⚾ Giving Back, Driving Forward: A Conversation with Coach Ryan Mitchel

Coach Ryan (Red) seen here looking on

This week, while most coaches were enjoying a rare summer break, 806 Drive head coach Ryan Mitchel was back on the field—not with his soon to be12U squad, but with his former high school coach, helping lead a free community baseball camp in Amarillo. Thanks to a generous donation from 806 Drive Team GM Charles D’Amico, a longtime Jimmy John’s franchisee and youth sports supporter, the camp was able to waive fees for dozens of kids who otherwise couldn’t afford the experience.

We caught up with Coach Mitchel between field stations, where he was tossing BP and coaching up 8-year-olds with the same energy he brings to Drive practices. “It’s about giving back, and helping kids,” Mitchel said. “This team, and these coaches gave me their time and knowledge—I feel honored to do the same for these kids.”

The camp, much like the philosophy behind 806 Drive, is rooted in more than just baseball. “We teach discipline, respect, and purpose,” Mitchel added. “It’s not just about mechanics. It’s about how we show up, treat others, and take ownership of our future.” That’s the same spirit embedded in Drive’s Code of Conduct—where effort is praised over outcome, respect is non-negotiable, and every player is developed as a teammate, student, and young leader. For Amarillo’s baseball community, it’s a reminder that the game can still be a vehicle for something much bigger than the scoreboard.