MOSES LAKE – The Six Athletic Training Facility will be fielding youth baseball teams in the summer of 2024, with teams ranging from 9U through 16U donning the uniforms of the Central Washington Sixers.

“We’re at the point now where we’d like to use all our knowledge as coaches for player development and relationship building and coach kids,” said Jameson Lange, general manager of The Six. “Use our stuff that we’ve been doing since 2021, and now be able to apply it to teams and have them go play in the summer.”

The idea to make the move from instructional learning to putting together youth teams had been there ever since The Six opened two years ago, Lange said.

“We always had the idea of why we built this place – for community usage of sport and as a resource to build young men and women for life skills through sport,” Lange said. “Over the last couple years, we’ve noticed some decline of some sports teams in our area, where we’re seeing a lot of local kids branch out to other areas to be able to compete and play in the summer.”

The Six began hosting training sessions last winter through its baseball academy, where players had the opportunity to learn the intricacies of the game of baseball; whether it be etiquette, language of the game, professionalism and more. Through the Central Washington Sixers program, players will go through winter development sessions before games begin in the spring.

“Now, we want to be able to add that same type of thing,” Lange said. “Player development in the winter and be able to apply that to where they’re ready to rock and roll for the summertime, where they can go play. They’ll be prepared throughout their winter sessions to be able to play in the summer.”

With many players coming into The Six to help work on fundamentals, swing mechanics and other facets of the game, Lange said he’s excited to begin helping players with in-game scenarios.

“I’m pumped because all the stuff we’ve been doing here has been great but it’s a lot of instructional-base and not necessarily coaching,” Lange said. “The mental side; building player confidence, how they handle adversity, understanding the importance of commitment and what that really looks like.”

Tryouts begin in late July/early August for the summer 2024 teams, with registration opening soon according to Lange. Along with having coaches and instructors from The Six, local and outside coaches will also be present for the season and winter development sessions.

“Adding some new, and then continuing to develop coaches that we have in our area,” Lange said. “Just putting it all under one umbrella.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.