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Get Scouted Scouting CareersNational Scouting Report discovered North Central Louisiana area director Mason Alexander 20 years ago at a baseball showcase in Arlington, Texas.
A standout pitcher/outfielder at Longview High School, Alexander had been overlooked by college coaches. He had given up hope of playing in college until an NSR scout introduced himself to Alexander’s father, who was offered a full scholarship to play baseball at Sam Houston State.
Alexander, one of 27 players invited to the showcase, pitched 2 innings that day. One of the batters he faced was Arlington’s Vernon Wells. Yes, that Vernon Wells, the three-time All-Star outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays.
After Alexander retired Wells on a groundout and then limited him to a bloop single, the NSR scout asked his dad: “Has your son committed anywhere?”
“No,” Alexander’s dad responded.
“You’re kidding me,” the scout said. “He could be playing D-II or D-III.”
“I played in every select team from Houston to Dallas,” Alexander recalled. “I thought I was going to get noticed, but that was a big myth. College coaches were already in contact with the top players.”
Shortly after enrolling with NSR, Alexander started hearing from college coaches on all levels, including Oral Roberts and Abilene Christian. However, he preferred to play at a smaller school because “I wanted to go someplace where I could pitch, hit and play the field.”
Alexander received a handful of offers before deciding to accept a half scholarship to Central Christian College, a private NAIA school in Kansas, which guaranteed him a chance to pitch and play first base.
However, he never played.
Due to personal issues, Alexander lost his scholarship as a freshman. He transferred to a junior college for one semester before enrolling at Texas A&M – as a student only — and graduating with a degree in agricultural development in 2001.
Alexander, 37, spent the next 10 years working in human resources in the gas and oil industry, following in the footsteps of several family members.
Alexander moved from Texas to Oklahoma City and finally to North Central Louisiana with his girlfriend, Deanna, whom he married five months ago. With his temporary consulting job coming to an end, he responded to an ad from a company he knew well, NSR, which was seeking area scouts.
Shortly thereafter, Alexander became one of the company’s youngest area directors.
“I love baseball,” he said. “I love being around kids. I love helping kids. Any way I can help a kid reach his dream, that’s what I want.”
Alexander also likes to educate kids.
“I love to tell my story and what happened to me in college,” he said. “I want kids to understand how quickly your dream can be taken away if you don’t have your priorities in line.”
Alexander was one of the first former NSR prospects to return as a scout. NSR is now offering the same opportunity to all current and future prospects. Upon completion of play and graduation from a four-year institution, NSR prospects are guaranteed employment as company scouts or recruiting coordinators.
“If that’s what a kid wants to do [after graduation], I think it’s a great opportunity,” Alexander said. “Having gone through NSR myself, I knew what the job entailed and I know what the results can be. I hope others follow my lead.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.