Southside Youth Development

09/04/2026

What a summer for SYD!

This summer, we had the opportunity to serve 45+ youth and play 30+ games, creating countless opportunities for our players to learn, grow, compete, and have fun together.

On the field, our players continued to develop their skills, compete as a team, and grow in their love for the game. Off the field, they had opportunities to experience new places, build relationships, and make memories that will last far beyond this summer.

A huge thank you to our coaches, families, volunteers, community partners, and everyone who invested their time and energy into our youth throughout the summer. None of these experiences would be possible without the people who continue to show up for our kids.

At Southside Youth Development, baseball is more than a game. It’s a platform to build confidence, character, relationships, and experiences that help equip and empower our youth for the future.

We’re grateful for an incredible summer and excited for what’s ahead! ❤️⚾️

08/28/2026

A night to celebrate the impact of our SYD community! ⚾️💙

Friday night, we had the opportunity to bring together our players, families, coaches, supporters, and community partners at the Chattanooga Lookouts game for our first ever Celebration of Impact.

Over the past six years, SYD has grown from an idea centered around baseball into a community that has served more than 150 young people. Friday night was an opportunity to celebrate how far we’ve come, recognize the people who have helped make that growth possible, and look ahead to what’s next.

We’re incredibly grateful for everyone who continues to believe in our mission and invest in the young people we serve. The relationships and support surrounding our players are what make this work possible, both on and off the field.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the night so special! Thank you to the Chattanooga Lookouts for hosting us!

We’re excited for what’s ahead as we continue using baseball, mentorship, and community to equip and empower the next generation.

08/20/2026

Another great “AS 1” Community Kickball Game in the books!

A few weeks ago, our youth had an awesome afternoon connecting with local first responders and community partners through some friendly competition, food, prizes, and plenty of fun!

A huge thank you to the Chattanooga Fire Department, Chattanooga Police Department, Brothers United, Chattanooga Red Wolves, and everyone who came out and helped make this event possible. We’re grateful for partners who continue to show up, build relationships, and invest in Chattanooga’s youth.

It’s always special to see our community come together as one!

Special shoutout to SYD alum for capturing these moments from the day! 📸

07/24/2026

Southside 11U teams had an awesome time last night at the Chattanooga Lookouts!

SYD was the community partner and the kids got to meet some of players, and stand on the field for the national anthem. It was most of the boys first time at a professional baseball game! Thank you to the Lookouts for this awesome experience for our youth.

07/20/2026

Education. Experiences. Exposure.

These three words are at the heart of Southside Youth Development's mission, and this week our youth experienced all three.

Our players had the incredible opportunity to tour Truist Park, learn about the rich history of the Atlanta Braves, experience a Major League game together, and even meet Braves center fielder Michael Harris II after the game.

For our youth, this was much more than a day at the ballpark. It was an opportunity to expand their perspective on what is possible, see excellence up close, ask thoughtful questions, and discover the many careers and opportunities that exist within baseball both on and off the field.

A huge thank you to Tim Bennett and everyone else who made this unforgettable experience possible. We're also excited to celebrate the opening of Tim's new coffee shop, at The Battery! Thank you for your generosity, your investment in our youth, and for believing in the mission of Southside Youth Development.

07/07/2026

We had a great game last night between the SYD Yard Goats and the SYD River Dogs at the Emma Wheeler Field!

The River Dogs pulled off a 3-2 victory with some awesome pitching and timely hitting! Both teams have shown huge improvement this season in their teamwork, attitudes, and effort.

Huge thank you to Gus Hernandez and Silverdale Baptist for providing Chick-Fil-A for the teams before the game!

07/04/2026

What an incredible day for baseball in Chattanooga!

A few weeks ago, over 80 young athletes had the unforgettable opportunity to learn, grow, and have fun on the brand new professional field of the Chattanooga Lookouts during this year's MLB Playball Weekend baseball clinic.

This day wouldn't have been possible without our amazing partners at Chattanooga Lookouts and Howard High School Baseball, along with every coach, volunteer, and supporter who gave their time, energy, and heart to invest in our kids.

At Southside Youth Development, we believe baseball is more than a game — it's a platform to build confidence, character, teamwork, and lifelong memories. Seeing all these smiling faces on the field reminded us why this mission matters.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this experience so special. Together, we're equipping and empowering Chattanooga's youth! ❤️⚾

07/04/2026

06/17/2026

🍽️ Can you help feed a team this summer?

We're looking for people willing to provide a meal to our players on game days this summer. We have 10 dates to choose from!

This is a very practical way to serve our youth that makes a huge difference!

If you'd like to help, take a look at the Meal Train and sign up for a date that works for you.

Thank you for helping us care for our kids this season. ❤️⚾

Southside Youth Development uses the game of baseball to invest in and develop young people in Chattanooga's Southside. This season, we're serving approximately 50 players on four teams (two 11U teams, a 14U team, and a 16U team), and many of our game days are long ones. We're organizing this Meal T...

06/15/2026

☀️ Two weeks into the SYD Summer and we're off to a great start! ⚾️

• 50 boys on 4 SYD baseball teams — our biggest summer yet!
• Emma Wheeler Field officially has a welcome sign!
• Jeremih Joyner, a 5-year SYD member, hit his first-ever home run with our 16U team, a moment he'll never forget!
• More than 100 youth joined us for Play Ball Weekend at Erlanger Park.

Thank you to all of our families, volunteers, and supporters who make moments like these possible.

Want to catch a game? Check out our summer schedule below! ⚾

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18cDOCr8ACoPGHdLqze3WNFBOZB5OmePiKAXgEuItFnA/edit?usp=sharing