Just received the list of attendees that will be trying out for the Junior Fall Classic Academic game. There were 103 names on the list. What surprised me was that of the 103, 23 were catchers! The rest of the breakdown was 18 OF, 31 INF and 31 P. Anyone else surprised by the number of catchers?
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Wow, there are only 26 C at the Senior Academic out of 200 invited. I know a couple of the catchers on that Junior list, there are some good ones.
Wow, there are only 26 C at the Senior Academic out of 200 invited. I know a couple of the catchers on that Junior list, there are some good ones.
Yeah, son and I are driving in from California just to do this one event since he cannot stay for the Junior Fall Classic over the weekend. Since its a tryout for the game that night was hoping for less competition. 
I was shocked at that as well. My son is OF so hopefully our trip in from Texas is going to be worth it. Better odds I guess. Good experience in any case.
I was shocked at that as well. My son is OF so hopefully our trip in from Texas is going to be worth it. Better odds I guess. Good experience in any case.
Yes better odds for OF, best of luck to you and your son. Maybe we will cross paths!
Good luck to both of your son's. It is a great event. My son took the perspective that he needed to be in the top 50% to make the team and was pretty relaxed believing that he could achieve that so your boys should be relaxed, hustle, and I believe they have cages available prior to the tryout so bring a bucket of balls to loosen them up hitting prior to the event in particular after driving for 6 hours.
Good luck to both, let us know how it went.
Good luck to both of your son's. It is a great event. My son took the perspective that he needed to be in the top 50% to make the team and was pretty relaxed believing that he could achieve that so your boys should be relaxed, hustle, and I believe they have cages available prior to the tryout so bring a bucket of balls to loosen them up hitting prior to the event in particular after driving for 6 hours.
Good luck to both, let us know how it went.
Thanks for the advice BOF. I will bring a bucket!
Good luck to both of your son's. It is a great event. My son took the perspective that he needed to be in the top 50% to make the team and was pretty relaxed believing that he could achieve that so your boys should be relaxed, hustle, and I believe they have cages available prior to the tryout so bring a bucket of balls to loosen them up hitting prior to the event in particular after driving for 6 hours.
Good luck to both, let us know how it went.
Great suggestion. Unfortunately won't be able to carry on a bucket of balls from Dallas - but will certainly take the relax advice. Looking forward to the event.
so how did this turn out for folks?
The academic game was as advertised. The tryout was like other showcase events and was well run. My son did make the cut for the actual game and many coaches were there. He had a fun time. Played maybe 6-7 of the 10 innings on the field and got up to bat 3 times I believe. I think it was valuable enough to travel and tryout again next year.
How does selection to the tryout work? We've sent in our application but there's a disclaimer on the website that says that far more people apply for the tryout than can be accepted. So does anyone know what process they go through to pick kids for the tryout?
Thanks!
How does selection to the tryout work? We've sent in our application but there's a disclaimer on the website that says that far more people apply for the tryout than can be accepted. So does anyone know what process they go through to pick kids for the tryout?
Thanks!
No clue on the actual selection process. I was told being on a Nationally recognized travel team attending the Fall Classic helps but that was just hearsay. I can say that my son did it. He was selected. Did the try-outs made the team and played in the All Academic Game. Great experience! And loads of schools. Lots of East Coast Schools. Ivy's etc.
sent a DM
I also have no idea how they select the players to invite for the tryout but my son was invited last year - made the roster and really enjoyed the game. He did not play with a team already going to the event so after getting the invite to the academic tryout we emailed around and found a team to play with since we would be there anyway.
kbaker, I sent a dm
I'm going to offer something I've never done before...
I have my team (EDH Vipers) entered into both the Sr. and Jr. Fall Classics again this year. We've been a long time participant, and as many know, this showcase is nearly impossible for a new team to get into. I've seen how these showcases can help a player, and even though I haven't been here on HSBBW website in a long time, I've been a member for 11 years. Here is what I've been thinking about offering.
I MAY be willing to take a small number of players who's parents are here on HSBBW to the Jr. Fall Classic, not entirely sure yet. I might also have a few spots for my team entered into the Sr. Fall Classic, but I'm not sure as that roster if already fairly full and I take a small group down there (usually about 16-18 players) compared to most teams that attend. I'd prefer players from out west, as I have many more collegiate contacts out here than I do on the east coast. Over the years, the Fall Classics have been a great venue for players to be seen by college coaches who have not seen them before, and a number of my players have significantly enhanced their college recruiting prospects via strong performances at the Fall Classics. Most of you on here are not familiar with my teams, so I'll simply say that we've been around for 15 years and have an alumni of over 120 players who've gone on to play in college or professionally. We're well known in California, but not so much outside the state, other than by college coaches.
I'm throwing this out because of the interest in the Academic Game. A player needs to be on an entered team to be eligible to tryout for the Academic Game, so I may be willing to include a few players who are from outside the areas I regularly accept players if it'll help them with the Academic Game opportunity (which is entirely separate from our 4 games played from Friday-Sunday). The players in my program get first opportunity at spots to go to this, but I do fill the teams with players from 'outside' as these showcases are difficult for most players to get to participate in. The last few years, we've been taking some players from 'outside' teams where I'm friends with their coaches, and it has worked well for those kids. We fill up every year, usually before the end of August, so if you have any interest in looking into this, simply private message me and leave your contact information so that I can get back to you.
I will say upfront, the Fall Classics are not inexpensive; but they are a great venue to compete in front of large numbers of college coaches. While the fee we charge is not cheap, it is far less than many of the other teams require for this showcase. We have a strong following of college coaches so the opportunity can be a good one for the right player. I'll post more on this later after I've thought it through a bit more, but in the meantime, if you're interested in discussing this, please PM me and we can have a discussion offline.
Catcher Dad...pm'd you
Clueless, I Pm'd you.
Interesting, and I hope you're right. My understanding has always been that a kid needed to be associated with a team, and they've referred families to us in the past who needed a team in order to participate. Maybe something has changed, if so that'd be good as there are some deserving academic kids who aren't on any teams but who deserve a shot at the game.
