beginnings and endings

Good luck to both you and your son, it's a great ride...but it isn't over.

My son also is at college...entering his Junior year. I always thought, "what a waste, I've learned all this great stuff about baseball and the transitions from HS to Summer to College, and now I have no one else to benefit from it". So I became a moderator here, in an effort to give back to the community I owe so much to.

As your son moves through college, you will add to your experience and wisdom. Those attributes are always most welcome here, as the wide eyed, blissfully ignorant, and insatiably inquisitive come looking for the guidance and answers once provided us.

To all those whose youngin's have moved on...stay. Share with the class. Be here as someone else was there for you.

That's what makes this place so special.

It's not an ending, just another in a string of chapters.

bbdad, all the best to your son, and I mean that.

Thanks Rosy. I hope Jordan is enjoying his experience in California.

CPLZ: you make sense. I'll keep checking in. If I can help someone else by what my son and I have experienced, it is right for me to help if I can.

Bballdad

Ive had more than a few conversations the last few years with both Toledo and Pildes and i can tell you they hold Josh in the highest regard ...baseballwise and characterwise . Not many kids can start for Pildes as a sophmore on the Blues and be counted on to be a main contributor as Josh has done . It takes a special type of kid to handle the pressure of taking on a starting spot as a freshman at a school like Niles North playing for Eddie ...no easy task ..but Josh handled it well . You should be extremely proud of him ( i know you are ) for the way he has conducted himself as a young man . He definitely has what it takes to continue to be successful at the next levels .

We will all be headed down to Logan this weekend to get Mike settled in as he starts the next leg of his journey . Mike was also very fortunate to have been coached by guys like Bill Copp , Joe Murphy and especially Dave Payton the last 2 years . I cant begin to tell you how much Payton has positively impacted mike in his progression as a young man and as a player . A most positive influence if i have ever seen one . I myself have learned a thing or two from being around the Sparks the last 2 years compelling me to take a hard look at myself and change the way i communicate with jr.--a more positive approach - and just how i view the game in an overall manner .The Sparks are a great organization and truly do things the right way --for the kids . I am going to miss it big time .

quote:

I will be spending much less time on the board as it is a high school baseball site (sorry rosy). There won't be an equivelant for college ball.

Great posts in this thread!

I would argue that this is a college site. It is basically dedicated to helping those kids who love the game in high school to find a place at the next level. Please stick around and help/encourage the next generation of kids find their place at the next level while continuing to share your son's experiences in college.

bbd - It was a pleasure watching Josh play ball this past season and my very best to him at the next level. He truly plays the game the way it's meant to be played which is a real tribute to how he's been raised. I know how hard it is to "lose" a kid to college as I've been there twice with two more to go. However, I'll take that over the alternative any day...as you will soon come to realize. Enjoy the next phase of life with your son and cherish every moment of it.

Best of luck to you all... We are heading for Florida this weekend to get Sean settled, but I plan on hanging around for a while - I've got two more high-school boys coming through. I am looking forward to hearing about the successes of Josh and Mike and Joey and everyone else and hope to read about them here on the site.

Even as Joey moves on, I'll still be reading here. I still have much to learn.

And BTW, tell Sean there is only one real "cure for a jellyfish sting (native floridians know)...so if he needs it, have him call.

Safe travels to all the 09 parents!

A book recommended to me is entitled: Senior Year, a Father, a Son and High School Baseball, by Dan Shaughnessy.

I've ordered it but have not read it. By all accounts it sounds like it mirrors what you guys have gone through. Good luck to the 09 class.

bballdad-----as you obviously already know, your son will be playing for and learning from a very special person in Coach Metzger. All three of my nephews have been coached by Nate at some level - junior high, high school or summer ball. They are now 17, 21 and 26, and I believe they would all still consider Nate an important person in their lives, even though the oldest now lives half way across the country.

I got to know Nate best when I became marginally involved with his summer college team some years ago. I haven't met many people that I respect more. In no way am I surprised by his Heartland successes in his first two years. Your son will leave Nate a better person and ballplayer in two years.

I expect you will enjoy your visits to the Twin Cities. If you have any questions about B/N, feel free to PM me.

Kevin

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Did I hear a voice coming from here?



Nice to see a post from you Kevin...I'll make sure my wife, playbaseball, sees it.

Take care and light it up more often on here!




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igball, on your recommendation, I also ordered the book. Thanks

I want to thank you all for the kind words. Josh is a great kid. He is very good natured and kind, probably his greatest assests (along with his knowlege of the strike zone, but he and his Mom get all the credit.

I believe the sentiments about Coach Metzger. I believe Josh made the right choice in joining the program. He was impressive when we met him, and I have only heard excellent things from all that know him.

One of my friends, who is a fellow baseball Dad from the Blues, gave me the book the other day. I'll begin reading it.

One of the secrets we all know is that while the games should be and are about the kids, we Dad's had a great time. It is not just watching the kids, it was getting to know each other. Guys like Dave Kane and Kent Kennedy who started coaching together when the kids were ten have become my friends as well as many others. I don't want to mention all the names for fear of leaving some out. I mention these guys, because many of you also know them from travel ball. Kent's son Robert only let up one earned run all summer with the Blues. He looked like the D1 pitcher he is (Bradley). It was great watching the games with you guys. I know Heartland has great parents as well. I look forward to making new friends.

