FORT WORTH - For the first time in program history, members of the Texas Wesleyan University baseball team will take their talents overseas this summer as part of the inaugural Boys of Summer Tour — a 12-day international baseball and cultural journey across Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The tour, which begins July 21 and runs through August 3, represents a major milestone for the Rams, offering student-athletes the opportunity to compete against top European teams, explore historic cities, and engage in cultural exchange on and off the diamond. The trip will culminate with the Boys of Summer International Tournament in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
"This trip represents something much bigger than baseball," said Kerry Getter, a 1977 Texas Wesleyan graduate and chairman of the newly formed John L. Smith Baseball Foundation, which helped organize the tour. "It's a chance for these young men to grow as athletes and global citizens, and to see the game played through a different cultural lens."
Getter, a former pitcher for the Rams who was drafted by the Texas Rangers, played a pivotal role in shaping the tour. He credited his late coach, Larry Smith — a trailblazer who helped develop baseball across Austria — as the inspiration behind the project.
"Coach Smith dedicated his life to baseball and had a tremendous impact on players here and abroad," Getter said. "The tour is about honoring his legacy and continuing the work he started in Europe. The human value of this experience is immeasurable. These players are stepping into a world where baseball is growing, where the passion for the game is just beginning to take root. They're not just playing—they're helping build the sport globally."
Hosted by the Diving Ducks Baseball Club in Wiener Neustadt, Ducksfield will serve as the tour's central hub, featuring exhibition games, youth clinics, and cultural events. Stops will also include games in Prague, Salzburg, Munich, and Bratislava, as well as the historic venue of Armin-Wolf Arena in Regensburg, Germany, and Apollo Field in Slovakia.
Head Coach Bobby Garza, who is entering his eighth season at the helm of the TXWES program, will lead the team on the trip. Under his leadership, Texas Wesleyan has made multiple appearances in the NAIA National Tournament and established itself as a regional powerhouse.
"The experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our guys," Garza said. "They'll grow on the field, build leadership skills, and make connections with people from different backgrounds who share a love for the game. The international perspective they'll gain is something you can't replicate in the classroom or on a traditional road trip."
The Texas Wesleyan players selected to travel with the team include senior pitcher Samuel Mendez, junior pitcher Dylan Krause—a transfer from the University of Texas at Arlington—freshman catcher Gavin Litchauer, and freshman shortstop Boston Farris. They will join a group of select players from the Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth areas.
Garza said the trip aligns with the program's broader mission to prepare student-athletes for success beyond baseball, offering a global view of sport, culture, and community.
"The tour challenges our players to think bigger—about the game, about their role as ambassadors for Texas Wesleyan, and about what it means to be a part of something larger than themselves," Garza said.
"I am honored to have been asked to be the head coach on the First Boys of Summer team and take part in continuing the mission Coach Smith started," he added.
The tour is the product of a multi-year collaboration between the John L. Smith Baseball Foundation and leaders in European baseball, including Martin Zoufal, founder of baseball-lab.eu and a longtime supporter of the Diving Ducks. Zoufal worked closely with Smith during the early 2000s and has been instrumental in growing the sport in the region.
"The tour is more than baseball—it's about building lifelong memories, friendships, and a new perspective on the game," Zoufal said. "It's a chance to experience Europe in a way that no travel agency can offer—through sport, community, and international camaraderie."
In addition to competition, the itinerary includes sightseeing excursions through Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, and Munich, providing players with a firsthand look at Europe's diverse cultures, cuisines, and histories.
The journey will conclude with the Boys of Summer International Tournament, taking place from August 1 to 3 at Ducksfield, featuring top U23 teams from Austria, the Czech Republic, and a pan-European all-star squad known as the Globetrotters. An opening ceremony will honor the legacy of Larry Smith, whose pioneering efforts helped lay the foundation for this transatlantic partnership.
"This is about continuing a legacy and opening new doors," Getter said. "Baseball is a bridge between cultures, and this team is ready to walk across it."
For more information on the Boys of Summer Tour, visit https://boysofsummer.tours/.
