Manton Rangers Baseball

08/19/2026

⚾️ Huge congratulations to our varsity captain for the past three years, Blake Helsel, on accepting a spot with the Alpena Community College baseball team!

Blake received numerous postseason honors over the past few seasons, but his journey is about so much more than awards.

He entered high school as a timid young player on varsity and developed into one of the best baseball players in Northern Michigan by his senior year. He came into the program as a catcher, moved to the middle infield and returned behind the plate as a senior. Blake simply did whatever was asked of him because his only concern was helping the team succeed.

Beyond his accomplishments on the field, Blake played a vital role in reviving Manton baseball. Since I began coaching in 2008, I have worked with hundreds, if not close to a thousand, young athletes. During that time, only two players have had the type of positive influence that completely changes a team and inspires others to follow their example: Xavier Worden and Blake Helsel.

If I could replicate Blake’s attitude, leadership and work ethic in every player I coach, I would. He is the ideal player to coach, but also the type of player a coach is fortunate to encounter only a few times in a career.

Alpena is getting a winner, a competitor and an incredible teammate. Blake won’t complain about playing time or his role. He will show up, work hard and do whatever it takes to help his team win.

Blake truly deserves this opportunity at the next level, and I could not be happier for him.

Congratulations, Blake! I cannot wait to see what you accomplish at the next level! ⚾️👏

08/05/2026

Come out and have fun!

07/30/2026

Travel baseball tryouts coming up!!

Cadillac-TSA Baseball Try Outs begin next week! Make sure to scan the qr code, send us a message, or click the link below to get registered today.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScowDbxazDquNNIK8ODU_N9nDDvh9SsZ_PVgKXSIWFhSv9qBQ/viewform?usp=send_form

07/26/2026

Looking for a couple of high school baseball players who would be interested in helping lift and move household items for about five hours one day this week. Mostly small items like chairs, microwave, tools etc.

If you’re interested, send me a message for the details and pay information. I will also have lunch and Gatorade provided.

231.920.7579

07/18/2026

As we turn the page and begin preparing for next season, we have one final recognition to celebrate from our 2026 team.

The Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team selections have been announced, and we’re proud to recognize the following players:

First Team
⚾ George Coffel
⚾ Blake Helsel

Second Team
⚾ William Alexander
⚾ Cooper Chittle
⚾ Jaiden Carstens

Congratulations, gentlemen. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to our program did not go unnoticed.

This officially wraps up all of the awards and recognition for our 2026 baseball season. What a year it was. Thank you to every player, parent, and supporter who helped make it such a memorable season.

07/17/2026

As many of you know, the smoke from the wildfires has put a stop to a lot of offseason workouts, camps, and outdoor activities this summer. That's something none of us could control. But as the air clears and we get closer to the start of the school year, I'm hoping the weight room begins filling back up. Coach Bradford has been a huge asset to the program. Let's get more kids in the weight room.

Right now, we have approximately 30 players in the high school who played baseball last season. At the moment, only about 13 are consistently getting their workouts in.

If summer made it difficult to get to the weight room, that's understandable. But once school starts, we need as many players as possible getting stronger.

There isn't a single player in our high school program with a swing so good that he doesn't need to lift. Every player can benefit from getting stronger upper body, lower body, and core. Strength translates to bat speed, throwing velocity, durability, confidence, and overall athleticism.

Looking at the players we have returning, our varsity team isn't built around blazing speed. That makes adding strength to your frame even more important.

If you're not playing a fall or winter sport, lifting should be a priority. Our hitting and pitching program doesn't begin until January, but the work that determines how successful we'll be starts long before then.

One thing we've seen over the last several years is that freshmen and sophomores have earned varsity opportunities over older players simply because of their work ethic. Age doesn't guarantee playing time. Preparation does.

We can't expect to stay competitive if only four or five varsity players are consistently in the weight room. Successful teams aren't built during the season they're built in the months when no one is watching.

We've built great momentum as a baseball program over the past few years. Let's keep that going. The players who commit to improving themselves now will give our team the best chance to compete when spring arrives.

With 10 seniors graduating, next year's varsity team will look very different. We have eight starting positions open, with only one spot returning as an established starter. That means there is tremendous opportunity for every player in our high school program.

Don't wait for someone to hand you a position. Take one. Earn one.

The players who commit to the weight room, improve their strength, show consistency, and outwork everyone else over the next several months are going to give themselves the best chance to be in the starting lineup this spring.

The opportunity is there. What you do between now and the season will determine whether you take advantage of it.

Send a message to learn more

07/14/2026

I got a message yesterday asking, "When do you know if your kid is good enough for travel baseball? What age should they start, and what level should they play?"

I think the answer is subjective because every kid develops differently. But if I were laying out my ideal path, this is what it would look like.

In bigger cities, you'll see kids starting travel baseball at 7 years old. Some programs even have camps for 5-year-olds, which I personally think is a little early.

