Decatur High School sophomore Cody Barlow will represent the United States and Decatur as a member of Coast to Coast Baseball in Puerto Rico next summer, July 4-10.
During the seven-day program, Barlow will compete against top amateur teams from greater San Juan while receiving instruction from Coast to Coast staff who have played or coached at the collegiate or professional level. The same staff will provide college recruiting information to players and parents in seminar format. Each summer and fall Coast to Coast sees about 2,000 players at a series of nationwide tryouts.
Additionally, the organization evaluates hundreds of applications from players unable to attend a tryout event. From this pool, approximately 250 roster spots - comprising 15 to 18 teams - are filled with players seeking to play at one of the game's highest levels.
Based in Marietta, Ohio, the 8-year-old program has taken more than 1,600 players from 46 estates to compete in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia and Puerto Rico.
The organization's alumni compete at every level of college baseball and professionally. Barlow showcased his skills for the Coast to Coast coaches at a recent tryout at University of Dallas, Aug. 10. At tryouts, players are evaluated in four areas: hitting, fielding, arm strength and speed.
Barlow has also been invited to try out for the Fort Worth Cats fall select 16-and-under baseball team. Last year Barlow was a freshman on the varsity team at DHS and was named second team all-district as an infielder.
In addition to his love for baseball, Barlow is a member of SADD and FCA at DHS, and he attends the First Baptist Church in Decatur. He hopes to attend the University of Texas in Austin where he would like to play baseball and major in criminal law.
In order to maintain his amateur status, Barlow will be raising his money to help cover the team's expenses.
Persons interested in making a donation can contact the Barlow family or Coast to Coast Baseball.
To make a tax-deductible donation, call My Sports Dreams at (800) 376-5988.
