Amherst College?

My son had some contact with him and it was nothing like that.  As a matter of fact, he talked mainly about the school and his style seemed more that the kid wanted to like the school first.  Don't get me wrong, he clearly wants to win but never promised my son anything and was much less aggressive than others in that same conference. That was just my experience but he did seem intense but most of these guys are I think. Also you may want to repost this in the Colleges forum for more responses.  The NESCAC is pretty popular on this site.

It'll be a big help to future readers interested in Amherst if we get this moved into the "Ask about Colleges" forum.

Done. Thanks for the suggestion.

I've known a few Amherst players and there was never any mention of over-promising on helping with Admissions (quite the contrary) or playing time.  I think it is important to understand that Admissions make the final decisions on all Amherst athletes (not coaches),the guy is successful at the D3 level, and it is a world class school.  I think it has more to do with who is saying these things and why.  JMO.

Fenway, I agree what whoever the OP is getting his info from has a large ax to grind, but I'm unclear on whether the OP was saying that the coach over promises regarding admissions, or he over-promises regarding playing time etc.  If it's the latter, well, that rabbit hole isn't worth going into, but if it's the former it raises an interesting question: 

How does a kid who wants to play at a high-academic school best position himself to get into a school he wants to attend and play ball at that school.

From what I've learned so far your best bet would be to apply ED to the school that offers the best combination of academics and athletics, as well as where there is good recruiting interest,  reasonable likelihood of admission, and financial aid if necessary.   And while waiting on that you're also filling out our apps for other schools that you like and like you, and maybe a couple that are for academics only.  That way when April rolls around you're not going around saying that you're out of luck because you listened to one particular coach.

One of our SoCal posters has a freshman on the team this year.  Bobby?  Are you out there...

The things you have written sound a lot like high school drama.  He plays favorite.  It's all politics, etc.  Even when it was obvious that some funny business was happening, I always told my son, get better, play hard, and it will all work out.

From your post, it sounds like you have positive vibes regarding the HC, and the school.  I would say trust your instincts.  It's always good to listen to others, but in the end, you need to make your own, informed decision.  I wouldn't give too much weight to the gossip.

You got it.  Alot of it is SATs, GPA and baseball talent, but I think there has to be a genuine interaction with the Coach too.  Understanding where you fit in their pecking order is a big deal. A lot of times you have to ask what that recruited pecking order is directly because you don't want to waste your time or theirs.  I've heard nothing about Coach Hamm that suggests he isn't direct.   There will always be an element of risk with a school that has a 7-8% acceptance rate.  At some point there has to be a "leap of faith" for the recruit when applying ED to a school like Amherst...there is no getting around it.  It is your risk not theirs.

NESCAC schools only get a few slotted players a year, and they typically will be the better recruited players,  If you are below their typical admitted level you had better be one of their slotted players when applying ED because that is probably your only shot.  Coaches need more than slotted players, so he will encourage other recruited players to apply ED as well....these players will have gone through an Admissions pre-read.  If you are around their typcial admitted level, recruited, and applying ED that is not a bad thing.  But you've got to understand the risks, how the coach operates, your talent level relative to others and always have a backup plan.  That is just the way it is with these types of schools.  JMO.

Fenway is spot on as far as our experience is concerned. Our son was seriously considering Hamilton, coach saw him play and was working it hard, our son was on the lower cusp of middle 50% SAT, coach said straightforward, you're one of my guys that I'll step up for, but you have to apply ED and commit to me. Son ultimately decided to go a different direction school wise, but the HC was very concise - very much appreciated.

Baseball IQ,

My son is a freshman at Amherst and was recruited by Coach Hamm.He likes the school, his teammates and the coaching staff.The seniors have provided excellent leadership this season and the boys not only get along with each other,but help each other in academic and personal matters too.

I have met Coach Hamm briefly on two occasions.The first time was during freshman orientation,and the second time was at a team party during the annual team Spring Break trip to Florida.He seems like a stand up guy to me.He wants to win baseball games and championships,but more importantly has a responsibility in helping guide each and everyone of his players on their journey while at Amherst.He was a student athlete at Middlebury so he understands what it takes to succeed both on the field and in the classroom of a NESCAC school. 

