any insight on the league? i know there was a thread below but it didnt really provide much
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What would you like to know? The league has a good website where you can look at rosters and stats.
Most of the games are played at Grand Canyon U or at the local junior colleges. These are all good venues.
Players come from all over the country, but many of them are Arizona-based. Some come from junior colleges, some from places like Georgetown or Duke and several from Arizona State.
The fee is approximately $700. Virtually any college player can get on a team. You don't need an invitation.
It's not the Cape or the Northwoods League or the Valley League, but it is a reasonable alternative depending on the situation of the individual player.
Most of the games are played at Grand Canyon U or at the local junior colleges. These are all good venues.
Players come from all over the country, but many of them are Arizona-based. Some come from junior colleges, some from places like Georgetown or Duke and several from Arizona State.
The fee is approximately $700. Virtually any college player can get on a team. You don't need an invitation.
It's not the Cape or the Northwoods League or the Valley League, but it is a reasonable alternative depending on the situation of the individual player.
I wanted to update this string after my son played in the AZ Collegiate Wood Bat League. He had a great time playing with a number of his HS teammates who have moved on to college. He got 75 at bats and faced some good pitching. I got the impression that the level of play in the league has improved year to year and they had a ton guys playing, enough for 22 teams. The level of competition was a bit uneven due to the distribution of pitchers and the make up of rosters. The facilities they played on ranged from pretty good to great. MLB spring training complexes and college fields were used. His coach did a good job distributing playing time and didn’t overuse any of the kids pitching. That also meant that most of the position players had to contribute with a few innings pitching.
The umpires were college umpires and pretty good. The out of state kids where put up in a new dorm at ASU and seemed to enjoy themselves. The games were not well attended, just a few parents or friends at games. A number of kids in the league did get offers from small schools based on how they played. Please let me know if you have any questions about this league or my son’s experience with it.
The umpires were college umpires and pretty good. The out of state kids where put up in a new dorm at ASU and seemed to enjoy themselves. The games were not well attended, just a few parents or friends at games. A number of kids in the league did get offers from small schools based on how they played. Please let me know if you have any questions about this league or my son’s experience with it.
My son's friend just got home from playing in this league all summer. He had a great time, lots of AB's and playing time on beautiful fields with good competition but............. very expensive compared to some other college summer leagues. He paid for the league registration, his lodging, his work-out fees, his food, gas, etc. It is an expensive league to play in compared to others. As a comparison, my son played in the Northwoods league this summer. No housing cost because players live with host families. Minimal food costs because the team provides 1-2 meals/day (more provided on the road trips), host families feed players, some teams have free food for the players in their snack bars, minimal gas because the players play daily (not much time for other things) and when they travel it's on the team bus. We paid his airline costs to and from and some extra food and entertainment money.
If your son has a choice it's good to find out what your out of pocket expenses will be. His same friend played in Hawaii last summer and that was somewhat expensive also. But, player had a great time and got lots of playing time. Costs really vary and if finances are tight it's worth doing some research. Some college coaches don't really give the player a choice, they just place them.
I'm not posting this to be negative, just to educate parents to become more knowledgeable about their summer choices.
If your son has a choice it's good to find out what your out of pocket expenses will be. His same friend played in Hawaii last summer and that was somewhat expensive also. But, player had a great time and got lots of playing time. Costs really vary and if finances are tight it's worth doing some research. Some college coaches don't really give the player a choice, they just place them.
I'm not posting this to be negative, just to educate parents to become more knowledgeable about their summer choices.
Thanks for that information CaBB. It definitely is worth knowing what or how things are going into the situation.
I wonder if anyone knows about the Cal Ripken league as far as any of these types of things are concerned, i.e. costs, lodging, travel, food, etc....
If so, I'd love to hear about it.
YGD
I wonder if anyone knows about the Cal Ripken league as far as any of these types of things are concerned, i.e. costs, lodging, travel, food, etc....
If so, I'd love to hear about it.
