Goshen youth traveling to Austria to play baseball

GOSHEN — A baseball sits on the rug in the corner of the room. Cleats are stacked next to the front door.

Mounted on one wall are baseball trophies. Framed above the TV is an Atlanta Braves logo.

“He does see himself playing for the Atlanta Braves,” Susan Maddox said of her son.

So much so that 14-year-old Jared Maddox has considered a potential problem.

“My baseball number is 16,” Jared begins. “That dude — McCann — would still be playing, so I might have to choose another number,” he said of the current Atlanta catcher.

Maddox dreams big, and he’s about to get a chance to display his talents on an international stage.

The youngster is scheduled to board a flight in Birmingham on Sunday to begin his journey to Vienna, Austria, where he will compete in baseball during the Youth Friendship Games — an Olympic-style competition with other student athletes from around the world. He’ll return 10 days later.

“This is going to be some good exposure for him,” Susan said. “But it’s also a chance for him to know what’s out there. He may see it’s not what he wants.”

The event is part of the People to People Sports Ambassador Programs, which are offered to student athletes in grades 5-12. The players, broken down into different age divisions, have a chance to train under world-class coaches and test their skills in game competition.

It comes at a significant cost.

“On Dec. 31, we got a letter that he had been invited,” Susan said. “We’re not sure who nominated him, but I’ve got an idea it was our prior principal or a guidance counselor.”

It was decided if the expense was not more than $7,000, the family would consider letting Jared compete.

“It was $6,550,” Jared says with a smile.

Susan wants to be a teacher and is currently taking classes at Troy University to earn a degree in elementary education. She’s on schedule to graduate in January. Her husband, Mitchell, is a truck driver.

They are using money from an IRA Susan accumulated from a previous job to pay for the trip.

“This is an opportunity for him to better himself,” Susan said.

Maddox is one of 16 athletes from Alabama competing in the international games, which includes 10 sports. He’s the only Alabama athlete who will be competing in baseball.

Jeff Nelson, who spent 15 seasons as a major league pitcher, will lead the baseball program.

Jared is counting on picking up some tips from the coach.

“I’m trying to work on fixing my pickoff move,” Jared said. “I don’t like to try and pick off people because I’m afraid I’ll balk.”

Maddox, who will be a freshman at Goshen High this year, played on the varsity as an eighth-grader this past season. While he’s primarily a first baseman, he got his first varsity action as a relief pitcher this year against Highland Home.

“I don’t throw fast — kind of float it up there,” the left-hander says of his breaking ball. “They thought they would crush it.”

Of the six batters he faced in the debut, Maddox said he struck out four and two others flied out.

“He started playing baseball at 4,” Susan said. “Jared has had some great coaches as far as the Troy recreation leagues. Besides Jared working really hard, I know they’ve made a difference.”

Maddox is an A student who also plays saxophone in the Goshen band.

But talk about baseball and he really lights up.

“I don’t know if people understand it, but I actually enjoy practicing baseball,” Jared said. “If you play the game as hard has you can, that’s all you can do.”