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"Baseball taught me to do my best. I learned to never give up. We have to work together as a team and we help each other. I love being a Dierker's Champ!" -Cris (DC player)
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"...I'm a total believer in Dierker's Champs and what it can do for at risk students... I have watched students who I knew felt unconnected at school establish a sense of belonging from being part of a team." -CFISD counselor
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"...watching our students grow in confidence and connectedness has been an amazing experience and I truly believe their participation has a positive effect on their lives." -CFISD coach
In the beginning, Cy-Hope funded two elementary schools, Andre and Francone. Many of these kids had never seen a glove or bat, let alone played catch with their dad. Their families couldn’t afford the Cy-Fair Sports Association (CFSA) fee, so we sponsored them. They were beaten badly game after game. Fortunately, they still enjoyed playing.
After three years, CFSA eliminated the “Friendship” level of competition. Our two schools weren’t ready to play “Select” or “Elite” baseball. They weren’t even close to this level of play. This is when we made the decision to disband our two teams.
After a year of inactivity of our sponsored teams, we formed an alliance with SpringSpirit, a baseball program with similar goals - good baseball and good family values. SpringSpirit brought us back to life, but they were growing too. In 2018, we started our own league serving Title I elementary and middle schools in CFISD.
The Dierker’s Champs Story
What We Have Done…
2011 - 2013 - Dierker’s Champs (DC) enters two fully-funded teams in Cy-Fair Sports Association (CFSA) Friendship level with economically-disadvantaged players. We also have 12 affiliated teams playing.
2014 - CFSA stops allowing friendship teams; Cy-Hope disbands our sponsored teams.
2015-2017 - DC partners with SpringSpirit - 100% focus on economically- disadvantaged players (no more affiliated teams).
2018 - Present - DC rents three Cy-Fair ISD fields and operates as an independent league serving Title 1 schools.
2022 - Even in the midst of COVID we have more than half of our 2020 teams returning.
What We Will Do…
Support a Fall League as well as a Spring League.
Balance field usage across divisions and continue to grow.
Rent fields to other baseball teams for tournaments and practices to offset maintenance costs.
Host special events such as an Opening Day Ceremony.
Potential expansion into softball and soccer.
Keeps kids engaged at a highly impressionable age.
Gives kids a sense of belonging by being part of a team with positive influences.
Gives kids an incentive to work hard in school to stay on the field.
Provides an opportunity for families to come together and meet new people.
Benefits of Youth Sports
