16U Summer Ball Discussion

Some very good 16U teams playing in this weekends AABC regional qualifier. Should be fun to watch. Games start today at Texas Star.

Texas Stix 15U win the Arlington A's 16U tournament this past weekend.

Saw D-Bat Oklahoma this weekend at OSU...That is a pretty nice squad. Dallas Star-Ahearne played well also.

I agree. Very solid 16u teams at OSU. I was impressed with:

DBAT Oklahoma
Dallas Stars-Ahearne
DBAT Jones
United Baseball
DBAT Matthews
Blacksox
Tulsa Baseball
Dallas Tigers

16u Dallas Tigers Vanlandingham beat the Dallas Patriots (ETX 18u) 6-2 to win Pasttime 18u world series qualifier at Baylor. Turner Larkins gets win, with Drew Gooch getting save. Semifinal game won by Michael Kopech over Centex Prospects (18u) 1 to 0. Congratulations to all the boys for a great performance this week.

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:
16u Dallas Tigers Vanlandingham beat the Dallas Patriots (ETX 18u) 6-2 to win Pasttime 18u world series qualifier at Baylor. Turner Larkins gets win, with Drew Gooch getting save. Semifinal game won by Michael Kopech over Centex Prospects (18u) 1 to 0. Congratulations to all the boys for a great performance this week.

Congrats.

quote:

Originally posted by monkeyboy:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:
16u Dallas Tigers Vanlandingham beat the Dallas Patriots (ETX 18u) 6-2 to win Pasttime 18u world series qualifier at Baylor. Turner Larkins gets win, with Drew Gooch getting save. Semifinal game won by Michael Kopech over Centex Prospects (18u) 1 to 0. Congratulations to all the boys for a great performance this week.

Congrats.

So how are the FW Cats doing?

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:

quote:

Originally posted by monkeyboy:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:
16u Dallas Tigers Vanlandingham beat the Dallas Patriots (ETX 18u) 6-2 to win Pasttime 18u world series qualifier at Baylor. Turner Larkins gets win, with Drew Gooch getting save. Semifinal game won by Michael Kopech over Centex Prospects (18u) 1 to 0. Congratulations to all the boys for a great performance this week.

Congrats.

So how are the FW Cats doing?

Doing pretty good...at 16u. Hopefully it helps Ethan for j.v. :-)

Hey Monkeyboy,

Do you really believe 16u does not prepare kids for high school ball? From what I have seen the top 16u teams are better than the majority of high school teams. Like everything, it depends on the pitching.

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:
Hey Monkeyboy,

Do you really believe 16u does not prepare kids for high school ball? From what I have seen the top 16u teams are better than the majority of high school teams. Like everything, it depends on the pitching.

Aleebaba, I agree 100%

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:


From what I have seen the top 16u teams are better than the majority of high school teams.

So a top 16u team might be 4th-5th place team in a 4A/5A district your thinking? Maybe, but I doubt it. A top 16u team is a strong JV team. That's as far as I'll go.

I wouldn't say better than "majority" of HS teams. Maybe you watch too many 16u games and not enough HS Varsity games and have been lulled into your thinking. Ha!

"A top 16u team is a strong JV team."
IMHO -
A bit of an under sell. A good 16u team can hang with most 5A HS squads and certainly take 4th spot or better in a given district. The quality senior teams will most likely defeat them, but over all a good 16u bunch could be very successful.

quote:

Do you really believe 16u does not prepare kids for high school ball?

I believe the best competition out there makes you better. With a team full of varsity players I waiver on whether an orgs 2nd or 3rd 16u team is going to give us the best opportunity to get better. Observation...not a criticism...I do note that I defer to the experts.

No doubt that those of us coaching "2nd and 3rd" teams are only in it for the money. Competition and preparing the boys for the future is irrelevant. Just give me the money!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:


From what I have seen the top 16u teams are better than the majority of high school teams.

So a top 16u team might be 4th-5th place team in a 4A/5A district your thinking? Maybe, but I doubt it. A top 16u team is a strong JV team. That's as far as I'll go.

I wouldn't say better than "majority" of HS teams. Maybe you watch too many 16u games and not enough HS Varsity games and have been lulled into your thinking. Ha!

