Tagged With "HS"
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Coaches Clinic this December
Bernie Walter's Winning Edge Coaches Seminar is a dynamic informative coaching clinic by the University of MD Director of Baseball Operations. Coach Walter has been the USA Baseball National HS Director and has also led the USA Baseball Junior...
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2016 player who just ended first season in HS Baseball, how do I start to be recognized by college coaches?
I would LOVE to play baseball in college. My dream is to play baseball at a top college to get the best education possible, while playing the best sport in the world. I just ended by first year, in which I played JV. I was one top hitters on the team...
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Playing for HS and Showcase at same time?
I am a newbie, so please accept my apologies up front if I have posted to the wrong area. We have a situation where we have a player on the JV team at his school in Texas but he is also playing on a tournament team. Glancing through the...
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Expectations for mid-sized HS baseball program?
(First Post) My son, a small 2023 LHP will be starting 9th grade in a couple months at a high school with just under 1500 students. It has the smallest student population among schools in its division (CA division 2), and I am given to understand pays around a $5000 stipend to the head coach of the HS baseball program. I don't think $5000 is likely to attract a high caliber head coach who is able and willing to put in the time and effort to build a comprehensive program. I have learned from...
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Advice for Incoming College Freshman
Going off to college is exciting, know there is a whole new baseball world that's waiting for you is even more exciting. I just finished my freshman year of college and I wanted to share some of the things I wish I had known/ I learned. Disclaimer: This is written from a players perspective of college baseball, so there will some things that parents probably won't want to know about. Understand that you are a freshman: It doesn't matter if you're the number 1 recruit in your class or a...
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Can non Travel Players Get to the Next Level?
Hello All- I'm a 2021 RHP with the dream of playing at the next level. People tell me I have the talent to pitch at the next level, and I believe I can as well, with hard work and a little bit of luck. I throw 84 as a sophomore in HS, I have a sharp breaking ball and a pretty good changeup. I also have a feel for pitching and the game. However, I don't play travel. It's not possible for my family, as it is too expensive and my parents are too busy for that kind of commitment. I'm a hard...
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Is Travel Ball a necessity?
Let's say a kid is on varsity his sophomore year and doesn't play much. Doesn't play travel ball in the summer but plays with his HS summer team. Then he breaks out and has a huge junior year, but does the same thing again next summer, not playing travel ball. What are the chances of this kid getting recruited? Is travel ball a must for being recruited nowadays?
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Tommy John Symptoms
I'm kind of new to this site so I searched I search "Tommy John" and read through the forums. So it seems like a lot of people here have some experience on this subject. First off I'm 17 and a senior in HS. I've been having arm issues lately and I have a doctors appointment scheduled for next week. Could any of you list some of the symptoms you you or someone you knew had that resulted in some type of ucl or arm injury? So far these are the problems that I've had: numbness, occasional pain...
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16U & 18U Summer Showcase team tryouts
The professionally coached Texas Select teams are looking to add a few solid players to the team rosters. We will be playing in showcase tournaments mainly in the DFW area with 2 out of town tournaments. We are holding practice/tryouts every Sunday from 12:30 - 3pm at our team practice field (weather permitting) 213 Sunray Lane, Sunnyvale. The season will not begin until the HS ball is over and ends around the first of August. Visit www.claysmithbaseball.com to find out...
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Pop times/HS teams
Hey everyone I am 13 years old and I am a catcher. I am just wondering if at my level I have a chance to play JV baseball as a freshman. I can throw pop times down to second on 80 foot paths in the low 1.9's and hopefully 1.8's by the end of the season. I have good good blocking and receiving skills, and hit pretty well. I am batting like .500-.600 in JR's. I am only in 7th grade so I still have about a year and half till the season would start up but I am wondering if at my rate I have a...
