Rec Sports

Inside Perfect Game’s astronomical rise into a youth baseball powerhouse

Published

5 months ago

August 17, 2025

Perfect Game’s chairman, CEO, and VP of marketing talk to Fox Business about the company’s astronomical growth in recent years.

EXCLUSIVE: Perfect Game has become the world’s largest and most comprehensive scouting organization, and over the last five years the youth baseball company has grown exponentially.

Perfect Game began in 1995 and by 2024 had over 1.5 million participants. Since its inception, over 310,000 players have committed to play college baseball, with more than 15,000 players getting drafted into MLB and around 2,152 of those having made their MLB debut.

However, in recent years, the company has grown exponentially under the leadership of Perfect Game’s chairman Rick Thurman and CEO Rob Ponger.

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A Perfect Game baseball rests on a field under the sun. (Courtesy of Perfect Game / Fox News)

Thurman, Ponger and Jeff McDowell, vice president of marketing/advertising, spoke to FOX Business about the company’s recent growth.

Thurman and Ponger joined Perfect Game in 2018, and while it wasn’t yet the powerhouse it is today, Thurman called the company a “unicorn in its space.”

Thurman said the company was just “scratching the surface of its potential” when they took over.

One of their goals when they took over was to build a brand around what they had.

“On our very first day after we took over the business, we had a meeting with 20 of the top lieutenants at Perfect Game, and everybody was wearing these T-shirts that said PG on one side and Nike swoosh on the other,” Thurman told FOX Business.

“And Rob (Ponger) looked at everybody and goes, ‘OK, everybody, this is gonna be the last time, even though Nike’s paying this company like 50 grand to co-brand this stuff. This will be the last time you’re gonna see co-branding on anything with us. This brand is gonna stand on its own and we’re gonna build a brand around what we have here.’”

Ponger said when they came, they saw a “great scouting organization” that ran great events for 14- to 18-year-old kids. He said Major League Baseball and college baseball teams knew what Perfect Game was, but not everybody knew.

TREVOR HOFFMAN, RYAN KLESKO TO MANAGE TOP HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TALENT AT PERFECT GAME ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC

A player fields the ball during the Perfect Game National Showcase at East Cob Baseball Complex in Marietta, Georgia, on June 14, 2025. (Matthew Grimes/Perfect Game / Fox News)

“The dad outside having a catch with his 10-year-old had no clue what Perfect Game was, right? PG? Never heard of it. Well, your kid’s not of age yet, so you never heard of it. And that was a big issue for us ultimately, was here is this elite brand, powerful brand and so few people knew about it,” Ponger told FOX Business.

Ponger wanted to go down in the market to the 9- to 13-year-old age group. To try and accomplish that, he wanted to build a media business, with no better time to do so than during COVID.

The company created PerfectGame.tv, their own streaming service that streams every game. PG.TV has 53 million views so far this season.

The company’s social media has boomed, as they have accrued 650 million social media impressions this year, 150 million more at the same time last year. Perfect Game’s Instagram following is more than some MLB teams.

McDowell said Perfect Game is going to reach a billion pageviews this year.

They have more followers than the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics.

YOUTH BASEBALL GETS MLB TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE AS PERFECT GAME PARTNERS WITH PITCHCOM

A player on the field at the Perfect Game National Showcase in Marietta, Georgia, on June 13, 2025. (Matthew Grimes/Perfect Game / Fox News)

All of this was to help reach the younger demographic that doesn’t watch TV like the older generations.

“I got 8- and 11-year-old boys – they’re not watching TV,” Ponger said. “They’re watching YouTube, they’re watching Perfect game.org and, and like they’re all going to these other means to, to watch baseball and to watch the kids that they think are cool, right? So again, great, we just took it in different direct media, merchandise marketing, brand awareness.”

“We’ve exploded it. And, and you know, aspirationally, we looked in the mirror and said, ‘Well, why can’t we be the Jordan brand of baseball or maybe of all sports?'”

All Perfect Game players have an online profile that can track their statistics throughout their career, from 11 to 18 years old.

