Are the Bay State Games Worth Attending...

My son attended and it was a terrific experience. It was a great chance to play with the top players in your region and play against the best in the state. It is well attended by D1,2 & 3 schools. The schools and scouts are there on the first and second day of the games and then disappear the rest of the week. If you are a pitcher, try to get in on the 1st day. We received lots of mail and calls from coaches after the games. Not sure what your other option is but I would recommend the games if you can make the team. Our tryouts were attended by a large number of players.

Thank you.

Can you tell me a little bit about the tryout process itself?

And after tryouts, what is the format?

- O

My son also has played in the Bay State games and there is no better value for your money. For $30.00 you are given the opportunity to play in Harvard Stadium for a w/e of games with the best in the state. Their website is I believe BayStateGames.org. Each part of the state is broken up into a division and you can either tryout for the division in which you reside or in which you attend school...no more than 3 players though may be from the same school in the same division. The competition is tough and each team is picked from app 100-150 youngmen all vying for the opportunity to play...each division has their own tryouts... my son tried out at Franklin HS for the South team...there were 3 separate tryouts...when he tried out there were app 8 catchers and only 2 were selected...each coach is only allowed to coach for 2 years and then they must surrender to someone else...of all those selected and that was about 18 boys only the 2 catchers were not pitchers as well as a postion player...the event is attended by app 400 scouts and all the Pro teams are represented....medals and jackets are given as well...so where can you get all that for $30.00...it was by far one of our most memorable experiences and the one that resulted in generating a tremendous amount of interest in our son....Best of Luck

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Another thing to add about the tryouts is that only 2 players from the same legion team can make the team. This can cause some hard feelings on the team. You have to get a release from your legion team to play and some coaches aren't too happy to see them miss a game. The tryouts dates and contact people are usually posted on the Bay State website. Tryouts are usually in mid June and you have to attend 2 out of 3 dates.

Registration for 2004 www.BayStategames.com are open for Summer events.

One issue is with the tryouts and the politics that go with it. Alot of quality kids don't make it because of coaches that take kids from their own school or team. Kids that should be there get blocked out. Make sure your kid has a better than average chance of making it.

Squire,
No coach may take more than 3 boys from his own team...same as no more than 3 boys from any HS team may play....2 from a Legion team...we did not experience any "politics" 2 years ago when my son played for the South team....tryouts were fair and square...we knew no one and they did not know my son

Politics seem to be a particularly strong issue on the northeast team...