All Cal State Showcase

Have not been there but my 2017 would like to go next year. So if u can tell us ur experience, it would be great.

This happens in two weeks.  Surprisingly little buzz about it.  Anybody else headed to this?  I hope it's a good event.  Hope lots of coaches from the various Cal States show up.  Not sure though.  We got an invitation to it from the host school -- Cal State Northridge.  Otherwise not a peep out of any of the other Cal States about it -- though lots of e-mails about their own camps on their own campuses.  Which makes me wonder....   

Sounds interesting, since you you'll have reps from successful programs in all three NCAA divisions, assuming they show up.  Could be very cool.

I don't think any Cal States are Div III any more.  Last NAIA Cal State is also going Div II. So as far as I can tell they will all soon be either Div I or Div II.  Too bad, in a way. 

Ah, my bad.   I was making that assumption due to the cut-and-paste below, which I found when I looked up the camp.  Pretty impressive.  (BTW odd that there are still UC's in D3.)

California State Universities Baseball Championships
5 Division 1 National Championships
8 Division 2 National Championships
2 Division 3 National Championships

I don't believe there are any  UC's competing at the D3 level in baseball.

UC Santa Cruz is D3 in tennis and soccer I know, but they do not have baseball.

The last Cal State school at the D3 level was East Bay. The moved to D2 about 4 years ago.

Yes, I was thinking of the Banana Slugs, but I didn't know that they don't play baseball.  That stinks!

Baseball at UC San Diego is DII  but has no athletic money other than $500 stipend. UC Santa Cruise baseball is club only, They are a perennially power at DII baseball. They are DIII in women's volleyball and not sure about the rest of the sports. (not that it matters for here) 

Turns out not ALL the baseball playing Cal States plan to show.   But 7 will have coaches there:

Northridge

Bakersfield

Fresno

Chico

Sonoma

Long Beach

Fullerton

That's just over a third of the I think 19  baseball playing schools in the system.

Seems like the maiden voyage for this event, as far as I can tell.  And frankly it seems kind of disorganized and low profile    But in principle I can see this becoming a big deal if they all get their acts together and really cooperate to make it a major opportunity to be seen and evaluate by all the baseball playing Cal States.   

I'd like to hear how this goes, as well.  Took son to Cal State Fullerton camp this August and last August - and may try the Big West event with Irvine, Long Beach and Fullerton next summer.  But an all Cal State event sounds interesting!

There were very few players at this event -- maybe 30 at most -- but there were coaches from 7 different schools.  I'm sure the turnout was a disappointment to the assembled coaches, but from a players perspective it worked out well.  Lots of eyes on just a few players.   Though it was sparsely attended, it was well organized and well run.It was much more focused  on instruction and drills than any camp or showcase my guy has ever been to. Instruction was delivered by coaches from the different schools.  So that was a nice touch.  Each day begin with some sort of position specific instruction  First day, after instruction they did standard infield/outfield evaluations, then standard BP rounds.  Each day finished with a game. Second day no evaluations, just stretching, more instruction, bp and a game.  Northridge also gave campers a sample of their  "Diamond University"   program for part of each day.  Diamond University is a 10 week college success course they require all their baseball players to take.   

It had the feeling that all the coaches there were possibly still in the market for a fill in player here or there.  But it did not have the feel of a major recruiting event. The talent level was good but not absolutely top shelf for the most part.  All but two or three of the  players were  uncommitted seniors, mostly from California, but there were also a few out of state players from places like Colorado,  Utah, and Oregon.  Some seemed to have had contacts with various of the programs already and were there trying to "seal the deal."  One catcher and one pitcher that we know, for example, seemed high on Sonoma State's radar.   

My own guy played well --  extraordinarily well  on defense and hit three balls very hard that were, unfortunately caught by someone.  He had  a number of encouraging but brief conversations with a number of coaches. One defensive play he made was the talk of the camp for both days.    But not at all sure anything will come of it. 

I could see this becoming a big event eventually, but they would really need to do a better job of promoting it.   It would really have been awesome to have all 19 Cal States cooperate on a showcase that was actually a serious recruiting opportunity.  Sure would save us parents lots of money,  time and travel.   They claim, from casual conversations with one of the Northridge coaches, to be working toward that goal.  Seems like they have a long way to go. 

There are 23 CSU schools 9 of which have Dl baseball programs. The UC schools are not related.

Have your son inquire about walk on opportunities. Cost is very affordable with academic money available. At my sons CSU school, 10 players were invited walk on's. All but one made the team and 5 red shirted and the others got play time. They were all placed on summer teams as well. Keep in mind that it doesn't mean you'll play or even make the team. It does however give you a shot. All but one came back. 

Most athletic money goes to pitchers, catchers and total hitting machines. Have him work on hitting. If you can rake, you will get a shot.JMHO. 

Have HI'm reach out to the coaches with that mind set, recruited walk on. They will let him know if he has a chance.

My son is a LHP so he got athletic money and he is a really good student that got him academic money as well.

PM me if you want more info or more specifics.