“Put onto the player profiles for all their highlights and at-bats, and really then giving that kid an athlete, a progression throughout their, their career, which is something very unique. And, and those player profiles are massively popular. You know, the PG grades are, are, are the Bible effectively,” McDowell told FOX Business,

“Those profiles drive, you know, 50 million page views alone. So it, it’s really applying that rigor and that elite expertise that, that we had into broader markets to give those kids that are developing, let’s face it, 9, 10 to 13, you know, you’re, you’re developing. So giving them that platform across the board as they develop into that elite athlete.”

BREWERS STAGE EPIC COMEBACK VS. REDS TO TIE FRANCHISE RECORD WITH 13TH STRAIGHT WIN

The commentators in action on the set of Perfect Game TV. (Courtesy of Perfect Game / Fox News)

For Ponger, though, the ability for kids to have their baseball highlights serves a purpose other than for college recruiting, but to help create lifelong memories that last.

“At the end of the day, they’re there to have fun. They’re there to have video of themselves. I mean, who of all of us wouldn’t die to have video of us playing baseball at night at 13 years old?” Ponger said.

“We would be showing that off at family parties. I mean, I wish we had this type of stuff. So we’re actually creating memories for these kids that aren’t ever gonna play professionally. Hopefully some of them play in college, but we’re still creating great memories for the rest of their life, right?”

“You remember your first time going to Disney. We want you to remember the first time you’re playing baseball too, right? And even if you’re not gonna go play for the Yankees or Red Sox or whatever, it’s still amazing memories and we can capture it now like you’re a part of history.”

Ponger hopes the highlights can allow kids to create their own content.

ORIOLES ROOKIE PITCHER LOSES PERFECT GAME BID IN BRUTAL FASHION WITH JUST FOUR OUTS REMAINING

“I mean my 8- and 11-year-old kids think they’re their own brand, right? Like they’re starting YouTube channels, right? So I think you’re gonna see more of that and the ability for a kid to go to a 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-year-old event,” Ponger said.

“It’s content. If we have the game. This kid can go tell the story. He could do like a day in my life. I went to play baseball today. I warmed up this way. After that, I watched my highlights on YouTube.

“This is a virtual album that follows your life right now. In theory, a kid can play in our tournaments from 9 to 18, and we could show you the entire progression.”

Ponger said one of the challenges for Perfect Game has been trying to shift the “older, traditional money to this dynamic youth platform.”

McDowell said some of the non-endemic brands are starting to “realize the power of youth sports.”

“The parents control the household income, um, and the kids influence the household income,” McDowell said.

FORMER MLB STAR JOSH HAMILTON SAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT TOLD HIM HE WAS GOING TO HIT CLUTCH WORLD SERIES HOME RUN

Former Padres pitcher and Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, a Perfect Game investor, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game against the Atlanta Braves on opening day at Petco Park on March 27, 2025, in San Diego, California. (Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images / Getty Images)

“We’ve got this unique platform that touches across all categories. If you think about it, what happens when a family attends a Travel Ball Perfect game event, they’ve gotta get Tide for their uniforms. They’ve gotta feed their dog before they leave. They’ve gotta get, you know, they, they’ve gotta have Spotify when they get in the car.

“They’ve gotta rent a car if they’re not driving their own. So there’s all these consumer touchpoints throughout the life cycle of, of the experience that brands are starting to realize the power and potential.”

In addition to expanding the company’s media business, Perfect Game has expanded both domestically and internationally since Thurman and Ponger took over.

“When Rob and I came in, Perfect Game was in six states and no other countries. We had 10,000 teams and maybe 150,000 kids,” Thurman said.

“Now we’re in 41 or 42 states. We’re in 12 countries, and we’re kind of inching up toward having a couple million kids running through the process.”

Thurman talked about getting into the Japanese market.

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Ponger said the baseball highlights serve as more than a college recruiting tool – they help create lifelong memories. (Matthew Grimes/Perfect Game / Fox News)

“Japan is not an easy market to get into. They’re a little hesitant to do a lot with any people from the outside until they get to know you. But once you do a nice tournament, or you do business over there, and you prove yourself to the Japanese culture that you guys can actually, that you can actually perform, then it’s kind of carte blanche,” Thurman said.

A couple of weeks ago, Perfect Game hosted the Pacific Rim Tournament in Japan that was televised on TBS. It was the second tournament they’ve played in Japan.

McDowell said Perfect Game’s international tournaments are an opportunity for families to travel.