That being said, every player who heard their name called in the MLB Draft this weekend started playing travel baseball at a young age. Somewhere along the way, they also had quality instruction from a hitting coach, pitching coach, or both.

If I were building the perfect development plan, here's what I'd recommend.

7-9U: Rec Ball

Start in rec ball. Let kids learn to love the game, compete, and build confidence. Once your child is consistently one of the best players on the field, it's time to find a bigger challenge. That might happen at 8 years old. It might happen at 12. Every kid is different.

10-12U: Local Travel Baseball

This is when I'd introduce travel baseball, but I wouldn't spend every weekend driving five or six hours across the state.

No college coach or professional scout is watching 10-year-olds.

Find good local tournaments with strong competition. Let your child play against better players while still having fun and developing.

13-15U: The Most Important Development Years

In my opinion, these are the biggest years in a player's baseball career.

Kids are getting stronger, growing physically, and becoming mentally ready for high school baseball.

This is the time to challenge them.

That challenge may mean finding a team where they have an opportunity to pitch. It may mean playing against tougher competition. It may mean moving them into a role where they're uncomfortable.

Growth happens outside your comfort zone.

One thing I strongly believe is this:

If your child is in 8th grade, they should be playing 14U, not playing down in 13U against 7th graders on a smaller field. The same goes for freshmen who are eligible to play down.

I understand there are situations where a player is young for the age group and families choose to do that. Every situation is different. But if the goal is long-term development, I believe kids should be challenged.

High School (15-18U): Have a Plan

Once players reach high school, the best travel players in Michigan often aren't playing many in-state tournaments. They're traveling to events where college coaches are recruiting.

At this point, the goal should be preparing for varsity baseball and, if possible, competing for a varsity spot as a freshman or sophomore.

Many elite travel teams are actually stronger than some high school teams. Playing against better competition helps players become fearless when they get to high school.

Travel baseball teaches pitchers to pitch instead of just throw.

It teaches hitters to swing the bat instead of waiting for walks.

If your goal is college baseball, this is also when you need to become intentional.

Seek out quality instruction.

Track your progress.

Understand the expectations at each college level.

Baseball has become very data-driven. Colleges recruit measurable tools, not just statistics.

A pitcher throwing 65 mph simply isn't going to fit college recruiting standards today. Every level has velocity benchmarks, and those benchmarks are different for right-handed and left-handed pitchers.

During my last three years coaching varsity, one of our goals was to have every pitcher reach at least 70 mph. Last season, 13 of our 16 players reached that mark.

Can a player suddenly take off as a junior or senior? Absolutely.

But the majority of players who play college baseball make steady improvements over many years, not overnight.

If I had to summarize my development plan, it would look like this:

⚾ 7-9U: Play rec ball and fall in love with the game.

⚾ 10-12U: Play local travel baseball against better competition.

⚾ 13-15U: The biggest development years. Challenge yourself. Play tougher competition. Don't be afraid to play up.

⚾ 16-18U: Build a college plan. Record your metrics every year. Continue developing your skills with purpose.

At the end of the day, every player develops at a different pace. The goal isn't to be the best 10-year-old. The goal is to become the best 18-year-old you can be.

07/13/2026

Parents,

This is an extension of my last post.

If your son is playing rec baseball and has reached the point where he is consistently one of the better players on the field, it may be time to consider travel baseball.

It doesn’t have to be the best travel team. At a young age, the biggest advantage is simply being around better competition. Better teammates push each other. Better opponents expose weaknesses and force players to improve. Growth happens when kids are challenged.

Pair that with quality instruction over the years, and you’ll be surprised how far ahead a player can be by the time they reach high school. The gap between players often isn’t talent. It’s the number of quality reps, the level of competition, and the instruction they’ve received along the way.

Travel baseball tryouts are starting now and will continue over the next month. If your son loves the game and wants to see how far he can take it, this is a great time to explore the opportunities available.

Remember, travel baseball doesn’t guarantee success. It simply gives players more opportunities to compete, develop, and grow. What they do with those opportunities is what matters most.

I like the ending because it reinforces something you’ve said before: work ethic beats talent alone. It also avoids sounding like you’re saying every kid needs travel baseball.

07/13/2026

Watching the MLB Draft this weekend and seeing several players I coached against over the years, along with several who wore the Shamrocks jersey in our travel organization, hear their names called has me fired up for baseball. It’s always exciting to watch kids chase a dream they’ve had since they were little, and it’s a reminder that with the right work ethic, anything is possible.

If you have a young pitcher looking to improve, I highly recommend Carson Bassett for lessons. I’ve coached a lot of players who have gone on to play college baseball, and I’ve coached players who have heard their names called in the MLB Draft. I know what it takes to play at the next level, and it all starts with building a strong foundation.

Carson does an outstanding job teaching pitching mechanics the right way. Whether your son is just getting started or has dreams of playing college baseball or professional baseball, this is a great opportunity to learn from someone who knows the game.

The work you put in today can open doors tomorrow.