Allow me first to say, that this is my personal situation. We simply want our money back based on the set of circumstances we faced during our time with this team.
Following is the first thing you see on their website:
"Welcome to the official website of the Dallas Patriots, home of the 2002 and 2003 Mickey Mantle World Series Champions!
The Dallas Patriots were founded by Logan Stout in 2002. The Patriots coaching staff is compiled of some of the finest, and most respected coaches in select baseball.
Each year, players of the highest caliber travel from all over the state of Texas to play for the Patriots. As a Dallas Patriot, your son will be a part of the most competitive baseball for players ages 8-18, will obtain an increased knowledge in the game of baseball, exposure to collegiate and professional scouts, and much much more!
The Dallas Patriots emphasize a team atmosphere, morals, discipline, and the mental and physical aspects of the game of baseball. Each and every team is designed to give both the players and the parents the best environment for learning and growth.
"United we stand, divided we fall, all for one, one for all, PATRIOTS!"
When push comes to shove Logan Stout, repeatedly told us this was a business. He had to have a minimum of 15 kids (at $1,500 per kid) per team (14 teams total) to make a profit.
It began when my older son's fall ball coach called and told us he was folding his organization and would be joining the Dallas Patriots. He asked us if we would follow him over there and allow our 15 (now) to play for him over there. We, without hesitation, agreed. Fall had been a good season. We saw this coach working with the kids and he seemed to feel like our son had potential.
So we follow this coach over to the Dallas Patriots.
Meanwhile, because we wanted both our boys to play for the same organization, we decided to have our 13 year old try-out for their 13 year old team. He made it. We thought we were in heaven!
We attended a meeting at a local restaurant where each family stood up and told the group why they choose the Dallas Patriots. I couldn't wait for my turn. We were so proud to have been asked to follow my 15 year old's coach. I told the crowded that we had followed this coach (as he was to be helping with the 13 year old team too) and were thrilled that our 13 year old would get the same kind of coaching as our 15 year old had.
We all signed our "contract" that night.
According to the 13 year old coach, the first time Logan Stout attended on of the practices, he saw our 13 year old pitch and asked the coach "Who is that goofy looking kid?" Not a very kind thing for a youth minister to say about a youth. However, the coach found it humorous and repeated it to us. First uneasy feeling.
So the season starts and my son doesn't get much playing time at all (the contract we signed says that there is no guarantee of playing time). He sat out two full games in a row. So, I approch the coach just to be sure there isn't a problem. Was he goofing off at practice? Was he showing up late? No. The coach says he just forgot. He was very sorry, but he simply forgot that our son had not played in TWO games. He said our son was making progress, maybe a little slower than he thought, but he thought he had talent and would be fine.
At this point, I should tell you that our "contract" also says this is a "National" level team. Nope. Quite the contrary. They took this team down a division as they could not win any games and were getting discouraged. I didn't have a single problem with that. My point here is: Logan Stout stands behind this contract, yet he isn't delivering a National level team.
O.K. Another game comes along (probably our 6th or 7th). Our son is at the game one hour ahead of game, just like instructed. He practices and participates. Game time comes. He is not put into the game. Another of our players arrives almost one full hour into the game. So now this player is almost two hours late. Last inning. We are down by more than several runs. Yup. You can guess. He put the late player in to play right field and my son never saw the field.
The very next day, I emailed this coach telling him we wouldn't be playing for him anymore and just to be fair I only request 1/2 our money back ($750.00).
After much back and forth, our request had continually been denied.
Please revisit the description of Logan Stouts' Dallas Patriots (straight from the front page of his website). We did not get "the mental and physical aspects of the game of baseball. Each and every team is designed to give both the players and the parents the best environment for learning and growth."
Logan has admitted that the coach was "overwhelmed." "Not used to losing." "Made a mistake." Logan Stout also said "he did not
agree with the coach." Yet he still refuses to give us 1/2 our money back.
He repeatedly maintains that this is a business and we just must not "get it." Oh, yeah. I get it. As long as we can write checks he doesn't want to lose our kids.
To make matters worse, remember our 15 year old son that followed his coach to the Dallas Patriots? Well, come to find the 15's have two teams. One stacked. One not. The coach we followed is coaching the stacked team, but that is not the team our son was placed on.
Seems Logan recruited a couple of 6' guys to play first and that left my son on the bench. Hey, I totally get that. Logan has every right to recruit and place players on any team he wants. However, we were mislead and flat out lied to about where our son would be playing. Logan maitains that when we sign the contract we are playing for the organization, not the coach. Just seems to us he knew we were coming because of the coach and he should have that in the "contract" or he should have mentioned that when I gushed, publicly, about having followed this coach.
Please, replace our kid. Yeah. It hurts and kinda stings, but don't keep our money when our kid no longer fits your plans. Just be honest and upfront and say, some better players came along and your son would be better served with another organization. And give us our refund.
Nope. Logan says this is a business and tough!
I am pursing legal action and won't quit until this is resolved. I refuse to be scammed, lied to, taken advantage of, etc. It is just wrong. Especially from someone that claims he is such a devout Christian. If he talks the talk, he sure ought to be held accountable to walk the walk.
Again, this is just our experience. Everything I've written is true and I have emails to prove it.
Logan wants to hold our feet to the fire regarding the contract, but he refuses to uphold his end of the contract, the advertising on his website and the verbal committments made to us.
I just want my $1,250 back.
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