“It’s a family experience. It’s a trip. It’s, it’s an opportunity to go play in Spain and play, you know, other countries. It becomes, you know, it becomes the Disney experience for baseball,” McDowell said.

Ponger said that in countries that have a lot of poverty, like the Dominican Republic, Perfect Game offers exposure that helps kids advance their baseball career, when they otherwise may have struggled to do so.

“Getting these kids in the DR where, you know, there’s a lot of poverty and, and kids that aren’t getting the same chance, you know, they might not make it to the pros with these 13-, 14-, 15-year-old kids might have a chance to maybe get a scholarship to a school in the States to play baseball, to get these PG profiles,” Ponger said.

DIAMONDBACKS RELIEVER SEALS VICTORY OVER ROCKIES AFTER SWALLOWING FLY MID PITCH: ‘I GAGGED A LITTLE’

A player hits a home run in a Perfect Game event. (Courtesy of Perfect Game / Fox News)

“Maybe that even means something at a younger age where kids might come here to play high school ball. Go to JUCO College earlier.”

Ponger credits the company’s culture for its growth.

“I think what’s really important for us is the culture of the company. And what Rick and I have brought here to me is Perfect Game. You know, people work hard, um, they care about what they’re doing. They play hard. We have a rule that I won’t repeat ’cause it’s being recorded, but it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s the no idiot rule, right?” Ponger said.

“Like, you know, you want to be with people here that you can go out to dinner with, that you can grab a drink with. And I’ll even say the employees that we have, you know, are just amazing, and they fit in, and they leave it all on the field, and they come home, and they’ll, you know, they’re ready to do it again tomorrow.”

Ponger also credited the company’s investors for helping establish that culture.

“Our investment group, Trevor Hoffman, who’s the captain of the All-American team, Ryan Klasko, Mo Vaughn, you know, the guys that have come to our events, Alfonso Soriano, Tom ‘Flash’ Gordon is at every event. This group is there for the kids,” Ponger said.

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“They leave the egos, you know, at home. They don’t try to like, you know, one-up people, they care. They want to teach.”

Perfect Game has grown a lot, but Ponger said the goal is to become a legacy brand.

“I think we’re trying to build a legacy brand, right? And, and it’s like, my view is why can’t PG be up there with the Jordan brand one day? Elite, high-quality badge of honor,” Ponger said.

“When you wear PG, you know, you’ve played in the best, and hopefully you’ll continue to wear the best down the road. So, you know, memories for life, a brand for life, and hopefully, you know, when the 9-year-old comes in, it’s just, it’s just a start on their journey. That, you know, you know, maybe 30 years from now, they’ll have kids that will play in a perfect game tournament.”

Perfect Game’s All-American Classic will take place on Sunday, which is the company’s premier tournament.

Perfect Game’s All-American Classic features the top 60 high school baseball players across North America. (Courtesy of Perfect Game / Fox News)

Perfect Game’s All-American Classic features the top 60 high school baseball players across North America and provides them with a platform to showcase their talents on a national stage. This year, the nation’s top high school players will compete at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.

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First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. Thurman called the game an aspirational event.

“Every kid that plays in a Perfect Game event wants to get to that because we’re acknowledging that you are one of the best,” Thurman said.

“We pay for the event. Kids all come in from around the country, they, it gets televised. It’s in a Major League Baseball stadium, which is the cool factor for any kid to play, you know, at a Major League stadium.”

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Rec Sports

Proposed Wisconsin Complex Would Bring 155,000 Square Feet of Indoor Turf to Big Bend

Published

28 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Key Takeaways

Breck Athletic Complex would include 155,000 square feet of indoor turf for year-round baseball, soccer, and lacrosse training in southeastern Wisconsin
The 42-acre project features 20+ outdoor fields across baseball, softball, soccer, futsal, and lacrosse
National tournament operators have committed to 25-30 year lease agreements, according to the developer
SC Wave, a Milwaukee Wave-affiliated soccer club, is named as a key tenant seeking a permanent home
A public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 29 before the Big Bend Village Board and Plan Commission

Multi-Sport Destination Planned for Agricultural Land

A proposal to convert 42 acres of farmland in Big Bend, Wisconsin into a regional youth sports destination is advancing through the local approval process. Eric Weishaar, owner and developer of Breck Athletic Complex, presented plans to the Big Bend Plan Commission in November.

