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McCook player gets World Series of an opportunity
McCOOK, Neb. — Brett Fraker’s diamond of an opportunity probably started around his favorite infield position before he was even born.
Mom Lindsey Dane was diving for grounders, ripping clutch hits and handling shortstop duties.
She played for McCook High and McCook Community College along with the national champon McCook Rebels 18-and-under fastpitch team in 2003.
Lindsey delivered an RBI-single for a huge 3-2 win over Lodi Heat, Calif.
“We’ve had Brett try a lot of sports and decide what he likes,” Lindsey explained Thursday afternoon. “But it was always baseball at the top. So when he asked about positions, I leaned to shortstop where I played.”
Now mom, grandma and all Brett’s relatives can be proud of his national opportunity.
The soon-to-be McCook High freshman has been accepted into a Factory where stars Brett Harper and Nolan Arenado have went on to “decent” major-league jobs.
“That’s been his dream for about as long as I can remember,” Lindsey said. “Brett wants to be a major league baseball player.”
Brett took a great first step during the recent Under Armour Baseball Factory tryouts in Omaha — not far from where he’d love to achieve another great goal before any pros.
“I want to play college baseball. Where? Nebraska (in Lincoln) would be great,” he said Thursday afternoon.
First, Brett focused on earning his spot in the Baseball Factory National World Series at Bradenton, Fla., later this summer.
The recent Omaha-based tryout was a guantlet of tests for his baseball skills.
What was Brett’s throwing accuracy and velocity?
How fast did baseballs jump off Brett’s bat with each hit?
How were his baserunning instincts and 60-yard dash time?
Grip strength?
Broad jump and all-around agility?
Fielding talent?
What variety of pitches did he throw?
“Brett was trying out at shortstop and as a pitcher,” Lindsay explained. “But from what I understood, not a lot of players from Nebraska get chosen.”
Finally was perhaps an equally important question: how did Brett perform as a McCook school student?
He fired back the best potential answer.
“Brett gets straight As,” his proud mom proclaimed. “They (the Factory) don’t want players who aren’t good students.”
Sure enough, Brett’s academic and diamond efforts were part of why Baseball Factory observers loved his tryout.
They rewarded him the chance to play in July’s Under Armour National City at Pirate City where MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates train.
“I am very excited to have been selected for this incredible opportunity,” Brett confirmed.
He will get to train and work on my skills with some of the top baseball coaches in the country. Plus it’s a chance to play against other outstanding players from across the U.S. to give him valuable national competition.
“It will be once in a lifetime opportunity,” he added.
Brett’s challenge will now to be raising necessary funds for covering hotel, food, local transportation, training, coaching, insurance and other costs. He’s already completed one fundraiser, but Lindsey admits this process works better when an entire team is involved.
“Brett’s certainly ready to help with community projects and get these funds raised,” she said.
Contributions can be made by contacting Brett at his player link. Lindsey or Brett can be contacted at (308) 350-0972 to obtain more information.
“My goal is to play baseball in college and hopefully further,” Brett concluded.
Of course, another current concern has to be COVID-19.
Lindsay said the Baseball Factory is determined to play this World Series even if it’s December — much like MLB’s World Series.
“It’s Florida, so obviously December would not be a problem,” she said. “He will get this opportunity.”