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HS Summer Showcast Team Tryouts Taking Place Now
Age Group: 15U-18U Summer 2017 tournament teams Professional and college experience coaches looking for committed group of players to add to rosters. We will have regular practices and play local DFW showcase and away tournaments. Tryouts beginning on November 19th from 10-noon - will continue to hold tryouts until teams are full. For more information visit www.claysmithbaseball.com
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HS Fall League Tryouts taking place now - Sunnyvale
Texas Select Baseball Club is looking to add quality players to the fall league rosters. We are a small organization with professional coaches who work with our players to help further develop their skills to help them move on to the next level. To fill out a tryout form and find out more about us visit our team website at www.claysmithbaseball.com
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60yd times (Getting Times down to 6.7 and below possible?)
For those that have players with great 60yd times of say 6.7 and below, I am curious what kind of work was involved if any. You always hear the saying that you cant teach speed, but I wonder how true is that? My experience from the players I have been around and coached, it seems like the athletic players end up with 7.0 60yd times by their senior year in HS, without a lot of effort. Does that hold true with the really fast guys of say 6.7 or 6.5? Are those guys hitting these numbers purely...
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Rising HS Sophomore Advice
This is my second post on the site. I received great advice from my first post, but I am still unclear about some things. I am a future sophomore with dreams and aspirations of playing at Notre Dame, going pro, etc. My freshman year was disappointing from a baseball standpoint. I was second-string under a player who was probably a little better than me. He threw harder than me and was well known by the coaches before the season. When I got opportunities I produced, but I was still a utility...
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HS Umpiring
We're seeing so many low and/or outside pitches off the plate this season it's crazy. How should players prepare to hit balls at their knees 9 inches off the plate? Understanding that with 2 strikes you need to be in big time protect mode -but being down 0-2 on 2 badly called strikes is a tough place to be.
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HS Summer Showcase Team Tryouts!
Professionally coached Texas Select Baseball Club is looking to add talent our High School summer showcase teams. Our practice field is located in Sunnyvale, just east of Dallas. Visit our team website for more information and to fill out a tryout form at www.claysmithbaseball.com
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HS Tryout Question
Hi, I am a junior in high school and tryouts are coming up soon. I am a solid pitcher but I also play 3B and outfield for my summer team. I really enjoy hitting and cannot see myself becoming a PO just yet. My school is pretty big, so I probably have a better chance of making it onto the Varsity A team as a pitcher but I know I would not be getting much playing time and won't enjoy being just a pitcher. So I'm debating on whether to try out as both an outfielder and pitcher so I 'd be able...
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Pitchout Play Rarely Called
There are multiple scenarios in baseball that call for certain strategies. The pitchout play being one of them. Whether I am watching MLB or youth and HS baseball, I just do not see the pitch out being executed. Some folks say they don't run as much as they used to in MLB, which is true. Sometimes they say HS and youth pitchers are not able to perform the task at hand. In my opinion it's not really an issue in MLB. You could probably watch about 10 games and see them pitchout in 1, maybe 2...
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HS Summer Showcase Team Tryouts Taking Place Now!!
Professionally coached Texas Select Baseball Showcase team tryouts for the 2017 spring/summer season are taking place on Sunday afternoon from 12:30-3pm at the team practice field, 213 Sunray Lane, Sunnyvale. 15u-18u. We have a strong core of players and are looking to add to it and will be playing in some of DFW area’s top showcases as well as travel in 2-3 out of town venues. We offer top notch instruction and are looking for players who are ready to improve their game and move on to the...
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HS Summer Showcase Team Tryouts Taking Place Now!!
Professionally coached Texas Select Baseball Showcase team tryouts for the 2017 spring/summer season are taking place on Sunday afternoon from 12:30-3pm at the team practice field, 213 Sunray Lane, Sunnyvale. 15u-18u. We have a strong core of players and are looking to add to it and will be playing in some of DFW area’s top showcases as well as travel in 2-3 out of town venues. We offer top notch instruction and are looking for players who are ready to improve their game and move on to the...