The project would require amending the village’s comprehensive plan to change the land designation from Medium Density Residential to Commercial. A joint public hearing between the Village Board and Plan Commission is set for Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. at Village Hall.

“This is going to be the first, really of its kind in the area. It’s going to be the biggest in the area, probably almost in the state,” Weishaar said during the November meeting.

Facility Breakdown and Phased Construction

The development would include six turf baseball fields, a championship baseball field with plaza seating, seven full-size soccer fields, three futsal fields, and four lacrosse fields. The 155,000-square-foot indoor facility would support year-round training across multiple sports.

Supporting amenities include concessions, restrooms, playgrounds, fitness trails, and plazas. The site plan also incorporates commercial outlots along Highway 164 for a craft bar/restaurant, banquet hall, hotel, gas station, and future retail.

Construction is planned across eight phases. Soccer fields would come first, with a potential opening as early as spring 2026 if ground breaks this coming spring. Baseball and softball fields are targeted for spring 2027 to give tournament operators lead time for scheduling.

Long-Term Tenants Already Committed

Weishaar told commissioners that national tournament operators have committed to lease agreements spanning 25 to 30 years. SC Wave, affiliated with the Milwaukee Wave professional soccer organization, is also identified as a key partner.

“They rent places, spaces from all over the place, and they really want to consolidate. They’re actually pretty anxious to announce in their club, hey everybody, we’re going to have a permanent home,” Weishaar said.

The complex is expected to draw teams from outside Wisconsin for weekend-long tournaments, creating demand for nearby lodging and dining.

Community Compatibility a Focus

Developers emphasized that the facility would use modern LED field lighting designed to minimize light spill into nearby residential areas. Tournaments are expected to conclude by 10 or 11 p.m.

“This is not something that is going on all night,” Weishaar said.

The project still requires zoning and site plan approvals. Developers have asked local officials whether the review process can be expedited to meet tenant timelines.

If approved, Breck Athletic Complex would join a growing list of large-scale youth sports facilities positioning themselves as regional tournament destinations. The combination of indoor and outdoor capacity, long-term operator commitments, and adjacent commercial development reflects a model increasingly favored by developers seeking year-round revenue streams.

via: GM Today

photo: Courtesy of Village of Big Bend

YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.

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Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.

What Does Play Up Partners Do?

We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.

Our Approach

Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:

Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
Elevate the youth sports ecosystem

Our Vision

We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.

Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing

Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?

We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.

Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.

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Rec Sports

PV girls’ basketball hosts first annual toy drive event on campus

Published

36 minutes ago

January 1, 2026

Your Sports Nation

PAJ2553 PV hosts toy drive - web-10 — Dozens of elementary school students pose with their new toys they selected during the First Annual Toy Drive event organized by Pajaro Valley High’s ASB student body and girls’ basketball team inside the gymnasium on campus in Watsonville on Tuesday, Dec. 23. (Raul Ebio/The Pajaronian)

A little more than 100 Pajaro Valley Unified School District students received an early Christmas present at Pajaro Valley High’s first annual toy drive event on Dec. 23.

Children from H.A. Hyde, Ohlone and Hall District elementary schools got a chance to pick from an assortment of toys inside the gymnasium prior to the varsity girls’ basketball game against North Monterey County.

The youngsters also got a special visit from Santa Claus and Little Santa Claus, who spoke to the group prior to making their way to the newly packaged basketballs, board games, backpacks and stuffed animals.

“My mission is to not just coach basketball, but help young people and help families through a difficult time during Christmas,” Pajaro Valley girls’ basketball head coach Darren Jackson said. “For most families, it’s difficult for them to go out and purchase gifts. It was an awesome turnout.”

It’s been nearly a decade since Jackson began the toy drive tradition with his wife Melissa, a teacher at Sherwood Elementary in Salinas.

“[Melissa] was telling me there’s a lot of kids that’s struggling, and there’s a lot of homeless kids out there,” Jackson said. “So, she inspired me through her job.”

Jackson spent 24 years at North Salinas High before taking the helm at Pajaro Valley in September. The Grizzlies’ first-year head coach said he was hoping to keep the tradition alive in Watsonville.

