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Scout Day Spotlight: Canes Baseball Club

MIAMISBURG - The Canes Baseball Club is in “PBR training” at the moment.

“The kids are pumped,” noted Zach Trent, president of the organization, in reference to the upcoming Scout Day with Prep Baseball Report on Jan. 21. “This will be our second year doing it.”

The first went well.

“Last year our number two accomplishment was to have our kids seen with PBR,” Trent said. “Some of our kids had been to PBR showcases but for others it was the first time and they were a little shell shocked. Now they’re more relaxed. There’s a lot of energy and excitement. They’re looking forward to it.”

It is a big part of an organization that strives to find the right college fit for players.

“Our number one goal is to get kids to the next level.” Trent said. “In the beginning you kind of question yourself, are we doing it the right way? But when college coaches come calling you start to feel good about what you’re doing.”

Trent and Doug Adams started up the Canes in 2003 and since then more than 60 players have committed to play college baseball at different levels.

“One of the biggest things we wanted to do is to try and surround ourselves with people that feel the same way that we do,” Trent explained. “It starts with pitching rules. We have a pitching program and we really work at protecting our pitchers. We don’t overuse them, we have a strict pitch count. We protect our players, we want to develop them. Winning at 10 or 12 years of age is not the biggest thing in the world. We want them to develop and move on as best they can to the next level.”

If numbers means anything, the Canes Baseball Club is certainly a big hit. What began with one team for 7-8 year olds has now evolved into a program that will consist of 14 teams in 2019.

“We’ve really expanded the last three years,” noted Trent, whose organization includes teams from 7U to 17U, including two each for 13U, 14U and 15U. “We wanted to get teams in every age group but we didn’t want to have a team just to fill an age. We have competitive teams at every age group.

“It’s all kind of evolved itself. A lot of people just like what we’re doing. After conversations with people interested, we find the right fit. It’s been a match made in heaven.”

Former players are a big part of Canes Baseball Club.

“Right now 30 to 40 percent of our coaches are former players that come back,” Trent said. “Our high school age group has some of the best coaches around. They’re former players that most went on to play NAIA, Division II or Division III.”

One veteran mentor is Mark Clausing, vice president of the organization who is in his seventh year with the program.

“Our 14U and up coaches are all non-dads,” Trent noted.

Players in the organization come from Sidney, Eaton, Xenia and Washington Court House all the way down into Kentucky.

“It’s not uncommon for our kids to travel an hour to practice.”

For now, practice are about getting ready for PBR Scout Day.

“PBR is the best thing that we can partner up with,” Trent said. “We want as many of our kids as we can get to be involved with them. It’s best for our kids and it’s a lot of fun.”