On a warm Sunday morning, a team of young boys, clad in maroon caps and jerseys, gathers on the baseball diamond before their game begins. The coach gives his athletes some pointers and a pep talk, and then something unusual happens. Players from the opposing team join the circle around home plate. The boys remove their caps, pray together, and share a quiet time of devotion.
These small baseball players are part of the Dripping Springs Renegades, a select youth baseball league created by Brett and Kirstin Scherer. Proud parents of 7-year-old Colton and 11-year-old Jaden, the Scherers had prayed about building a different kind of sports organization that would grow young men through the game of baseball while focusing on God and the community.
In summer 2024, Brett and Kirstin’s dream took shape, and Renegades now boasts five teams comprising players ages 6 through 11. “We hope to create an affordable club that helps the kids grow in their love of the game, but also prepares them for success in all sports, becoming champions on and off the field,” shares Brett.
Karyna Donley, whose 6-year-old son Josiah plays on the youngest Renegades team, was glad to find an organization that balances high-quality training with faith, family, and community. “We’re really excited about this team that aligns with our family values,” she says. “It’s a breath of fresh air.”
From its inception, the Scherers’ vision for the Renegades centered on God, followed by goals, grind, and growth—a standard that became known as the G4 model. “We wanted kids and parents to always know who we are and what we are about,” says Brett. “God comes first.”
After God, Renegades focuses on setting goals for its teams and individual players. “If we start showing kids at a young age how to set goals and work hard to achieve those goals, we are setting them up to succeed in life as well as sports,” says Brett.
This hard work defines the “grind.” Brett explains, “We want the boys to understand that nothing is given on the baseball field nor in life. You have to work hard and earn it.”
As for growth, “this sport is not about the wins and losses,” Brett shares. “It’s the process and the journey in baseball that is a bigger win.” The Renegades are dedicated to becoming stronger competitors as well as better teammates, friends, and sons.
Donley sees the results of the league’s commitment to its G4 model. “The amount of growth, development, and intentionality that our kids have received has been incredible,” she says. “We have been absolutely impressed with the coaching, the talent, and the attention that has been dedicated to training our boys. The boys are getting better every single week.”
Renegades also recognizes the importance of balance. The league encourages players to participate in multiple sports and is mindful of its families’ resources and busy lives. “It’s a little more budget friendly—both your financial budget and your time budget,” Donley notes. “It’s great to be able to encourage and develop your young athlete while having time to do other things.”
Seeking to develop well-rounded individuals, the Renegades are also committed to becoming champions of their town, with a strong sense of community and a passion for giving back. “We want the kids to learn to love through giving,” shares Kirstin.
To this end, each Renegades team has chosen an organization to serve. For instance, one team will support Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which builds and delivers beds to ensure safe, comfortable sleeping conditions for children in need. Another team picked Service Dogs, Inc., a Dripping Springs nonprofit that trains and transforms unwanted shelter dogs to become service dogs. Still other teams have chosen to serve through Christmas on Mercer and a local retirement home.
“We are showing these boys that giving back to the community is just as important, if not more important, than winning a ring or a trophy,” says Brett. “If we start this while they are young, there is no telling what kind of ripple effect it may have long term.”
In true Dripping Springs spirit, the Renegades program depends on a supportive network of parents, coaches, neighbors, and friends. “We’re all in it together,” shares Donley, whose husband is also a volunteer assistant coach. “There is a great camaraderie; the kids and all of the families have cultivated some really great friendships.”
You may even see members of the Dripping Springs High School baseball team at Renegades practices, with the high school players helping and mentoring the younger kids, who admire and look up to the older athletes.
“I still think of Drip as our small-town community, no matter how large it grows,” says Brett. “We still want programs that treat it as such—a helping-hands community, a loving community, a giving community.”
“The big reason many folks moved to this amazing place cannot be forgotten or dismissed,” he continues. “We have to keep pushing to make sure that these principles last, and that starts with showing kids how important they are.”
@dsrenegades
“We want to grow good ball players and good human beings.” - Kirstin Scherer