Jackson and the girls’ basketball team were dished an assist from PV High Activities Director Julie Brusa.

Brusa and ASB student body members stepped in by helping collect dozens of donations, including 25 bicycles given out through a raffle.

“[Brusa and the ASB student body] played a role,” Jackson said. “It was a girls’ basketball function but we turned it into a school function.”

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Rec Sports

UNA announces National Girls and Women in Sports Day Clinic for January 31

Published

2 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FLORENCE, Ala. (December 30, 2025) – For a second straight year, the University of North Alabama Department of Athletics will host a free youth clinic to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday, January 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at the UNA Rec Center.

The free clinic is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and is open to ages 4-12.

“Hosting our second annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day clinic reflects our commitment to empowering girls through athletics,” said Debbie Williams, UNA Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator. “After welcoming over 100 young girls last year, we are excited to continue growing this event by giving our female student-athletes the opportunity to inspire confidence, demonstrate leadership and highlight the positive impact of sports both on and off the field.”

All of UNA’s women’s sports programs, including student-athletes and coaches, will be involved in the camp. This includes women’s basketball, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, cheer and dance, cross country, women’s golf, soccer, softball and women’s tennis.

Following this event, the UNA women’s basketball team will host FGCU at 6 p.m. inside CB&S Bank Arena. The NGWSD celebration will continue during the game. This game will also serve as Youth Sports Night.

NGWSD is an initiative created by the Women’s Sports Foundation. The annual observance is the first Wednesday of February during National Signing Day.

To register, click here.

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Rec Sports

Former Obama estate was priciest home sold in Mass. in 2025

Published

2 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Luxury Homes

These are the three most expensive homes sold in Massachusetts in 2025, according to MLS and Zillow data.

Blue Heron Farm on Martha’s Vineyard. Evan Joseph Studios

The saying goes “money talks, wealth whispers,” but the eye-popping homes — complete with eye-popping price tags — behind the biggest residential real estate transactions across Massachusetts in 2025 are talkers.

At a time when the $925,000 median sales price for a single-family home in Greater Boston already seems out of reach for many, this top trio is in a mortgage payment (or cash offer) league of their own.

As for the locations, the neighborhood backdrop to these transactions isn’t shocking: Martha’s Vineyard, Boston’s Back Bay, and Nantucket rule the roost. Here are the three priciest home sales in the Bay State in 2025, according to MLS and Zillow data.

Blue Heron Farm features a tennis court, pool, and a private beach. – Evan Joseph Studios

Price: $37,000,000

Sold: July 10, 2025

The crown jewel home of 2025 came with a presidential seal of approval alongside its $37 million price tag. Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, better known as the former Summer White House for the Obama family, officially claimed the year’s top spot. Spanning nearly 30 acres on Tisbury Great Pond, this compound is a self-contained ecosystem of luxury, featuring a 150-year-old barn relocated from Pennsylvania.

A spacious pool house was added by owner Norman Foster. – Evan Joseph Studios

Beyond eight bedrooms and a private beach, the ultimate flex is the Norman Foster-designed pool house — why shouldn’t your swim break come with ties to a Pritzker Prize-winning architect? Listed by Maggie Gold Seelig of MGS Group Real Estate, this sale confirms that privacy isn’t priceless — it can be acquired on the Vineyard for tens of millions of dollars.

59 Commonwealth Ave. sold for $21 million. – Nate Atwater, Atwater Media Productions

Price: $21,000,000

Sold: Nov. 24, 2025

If you’ve ever walked down the French boulevard-inspired stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay and wondered who owns those entire townhouses, the most up-to-date answer is the new owner of Number 59. Fetching a cool $21 million in November, this “sunny side” (aka the southern-facing stretch) stunner on the “Gold Coast” between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets defies the Back Bay trend of chopping grand estates into condos — remaining a glorious, 11,300-square-foot single-family monolith.

The interior of 59 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston. – Nate Atwater, Atwater Media Productions

With 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms (8 full and two half baths), elevator access to all floors, and an attached garage (a Back Bay rarity), it is the architectural equivalent of a unicorn. Also listed by Maggie Gold Seelig, who had a firm hand on eight-figure deals this year, this 1910 masterpiece includes a separate staff or guest apartment.

