Last weekend’s Black History Month Jamboree marked the start of the Dallas ISD baseball season in grand fashion when Pinkston and David W. Carter High Schools clashed on the big stage at Globe Life Field.

Pinkston High School, who finished with a 14-3 overall record in its 2023 campaign, is entering the 2024 season with confidence after defeating the home team, Carter, 14-4 in the 2024 Jamboree.

For several years, the Pinkston Vikings have utilized the Academy’s baseball and softball fields, located less than a mile from campus, while their playing surfaces underwent remodels. Fields returned to operation in 2023, but Pinkston’s baseball team still relies on the Youth Academy’s Johnny Oates Field to host select games for a big league feel, including their annual senior night celebrations.

Dallas ISD’s Thomas Jefferson High School will join Pinkston in hosting select home baseball games at the Youth Academy this year. Thomas Jefferson also faced detrimental field issues after a tornado passed through the area in 2019. With continued support from the Rangers West Dallas Youth Academy, the team faced no delay in play and still relies on Oates Field for select games.

The start of the 2024 season will bring a handful of games to the West Dallas Academy.

Pinkston and Thomas Jefferson will face one another in the opening game at Johnny Oates Field this Friday, Feb. 16, a matchup that will include several long-time Academy athletes representing their high schools.

A full schedule of anticipated DISD games at the Rangers Youth Academy in 2024 is below:

• Friday, Feb. 16 @ 6p.m. – Pinkston High School vs. Thomas Jefferson High School
• Tuesday, March 19 @ 6 p.m. – Pinkston High School vs. Frankston High School
• Friday, March 22 @ 5 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School vs. Newman International High School
• Monday, March 25 @ 6:30 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School vs. Sunset High School
• Friday, March 29 @ 4:30 p.m. – Pinkston High School vs. Roosevelt High School
• Monday, April 8 @ 6 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School vs. Adamson
• Friday, April 12 @ 4:30 p.m. – Pinkston High School vs. Cater High School
• Monday, April 15 @ 6:30 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School vs. South Oak Cliff High School
• Monday, April 22 @ 6:30 p.m. – Thomas Jefferson High School vs. Molina High School
• Friday, April 26 @ 4:30 p.m. – Pinkston High School vs. Wilmer Hutchins High School

All DISD games played at the Texas Rangers Youth Academy are open to the public, with no admission fee required to attend. The schedule is subject to change.