Bballdad 1954,

Your post brought many of the same memories I experienced four short years ago. The exception is that my son stayed local which meant I would at least be able to watch from the backstop.

This June he graduated from U of C. Two weeks ago, we packed our son, filled up the moving truck and headed for Boston. Much of what was left behind, he had already packed up and stored in the closet. One draw is filled with clothes that will supplement the clothes he brings home during his visits. The reality he is that it is highly unlikely that he will ever come back to Chicago other than to visit.

We spoke alot about baseball during the trip out to Boston. We spoke about specific "snapshots" experience over the last 12-15 years from tee ball to college. We spoke of the great teammates and the not so great ones. The opportunity play with and against great players. Batting against Bowdin in the Sectional,(and saying in unison), "I was right on him"....until he notched up the speed to 90 or so.

Winters down at Bucky Dents camp, tournaments across the country, spring trips in Arizon, being bummed out about battling his first and only arm injury this year..his last year...yet picking up a painful win and a save in his last two games on the mound. Baseball gave him the opportunity to go to Japan and play against Waseda University in three major cities with thousand of crazy fans chanting and singing.

We shared all the stories, the coaches stories, the players stories, the home run I did'nt witness in regional against Willowbrook in his senior year. (He never had one ever before,,I mean never ever when a fence closed the field. I thought it was a long flyout). He thought that I always witnessed the "shot heard around the West Suburban Conference."

Part of my son's DNA is because of the opportunity baseball has giving him. It started with a nerf ball and a plastic bowling pin and it ended with a save and a trip to Boston. In another four years he will licensed to save lives.

You have at least four more years of great experiences for both you and your son. You are one lucky guy. This is going to be so cool for you and your families.

Bballdad, I sent you a PM.

As I started reading the book, the author talked about his first home run. He said it was with an Al Kaline 30 Louisville Slugger. Same bat I hit my first homer with. I have it next to me right now. I kept it all these years. Weird coincidence.

I too have to watch a son walk away from baseball at age 18. His hopes of playing at a higher level dashed by a bad last month of his senior season. He just got too discouraged. I still have the tape of his first T Ball game at age 6.

But his younger brother will pitch for Naperville Central next year with the new kid in school, SHANE CONLON. Should be a great season, I can't wait. So life moves on and waits for no one.

NCHS - one bad month? Senior year? Wow.

We're looking forward to four more years as #3 moves on to college. It's been a wild ride and knowing that the end is on the horizon makes it so very special. We'll be there as much as humanly possible, and listening on the internet when we can't be there in person.

quote:

Originally posted by mythreesons:
NCHS - one bad month? Senior year? Wow.

We're looking forward to four more years as #3 moves on to college. It's been a wild ride and knowing that the end is on the horizon makes it so very special. We'll be there as much as humanly possible, and listening on the internet when we can't be there in person.

Yes, when you're a pitcher and used to doing very well, then all of a sudden you can't get anyone out, that's disheatening. It doubles the frustation when you pitch against a team and get bombed, then watch your younger brother (2 years younger) pitch against the very same teams and cut through the line up like a hot knife through butter.
If that happens once, no big deal. But when it happens 3 times in two weeks at the end of the season that's tough.

Guess who got two starts in the playoffs and who watched from the bench? The older guy is going to a small school and the baseball coach has expressed interest, but he walked away from the game. We offered to get him some pitching lesson this summer, but he is not interested. Breaks my heart, but nothing I can do now.

Isn't that where mental toughness comes in ? It could be a mechanics problem. It is amazing what that can do to your pitches.

NCHS Redhawk-

It's never hard letting go. For whatever reasons, and there are many, some let go sooner than others. You have to look at the big picture...did the baseball experience make your son a better person? Did he gain experiences thru baseball that will help him later in life?

It's hard but it will eventually happen to 99.99% of us...

He's a great kid.

nc42 dad,

Everyone leaves the game at one point or another. My youngest son left after his Junior year to concentrate on winning a State Championship in football. (Surprising first game loss to HF). At the end of the day maybe they leave the game because it is not fun to them anymore. You said...."He's a great kid" Enough said.

My boys have been very fortunate as have I because after it is all said and done, "the game" taught them a lot about life. Me too.

Trouble can find anyone but when they were spending an hour and a half in the weight room every night, we knew where they were & often they were a little too tired to chase around. Not to mention - healthier!

quote:

Originally posted by nc42dad:
NCHS Redhawk-

It's never hard letting go. For whatever reasons, and there are many, some let go sooner than others. You have to look at the big picture...did the baseball experience make your son a better person? Did he gain experiences thru baseball that will help him later in life?

It's hard but it will eventually happen to 99.99% of us...

He's a great kid.

Yes he is a great kid and will be better off because of baseall. Your son is also a great kid, good luck to him at Logan. I'll be interested in how he fares at Logan because that looks like a good situation. Probably will look at it for my younger guy, already have e mailed the coach. I figure he's got to at least consider a decent lefty that was a team mate of one of his current players? Haven't gotten a reponse to my e mail, so we'll see what happens.