On the Illinois forum there is an interesting and sometimes heated discussion about putting together an 18U team of IL players to play a "national" schedule against top 18U teams. Some folks say there is no way a team from IL could compete with the warm weather teams.
A look at the 2004 roster of one "national" team, the Midland Redskins, suggests that it is possible for cold weather players to compete on the national level.
Here's a breakdown of the home states of the top ten position players and top six pitchers from the twenty-player Connie Mack WS roster.
Position players: OH-3, FL-2, IN, IL, GA, VA, NC-1 each.
Pitchers: OH - 2, FL, PA, NH, Can.- 1 each.
Five of ten position players were from cold weather states. Five of six pitchers were from cold weather states.
Something to think about.
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