection of Clark Street and McAndrews Road). Baseball try-outs are set for noon, with softball try-outs following at 1 p.m. Baseball is open to boys and girls while softball is available for girls only. All eligible players’ birthdays must fall between March 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2016.
In the event of unplayable field conditions at Fagone, try-outs will move to the synthetic turf field at KUA.
Working with KUA Vice Principal Emmanuel Balan, Rosenthal secured a grant last year on behalf of Medford Youth Baseball Society from Oregon Community Foundation’s Reed and Carolee Walker Fund and the Howard Memorial Sports Park Foundation. Practices will begin this spring at Fagone and Lithia fields, and games will take place over the summer against Southern Oregon’s other youth baseball and softball teams.
“The 10-year-old age range is the optimal time to start something.”
The Tigres was conceived as a competitive team for athletically inclined kids whose families can’t afford the fees of club baseball, typically totaling hundreds of dollars each season, not taking into account travel expenses. With preference given to minority groups, Medford Youth Baseball Society intends to create an inclusive, supportive program where kids can thrive and take pride in representing their community.
Balan was an administrator at Jackson Elementary when the idea for forming the Tigres took hold. Jackson students initially were targeted because Fagone Field is adjacent to the school. Balan’s new position at KUA supports recruiting players at the public charter school.
“I was the administrator willing to work with Rosenthal with the same intention for kids,” said Balan. “And we both love baseball! Win-win-win.”
Learn more and sign up on the West Medford Tigres website and check out this promotional video.
