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Bad Outing in front of #1 on my list

B Baseball2530Member
I have been viewing these forums for a long time as a guest and after a terrible outing tonight I could not think of a better place to go for advice.

Background: I am a rising Senior catcher/pitcher. I injured my left hand in High School ball which limited me to being a Pitcher only this summer. I always thought that my best chance to play at the next level would be catching because I am a pretty good defensive catcher with a .342 average in high school. I also do not throw hard enough to be a top level pitching recruit. But I had major success to start the summer and started off with 5 appearances (2 starts both complete games) 2-0 and a 2.92 ERA vs some pretty good competition. I have been in contact with a few smaller schools but there is one in particular that I think is the best fit for me academically and in baseball. (D3 and known for outstanding academics) I have a 31 ACT and a 4.0 GPA. I went to go visit this school and had lunch with the coach and we have kept in contact. I gave him my summer schedule and he was able to come see me pitch tonight. And that is where it all went downhill. I had a terrible outing and the combination of loss of control, short rest, and lack of defensive help caused me to have probably the worst 3 inning outing of my life. My parents said the coach did stay the entire time I was pitching and was writing down stuff etc. But he did not stay and talk with me afterwards. He will be attending a showcase I will be at later this month and my question from y'all is where do I go from here?

A. Do I email him?
B. If I do, do I say something along the lines of "I didn't have my best stuff wish you could have seen my last two compete game outings."
C. Email him and say something like "Don't forget I catch too and will be catching at the showcase you are attending later this month."
D. Do I let him contact me?
E. Or forget the school altogether and try to find another place to play or go be a student?

P.S. Sorry if there are typos I am posting this from iPhone on the way home.
Last edited {1}
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justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
Thanks for posting Baseball2530!

I will recount a true story from my older son's days as a HS rising junior.

One of his 'dream schools' college season had ended (didn't make regionals) and so the pitching coach contacted him by email and told him he wanted to come watch him pitch on last game of season. And so 'come to watch' he did. He was the only coach there.

Un-mitigated-DISASTER! Son gave up something like 8-10 runs (not all earned, but still!) in about 4 innings. Coach stayed for entire outing. Frown

Depressed...all of us. Even his HS coach was sick to his stomach. But then late that night, the coach emailed and told him that what he saw was a pitcher who didn't give up...kept battling...never showed negative emotion. He said, 'You're a great find for us!'

A month and a half later, after being invited to visit his campus...we're sitting in the coach's office and he recounts how helpful it was for him to see our son under difficult circumstances. Told us it 'sealed the deal' for him and he then offered him a scholarship.

Now...I'm not gonna predict this will happen to you. But I am telling you that when I read that the coach stayed to watch your entire outing...that he may have been seeing some things in you that he liked. He got to see you under adversity...and perhaps(?) you excelled in his mind. The coach knows that bad days happen...but they don't always get to see how you will react to them.

So keep your chin up. Email him and tell him you know he saw that today...but that it isn't your normal outing and you are 'chomping at the bit' to show him later this summer that you are a lot better than that...and then let him know when you'll pitch again.

Good luck! This isn't the end of the line...it may(?) be a bright beginning! Wink
Last edited by justbaseball
around the hornaround the horn10+ posts
BB2530

All I can say is thanks for coming to a place like this forum to vent and get some guidance.You can see there is a reason for your high ACT and GPA. I would hit it straight on and contact him. This shows you are a straight up guy. You don't have to beat yourself up discuss it and flush it. The funny thing you will come to realize is that he probably learned more about you as a pitcher, player and teammate on a night like this when you were not at your best. Everybody always looks good and is gracious to every around them when they are having success but the one thing this game has more than most is failure, especially as a pitcher.How you manage that failure will be evident because there is no place to hide on the mound.Scouts and coaches want to see a kid fail just so they can see how he reacts to it and chances are most games they see they will get that chance. You have ability otherwise the coach wouldn't be there.Keep working hard in the classroom because that is where most of lifes opportunities will come from. Another game another day you get it I am sure the coach will see value in coming to watch play. YOu will never know what he thinks until you ask.
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
My two cents....

justbaseball and around the horn are right. In addition, these recruiting coaches are looking at many things....some things you'd never consider. Some physical, some mental. But I think you have to believe in yourself, and get past your last outing. It happens. Call/email the coach. You've started a good recruiting relationship with him. Continue that relationship and move onto the next showcase or tournament and do the best you can do.

Since you mentioned it, I'll bring it up. You are interested in D3s. You have a very good ACT and GPA. There will be many, many D3 schools interested in you if your first choice doesn't work out. You've mentioned one school, possibly your dream school. Have you reached out to other D3 schools that interest you? D3 recruiting is just about ready to rev up, and casting as wide a recruiting net as possible will increase your chances of realizing your dream to play in college. If things don't progress with your number 1, take the high road and move onto your next choices. Most of the recruiting is done between now and November. You've got time.

