Alternative to High School Baseball

Where do you live?

North Texas - DFW area.

Thanks!

I guess you need to look at what you want for your son and what your son wants as far as both his education and athletics.

To me, an education will get you a lot farther than a fastball in 99 out of 100 cases.  If he is a LHP that throws 92 mph then scouts will find him, no matter where he plays HS baseball.  A LHP that throws 92 and has a 3.8 GPA from a good academic school will be even more desireable.  But if he taps out at 85 and never makes it to the next level he will still be a kid with a 3.8 GPA from a good academic school. 

If the HS doesn't field a team then most school districts/States allow the option for kids to play for other HS teams.  You would have to check on the rules for the district and the state of Texas.  Personally, I would keep him at the school where he will get the best education and if they don't field a team then let him play for the local HS that he would have gone to.

Travel ball is always an option for your son.  Ours does both, plays HS ball with his team and then does travel ball in the summer.  It allowed for better offseason training with guys of a similar skillset.  Most college coaches almost expect you to play some summer/select ball.  If you have the money for it then I would look around.  Just be careful, there are a lot of 'select' teams out there these days and unfortunately many of them are more interested in your dollars than they are in developing decent ball players or young men. 

I know several families that have switched from private school to public school (for various reasons) very successfully.  If he is a good student, would honors/AP classes be offered in the public school?  Of course, we don't have all the details, but I agree that going to a good academic school would be important. If he is a good student at a high academic school, he will be a good student most anywhere.  Somehow, I just can't imagine my son going to a school without high school baseball  .  Our county school system doesn't have middle school ball, so high school baseball was always something he looked forward to trying out for (and watching when he was younger).

I think you mentioned in another thread that your son doesn't play baseball in the summer (too hot).  If high school baseball isn't going to be an option, his baseball playing time will be limited.  Baseball tournaments/showcases around here for the high school age group start after the high school season ends, so that they don't compete.  Check the USSSA site for tournaments at the 14-18U level in your area to see if there is anything to play during the spring, if he/you consider going that route.

 Most on this site agree to have your son play on the best travel team that he can play for, which for most would include the summer.   Although there are camps in the winter/fall, most college coaches are recruiting in the summer, when they aren't coaching. I have seen college coaches at high school games, but the players they were watching they had already seen play, most likely during the summer. 

I did a quick check on last year's 17U WWBA team roster in East Cobb, and there were about ~23 teams from Texas.  It wasn't too hot for them to play baseball!  (I wish I could have had some of that Texas heat today while I tried to sit through a college double-header in 34 degrees (wind chill factor).)

The USSSA website indicates that there are spring leagues in two of the three areas in Texas for 18U and under.  You may have options.  I don't know the area nor the strengh of teams, but that will be something you can research in the next year or two.

Thank you all for the advice.  From what I can tell in mid-July - Aug when its 100 degrees here in DFW area there isn't a ton of tourneys going on.  

Yes it will be interesting to see what options we have.  Its going to be a big decision for us to figure out - he really can't imagine not playing for a HS team.