The Launching Pad

For at least one night in the middle of June, Austin Robles and Austin Ross were champions.

At least at the Little League Majors level.

Robles and Ross played important roles for the North Ector RockHounds, a team that won the OYBA City Championship. Over the course of the tournament they and their teammates played like seasoned athletes.

And with the Little League District 3 tournaments winding down in Midland and Odessa this week, coaches and parents from around West Texas must be wondering the same thing every other coach and parent of talented Little Leaguers have wondered.

Does an impressive performance in Little League mean my kid's going to be a star athlete when he gets older?

"You can't make that blanket statement," OYBA tournament director Mark Figert said. "Kids mature at different levels."

A short, skinny 12-year-old might stand 6-foot-3 by the time he reaches his senior year. And the same pitcher that was a stud in Little League might not have the same advantage in velocity by the time he reaches high school.

On the other hand, once an athlete learns a game's fundamentals, the ability sticks.

"Even at the 9-10 year-old level, you can see a little more hand-eye coordination," Little League umpire Jim Darden said. "I was umpiring the 9-10 year-old games at Sherwood the other day, and there was a kid who throws harder than the 11-and-12 year-olds."

"I couldn't help thinking if he doesn't get burned out, he's really going to be something."

Darden has been a Little League umpire in Texas for the better part of 38 years. Over the years he has seen a lot of kids come through both the city and district tournaments.

He remembers Danny Ray Herrera, the Permian graduate who has pitched in two games for the Cincinnati Reds this season. He remembers Chris Withrow, the Midland Christian graduate who was drafted in the first round of the 2007 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Both showed signs of talent at a young age.

Darden also remembers the 2003 Jim Parker All-Stars, a Major League (11-12) team that won the Texas West State championship and came within one game of reaching the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Most of the players from that team will be high school seniors next year. And most will play prominent roles on teams at both Permian and Odessa High.

Jerome Leija was an All-District linebacker at Permian last season. He also played baseball. Andrew Bell will play three sports - football, basketball and baseball - for Permian. A.D. Hinojos plays baseball for Odessa High, and the list doesn't stop there.

"We were a bunch of athletes who got together and bonded as a team," Bell said. "That was a great summer. Stay in premier hotels and play baseball."

And a love of sports might be the most important link between Little League success and future success.

Bell's father, Roger, coached the Jim Parker All-Stars during their postseason run. His son has always loved sports.

And Bell has always worked hard at the sports he plays.

"If they don't have passion to put in the work, they won't be successful," Roger Bell said. "You have to be born with that passion."

A love of sports brings kids to Little League.

In Little League they learn how to be successful.