On a recent episode of our On Deck travel baseball podcast here at ITG Next, we had the chance to sit down and speak with Kennon McArthur of the Central Alabama Baseball Academy.
An accomplished player himself, McArthur saw time professionally in the Philadelphia Phillies organization and got into teaching and coaching when his playing career ended in the early 2000s. His passion for the game led to the formation of what is now one of Alabama’s premier travel baseball organizations, the Central Alabama Baseball Academy (CABA).
The CABA has grown steadily over the years and is in its 15th season, with facilities in cities across Central Alabama such as Hoover and Sylacauga. It has 22 teams ranging in age from 7 to 18, and more than 40 coaches with collegiate and professional experience.
“We take pride in our practice,” McArthur said.
With practices at least two days a week, as well as “CABA days” during which they work through fundamentals such as bunt defense, signs, relays, and pickoff throws, there is always an expectation of getting better.
“When those kids come to us, we try to send them back to their high school coach a better player,” McArthur said. “We try to get them some exposure with some good quality events. The ones who are college prospects, and really have a legitimate chance to play at that level, that is really our focus is trying to create those contacts or trying to work our contacts and see what might be a good fit for these guys to go play.”
CABA has an impressive group of high school age players from schools across central Alabama, almost all of whom have seen success at various tournaments and events. McArthur and CABA also see success in their younger age groups, with the 9u Naturals in particular having recently won a Perfect Game event in Albertville.
“We try to help work them up all the way through high school,” McArthur stated.
With a goal of providing players the chance to eventually play in college, CABA has former players in collegiate programs throughout the southeast, a list that only continues to grow each year.
The younger teams at CABA are already playing as we inch closer to May and June, and the 17- and 18-year-old teams are set to play in some big tournaments this summer as well, in places such as Hoover, Albertville, and Atlanta.
Expect yet another strong and exciting summer from one of Alabama’s top travel baseball organizations.
