2013 PG WWBA WC - Jupiter

I know I can't wait.  I'll be there sometime over the weekend to catch lefthook on the mound!

 

Who is lefthook throwing for?

 

 

I'll be coaching Team EvoShield.  Please come by to say hello.

Ah, you have an excellent program.  LH will be throwing for the Atlanta Blue Jays.  I will be sure to look for you.  Good luck in your games.

 

My son and I will be there Thursday.  With Team Northwest.  He's young (Junior) and the team has been decimated by injury and late cancellations, but we're very much looking forward to it!

I wish I could get up there to see the first game you guys are playing against SF Elite. That's going to be a hell of a show.

I'l be stuck following that one on Game Changer!

Anyone know of a good hitting facility in or near West Palm Beach area?

PG,

 

I asked Taylor this question earlier today, but maybe it's something you would be willing to share your thinking about.

 

The current issue of Baseball America ran a note about the Blue Jays and the Astros cooperating on building a joint spring training complex in Palm Beach Gardens, which is south of Donald Ross Stadium in Jupiter by only maybe 8-10 miles and roughly halfway between Jupiter and PBI airport.

 

What this got me to wondering is, once this facility were to get up and running, what would be the disposition towards expanding the fall WWBA 18u tourney to maybe double the number of teams there?  I know a lot of teams (ours included) would love to see the field opened up to where they could get in.

 

Just wondering whether you would do that, similarly to the growth of the 17u Ft. Myers event, or whether the preference would be to keep it smaller and all on one site.

Midlo,

it is something we haven't considered yet.  There are several very good programs that deserve to be in this event.  More importantly, there are a lot of players that might benefit.  However, I don't know if making it bigger would make it better.

My son and I will be there on Thursday as well.  He will be playing on the PG Orlando Purple which is the Orlando Scorpions second team.  My son is very excited.

PG,

 

I don't think bigger is better, especially in Jupiter.  I think 90-95% of the players that should be there...are. 

LauraZA, 

 

We play your son's team on Friday.  Please say hi.  

I definitely will. It looks like we play you at 3:00. You have a great roster.  We are the showcase team for this tournament. Everyone has been assigned innings ahead of time. My son will be playing 1st the second half of the game. He's just happy to finally get to play in this tournament and to play against the great competition. 

2015 is very excited.  Playing with the Texas Scout Team Yankees.  Game today @ 3. 

ok, i have to confess. When I read the title i was thinking 13 - as in year olds! not 2013. Good luck to everyone, I am looking forward to following this from afar

we are excited as well.  son is playing with east cobb astros.  we are a young team of mostly underclass players so it will be interesting to see if we can "hold our own" against this competition.  anyway, it should be fun and a GREAT experience.

We were at the fields for bp his morning with tons of scouts/coaches and golf carts! Great atmosphere and we're thankful to participate.

PG and Others,

 

With the shift toward earlier commitments in college baseball, why do the top players continue to flock to Jupiter?  I'm guessing that at least 25% of the players there this weekend have already committed.  Do those kids go for the MLB scouting?  They want to play against the best competition?  Other reasons?

Great question.  I was just reading the article on the tourny favorites.  A couple of the teams are over 90% committed players...must be for the pro scouts...but it is good for the other uncommitted players to go against that type to show what they are capable of doing.  I can't wait to get over there and catch some games.

Players go to do what they do ... seek out the best competition available.

 

That being said, I do think a good argument could be made for moving the date up so that there would be more guys still uncommitted at the event.  Would love to see it in early September, or even in August.

Seems most schools want kids locked up before this event. It's the last big recruiting push of the year.

It's funny... I love reading posts in topics such as this one.  It may be a glimpse into the future for my son.  Maybe not.  He'll hopefully be down there playing in this event in 2-3 years.  

 

A lot of unknowns over the next 3+ years.  But I am enjoying it.

 

And thanks to you good folks I'll have someone to lean on when we need an answer.

 

Best of luck to everyone down there.

For my son, it's to play against great competition and for love of the game. Just a great overall experience for a high school player.

I'm in Jupiter right now at the tourney.  Son started the first game and had a good outing.   Sure are a lot of people here riding golf carts!

 

My son told me that a lot of the kids on his team tried to hold out and go to Jupiter uncommitted.  Personally I am glad that there are a lot of pro prospects and and Big D1 commits playing, so is my son.  As a pitcher he wants to face these types of players to be challenged and show that he can play against the top recruited talent, as I am sure are many of the other kids....seems to be that is what drives them. 

I am here with my 2015. The golf carts and scouts are exciting to see! My son is here to play with and against the best competition, not playing for the guys outside the fence (although Mr. calm and cool remarked on how many there were!), but playing for himself to see how he matches up and what he must work on to improve his game.

Son's back for his second trip.  This is an amazing experience that every kid wants and works toward.  Match up against the best, show the pro scouts why they should follow you in the spring.  For me I like to people watch.  Never new this many people make a living scouting baseball, watch out for the golf carts they are in a hurry going from field to field.

RRRR....SF Elite knocked off my sons team, Atlanta Blue jays tonight 1-0, with a combined 1 hit between both teams....must have been a great game to watch!!!!!!!

So bummed we're not there.  My 2015 is injured, hearing tons of scouts are there!  Good luck to all!   Make it memorable for your sons! 

Didn't stick around to watch this, but Touki Toussaint had 5 K's in two innings pitched...or something like that.  Looking forward to meeting the team tomorrow.

How do you get on a team that travels to the PG World Champioship in Jupiter?

Typically an invite or tryout for a team you know routinely qualifies. Our teams core quality players obviously go with some good arms and catchers from other teams that aren't going added. 

Sitting On The Plane Now.  Great Event!

Yep, when Touki is on, he has some nasty stuff.  My son told me that he gave up a cpl of walks and a wild pitch K, which should have been the third out, and I think that is how they got their run.

Met Steve from the Atlanta Blue Jays today.  My son is looking forward to playing for him this coming Summer...

Looking at some pics from the tournament.  Most of these 16-17 yo’s look like they’re 28 – especially the pitchers.  Also know a couple local upper 80 HS kids you would swear they are 30.  Beards and big boy muscles.  Thank god for early maturity!

To the question of how you can get to Jupiter:

 

1.  Look at the teams playing, then make it a point to try out for one of them.

 

2.  PG has always had squads at this event comprised of individual players who pay an individual player fee.  The number of these teams has dwindled in recent years but it looks to me like there's still at least one of them this year.

 

3.  PG also has a few trusted coaches who build a PG team by taking the core of their own travel team and then adding some players put together by them and PG.  I think PG Dark Green is Coach Merc's "Clippers-Plus" team this year, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

4.  A highly regarded player can ask PG to help him find a team that needs someone at his position for the event.  This is most common for high level pitchers but it happens for a number of individual players each year.

 

But to be clear, there is no guarantee that you can go just because you want to.  Someone else has to think you're good enough.

Sounds like an amazing event.  Is there a left coast equivalent?

According to PG yesterday he already had 7 K's with 2 outs in the 2nd....and had 24 in 8 innings the past 2 years.  Not sure how it went after that...but that's kind of impressive....lol