Why Amarillo Might Be the Best City for Youth Baseball

When my family moved to Amarillo from Austin, one of the big things for us was wondering what the youth baseball scene would be like here. It wasn’t just about the competition for the boys—it mattered for us too.

We had built something pretty special in Austin with the boys' baseball teams. My oldest son played on a team I personally created and put together with kids and families we had been playing with for several years. My youngest joined a team full of incredible people.

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The Culture of Amarillo Youth Baseball

First off, I'll say it's far more competitive than I was giving it credit for coming in. Not just on the field, but with the parents. They’re highly competitive and proud of their kids’ achievements. Nothing wrong with that, was just surprised by it.

However, you can't take things at face value. Amarillo is full of prideful people, and it doesn't make them cocky or bad. In fact, there are a LOT of parents and families that are amazing, kind, and just downright good people. We all become different people at our kids' games...I'm no different.

Read More: Amarillo's Youth Needs Better Sports Facilities And Here's Why

Big City Baseball vs Small-Town Team Culture

Big city baseball is a different beast. In Austin, there are SO many teams, you can't keep up with them. Because of that, you don't really make friends with people on other teams, and a lot of times, if a family moves from one team to another, they tend to be alienated from their previous team and are essentially shunned by their old team.

Amarillo? Completely different story. You know all the teams in the area, and most likely know people playing on other teams. They come out and support them, even when their kiddo isn't on the team. They (for the most part) remain friends if they move to another team, and those relationships stick.

Friendships That Outlast the Game

The biggest takeaway from small-town baseball to big city baseball? The lifelong friendships that are made in small-town baseball. This, to me, is why Amarillo is a great youth baseball city.

We've got several people in our lives who have moved on to different teams, but our kids have remained great friends, and we have stayed close with certain families. Some have moved to different states, and we still speak to them as well. Small-town baseball is definitely in the fabric of the city, and it's something that shouldn't be taken for granted.