Hernando County is an amazing place for children to learn the game of baseball or softball. We have many experienced coaches, some who have even played in the Majors.
Hernando Youth Leagues runs Dixie baseball leagues in Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Spring Hill. The Brooksville Dixie Baseball and softball leagues have a long tradition of success. The Spring Hill league has had lots of recent success winning several World Series titles in different age groups.
On April 1st, Tom Varn park was the site of a baseball clinic which featured 7 former Major League Baseball players working with young athletes for a couple of hours to improve their understanding of the game and life. The former major league players that led the training were Cy Young Award winner and eight-time All-Star Roy Halladay and All-Star Richie Scheinblum, as well as Alex Hernandez, Rick Reichardt, Steve Schmoll, Brian Tollberg and Mike Walker. The event was sponsored by CEMEX. For the last 11 years the event has been sponsored by the Hernando County Mining Association and then CEMEX.
They worked on fundamentals of baseball, teaching the kids to how to hold their arm when throwing a ball, reminding them to keep the elbow up when throwing the ball. They also worked on lessons of life for instance looking someone in the eye when they are talking to you.
There is an indoor training center that works with baseball and softball facilities called Stix and Seams. It was founded by Donnie Whitehead and Tim Simms two baseball players from the area that wanted to help develop baseball talent. They offer lessons, training, and have an indoor facility for batting and pitch facilities. Stix and Seams says they are not a “hitting arcade,” but a place for “instruction in the art of baseball and softball”.
Hernando County has a strong baseball community with a number of professionals coming out of the area or moving to it after their baseball career. The county has produced a number of professional players including Mike Walker, Bronson Arroyo, Brent Stentz, Burt Snow, Eddie Looper, and several others. At least one MLB player moved to the area following their major league career: John Frascatore who coached baseball at Nature Coast.
Hernando County’s long history with baseball even includes none other than Babe Ruth who spent much time in the county fishing. During spring training for the Yankees held in Tampa, Babe would frequent the Osowaw Inn and Littell Fish Camp. Babe befriended a son of the Littell’s named Bartow. When Babe came up to go fishing with some of the players they needed an extra guide so they took Bartow with them. From then on when Babe went fishing he brought Bartow as a guide.
There are even active big leaguers from the county. Bronson Arroyo is a pitcher who won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. He is currently working on making a comeback with the Cincinnati Reds. There is a young player unrelated to Bronson named Christian Arroyo is the San Francisco Giants top prospect infielder.
Kids in Hernando County have an excellent opportunity to learn the game of baseball. There are Dixie Baseball and Softball leagues available if they are interested in organized sports. There are camps and clinics available to further hone their craft. Hernando has a strong tradition to draw from and examples of how to play the game in former players who are willing to spend their time helping the next generation of players.