I'll try to address your concerns as best I can.

1) According to some parents I spoke with, there were issues with some of the senior players last season which reached a boiling point after being eliminated from the regionals. There has been nothing like that this season.

2) My son was not promised anything by Coach Hamm.In fact,he encouraged him to take one last recruiting trip to Swarthmore (which was already planned) and see if that would be a better fit for him.

 Amherst is an uber competitive school.There are 1800 over achievers on campus and all of them are used to excelling.This includes the athletes.Take a look at how good the teams in every sport are year in an year out.All of these student athletes were recruited by other schools and could have gone somewhere else. Of course, everyone wants and thinks they belong in the the lineup. That's how they are wired.Would you expect anything less ?

Another thing you should know is that Amherst does not over recruit.It's not possible due to the academic requirements.Everything starts and ends with admissions.One thing that Coach Hamm told my son is that he has never cut anyone he recruited.That's definitely not the case with many of the D3's in SoCal where we are from.It's common to see 45-60 players show up for fall workouts with a final Spring roster size of 30-35.

If your son is a position player I would encourage him to learn how to play every position.You and your son may think he's a SS but the coaching staff could see him as a CF,2B,3B,or DH once practice and scrimmages begin.Find a way to help the team win and your son's chances of playing time increases

3) I can't really comment on this. I have no idea if it's true or not.What I can tell you is the current lineup works and is very good.One of our juniors was the NESCAC player of the year last season and is putting up better numbers this season.He will be drafted in June.There are players not in the lineup who can play too.It's the nature of the beast and you'll find this at every competitive baseball program.

I hope this helps.Let me know if you have any other questions.

Good luck to your son !

Thanks for all these replies. They're helpful. And if the coach makes promises about playing time that he doesn't keep, that's not unusual (let the recruit beware!). But I did hear from another NESCAC family with an Amherst connection that the coach doesn't communicate well with the kids and they all fear him. It may be the source as some of you suggest, and it's helpful to hear from an Amherst parent (whose kid is obviously playing if you read between the lines). But now I've heard these murmurs from three people who know the New England baseball scene. That's enough to make me worry. And who knows if their fear of the coach keeps some people mum. We'll keep Amherst on the list and try to learn more, but what was once a top school for my son is now just one of many. If there's a chance for a bad experience, why commit him there when there are so many other quality schools and programs?

baseball IQ,

You need to do what is right for you and right for your son.  If your son has a genuine opportunity at Amherst I think you need to look again and talk to the Coach straight up because it (like a few other schools) is a very special opportunity.   If the Head Coach is honest and fair then I think you can forget about rumors and New England baseball heresay.   

I'm going to let you in on a litlle secret....most college baseball players don't like their Head Coaches.  They are constantly worried about playing time because they are constantly being evaluated during practices and games.  Could that be construed as fear?  It shouldn't but maybe it does.  Being demanding is part of what head coaches do.  Most players prefer their position coaches because they are working with them daily and strong relationships are made.    

Every school or any organization is going to have a "tone".  Typically that "tone" is directed by the Head Coach because of the many program, recruiting, game, eligibility, financial & etc.. decisions he has to make on a daily basis.  He is not going to make everyone happy by a long stretch.  The best the Head Coach can do is to be honest and fair.  If the Coach is those two things the rest is up to your son to take advantage of the opportunity.  JMO. 

IQ,

I think what you are describing is pretty typical.  I have a son who is a freshman at another very successful NESCAC school.  He was told he was one of 8 ED1 recruits - 19 showed up in the fall, including 4 at his position, all claiming to have been recruited.  Since there were over 50 in the fall for "captains practices" and intersquads, he was lucky to get one or two at-bats per week as the upperclassmen inserted themselves into the lineups (no coaching is allowed in the NESCAC in the fall).  He was all but ignored all winter despite consistently hitting their best (all-american) pitchers in live cage BP.  He was lied to, ignored, mocked, and marginalized by the coach and upperclassmen fearing for their jobs in a culture of fear and adversity wherein recruits and returners are routinely cut - and he was not alone.  There were a dozen others treated the same way.

