Middle School Matchup Gets Into the Franchise Game with Initial Growth in Texas

Frisco, TX, August 06, 2018 --(PR.com)-- When Carrie and Daniel Himel put together a youth baseball tournament for their son to play with school friends back in 2012, they never dreamed it would take shape into a 6,000-player experience across the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.

“My wife, Carrie, and I started Middle School Matchup when our son was in 7th grade because in Texas there is no baseball in Middle School. There’s football, track, volleyball, soccer, but no baseball teams for Middle School,” explains Daniel Himel.

The idea was to create an experience where for one weekend the kids got to wear their middle school shirts and had the chance to play baseball with all the friends they grew up with. Fast forward six weeks from the birth of that idea and players took the field in the first Middle School Matchup.

Now during the phenomenon that is the Middle School Matchup tournament weekend you’ll find thousands of players on hundreds of teams representing hundreds of schools spanning across more than 40 cities in North Texas. You’ll also find happy baseball – smiles and high fives, parents enjoying the spirit of the game and players and coaches getting to experience youth baseball and softball as it should be. Once players and parents take part, it seems they are eager to come back for more. Middle School Matchup has had teams sell out in just over two minutes once registration opens.

“We didn’t expect the response from parents and players. There was magic. It’s sandlot baseball for one weekend a year. No pressure, just fun baseball,” says Himel.

The growth throughout DFW is the tip of the iceberg, as the 5-year old sports company is growing into other markets through franchise development. The interest from potential franchisees in Texas has been prominent and is not surprisingly where the first outward ripple of growth will be seen. However, Middle School Matchup is offering franchise territories in states across the United States.

The market for seasonal baseball tournaments for middle school-aged kids is underdeveloped. There are school baseball leagues for high school students, but such programs for middle school students are far and few between. The independent leagues that serve this age group gather players from across one or more regions and often involve significant travel.

Middle School Matchup fills the gap by bringing together middle school students that love baseball and teaming them up by school. They find and develop friendships within their own school who share the same love of baseball.

As soon as the Fall of 2018, Middle School Matchup tournaments will be in full swing across Dallas-Ft Worth, Houston and San Antonio, with the goal to spread happy baseball across middle school players nationwide.