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2015 Northern Virginia HS Showcase Camp @ GMU
2015 Northern Virginia HS Showcase Camp @ GMU Grades 9-12 Location: Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field Saturday, September 5, 2015 to Sunday, September 6, 2015 Camp Cost: $250.00 Link: http://collegebaseballcamps.com/patriots If you have any questions...
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2015 Northern Virginia HS Showcase Camp @ GMU
2015 Northern Virginia HS Showcase Camp @ GMU Grades 9-12 Location: Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field Saturday, September 5, 2015 to Sunday, September 6, 2015 Camp Cost: $250.00 Link: http://collegebaseballcamps.com/patriots If you have any questions...
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8th Annual Best of the 757 Baseball Showcase @ Virginia Wesleyan
THE OPPORTUNITY: Top players regionally, as well as state-wide, will be invited to perform and showcase their talents at the 2015 Best of the 757 Baseball Camp & Showcase . In its 8 th year, the event has been modified and will include 2-days of activities, where players will get to play in front of a large contingent of scouts, major college baseball programs, and other baseball decision-makers; participate and be measured in baseball specific athletic tests; and showcase...
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Re: HS Umpiring
To be honest, I'm not sure I generally put much stock in an assessment such as this. I know there are horrible umpires. I also know that very few people can see the zone inside and outside with any measure of accuracy. I know I've been accused of ringing batters up on pitches "a foot off the plate" when I can tell you with 100% confidence that they were on the black, at worst. Keep in mind that on a properly-lined field, 9" is 3" into the other box. Most fields I see at the HS level put the...
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Re: HS Umpiring
Here is what I tell my players..... If you don't like it, don't put yourself in that position by taking hittable pitches for strikes.
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Re: HS Umpiring
If truly consistently that far off the plate, at some point, coach would have to express concern directly to ump but problem is the coach has the worst angle to see just how far off it is being called so not much credibility. If it is somehow otherwise clear that the zone is stretched way too far, coach can submit a request for ump not to do his games with the reason why. But this needs to be kept in perspective. JV baseball - zones are typically wide. You don't want to be that coach unless...
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Re: HS Umpiring
In my experience it is the travel ball tournaments where the zones seem a little wider -- perhaps they have to get the games in and need them to move along? -- and in HS they seem more legit.
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Re: HS Umpiring
Don't forget the receiver effect. If you have a really good catcher back there, he can steal some of those questionable balls and make them strikes.
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Re: HS Umpiring
What I have seen it the zone moves out as the batter gets closer to the plate. So "inside" pitches that are strikes are called balls because the batter turns out of the way. Then the ball way off the plate becomes a strike.
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Re: HS Umpiring
I have seen this too. When they are too close anything between the lines is in fact a strike. Actually makes it easier to see.
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Re: HS Umpiring
If you watched the C.B. Buckner debacle the other night (Nats v. Braves), and then saw him botch another call in the field last night, then you understand that even the highly paid MLB umps are fallible. In fact, some of them are just not that good at all. Every level of baseball you step down from MLB, things get worse. MiLB, college, high school varsity, then HS JV. So think of your son's situation like this: The guys making the calls are 4 levels down from guys who screw up with...
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Re: HS Umpiring
One time I did pull the rule book out of my back pocket and I said, "I see. Is there anything else in here that we won't be using today?" That game did not go well.
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Re: HS Umpiring
Matt13 - Can you give me a refresher on the "plate" dimensions anddescribe what the black portion is designed to do? Also, when you talk about 6" off the plate, are we talking about the "white"? Love nothing more than some kid toeing the line, leaning in and getting rung up on a low/inside strike. Correction - do love it even more when they back out like they were about to get pegged while getting rung up.
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Re: HS Umpiring
This is not an excuse for poor umpiring..........but understand that in HS baseball, you often don't get the best umpire.........just the most available umpire....... With 3-4:30 or so start times, the umpires who are available are often retirees......and often sub varsity gets lesser quality umpires........and the chronic shortage of umpires does nothing to lessen the problem. I often have far better umpires working evening 13-14 yr old games because of the starting times.... Plus we all...
