Fort Smith product bolsters elite team’s roster

— Brett McCabe isn’t afraid to go outside of his city to bolster his Dallas-based DBAT Mustangs roster.

McCabe’s team has players from Norman, Okla., Shreveport, La., and the latest find — Fort Smith’s Daniel Young — is paying off.

“We go out and get them if we feel like they’re a special enough talent to help us be better,” McCabe said. “There’s enough talent in Dallas to survive. We’re trying to be an elite team, and we’ll continue to go out and find those kind of kids.”

Mustangs assistant coach Jim Schwanke, who evaluates baseball talent, saw Young working out at Fort Smith Southside and encouraged McCabe to invite the 6-foot-5 pitcher to join the team.

This week’s Premier Baseball National Sophomore Championship is Young’s third tournament with DBAT.

“It’s a great experience,” Young said. “You go against teams from Cincinnati, Missouri, Houston. You really get to see how you compare with kids your age and get the chance to see how you match up with everybody.”

Young has played with DBAT for about a month, splitting time between his American Legion team, Fort Smith Kerwins, and the Mustangs. The American Legion season ended earlier this month and Young is playing full time with the Mustangs in a Dallas-area league games and travel tournaments.

McCabe has been impressed with Young on the mound and at the plate.

“He throws anywhere 88 to 91 (miles per hour) on a good day with a plus curveball, so he’s a kid that at his age can beat anybody if he’s on,” McCabe said. “And at the plate, he’s a true middle-of-the-order left-handed hitting kid. He’s a big strong kid.”

Young had big hits in the Mustangs’ two wins Wednesday at Arkansas-Fort Smith’s Crowder Field. He had a solo home run to put DBAT ahead in a 3-2 win against the Springfield (Mo.) Midwest Nationals and had the go-ahead run against the Houston Elite before DBAT rolled to a 12-4 win.

He had a hit and an RBI in a 9-8 loss to the Cincy Flame at Springdale’s Tyson Sports Complex. DBAT finished second in its pool and advanced to the championship pool of 24 teams.

Young, who pitched for the Southside’s junior varsity squad and Kerwins and played infield for the Rebels’ varsity squad, will likely pitch in this round.

After a good sophomore season at Southside, Young is relishing the chance to work on his game and get exposed to college coaches.

Young said he won’t play football this season at Southside and hopes to earn a college scholarship. There were three college coaches at Thursday’s game.

“I’ll focus on baseball and try to go to college for free somewhere,” he said.

“We’re getting exposed (by playing with DBAT). And if I have a day like I did (Wednesday), you’re going to have a lot of success and a lot of people after you.”

Profile

Daniel Young

TEAM: DBAT (Dallas) Mustangs McCabe

SCHOOL: Fort Smith Southside

POSITION: Pitcher/infielder

CLASS: Junior

HEIGHT: 6-foot-5

WEIGHT: 205

NOTABLE: Young was an 7A-West All-Conference pick for the Rebels this spring. … He is playing in his third tournament with the Dallas-based Mustangs. He also played with the Fort Smith Kerwins American Legion team this summer.

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