Decatur student gets to pitch at St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium

Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur pitcher Jay Porter, during the April 4 2A conference baseball game at Edmiston Park, toured this summer with the Midwest Nationals 17 Blue baseball team which played in the Arkansas Naturals Stadium in Springdale and Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.
Photo by Mike Eckels Decatur pitcher Jay Porter, during the April 4 2A conference baseball game at Edmiston Park, toured this summer with the Midwest Nationals 17 Blue baseball team which played in the Arkansas Naturals Stadium in Springdale and Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.

— Some boys dream of flying in space, while others dream of exploring ocean depths. But most boys dream of becoming a professional athlete, be it football, basketball, soccer or baseball. For one Decatur High School student, the dream of making it to the major leagues came one step closer to reality this past summer.

Jay Porter, son of Decatur baseball coach Jason Porter, tried out for a pitching position with the Midwest National 17-year-old baseball team early last May. A week later, Porter received word from the Midwest National coaches that he was named to the 17U Blue team.

"Making this team gave me new opportunities to play baseball this summer," Porter said. "The experience was amazing."

The Midwest Nationals, based in Springfield, Mo., were founded in 2001. The team was started to help top baseball players in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma "achieve their goals of playing college or professional baseball. Since 2001 every player that has played with the Nationals has had the opportunity to play college baseball," according to the Midwest Nationals website.

Porter was coached by one of the top college baseball coaches in the United States, Dave Bingham. Bingham is currently coaching baseball for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, widely regarded as one of the top college baseball programs in the United States. Bingham began his head coaching career at Emporia State in 1974 and later moved to the University of Kansas before taking over the Nebraska program in 2005.

Bingham worked his younger baseball team in a similar manner as that of his college program, often working on more than just the fundamentals of the sport.

"We would work out every day," said Porter. "Before the games, we would do conditioning drills, work out with medicine balls and lift weights. He worked us down even before the games started. I remember going into the game sore and tired and still having to pitch."

The 17U Blue team worked out and had games scheduled Wednesday through Sunday throughout the summer. In all, the team played a 60-game schedule that took it through five states. In Texas, Porter had the chance to pitch at several division one colleges, such as Texas Christian University, Baylor and the University of Texas.

Porter built a real kinship with his teammates on the 17U Blue team, an experience he will always remember.

"Meeting these guys was a neat experience for me," Porter said. "They were fun guys to play with. Just meeting them, playing with them, learning new stuff with them, getting stronger with them, built a chemistry between us that was amazing."

One of Porter's most memorable experiences occurred when the team traveled to St. Louis, Mo., to play at legendary Busch Stadium, the home of major league baseball's St. Louis Cardinals.

"Getting on that mound where some of the greatest pitchers in the world once stood and pitching a ball was purely an amazing experience," said Porter. "The first couple of pitches I was a little nervous and I began shaking a little. I remember getting into the circle (pitcher's mound) and seeing all the field around me, which was overwhelming at first. But when I got into the groove of pitching, it just felt awesome throwing across home plate to my catcher."

Porter also had the chance to pitch in the Arvest Ball Park, home of the Arkansas Naturals, in Springdale where his family had the chance to sit in the bleachers and watch as he hurled balls across home plate.

"The one thing I will never forget, and it makes me laugh a little bit, was getting on that mound and hearing my mom and dad yelling, 'Go Jay' from the stands," Porter said. "I tried to keep a straight face and concentrate on the pitch, but I couldn't help smiling. That is something I will always remember."

Porter gives credit to his father for much of his success. From an early age, the elder Porter would spend countless hours with his son teaching him the basics of the game, something for which the younger Porter will forever be grateful.

"My dad has helped me my whole life get ready for this moment and play at the college level," said Porter. "To me, my dad is one of the greatest coaches I will ever have, and to help get me ready to play with this team is something I will forever be grateful for."

Porter will be on the mound in March of 2017, hoping to bring a conference championship to Decatur. But more than just a pitcher, Jay Porter is a team leader and a valuable asset to his coach and father. The knowledge he brings home to the Bulldog baseball team helps not only his father but also his teammates to become better players.

"This experience was great for Jay. He learned more than just pitching. He gained a level of confidence that will carry him through, not just baseball or even basketball, but life itself," said Jason Porter, Jay' s father. "For me, as a high school baseball coach, to be able to pick his brain about things has proven to be very useful. I got new ideas that I can use to better my team and I can't thank him enough for that."

Sports on 08/31/2016