As Our Story Begins...

A Message from Our Founder

Somehow, I've always believed it was less coincidence and more destiny that my first official baby picture at 6 months old, had me holding a ball. According to my mom, it was the only toy the photographer had that interested me.

Long before I ever wore umpire's gear or ran a practice, I grew up playing baseball in the school yards and ballfields on the south side of Chicago.

The game taught me things no classroom could: how to fail on a Tuesday and show up ready to work on Wednesday, and how to earn a teammate's trust one routine ground ball at a time.

After decades of coaching and umpiring in Chicago, beginning in 1991, I moved and put down roots in Las Vegas. Once I arrived and became part of the local Southern Nevada baseball scene I saw a huge gap. Travel baseball had gotten loud — big price tags, bigger promises, not much real development behind either one.

Too much time gets spent chasing trendy numbers and elaborate strategies, and not enough attention gets paid to developing the actual kid standing in the batter's box.

Consequently, I've watched far too many talented 8-year-olds hit 14 with their progress stalled, because they received more applause than instruction when it mattered most.

My breakpoint moment came this past spring (2026) when while umpiring a 16U game, I remembered many of the players from much younger days. Unfortunately, I came away feeling that some of these young players' potential was wasted.

I knew then that I had to do something. My conscience would no longer allow me to watch local raw talent, with great facilities and the ability to play year-round (unlike Chicago), go to waste. I had to fill that gap!

B.O.S.S. Baseball was created to close that gap!

“We are building young people who take pride in the details —

not just talented players.”

— Tony Davenport, Founder