Although he regrets daily not choosing other opportunities and is mentally creating a list of everything he would not do if he had his own program, there is nothing he can do about it beyond what he is already doing.  You will hear a lot of stoic advice from people on here saying "play hard and get better, and it will all work out" if you make the wrong move, but in just as many cases it does not work out.  Baseball, like life, is not fair.  There are thousands of kids out there getting the short end of the stick.  My advice to you and your son would be to listen closely to all, and to pay very close attention to the whispers.  

So a coach will communicate to a recruit that he's "slotted"?

baseball IQ,

This will be my last post in this thread.  First, no high academic College or University (D1, D1 Ivy, D1 Patriot, D3 or D3 NESCAC) Head Coach EVER promised or guaranteed my oldest son would be admitted, play, or start.   If they did, we knew they would be misrepresenting their capabilities.

You have to rely on your own experiences, intution, eyes & ears, and research to make a determination on every single situation.  Situations differ tremendously between schools and recruits.  It is never a one size fits all.  HSBBWeb is a tremendous resource but so is a face to face discussion with a Head Coach or Recruiting Coach.  Listen to what they are saying, and more importantly what they are not saying.  Coaches are the masters of ambiguity, and mis-remembering.  Ask the Coaches tough & direct questions and network with people that have been through this.

The best way to understand what is going on is to think like a high academic Coach and understand what his admission boundaries are.  For example, if NESCAC Admissions gives a Head Coach 3 "slots" and 6 "tips" for ED recruiting, guess what... he is going to use them.  The other 15 kids that he wanted to recruit, but couldn't support through Admissions are going to have to get admitted on their own without his help.   Do you think the Coach is going to discourage them from applying or trying to walk-on in the Fall or Spring?  Heck no.  His job is to get the best talent on the field with what Admissions has allowed him to have or given him.  But, he has a duty to be honest with the recruit about their admittance chances  and recruiting status in the NESCAC.  If a Coach is misleading a recruit in either of these areas then that is 100% on him.

If a Coach or any any organization is creating a hostile environment, I would go elsewhere and not think twice about it.  But I would be sure of my facts & situation. HVbaseballDAD's son has given you enough information that you may want to follow up with him to avoid this situation.  Again, this is the power of HSBBWeb.  

Good luck!

HVDad, 

Your story is very sobering. Certainly not what you or your boy hoped for when you packed him off to college.  I really hope things improve for your son.

I think your takeaway makes sense, but your son's experience  also really reinforces what I've been told and what I tell my son - make sure you go to a school that you'd be very happy to attend even if an injury, getting cut,  or anything else prevented you from playing baseball.

I'm a bit slow.  The difference between "slot" and "tip"?

Be careful who you listen to. I had heard many different stories form Players and Parents at my son's school:

"Coach said he would be a starter his freshman year."

"Coach said he was the only  insert position here player in this class"

This was not my son's experience. He was told he would have the opportunity to compete for a starting job. He was told Freshman year he would probably get some innings in OF and start or relieve on week day games. Coaches Final words to my son during his last visit, were along these lines:

Understand it is my job to get you to come to this school, I like your talent and your academics, but the guy you have been talking to over the the time I have been recruiting you is not the guy that you will meet if you come to campus. I will be hard on you and all the recruits. I may be harsh, and we will push you. You may not like that guy. Be prepared. 

I am friendly with parents of several recruited athletes that chose a different school due to cost or degree program offered, and every one of them said their son had the same experience. 

We have had kids leave the program, and it is always, I did not get what I was promised. The coach lied or mislead me. 

I am not saying that coaches do not lie and mislead, but listen very closely to what a coach is saying and make sure you are hearing what he is saying and not what you want to hear.

My son ruled out a school, because he felt they were over offering. Or that if the coach thought he could easily win a starting position, how good was the talent, and how loyal was the coach. He ruled that school very quickly. His HS coach wanted him to go their very badly. It did not make my sons top 4.

