@baseballhs posted:My son played the Northwoods League last year and it was a grind. Got there May 31st and didn’t get to come home until August 12th (had to be back in campus the 17th). Long bud rides. Got home anywhere from 12-4am. Played everyday except 4-5 days all summer. As a pitcher, his team had a LOT. He ended up pitching every 7th day but was still required to attend all games. He was not with a great host family and mentally it was a tough summer. He said it was supposed to be and he was going to lean in to it. That said, I know it was hard. His team was good. Won the division, lowest team ERA in the League, went to the championship. I think he values the experience but said he won’t go back. He just signed a contract for next summer in the Cape Cod league. Less games, no more than an hour or so drive to games and they finished earlier.
My pitcher son had very nearly the exact same kind of summer one year in the Valley League. First time away from home. End of May to beginning of August. Bus rides were not real long, but bus broke down a couple times. Was a huge grind. He got in tremendous shape. Turned out was probably good for his baseball development but would not do it again. He probably only made it through because he did have a great host family - with basically his own floor in a home on a golf course.