The last thing that most young kids want to do in sub-zero temperatures is play baseball, much less go through the agonizing process of tryouts. There is one exception: St. Croix Valley Baseball Association’s players. Tryout participants gathered inside the Sea Foam Stadium at Concordia University for their upcoming summer baseball team tryouts. And, with a little help, had the smoothest-running tryouts ever.

The St. Croix Valley Baseball Association (SCVBA) is a competitive youth traveling baseball association for kids aging 10-15. They provide three different levels of competition for kids to play in: AAA, AA and A. Youth traveling baseball incorporates out-of-town tournaments as well as games with surrounding towns. SCVBA was started in 2003. Tryouts for all age levels were held on Jan. 20, 25 and Feb. 1.

In 2003, the participation in youth traveling baseball associations was soaring with no signs of stopping. There simply was not enough associations or quality facilities to support all of the kids who wanted to play baseball. Last year alone, SCVBA had 21 teams.

“We have been involved in several district field improvements over the years,” said SCVBA President Rocky Rooney. “Fields include the JC Park, Old Athletic Field and Old Varsity Field at Stillwater Junior High School. ”

After much thought, a group of Stillwater area dads decided to start SCVBA in Oct. 2003. Piece by piece, Rooney and other newly appointed SCVBA members organized the association.

“We started this association to do one thing,” said Rooney. “Maximize the amount of fun baseball playing opportunities for young kids in the St. Croix Valley, while staying as unbiased as possible.”

SCVBA board members decided to do something in Jan. 2008 that no surrounding youth baseball association had ever done: acquire out-of-organization evaluators at their tryouts. They did this by “renting” the Concordia University baseball team.

“Our use of independent, qualified and impartial evaluators makes a difference when selecting teams fairly and impartially,” said Rooney.

After five years, the Concordia University baseball team could not run tryouts alone anymore. They needed backup. Stillwater’s varsity baseball players jumped right at the opportunity. Stillwater players helped at tryouts by catching, throwing and hitting baseballs to SCVBA tryout participants, while the Concordia baseball team judged each player on their raw talent as a baseball player. SCVBA board member Joe Seeb watched Stillwater and Concordia University’s players work in unison.

“The high school players, in particular, were very polite and worked hard all day,” said Seeb. “It was a pleasure to have them there helping out. ”

This is not the only time the Stillwater varsity baseball players give back to their community. They also helped their coaching staff run “Pony Baseball Academy”: a low-cost, weekly baseball camp that develops young baseball player’s talents while growing their love for baseball.

“Pony Baseball Academy is a baseball camp on the outside, yes,” exclaimed Head baseball Coach Mike Parker. “But, more importantly, we teach these kids to be respectful young men who love the game of baseball. They are the future of Stillwater’s baseball program.”

The varsity baseball players rush to any opportunity to help their community. Especially when over half of this year’s varsity baseball players grew up playing baseball in SCVBA. After all, that association is where their love for America’s pastime began.