KARI GIBB/MDN Brady Myers was pitching for the Mets in the Midget/Pony division’s last game of the season.

The Minot Parks District ran the 2024 Youth Baseball/Softball/T-Ball season for parts of July, all of July and even the first day of August and all games have been played – weather allowing – and the results are in.

Fittingly, the last week of play also is the week recap of the last two divisions of the program. The Midget/Pony (5-8 Grade Boys) and American/Jr. High (5-8 Grade Girls) divisions are the oldest teams in the program. The boys had eight teams and the girls had three teams that participated in the summer league.

The teams are composed of students from middle school or junior high school ages and the variance of physical growth and development is highlighted by those in this age group. As most parents and coaches can attest, most middle-schoolers:

– Get a little less coordinated as height and weight change quickly

– Start showing uneven development in skills like agility, balance, strength, and flexibility (For example, they may be able to run fast, but not gracefully.)

– Need more rest since so much energy is being used for growing

– Get better at fine motor and gross motor movements, like those used in team sports

With 11 teams, two games per week plus practice and the coaches and parents will commit roughly 30 hours a week to assist the athletes that are in the middle of these changes and growth or development processes in a second full time job for many.

These athletes are in the final stages of preparation for high school and will progress through freshman, junior varsity and varsity sports at the next levels. Several coaches at the local high schools have commented in the past to the high quality of coaching, programs and work ethic of the youth programs and athletes in the greater Minot, and North Dakota in general.

High School sports kick into gear in less than two weeks and many of these athletes will have little time before the next adventure begins.