ANN ARBOR – Alan Oaks knows what it takes to get above high school in baseball and is now keen to bring that knowledge to the next generation of Ann Arbor players.
Oaks, a former University of Michigan pitcher and minor league player, assumed the office of President of Ann Arbor A’s – a Youth Travel Baseball Program based in Ann Arbor – this year and has begun revising the program in hopes of expanding the sport in the area while providing a higher rate to players.
Oaks, who is also the coach within the program, played for the Wolverines for four years and was eventually drafted by the Florida Marlins and played in the minor leagues for seven years before discovering his true calling of leading the youth.
During his professional stint, Oaks returned and trained in Michigan and was slowly connected to the A’s where he began working with teams while also leading private lessons.
This experience led Oaks to stick with the program for a long time, most recently replacing Dyke Mcewen as president of the organization, with the aim of taking the A’s to even greater heights.
“I realized how much satisfaction I got from this,” said Oaks.
Oaks has spent most of the time growing the game in Ann Arbor since then, feeling that baseball was not a top priority for many athletes in the area.
To get the game on athletes’ radar, Oaks took on the challenge of creating awareness for the athletes and creating a space for them to develop their skills.
“I didn’t mean to get into it too much, but my heart took me there because I saw the need for baseball in Ann Arbor,” said Oaks. “There is a lot of baseball, but the kids just lack the resources, facilities, and knowledge, and just the forest, to involve them.”
Although many A’s players have played for the three area varsity teams in Pioneer, Skyline and Huron, Oaks hopes those numbers will grow over time.
Inside the A’s
The program, which looks after 17 teams from 8 am to 2 pm, has opened a new leaf under Oaks.
The organization has a board of directors that includes UofM Regent Paul Brown and Michigan baseball coach Erik Bakich, along with a paid coaching program, new long-term player development plan, community outreach programs, financial assistance program, and new uniforms.
Oaks also opened a 10,000 square foot facility called South State Sports in February, which hosts several training areas for pitching, fielding and hitting as well as an area for dynamic warm-ups, team meetings and face-to-face events.
The facility will accommodate the A’s and also serve as a baseball teaching center for private and group lessons for all players regardless of age or skill level.
In addition, the program has its Social media presence and signed a deal with Wilson Sporting Goods Company for new uniforms and baseball gear in hopes of generating more interest in the program.
The organization has also started discussions of building a high school-sized grass field next to the South State Sports Facility to accommodate the A’s as well.
Continuous growth
Although Oaks has made many improvements to the A’s, there is still a lot to be done.
Oaks said the program is still looking for more coaches for its teams, which has been challenging due to a lack of awareness.
“I feel like the biggest battle is that people don’t know who the Ann Arbor A’s are in Ann Arbor,” said Oaks. “That is the ultimate goal – to bring it to the attention. I feel like there are a lot of good baseball people in the area who could help and I want them to help. “
The A’s are currently in season for some teams through late July and early August and the program will be auditioning for teams from 8 AM to 11 AM for the 2022 season from August 7th to 8th, with dates still set for the remaining teams become.
Teams will begin skill development training for the 2022 season in December and the season will begin in April.
“The bottom line is that it’s about the kids,” said Oaks. “All parents want to see that their child is doing well.”
Take the next step
Oaks said his vision for the organization is headed in the right direction thanks to the help of the board of directors and those who have helped grow the program.
He added that he saw a bright future for the organization with more presence.
“It’s definitely on the right track,” he said. “I can’t do all of this alone, so it was really good to put together the team we have.”
While having successful teams on the field is important, helping the players develop on and off the field will continue to be the main goal of the organization for Oaks.
“Yes, you want to win, but it doesn’t matter if you win,” said Oaks. “Yes, you want to know the score, but the score doesn’t matter. It’s really about having fun, staying involved in the game, doing different sports and really just trying to be the best athlete you can be.
“When you become a good athlete, you can do whatever you want over time, but if you don’t develop those skills along the way at a young age, it’s hard to go back and acquire those skills. If we can provide that for you, that’s great. “
