Youth athletes are accustomed to wearing some interesting uniforms.
Whether its due to having the long name of a sponsor adorned on their jersey, or a shirt that is neon-colored, youth jerseys can be ridiculous at times.
Brian Allen vividly remembers the worst uniform he ever wore. It was a neon yellow jersey his Hilltown team wore for one season when he played in the Franklin County Babe Ruth Baseball League.
“We looked like construction workers, you know, those neon yellow shirts they wear,” Allen joked.
While he might not have loved the color scheme of his jersey, Allen enjoyed his time playing in the league and was recently selected as the recipient of the Franklin County Babe Ruth League’s college scholarship. The recent graduate of Mohawk Trail Regional High School received $500, which will help him offset some of the cost as he moves on to attend Lasell College in Newton this fall.
Allen received the scholarship after writing an essay that spoke about his time in the league. He spent three seasons in the league, playing for one of the Hilltown teams, which had previously formed their own league but merged with the Franklin County League several years ago. He said what was great about the merger was the chance to play against players from many of the other schools in the area. The relationships formed through that experience carried forth into high school where he saw many familiar faces across the diamond.
“It was fun to play in the Babe Ruth League,” he began. “It was the perfect opportunity to meet kids from other schools. It’s a nice league for networking.”
Allen began playing baseball in the Mohawk Cal Ripken League when he was in first grade. He has spent the majority of his recent years behind the plate as a catcher, but also pitched some and can play the infield and outfield. He was a star player for the Mohawk varsity team in recent years, and just completed his second season playing for Greenfield Post 81’s American Legion squad.
Throughout his career, the jersey that stood out the most to Allen was that neon yellow jersey, and there is good reason. As Allen moves on to college, he is majoring in fashion design, a passion of his. He said he became interested in fashion design during his junior year and went to the Textile Company in Greenfield where he purchased a pattern. With the help of his grandmother, Iola Held, Allen made his first shirt.
“I hope to learn the skills needed to start my own line some day,” he said.
Perhaps he could design baseball uniforms. Allen said that when it comes to uniforms, he feels that color coordination is very important.
“For baseball, gray is good if you are diving in the dirt,” he said.
And when it comes to baseball fashion, there is of course the most important question of all.
“I’m a socks high guy,” he said with a laugh. “Some guys wear stirrups, but I’m not there yet.”
If all goes well, perhaps Allen will get the chance to suit up for his new college. It’s a chance that is being helped out by the local baseball league he grew up playing in.
And just in case you were wondering, Lasell sports a powder blue and white uniform.