Best of luck.
Last edited by fenwaysouth
W wogdoggy500+ posts
my advise is go to your number one choice in spite of the baseball..with an act score and gpa like that you will get big scholarship money,always ask yourself if i got hurt and couldnt play ball would i like going to school here anyway? keep in contact with the coach by all means.use your number two response with some tweaks like,,Thanks for comming to my last game,unfortunately it was not my best outing but i do appreciate your interest in me and would like to pursue my baseball academic future with your school..Hopefully you can find the time to attend another game of mine,This is my current schedule I will let you know If i am scheduled to pitch or catch as the dates move closer.blah blah blah..
C CBallhitball10+ posts
I think one of the things that is hardest to understand for parents and players is that scouts/coaches are not just focused on performance. Baseball at a high level is not easy and they want good character kids that will compete. Yes, they want performance but that performance is displayed over time, not necessarily over one game or one at bat.

My 2013 got a few calls this week, and one of them commented on how he always plays with a smile and looks like he enjoys the game. Another one commented that they were impressed at how he enthusiastically ran out to his position and took his ground balls AFTER he had struck out to end the inning.

Scouts look at so many things, yes performance catches their eye but attitude and character keep them looking and make lasting impressions...
B Baseball2530Member
Thanks for all the responses. I emailed him and thanked him for coming etc. I am just going to see how things go after this next showcase in July and see what other schools show interest. I could probably catch at a bigger school but one, I love pitching, and two, it is hard to find D2s and small D1s with the best academics. (At least here in the south and I would prefer to stay close to home). But I think my best interest may be to list primary catcher at the showcase and secondary pitcher and go from there.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
If you have a bullet for an arm you may just "catch" a coach's attention and he may take you on thinking he could use you as a pitcher.
If you are a hitter that opens lots of doors as well.
As you see there are lots of possibilities.

I don't think that coaches expect players to be 100% at their game everytime out. As mentioned there are other things they look for. I remember one coach telling son that he was watching him one day when it wasn't even his pitching day, to see how he interacted with his teammates in the dugout.

There is a lot that goes into recruiting besides your BA or ERA or even GPA. Smile

Be careful at this time that you do not over do it, that tough outing may be a signal that your arm was a bit tired. 2 complete games sounds like quite an accomplishment, but if your arm and body not prepared, you may pay the price later on. There is a lot of summer left to play.

Best of luck.
Last edited by TPM
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
Baseball2530,

A couple thoughts.....

You are right. There are only a very few small D1s in the south, and even less small D1 academic schools. Davidson, Wofford, Wake Forest, Richmond come to mind and a couple others. I know there are even fewer small southern D1 engineering schools as I've been down that road before. I'm not that up on D2s. There are some D3's I think you may find fit your profile with Rhodes (TN), Sewannee, Trinity (TX). They play in the SCAC conference and it is very good baseball at some very good acdemic schools. At the very least, I'd research them to see if there is a fit.

To be honest, I'm not sure what kind of reaction you are going to get from a college coach if you list your primary position as a catcher and secondary position as pitcher. At best it gives you an opprtunity to explain your injury and what came out of it. But, I would be prepared to answer their (potential) question about what specific position do you want to play in college.

Good luck and please let us know how the July showcases go.
E ericchaney10+ posts
My son is also a rising senior catcher and got a call from his dream school at 9am on July 1. The coach told him he was going to stop up and see his Legion game that Friday. The Head coach and an assistant did come to the game, talk to him briefly before the game but only stayed for 5 innings before leaving. Son feels like he did not do well enough since they left early. Is it normal for them to not stay the entire game. Seems like all the other coaches that attended games stayed for the whole game or the majority of it. Haven't heard from the coach since the game. SAT scores of 1590 and GPA is 3.86. I was wondering if anyone has any insight?
fenwaysouthfenwaysouth10,000+ posts
quote:
baseball2530 said...but I know a few teams left and formed a new conference. Does anyone know how that conference is?


That new conference is the SAA or Southern Athletic Assoc. It includes Rhodes, Centre, Birminham Southern, Berry, Hendrix, Millsaps, Oglethorpe, and Sewannee.


quote:
eric chaney said.....Seems like all the other coaches that attended games stayed for the whole game or the majority of it. Haven't heard from the coach since the game. SAT scores of 1590 and GPA is 3.86. I was wondering if anyone has any insight?


Your son needs to follow up with the coach to get his input and interest level. Frankly, you are starting the most important college baseball recruiting months right now. Try not to get too hung up on one coach/college no matter if you think it is perfect fit or not. I know that is easy for me to say, but I speak from experience. Your son needs to keep moving forward to get front of the most coaches for his targeted schools, and reach out to new ones to see if there is interest. This will give your son the best chance of success. Good luck.
Last edited by fenwaysouth
PrepsterPrepster10,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by ericchaney:
My son is also a rising senior catcher and got a call from his dream school at 9am on July 1. The coach told him he was going to stop up and see his Legion game that Friday. The Head coach and an assistant did come to the game, talk to him briefly before the game but only stayed for 5 innings before leaving. Son feels like he did not do well enough since they left early. Is it normal for them to not stay the entire game. Seems like all the other coaches that attended games stayed for the whole game or the majority of it. Haven't heard from the coach since the game. SAT scores of 1590 and GPA is 3.86. I was wondering if anyone has any insight?


Of course, none of us knows why those two coaches left when they did; but, speaking generally, no one should be put off by the fact that a recruiter or scout leaves a game early. Many do not need very long to evaluate a player, and it's frequently the case that there's a nearby game being played that they also feel they need to see some of...or, they simply need to get on the road.

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