Yes, colleges coaches play favorites. Their favorite players are the ones they believe best help the team win and keep the coach's job.

You will hear parents complaining in the stands and players unhappy when they are sitting behind an underclassmen. You will hear complaining when there are coaching changes. Players not recruited by the new coach have to prove themselves again. Thirdly, you will hear complaining when a team has a losing record. Obviously, the coach is playing the wrong players. <--- sarcasm

In college ball, relative to the level of play, except for a few studs everyone on the team has essentially the same potential. Playing time starts to be more about mental approach than talent. By mental approach I mean not being upset about not being in the lineup. Be mentally and physically prepared when the opportunity to prove oneself arises.

You have to be careful what you absorb about outside talk and scuttlebutt. Once a year I'll catch a Tufts doubleheader. For the past few years I've either known the dad of a player or the dad of an opposing player. 

From the outside I've heard nothing but negatives regarding Casey. I've had the comments validated by behavior I've witnessed. But, from the inside I've never heard anything but positives about Casey. Players and parents say he has the player's backs.

During a NESCAC tournament I talked with one of his players. The players were hanging on the fence as the tournament schedule backed up. The kid was a senior. He started his first two years and lost his starting job. He told me Casey is the best coach he's ever played for. Not many kids who lose their position talk this way about coaches.

The moral of the story: You have to go with your own instincts. A lot of talk/rumors come from bias.

Second hand stories from anonymous sources posted by an anonymous user. 

Got to love the internet.

I get very concerned about these kinds of posts. As JCG says all innuendo and rumor. There is no facts in this post.

Baseball IQ, it is not your place to give advice to people who are not asking for it. As I posted earlier people read and hear what they want.

We have heard similar things about the program my son is in. It is definitely not the truth for my sons program.  

As in all big decisions it should always be buyers beware. It would be a shame if a ball player removed this school from his list simply on your says so. 

I know that dissatisfied parents and players are always the first to speak up. 

No offense Baseball IQ, but all your posts have been about this subject, how do we know you are not a parent or player with an ax to grind. 

I know if I was a recruiting coordinator and I saw you talking this way about a program I would seriously consider taking your son off my list unless he was an absolute stud. Be careful what you share on a public message board. Baseball is a small world.

Not only would a coach take a kid off his recruiting list. He would share what he learned about the kid/parent with the coaches in the league who are his buddies. The poster isn't just crossing Amherst of the list. He's endangering his son's opportunity to play in the NESCAC.

I posted earlier about how Casey from Tufts is viewed from the outside. Yet his players would go to war for him. The parents call him tough, but fair. Parents from a rival school said their best recruiting tool is Casey turning off kids to Tufts. There are plenty of players to go around. Despite what people say about Casey he does quite well recruiting. The Tufts program is doing just fine.

The advice is vett the coach. It's important to vett the person complaining. I'll guess in most cases it's the parent of an unhappy bench warmer.

Not sure what some are implying here.  Sounds like some want to  dismiss all criticism of a coach as sour grapes if it comes from unhappy players and parents.  Does that mean that all praise of the coach should be dismissed as  "sweet grapes" if it comes from  happy players and parents?  Obvious question, if there is a good dose of both, why trust the praise from those whom the coach favors more or less than you trust the criticism from those who the coach disfavors? 

if you're determined only to listen to the folks who have positive things to say about a coach and determined to  dismiss all  criticism as sour grapes that doesn't sound like a recipe for getting at the truth. Sounds like a recipe for a blind side, possibly.   

Just about any coach is going to have his guys -- well almost any coach.  What follows from that?  That the guys who aren't his guys aren't to be trusted?  Why exactly?

No knowledge whatsoever about either school, but did find it sort of odd that over the course of five days the OP went from a general inquiry to the highest level of certainty that the coach was "bad".  It can be read such that it flows like it was set up (ask leading questions with embedded opinions while sprinkling in some additional negative comments to keep things going).  Pay attention to the actual wording - kind of interesting if you ask me.

I think choosing any school is buyer beware. 