YGD
CaBB:
Thanks for posting the experience of an out of state player. I didn't intend to overlook the cost issue. My son of course lived at home and car pooled with his buddies to games so his additional expenses were minimal.
I do know that the league did offer some hosted housing this year and may do more of it in the future.
Thanks for posting the experience of an out of state player. I didn't intend to overlook the cost issue. My son of course lived at home and car pooled with his buddies to games so his additional expenses were minimal.
I do know that the league did offer some hosted housing this year and may do more of it in the future.
My son played this summer in the Cal Ripken League. It was a terrific experience for him and the competition was very good. He stayed with a host family and car pooled with other players to games. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
As a bonus he's currently barnstorming Puerto Rico representing the Ripken league. A great vacation at the end of a long year of baseball.
As a bonus he's currently barnstorming Puerto Rico representing the Ripken league. A great vacation at the end of a long year of baseball.
My son also played in the Cal Ripken league this summer for Alexandria. Great host family, even provided a car for him. Their kitchen was always open but he was never home to eat dinner or lunch, most money went to gas, (lived 20 minutes from the field) and food. Not much time for anything else. My biggest complaint was that there were no team busses, all kids car pooling and considerable travel, sometimes 2+ hours on the road each way. Great league though...he was the only SS on the team, played every inning in true "Ripken" style. By the end, he was exhausted, arm draggin on the ground and ready to come home. But he had a great time. Pretty humid for an AZ boy but he survived. I made it out for the 4th in DC, great time. I would highly recommend the league!!
Just an update on the Arizona Collegiate Wood Bat League 2011:
DON'T WAISTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!
I will guarantee you when you sign up and talk with them they will promise you all these items: Help with letters to colleges, getting college coaches to the games, coaches who want to work with the players, etc.
Here is what happened, none of it. My son is in the last week of the league and NOT ONE college coach has showed up. Eric or Travis has never come and talked with the team about colleges around here or letters being sent.
Also lets not forget to mention the team assemled by Travis with of all the D1 prospects vs all the other players. They forgot to mention about there stacked team they put together. Basically they get several players to pay money, make teams so there stacked team can get more AB's.
The coach my son had showed up 15 minutes prior to the games. No batting practice or BP sessions. Players asked, hey coach what did I do wrong on that AB, Answer, "I don't know I was not watching"! I am sure you get my drift!
I here most players on my sons team and listen to alot of other players complaining about what they did not get from the league for there money unlike what they were told. Plus the cost of the league, dorm fee, no buses for travel games, no food, etc.
When you try to contact Eric Dobble or Travis Akre who are running the league THEY NEVER RETURN YOUR PHONE CALL OR TEXT, they already have your money!
All in all I know there is a better run league out here for college players to enhance there skills and an actually league that cares hopefully it wil be here in 2012!
DON'T WAISTE YOUR MONEY!!!!!
I will guarantee you when you sign up and talk with them they will promise you all these items: Help with letters to colleges, getting college coaches to the games, coaches who want to work with the players, etc.
Here is what happened, none of it. My son is in the last week of the league and NOT ONE college coach has showed up. Eric or Travis has never come and talked with the team about colleges around here or letters being sent.
Also lets not forget to mention the team assemled by Travis with of all the D1 prospects vs all the other players. They forgot to mention about there stacked team they put together. Basically they get several players to pay money, make teams so there stacked team can get more AB's.
The coach my son had showed up 15 minutes prior to the games. No batting practice or BP sessions. Players asked, hey coach what did I do wrong on that AB, Answer, "I don't know I was not watching"! I am sure you get my drift!
I here most players on my sons team and listen to alot of other players complaining about what they did not get from the league for there money unlike what they were told. Plus the cost of the league, dorm fee, no buses for travel games, no food, etc.
When you try to contact Eric Dobble or Travis Akre who are running the league THEY NEVER RETURN YOUR PHONE CALL OR TEXT, they already have your money!
All in all I know there is a better run league out here for college players to enhance there skills and an actually league that cares hopefully it wil be here in 2012!