Price: $21,000,000

Sold: Jan. 7, 2025

Tying with our Back Bay entry for the silver medal at $21 million, this Nantucket compound proves that “The Cliff” is just as much its own tax bracket as it is a neighborhood. This restored 6-bedroom, 10-bathroom grand dame dating to 1908 was listed by Gary Winn of Maury People Sotheby’s and includes a separate guest house. The real showstopper, however, is the more-than-900-square-foot rooftop deck — allegedly the largest of any residential property on the island — offering 360-degree views that practically demand a champagne toast at sunset. Inside, the home features a secret study hidden behind a foyer panel, which is frankly the only rational place to hide when you have a full house of summer guests.

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Rec Sports

Plattsburgh YMCA highlights free youth sports program

Published

2 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) – The Plattsburgh YMCA on Monday said they were proud that City of Plattsburgh officials approved $50,000 in funding to continue its free youth sports program for another year.

“Every time a child steps onto the court or the field, they learn the value of teamwork while building confidence, resilience, and determination,” said Kris Tate, COO for the Plattsburgh YMCA. “When communities invest in youth sports, we see healthier, stronger young people.”

According to the YMCA, more than 700 kids participated in its sports programs in 2025, and more than half of those, over 400, were City of Plattsburgh residents.

Busy Plattsburgh intersection poised for overhaul

Under the terms of the funding, which was approved earlier this month, sports are free for City of Plattsburgh kids ages 12 and under.

The association offers sports including basketball and tee ball – the next program is indoor soccer, which will be held in the spring, with registration open to the community on January 9.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.

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Rec Sports

Game Notes: How Carson City can strengthen youth baseball without making noise

Published

3 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Most of what shapes a kid doesn’t happen during the game.

It happens before the first pitch — when they’re putting on a jersey that fits, tightening their cleats, and slipping a glove onto their hand that feels like it belongs there. Those details seem small to adults. To a child, they’re everything.

In Carson City, as in every town, there are kids who want to play and families who do everything they can to make that happen. Registration gets paid. Schedules get rearranged. Rides get worked out. What doesn’t always fall into place is equipment — especially something as personal and essential as a glove.

That gap usually stays invisible. Quiet. Unspoken.

And that’s exactly why it matters.

A Simple Idea, Done the Right Way

The idea is not complicated: an annual glove drive for Carson City Little League.

Not a spectacle. Not a fundraiser built on attention. Just a dependable, once-a-year effort to make sure that kids who need a glove have one — without ever being asked to explain why.

No announcements. No labels. No moments a child carries with them longer than they should.

Handled discreetly by the league, supported by the community, and grounded in respect.

Why This Matters More Than It Sounds

A glove is more than leather and laces.

It’s confidence. It’s safety. It’s the difference between playing free and playing guarded. Between reaching for the ball and hoping it doesn’t come your way.

Kids feel those differences immediately. They also remember who noticed — and who didn’t.

Youth sports are supposed to be where kids learn how to belong. That lesson starts before a coach ever speaks.

This Isn’t Charity. It’s Stewardship.

This wouldn’t be about rescuing anyone. It would be about maintaining the field, in the broadest sense of the phrase.

Communities take care of their parks, their schools, their traditions. Youth sports deserve the same quiet upkeep. When we remove small barriers early, we prevent bigger ones later — loss of confidence, loss of interest, loss of belief that a place is meant for you.

That kind of care doesn’t require applause. It requires consistency.

Why Make It Annual

Because needs don’t announce themselves once and disappear.

Kids grow. Gloves wear down. Circumstances shift. An annual glove drive acknowledges that reality without judgment or urgency. It makes support part of the rhythm, not a reaction to crisis.

When something becomes routine, it becomes reliable. And reliability is what kids trust.

The Real Outcome

If this works the way it should, no one will talk about it much.

Kids will show up ready to play. Coaches will coach. Parents will watch. Baseball will happen.

And a few players — ones we’ll never identify, and don’t need to — will step onto the field feeling equal instead of exposed.

Those are the quiet things that let kids play.

And they’re worth doing right.

— Chris Graham is a Carson City native, writer and lifelong baseball fan. A former Western Nevada College play-by-play broadcaster, his work focuses on sports, culture and community. He can be followed on his Substack at https://substack.com/@gamenotes.

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