But each buyer is different. The problem I have with this post is that the posting info he has collected, and advising people against this school. Just because this school is not right for his son does not mean it is not right for another. 

I have no problem with him publishing his concerns but publishing second hand information form anonymous sources and besmirching a programs reputation is a problem.

I would be fine if he said that they have removed the school from his list and that the school was not right for his son. If other posters want to know why that can be shared through a private message/dialog. 

I think discretion is the better option here. He is free to share his opinions, I just feel their are better ways to do it. 

When sharing with others in a public forum I believe you need to be balanced and fair.

This parent has some recruiting experience with the school, but his son is not in the program. So anything he says about promises not kept is hearsay. If he has proof, Again share it in private if someone asks. 

Maybe I am reading the tone wrong but it has gotten more and more negative as this discussion has gone on. 

I get concerned when a poster comes on here and posts solely about one subject or one school and it is all negative. It gives the impression that instead of seeking help that the poster has an ax to grind. Baseball IQ has not posted solely on this subject about this school. His posts have gotten increasingly negative. He has not asked about peoples experience with other schools.

Sluggerdad, you are a great example of someone who came here looking for recruiting info, You had questions about levels how to be seen, and about many schools. You and I have had several private conversations. I do not see that in this poster. 

I could be wrong and yes consider negative and positive info, but make sure you research your source. 

To those of you who question what I'm doing, please know that I raised this only because Amherst was a top school and because of what I was hearing from people. So I wanted to see if it was true. Honestly, I wanted this information to be proven wrong. But after a couple of posts here, a number of people wrote to me personally confirming some of the things I heard. Sure, maybe they are biased reports, but there are enough of them to raise a red flag and even the more neutral ones cite the same problems. My son has been looking at other NESCAC and top academic schools. I have had conversations about Tufts, Wesleyan, Bowdoin, Williams, Trinity, Bates and others, and in every case I've heard positives and negatives, which is good because it provides information that goes into the decision making hopper. One of the schools listed above seems to be similar in the coach saying to a lot of kids he's their number one or two recruit, but that program seems to have a good team culture which compensates. It was similarly mixed elsewhere, which is to be expected, and that's good because, as one poster put it, let the recruit beware. But if I hear about recruiting issues and team culture problems from a school that's on my son's list, and if that's the majority view I hear, and if I didn't ask about it, then I wouldn't be finding important sources of information for this life-changing decision my son will be making. To those who are offended by my reporting back, I apologize. Maybe I just should have left it private. But then it might be a disservice to others seeking information. One individual who wrote me personally said not to be worried by some of the responses here: "You have received facts, not rumors ... I have no axe to grind." For kids, this is a pretty much a point of no return decision. Most don't transfer. If people shared this information more, wouldn't all kids be better off? If coaches actually saw this information, wouldn't it lead to better situations for the programs and the kids? To those who unfortunately say that my son should be punished for these inquiries I'm making, all I can say is that a good coach with nothing to hide shouldn't be threatened by anything here. By the way, among the NESCAC schools listed above, all are active on my son's list as are some Liberty and Centennial Conference schools in D3 and Ivies and Patriot in D1. But beyond the usual chatter and occasional gripe, no real red flags on any of them so far. We did count some others out because of concerns we heard, and if anyone wants that information, I am happy to share it personally but for now need a rest from the negativity that has come my way after simply trying to share what I learned.

As I stated earlier, it seemed that your thoughts were that the coach was a stand-up guy, and that everything you had was just second hand, rumor type of info.  I believe a person should follow their own instincts, while still considering what they heard.  Dismissing a great school based on rumor, when your instincts, feelings are that the coach is a stand up guy is a bad decision IMHO.

I do not think anyone thinks your son should be punished, it was just a word of caution. I have no problem with you gathering information. You clearly trust the sources you are talking to, but by definition, providing that information back to the public forum makes it second hand. Remember we were not part of those private conversations. 

You mention the notes you received. Notice they were all private. In my opinion, such information should be held in private. I just question the public airing of it. 