Rock Dad, I watched a lot of high school regular season and playoff games this year and I respect your opinion, but I believe it is wrong. My son's 16u team just won an 18u tournament at Baylor beating older select teams from Centex Prospects and Dallas Patriots. My son's high school team also made the playoffs this year, and they and almost every team in our district would lose easily 8 out of 10 to this team. I'm not saying they would beat the teams that made it to the state finals, but there are a handful of top 16u teams out there in this State that would have great runs in the high school playoffs. As I said before, it depends on pitching.

quote:

Originally posted by Vanlandingham:
No doubt that those of us coaching "2nd and 3rd" teams are only in it for the money. Competition and preparing the boys for the future is irrelevant. Just give me the money!!!

Some teams are 1a, 1b 1c...and some there is an obvious talent difference. Wasn't trying to disparage....layoff!

Regarding 16U versus Varsity HS ball.
In every public high school across the US you "play with what you got". There isn't any hand picked player from this area, one kid playing from 70 miles away in East Texas, etc...
Think about it. Especially in lower classifications.
Your 2nd best OF may be the star WR on the football team. He may be a very good baseball player, but devotes his time in the off season to his main sport, football.
With summer ball the majority of the kids are busting their arses trying to shine in front of a college coach. It's the same game between the lines, but to me the roster makeup of a summer team and HS team are vastly different. Not all HS teams, but I would say 75% at least.

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:

quote:

Originally posted by Aleebaba:


From what I have seen the top 16u teams are better than the majority of high school teams.

So a top 16u team might be 4th-5th place team in a 4A/5A district your thinking? Maybe, but I doubt it. A top 16u team is a strong JV team. That's as far as I'll go.

I wouldn't say better than "majority" of HS teams. Maybe you watch too many 16u games and not enough HS Varsity games and have been lulled into your thinking. Ha!

Rock Dad, I watched a lot of high school regular season and playoff games this year and I respect your opinion, but I believe it is wrong. My son's 16u team just won an 18u tournament at Baylor beating older select teams from Centex Prospects and Dallas Patriots. My son's high school team also made the playoffs this year, and they and almost every team in our district would lose easily 8 out of 10 to this team. I'm not saying they would beat the teams that made it to the state finals, but there are a handful of top 16u teams out there in this State that would have great runs in the high school playoffs. As I said before, it depends on pitching.

I agree. Several of the 16U teams could beat many high school teams. Like Out In the Sticks said schools play with what they are dealt. Select teams draw players from a much wider area.

I know Lynn's team could beat many, many teams. Definitely not a 2nd team! He works hard and trains the players well.

quote:

Originally posted by MDteX:

I agree. Several of the 16U teams could beat many high school teams.

Good discussion. Just so were talking about the same thing. OP said
top 16u team could beat "majority" of of high-school teams. That's
different than "many" hs teams.

My logic was thinking through what that would mean in our district.
Our top 4 was Heath, Rockwall, Highland-Park, and McKinney North. So the
16u guys would have to knock out MN.

In 7-5A you have Southlake, Fossil Ridge, Coppell, and Keller. Could they
play better than Keller. Maybe.

Certainly other weaker districts the 16u guys could move higher so
maybe they could beat majority.....

Usually my experience is that parents (like me) generally think their teams
and players (sons) are better and could compete well at a higher level
than they actually can. Nothing negative intended towards OP. I just think
many of us see our teams/players through rose-colored glasses. We're often
not objective, even though we try to be. I hear all the time someone telling
me how good there kid is. Ha! Parents.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MDteX:
Usually my experience is that parents (like me) generally think their teams
and players (sons) are better and could compete well at a higher level
than they actually can. Nothing negative intended towards OP. I just think
many of us see our teams/players through rose-colored glasses. We're often
not objective, even though we try to be. I hear all the time someone telling
me how good there kid is. Ha! Parents.

My experience is that rose-coloured glasses show up more often in high-school parents because many have never even seen top level talent at the different age groups other than a few kids playing on high school team. That does not mean, of course, that it does not exist at all levels.

Ha, there are those for sure. I feel bad for those parents whose kid played in the local rec league his whole life and they have a real misperception about his talent.

But I guess if where they are is what they want and expect from baseball - the kid's enjoying the game, the parents are happy having fun watching their son - then baseball has served it's purpose for the family.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:
Ha, there are those for sure. I feel bad for those parents whose kid played in the local rec league his whole life and they have a real misperception about his talent.

