Texas Rangers Academy Notebook for Feb. 25, 2022

3 Texas Rangers Youth Academy athletes indicator with Traditionally Black Colleges and Universities

Before this thirty day period, on Nationwide Signing Day, the Texas Rangers Youth Academy added to its substantial list of athletes playing ball at the collegiate amount. Amongst those people who signed a National Letter of Intent are Timothy Grant, Chris Marcellus and Tamya Waiters, who will all play at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Shortstop Timothy Grant will engage in at Wiley Higher education, catcher Chris Marcellus will enjoy at Grambling State University and pitcher Tamya Waiters will participate in softball at Florida A&M University. In addition to continuing their baseball and softball careers at the collegiate amount, Grant, Marcellus and Waiters will join 11 former Youth Academy athletes attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

HBCUs have a prosperous background in the U.S. with a mission to present pupils an prospect to develop their expertise and skills, regardless of race. When these universities were being set up in advance of 1965 to offer better instruction and opportunity to Black People, in modern several years, HBCUs have attained elevated notice in faculty athletics, achieving a document range of student-athlete commitments.

In an interview with MLB.com, Waiters shared her exhilaration to attend Florida A&M and play a part in the development of HBCU athletics.

When Grant, Marcellus and Waiters can only foresee what their expertise as a collegiate athlete will bring, former Academy athlete James Malone is presently a freshman at Texas Southern University, an HBCU positioned in Houston, Texas.

Malone signed to perform ball at Texas Southern in 2021 right after a effective recruitment procedure solidified his purpose on the Tigers’ roster. Nearing the end of his first 12 months at Texas Southern, Malone has identified what it means to attend an HBCU.

“In all honesty, HBCUs weren’t even on my radar coming out of higher university,” said Malone. “It was just about like a doorway opening out of nowhere, which I’m now glad I walked by.

“It’s an amazing encounter not only actively playing athletics for an HBCU but to go to the university as a whole. Anyone that’s at any time attended a single can inform you there is very little like it. The tradition, the energy and just the total encounter is definitely unmatched.”

Occur tumble, more than 50 former Youth Academy athletes will be participating in baseball and softball at schools across the U.S., with 14 attending Traditionally Black Schools and Universities. Timothy Grant, Chris Marcellus and Tamya Waiters will sign up for James Malone and other folks in growing baseball and softball at Historically Black Faculties and Universities.

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy will host a signing working day occasion this summer season for all Class of 2022 athletes who will enjoy collegiate baseball and softball, including Grant, Marcellus and Waiters.

Breaking Boundaries Essay Contest

The Texas Rangers Youth Academy has inspired its scholar-athletes to use their creativity when celebrating Black Background Thirty day period by taking part in Sharon Robinson’s Breaking Barriers Essay Contest. All through the month of February, athletes ages 7-18 have submitted essays, poems and illustrations connecting their lives to the famous Jackie Robinson.

Members were being challenged to recall a time they overcame a barrier by utilizing 1 or additional of Jackie’s 9 values: citizenship, dedication, courage, dedication, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence and teamwork.

Academy athletes will be equipped to submit their assignments by way of 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28. This year’s winner in every age team will acquire a Jackie Robinson Day hat, a copy of Sharon Robinson’s ebook “A Hero Two Doorways Down,” and far more.

Important League Baseball and the Texas Rangers Youth Academy will rejoice the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson Working day, honoring his legacy April 15.

March large school baseball & softball plan

Below is the routine of the Pinkston, Sunset and Thomas Jefferson Significant Faculty baseball and softball games to be played at the Academy in March. Scheduling is matter to alter.

Dallas Impartial Faculty District significant school baseball and softball video games to be played at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy in February.