Recruits need to remember nothing is guaranteed no matter what a coach says. I've found often recruits and parents will misinterpret what they are told during recruiting. 

One of my son's former travel teammates was recruited by a consistently ranked program.  From the beginning the head coach stated even publicly he expected the kid to step in and start from the beginning. I told a confidante the coach is in for a rude awakening. Four years later the kid still isn't starting. 

Another teammate dealt with a recruiting coach who was excited about him. Freshman year he kid didn't travel. He didn't get on the field. About halfway through the season he approached the head coach. He asked why he didn't get an opportunity in a couple of very lopsided games. The coach told the kid he can practice with the team. But he had no intention of having him back next year.

if you want to be a happy player be aware of what is being said and by whom. I see a lot of players and parents take the best possible interpretation. I tried online dating for a time. I assumed the worst picture in the set was how they really looked. Assume the same regarding recruiting conversations. What's the worst interpretation of what you're being told?

Note from rom another post: D3 players tend to stay at the school regardless of what happens with their sport. At D1s statistics show half of recruits transfer. Don't post advice based on assumptions.

I would propose that "whispers" about 95% of the successful programs at the D1, D2 and D3 levels along with NAIA would yield a pattern not too dissimilar from what has been posted throughout this thread by the OP.

In my view, once the OP got enough "whispers" or private communications to cross Amherst off his son's list, this thread should have ended with a thank you and nothing more.

It is probably just me but writing off a school and program like Amherst based on a message board exchange suggests this must be a truly elite type student and baseball player with choices most of us won't experience.

As an illustration of "whispters," I am following a local program at a very visible university where a group of parents got the coach fired last year(program was very successful for a number of years before.)  Those parents were the ones where playing time was the issue.

So, this year the parents who supported the fired coach have banded together and now there is such mayhem that 3 seniors quit,( all recruited by the former coach) right in the middle of the season(2 of which were top performers.)

One of the very best D3(or any level of college) coaches talked to me for almost 3 hours  one day about the dynamics of a college baseball team.

These are the bullet points I took away:

1.) Every team is different;

2.) Every season is different even with teams where most everyone is returning. It does not matter if everyone returns or nearly everyone is new. They are all different;

3.) Beginning from the first day of school, in any group of 35-50  18-22 years olds, the vast majority will follow a group of leaders. One group of leaders is very positive and pulls toward excellence in every thing which is done and shows little tolerance for less than 100% effort. One group of leaders pulls everyone the exact opposite way-party, be late for lifting, late for practice, etc in ways which tend to undermine the expectations set for the program.

4.) every season is a battle to determine which group of leaders can pull the 25 or so players in the middle one direction or another.

5.) parents  do not know which group is the one where their player fits

6.) coaches will rarely, if ever, tell a parent where their player fits(absent something which could be dangerous or impact staying in school..

7.) parents believe their sons;

8.) Coaches do not talk with the parents about these issues or to address what any son is telling a parent about team dynamics.

9.) success over time is usually the best measurement for any outsider about the coaches, the program, the values and which of the groups competing for "leadership" usually win out.

For the OP who has "whispers" the coach plays favorites, there is the comments from one parent of an Amherst player suggesting that isn't true.  Add to that Amherst is a regional team 2 years in a row and appears to be performing at a high level once again. If favorites are being played, with the suggestion more talented players are sitting to the exclusion of the "favorites," I can only conclude Amherst must be one of the most talented rosters in all of D3 baseball.

As I was reading through this thread, one thing was ringing for me: what if TRhit was alive and read the OP. Wow!

Coaches favorites: The players most likely in his view to help the team win.

JMO: On most college teams once you get past a few heavily recruited studs players 7 (or whatever the number) through 35 or possibly 50 on a D3 team are almost equally capable of performing and producing. The tie breakers are how the coach views the players skills, attitude, preparation and readiness to produce. Naturally, every player and parent from #7-35 sees themselves as the most talented of the group. It's called bias.

