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VanMeter set to lead PSM TinCaps youth travel baseball program | Sports

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) – The last Northeast Indiana baseball team to win an IHSAA state title was the 2013 Norwell Knights. Josh VanMeter was a member of the state championship squad, before going on to get drafted into pro baseball, play briefly for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, then compete in 300 Major League Baseball […]

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WFFT) – The last Northeast Indiana baseball team to win an IHSAA state title was the 2013 Norwell Knights.

Josh VanMeter was a member of the state championship squad, before going on to get drafted into pro baseball, play briefly for the Fort Wayne TinCaps, then compete in 300 Major League Baseball games.

VanMeter is now retired for pro baseball and is living in Northeast Indiana.

The former big leaguer is teaming up with Parkview Sports Medicine and the Fort Wayne TinCaps organization to launch a set of new premier youth teams in the region.

VanMeter, PSM and the TinCaps announced the formation of the PSM TinCaps in a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Parkview Field.

Organizers hope to recruit some of the top baseball players across Northeast Indiana to compete against other top teams in summer tournaments.

“There’s a lot of good talent here, a lot of good resources. Just for a high school team to not win a state championship, honestly, it just blows my mind. There’s too many good players in and around the city,” VanMeter said.

“Just from my time being an amateur and being around the players that I played with from all the different schools, I just really think that this market needs maybe a newer, fresher face. I think that, humbly, I think I check all those boxes of coming back and trying to start a program.”

The PSM TinCaps teams would have a primary focus on player development, helping young athletes reach the peak high school, college and professional levels.

VanMeter plans to coach the oldest age group while also working in an oversight role as the PSM Baseball Academy Director.

“I got a lot of experience from my time playing. I filled just about every role when it comes to being a player all the way to the highest level of the game. On top of that, being able to partner with PSM and really provide that one-stop-shop for baseball development, that has really taken off to another gear even since I was that age,” VanMeter said.

“So I think marrying the minds and being able to do that is going to set us apart. I’m excited for the opportunity and ready to capitalize on it.”

The teams will start competing beginning in 2026, though the first tryouts will take place later in the summer of 2025.

Ages 10-12U tryouts will be July 15, with the 13-17U tryouts slated for July 22.

Both sets of tryouts will start at 5:00 pm at the University of Saint Francis Baseball and Softball Fields.

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