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Re: HS Umpiring
The plate is 17" wide, not including the black (which is technically not considered part of the plate.) The outside of the batter's boxes should be 6" from the white. For HS: Let's inject some reality here, though. If only called the white in HS, we would never get out of there. Thus, I'll give a tiny bit more inside, and a bit more outside--never more than a ball, though, at the absolute max (when I'm in a game where i have to buy strikes.) Thus, if the outside pitch touches the line on a...
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Re: HS Umpiring
Generally speaking, some umpires suck, but very few suck as bad as fans think they do (exceptions include the "my zone" guys Midlo mentioned). It is hard to call strikes accurately and consistently. Good umpires approach the job with awareness of one's perceptual limits, concentration and humility. The catcher and the plate umpire have the best view of the three dimensions of the zone abd the whole flight path of the pitch. Other observers--coaches, fans, base umpires--sometimes have more...
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Re: HS Umpiring
From what I've seen this year, high school umpiring is definitely better than travel ball umpiring...but there's good and bad in both. Pre-game meeting a couple of years ago: Ump - "Coaches, I'm giving two baseball off the plates? Me - "Why? Ump - "Because I want the kids to swing." Me - "This is travel ball and I can promise you that they're swinging." Ump - "I'm giving two baseballs off the plate, Coach!" Me - "Why do we have a plate again?" Needless to say two baseballs became four...
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Re: HS Umpiring
Bad timing (too quick) is the number one issue I see when I evaluate or on the field and it's a problem for everyone at times.
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Re: HS Umpiring
2 baseballs is touching is touching the Edge of the batter's box. A true strike is one ball off the plate. Matt just stated above that his limit is touching the box i.e. two balls off the plate.
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Re: HS Umpiring
Of course, this all comes down to what we're defining. When I describe it, I'm talking about the distance between the ball and the plate--thus, one ball between the edge of the plate and the ball itself, which would put the outside of the ball at just under six inches, but the inside at just under three inches.
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Re: HS Umpiring
All true. Week day lower level games, you get what you get. Sometimes they can even see.
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Re: HS Umpiring
New pitch rules, new pitchers that can't find the strike zone. Players need to act like they're Roberto Clemente. Or 2016 Puig. You can't hit those pitches in the pros but you should be able to in HS, especially if you step into the box with a 33 or 34" bat. At least 2 baseballs on any count, 3 on two strikes, 4 baseballs on 3-2.
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Re: HS Umpiring
I've had two varsity games this year on the dish...so this is really an ineffective sample size, but I did notice something in this first year of pitch counts (before, it was innings pitched in a week.) Every pitcher I've seen has become more reliant on FBs and offspeed in the zone to get ahead early, rather than using breaking balls to get the batter to chase or to set up for later in the count. With that, there has been more contact and--surprisingly--better defense. My two games were 3-1...
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Re: HS Umpiring
The ball touching is a legal strike. The second ball, as the dad of a pitcher, I hope is called a strike but legally out of the zone and what I would consider two balls off the plate. If balls over the chalk (3 balls out) are getting called strikes it's going to be a tough day for the batters.
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Re: HS Umpiring
I would hope "one ball out" is your max limit. I suspect you are a good, if not great umpire (and I am one to give umpires some leeway except in t-ball), but a pitch - let's assume a pretty straight fastball for argument - that is three inches off the white does not come close to looking like a strike, even with my old eyes. My 2017 pitches in that area a whole lot and when he is 3 inches out and doesn't get a strike call, I have zero problem. If the teams cannot throw well, then I could see...
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Re: HS Umpiring
And as matt indicated, many time the box is only "one ball" off the plate. I have actually measured some artificial fields, with permanent boxes, where such is the case.