More Than a Game: Chargers Teach Baseball, Character

Teaching the fundamentals of the game is a key value of many youth baseball programs, but the Chesterfield-based Missouri Charger baseball program goes much further.

“The mission of our organization is to provide a fun and safe environment to develop baseball players,” Missouri Charger President and Founder Tom Mitchell said. “But we also want to develop things like character, growth and honor.”

The Chargers have a 12-and-under team for 11 and 12-year-olds, a 10-and-under team for 9 and 10-year-olds, and a 9-and-under team for 8 and 9-year-olds. Mitchell said he hopes to develop players for high school baseball.

“We want them to be able to hit for average, hit for power as well as run, field and throw,” he said.

This week, the 12-and-under team is in Cooperstown, NY, for the Dreams Park Baseball Tournament. Between July 2 and 8, they will compete against the best teams in the nation in up to 11 games. A total of 108 teams will be in the competition. to help pay for expenses associated with the tournament.

Mitchell started the Chargers program in 2004. At that time, there was one team for 5 to 7-year-old players, a training team that played a schedule of 12 games. The games were instructional; no score was kept.

The Chargers added a 10-and-under and 9-and-under team in 2010. The program’s teams play at the Chesterfield Baseball and Softball Association. Charger teams face off against teams from Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas and Illinois. 

“I’m always torn if we should be playing baseball at the level we are,” Mitchell said. “A player has to be suited to play at this level if he’s going to be a part of this program. Some kids will have a lot more fun playing on a recreational team, but a select team has a different mentality.”

To keep with the mission of developing character, every player in the Chargers program must write an essay each year. This year, players wrote an essay on why hard work is good for them.

“No matter if you’re planning on playing baseball in college, being drafted, or going out to find a job, you have to know who you are,” Mitchell said on the essay. “And people are going to have to know who you are.” Mitchell said the program also stresses good grades because college athletes have to meet academic standards.

The Chargers 12-and-under team has a 29-17 record so far this summer. While the team has won nearly 30 games, the record is actually the worst for a 12-and-under team in Charger history.  

“It’s a difficult and transitional year for players,” Mitchell said. “But I think with this age group we’ve elevated the competition locally.”

Mitchell said the Chargers program is planning an expansion. He hopes to add another 9-and-under and 12-and-under team next year, as well as an 8-and-under team next year. He said the expansion will give the organization the means to acquire a private facility. At this time, the Chargers are seeking more teams and coaches. Interested parties can email Mitchell at missourichargers@charter.net.