What these players and their parents don't see is how their attitude is viewed by the coaching staff and their preparation. If they get a pinch hitting opportunity do they produce or complain how hard it is to come cold into a game and hit? Do they go hard in practice or whine they're not getting their shot? Like infield stated, parents believe their kids. Anything a parents says is already second hand. The next player who tells their parent they pout and bitch in the outfield during practice will be the first. Trust me, from having played college ball these players exist. And the coaches notice.

Great post Infielddad.

I would like to add one more thing and then I will probably move on to other threads, I have said all I can say about this subject.

We hear quite often, is it not our responsibility to sound the alarm? Shouldn't we inform recruits and their parents about bad situations? Wont the program be better for it?

My answer to this is NO. No poster knows any others situation well enough. Each recruit parent must make their own responsibility. What is bad for your son may not be for mine. We here all the time this program brought in four catchers in this class. and there are two or three in classes ahead of them. You can look at this as unfair or you can look at this as a challenge. Are those catchers better than you? IF so you have work to do. Are you the best of the bunch? Guess what you still have work to do. Nobody knows what the next class will bring. 

This has been stated before. but I would hate for a recruit to give up on a great opportunity to a school like Amherst, because a poster aired what he heard from others. It may not be right for one recruit, but another may thrive.

When posting about other schools I am familiar with, I always ask my self, will this make it easy for a recruit to say no to a school that might be a good fit. Especially when posting in public. (Unless it is one of OWU's rivals .)

Okay, I lied.   This isn’t my last post in this thread….. Infielddad that was an ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING POST, and I wanted to call attention to it.   You got a “10” from the Romanian judge. You nailed the dismount!

BTW….did anyone notice that Amherst (D3) beat Dartmouth (D1) in a “scrimmage” yesterday.  Dartmouth is trying to stay sharp for their upcoming Ivy League championship with either Columbia or Penn next weekend.  Apparently Amherst took them to the woodshed yesterday.  That is not something you see everyday boys and girls.

Okay, I’m going back into "thread retirement".  It won’t happen again.  I promise.

Infielddad, thanks for sharing the insight of that conversation. Very useful for both players and parents.  I just shared with son who, hopefully, will be starting another chapter next fall and can benefit from the knowledge that each year brings necessity for renewed commitment to the "right group".

Fenway,

Amherst has played Dartmouth four out of the last five years.This is a real game and counts in the win loss column The win snapped Dartmouth's 14 game winning streak.Both teams used their starting lineups and 2nd line starting pitchers.The game was played at Dartmouth.

This was a total beat down administered by Amherst ! They pounded out 18 hits including a monster homerun.The score could have been higher but the Lord Jeff's ran themselves out of a couple of innings.The final was 15-4 !

Baseball IQ,

There is a lot of talent on the Amherst roster.My son did not get a chance to play yesterday.He had this game circled since this was a school that ultimately said no to him, and he wanted to blast one off of them.Instead, he did the books and cheered on his teammates.I can't emphasize enough how important it is to be a good teammate and to help the team win ANY WAY you can.He knows his time will come he's only a freshman lots of baseball ahead for him.

The seniors of Amherst all played great.They will graduate next month with a world class degree,and almost all of them have a good job waiting for them.They have developed friendships with their teammates that will last a lifetime.No matter where life leads them they will ALWAYS remember the day their Amherst TEAM spanked Dartmouth.

After the game the Dartmouth coach was yelling at his players.He was not a happy camper. He then let loose with this blast:

"I told literally every single one of them no! And they beat the shit out of you!"

Best coach quote of the year and it's true

bobby,

That is such a wonderful post in so many ways. Thank you for stepping back in and providing such a rare glimpse into a college team and game.

So should the issue now be listen to the "whispers"...about the Dartmouth coach?

Nope, dressing downs like that happen on many college fields especially on Tuesdays and Fridays-Sundays.

If a coach does not push, challenge, push, challenge and push more, many college players never reach their peak and have no idea what that peak might be. With that said, the goal of a college coach is for 25-35 guys to be better through an effort where individuals become a "team" and everyone battles for everyone else, whether they be a senior or a freshman.  That is a very tough sell sometimes.

When players and teams win and players get better, that is one sign of good college coaching.