But I guess if where they are is what they want and expect from baseball - the kid's enjoying the game, the parents are happy having fun watching their son - then baseball has served it's pupose for the family.

This is something that this board misses. Remember the majority of the kids will not play past high school. Many play because they enjoy it and are not looking to be the Clayton Kershaw or Bryce Harper or even the star of their high school team. They play for the fun and love of the game and no other reason. That could be baseball in its purest form.

How many parents love to pick up a bat and take a few swings, and play a few innings at the family reunion or company picnic? Are you looking for something beyond or just enjoying the game?

Keep everything in perspective.

As a father of an 18 year old who plays on an 18 year old team in which every guy on the team with the exception of two players is signed to play college ball (also has 3 drafted players), you would be surprised how your perspective will change when your son is 18. Just getting every player to show up to the game is a challenge. They are not resting on their laurels but many players and for that matter parents don't want to do alot of out of town travel and pay for hotels, gas and food when the player is already signed. Many players for the first time want to enjoy this last summer before college by not only working on thier craft but also go on a vacation, visit a relative, attend college orientation, take a college class, work a job etc. I used to think that when my son was 16 and 17 and his team was beating the 18 year old teams that my son's team was good or that the 18 year old team was overrated. When your son is 18 and signed to play college ball and he plays an underage team ( hard to get excited) and his concern is not necessarily about winning the game but working on certain aspects of his game and getting his work in, you will get to see the other side of the coin and will laugh at yourself (at least I did this summer) when you thought your son's 16u team was the best since slice bread. It is amazing as you travel the journey with your children and have time to reflect after the fact how your perspective changes. I am sure that there are parents who have kids playing in college and look back and chuckle at themselves. I just say enjoy the process because you never know when it will end.

100% agree golden rule. The players that are signed are a lot less stressed and are playing relaxed and having fun. I dont see them dogging it but they are for sure more relaxed and focused on getting ready for college.

quote:

Originally posted by rsc211:


100% agree golden rule. The players that are signed are a lot less stressed and are playing relaxed and having fun. I dont see them dogging it but they are for sure more relaxed and focused on getting ready for college.

I'm guessing you guys are right, but it's still an accomplishment.

quote:

Originally posted by Rock Dad:

quote:

Originally posted by MDteX:

I agree. Several of the 16U teams could beat many high school teams.

Good discussion. Just so were talking about the same thing. OP said
top 16u team could beat "majority" of of high-school teams. That's
different than "many" hs teams.

My logic was thinking through what that would mean in our district.
Our top 4 was Heath, Rockwall, Highland-Park, and McKinney North. So the
16u guys would have to knock out MN.

In 7-5A you have Southlake, Fossil Ridge, Coppell, and Keller. Could they
play better than Keller. Maybe.

Certainly other weaker districts the 16u guys could move higher so
maybe they could beat majority.....

Usually my experience is that parents (like me) generally think their teams Nothing negative intended towards OP. I just think
many of us see our teams/players through rose-colored glasses. We're often
not objective, even though we try to be. I hear all the time someone telling
me how good there kid is. Ha! Parents.

So true. One thing I've noticed with my 13 yo playing majors level tournament ball is if you think your good there is always a team out there ready to humble you.

The game is about getting better as a player and a person not about the perception of being the best.

16u and 18u tourny going on at TCU (and surrounding venues). Saw FW Cats beat Houston Banditos 4-3, and Dallas Tigers Vanlandingham beat a Dallas Patriot 15u team 7-0 at South Hills High School.

Turner was outstanding today.

quote:

Originally posted by monkeyboy:
Turner was outstanding today.

It was Turner Larkins (Tigers Vanlandingham) v Casey Shane (FW Cats). Tigers win 4-1.

Texas A&M tourny this weekend put on by Diamond Kings. Should be fun.

Kick some butt holmes.

Alee,
I see you start at Firemen's Park in Brenham. Not sure you've been there but it's a neat old park, right next to the railroad. We played there a few weeks back. Watch out where you park though, foul balls reach the parking area easy.

You are right mj it is a cool park. We had a "two train inning" in the third as we were batting when train came by and still batting in inning when 2nd train came by from same direction. Train track are elevated way above field and it is a unique site watching it go by.

We were there earlier this summer...great classic park with the great train fly by's!