The Mahomet Maverick organization started in 2012 to offer boys a chance to play competitive baseball on a local level. This spring, the Mavericks fielded four teams of 12 boys ranging in the 9U, 10U, 11U and 12U divisions.
The organization started when approximately 20 Mahomet area boys met at 13 Acres Park to hit balls. Mahomet Maverick organizer Buddy Strube contacted the boy’s parents to see if they were interested in forming a team.
“We got lucky,” Strube said. “Everything kind of fell into place.”
Within weeks, the 11U team had 20 players, uniforms and 30 games scheduled. After five games with 20 boys, the team split into a 10U team and an 11U team. The 10U team was able to schedule 25 games for the remainder of the summer.
Coming into the 2013 summer season, the Mavericks started with a 12U and an 11U team. Strube began to hear there was interest for a 9U and 10U team. Coaches and 12 players came forward for each team.
“This has just blown up,” Strube said. “We now have 50 kids playing baseball on four teams.”
With increased sponsorship from area business, parent volunteers who have made the concession stand work, and a raffle fundraiser, the Mavericks have been able to keep the costs for their teams at a minimum.
After winter workouts which focused on the fundamentals of fielding and batting, the Mavericks started their season in April. The Maverick 12U team will finished the season on Saturday when they host a double-header at 12 and 2 p.m. at their home field in Mansfield.
Strube said the commitment players make to the Mavericks is manageable. Before games start, the team practices two times a week with batting practice in Monticello.
With 30 games including three tournaments no more than an hour away, the Mavericks baseball team gives Mahomet area boys an opportunity to play teams from other small towns.
Strube said as parents coaching the teams, their focus is to teach the players to become sharper defensively, learning how to play a position for junior high or high school team. He also wants players to make a six month commitment to the team, although he understands families have schedules, too.
“These kids have family vacations and other commitments which I understand,” Strube said. “I don’t want them to be married to this.”
The Maverick organization also wants to reach out to help within the community. Last winter they played games with residents at the Glenwood. In June, they also helped with the Challenger League in Champaign.
“Not only did the Challenger League kids love that, so did our kids,” Strube said. “The look on those kid’s face makes it all worth it.”
The Mahomet Mavericks will host tryouts for the 2014 season on August 17 at Bridle Leash Park. The tryout rain date is August 24.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” Strube said. “I look at this and say we changed 50 kids’ lives through baseball.”
