TRAVEL BASEBALL RESEMBLES LIFE

While travel baseball can be expensive and  time consuming, it does offer a player many life benefits. 


We could not find a travel team for our son to play for in Nevada County, so he plays for a team in Lincoln. His team is filled with really great players, supportive families and knowledgeable coaches. Many of which come from different ethnic backgrounds, cities, as well as socioeconomic environments. Therefore travel ball could be said to resembles life.


My son is required to work hard to earn a spot on the roster. He is required to learning how to make friends with other players he does not go to school with and is asked to fit in with the team. Again this is life.


Something playing travel ball does not guarantee is a career in the big leagues, nor does it assure the reward of a college scholarship, and not even a spot in a high school dugout for that matter. 

There's no denying that travel ball is the main vehicle to get to the college level. Weekend travel tournaments at times do resemble college showcases. However, a player’s participation and a college coach’s appearance doesn't guarantee a scholarship. It does give a player the opportunity to be seen, therefore having a chance if the player has what it takes.

There are two guarantees when your child plays travel ball. The first, you will have very little time on the weekends and holidays as well as you may need to take on a second job to pay for it. In turn, parents often demand a return on this investment, namely, a Division I college scholarship. But there are only so many ways 11.7 full scholarships (the allotment the NCAA gives baseball programs) can be cut up and passed out. That equates to 46 percent scholarship players on a 25-man college roster. 

If the travel baseball experience does not produces an opportunity to play high school, college and/or professional baseball, families should regard the experience as more than just about baseball and not be disappointed if their child doesn't receive a college scholarship. The ability to develop their child as an athlete and especially as a person, should not be minimized.


The travel ball experience can help prepare kids for life's challenges.

BEAR RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE 5/02/2012

BR keeps streak alive

The Bear River major Angels traveled to Nevada City's Pioneer Park on Wednesday night where they put their seven game win streak on the line. They dropped the NC Angels 6-3 to push their streak to eight games.  BR Angels manager Sean Solomon gave the ball to David Fenton who stood on the hill for three innings of play and gave up two runs in the first to earn the win. Nevada City manager Dennis Houlihan called on Justin Houlihan who pitched well for five innings until he hit his maximum pitch count. BR broke the game open on a two out bases loaded single by Dean Hopper in the top of the fourth to move the score to 5-2. Scott Sandstedt had two doubles and Jordan Elliott hit a one hopper off the left field fence. Mason Giordano and Dylan Sinclair also singled for the BR Angels. Fenton was relieved by Ryan Solomon and Sandstedt closed out the game. Owen Dalbon played a strong game from behind the plate for Bear River.

NC Angels were coming off a 15-5 victory over the Penn Valley White Sox on April 28 and their league website has them listed at 3-3 after falling in tonight's contest.

The BR Angels will host the Penn Valley Giants at 1 p.m. and the Nevada City Angles will host the Penn Valley Padres at Pioneer Park at 4 p.m. both games are on Saturday.

Bear River Dodgers blank Penn Valley White Sox

The Dodgers starting pitcher Josiah Cregar pitched two innings giving up one hit in the 4-0 win. Cregar was relieved by Bradley Dzioba who went three and two thirds allowing three White Sox hits and Harry Zea closed the door for the shutout. Leading Bear River at the plate was Trea Nix who got two hits including a double, Austin Baze and Jaden Gravatt also doubled while Cregar went one for three.

The Dodgers take on the Bear River Giants on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the battle for second place of the Bear River teams. In their first match up the game went 10 innings and went to the Dodgers 3-2.

Bear River Yankees hosted the Sierra Foothill Giants

In minors action the BR Yankees had very little trouble with the visiting Giants. BR manager Dave Rogers called on Colton Jenkins who delivered on the mound in the 12-2 victory. Jenkins pitched three of the games four innings giving up one run while striking out five. Brekyn Vasquez closed out the final inning with two strike outs and gave up one run.

Leading hitters for the Yankees were Justin Powell and Ryan Olsen with doubles and Jenkins, Vasquez Braden Fowler, Michael Carreon, Damien Christen and Blaine Rogers all hit safely for the Yankees.

The BR Yankees will be back in action on Saturday at 3 p.m. when they travel to Applegate Ball park to take on the Yankees of the Sierra Foothill League.

BEAR RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE 4/28/2012

Cards and Giants score 55

On Saturday, The Bear River minor Giants hosted and fell to the BR Cardinals with a final score of 30-25 (the game ran 4 hours 20 min). The score was more in line with a football score than baseball. The Cards manager Ralph Hurst handed the ball to his stopper Sydney Bishop, who closed out the game with two strikeouts and a come back ground ball to end the sixth and final inning to earn the win.

Powell leads Yankees

Also in minors, the Bear River Little League Yankees traveled to Applegate ball park and defeated the Sierra Foothill Brewers 11-0 in four innings. The visiting Yankees manager Dave Rogers called on right handed starting pitcher Justin Powell, who recorded 10 strikeouts of a possible 12 outs and earned the win. Bear River was led at the plate by Ray Holcomb who hit a triple. The Yankees will take on the Sierra Foothill Giants Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. on the Bear River major field.

Dodger get out early

The marquee match up in the majors division on Saturday was the Bear River Dodgers vs the Bear River A's. The Dodgers jumped out early with eight runs in the first and the A's chipped away at the lead, but were unable over come the early set back. Pitcher Harry Zea held off the surging A's with the bases loaded in the last inning for the 8-6 win. Also pitching for the Dodgers was starter Bradley Dzioba who gave up one run, Josiah Cregar also gave up one and Elliot Bouchier went one and two thirds giving up three. Leading hitters for the Dodgers were Noah Gravatt who went two for three and Dzioba hit a double. A's starter Trevor Hennig took the loss for the A's while Caleb Edwards and Jacob Anderson pitched well in relief. Both relievers helded the Dodgers scoreless after the first. The Dodgers will look look to take their momentum into their Monday game where they will be taking on the league leading Angels at 7 p.m. While the A's will look to rebound on Tuesday when they square off against the BR Giants at 7 p.m.