College: Fall "Season"

Got to see my son's DII play a 15 inning intrasquad today. Ten pitchers worked three innings each, so there were a lot of ABs to be had. Son played all 15 innings at third and acquitted himself well (he is a freshman fighting for a starting job). Can't remember how many times he batted (had to be close to ten), but the most memorable was a long double off a kid who was a first team high school all-american last year.

At the end of the six-hour scrimmage, the losing team had to run poles. Son was on the unfortunate losing side and those guys were toast when they got through. College baseball is not for the faint of heart.

Glad to hear Stephen is doing well. I look forward to seeing him in action this spring. Tell him we said hello.

Son called home and is so excited first scrimmage is next saturday and he is #2 of 5 catchers on the depth chart. So he thinks he will play a lot. We will see.

He did voice how hard the classes are and that he had his first 2 big tests this week, and he said aced them. We will see.

He is a good 7 hour drive so I am thinking of flying up there for the weekend to watch the scrimmage. Really miss the high level of baseball he played down here and seeing all types of great players he played against. Especially the elite scoutball stuff he got to play. I guess I just miss all the great baseball I got to watch besides watching my son. And now I want to follow as many as I can to see how they progress at the next level.

I'm an addict. How cool.

Came back from first visit with freshman which combined parent weekend and watching first practices and scrimmage games on brand new field.

He's doing well and handling things just fine which is what I would expect frankly. What was noticeable to me is how important baseball is to these guys in their sense of who they are. I wouldn't want my son anywhere else than where he is and he's very happy and well adjusted but I also know that if for some reason he wasn't playing baseball, he would be miserable and we would be looking at a totally different situation.

We are very lucky that our guys have the opportunity to play baseball at this level and can continue to play the game they love.

While I was visiting my son I hung out(with son and his roommates permission of course ) at the house they rent. Over the course of three days I got to meet several players or ex players who came by to play video games, visit, etc. and actually see the personalities that go with the pictures on the school website.

4thGen's team just won the "Fall Classic" inter-squad games concluded this weekend. No more "coaches practices" until they come back after break. They will have captain's practices and conditioning going on.

Last weekend was Parent's Weekend. We got to talk to our son for all of 3-4 hrs the whole weekend, but we did get to watch the 7 hr practice/scrimmage on Sunday (too bad Mondays are his day to pitch!). Like you, igball, I too was awed at how quickly he has fit in with the team. I had a "moment" when he walked out of the dugout and saw him for the first time in his college practice jersey with his new number. At his school, freshmen have to earn their numbers and hats (no hats as of yet).

World Series starts this Wednesday, I am waiting to see which team he will be on (seniors draft the teams). Fall season finished with a double header on Sunday followed by the fall banquet. I can't wait!

quote:

What was noticeable to me is how important baseball is to these guys in their sense of who they are. I wouldn't want my son anywhere else than where he is and he's very happy and well adjusted but I also know that if for some reason he wasn't playing baseball, he would be miserable and we would be looking at a totally different situation.

We are very lucky that our guys have the opportunity to play baseball at this level and can continue to play the game they love.

I could not agree with you more igball, when I see my son on the field he is truly in his element, he is where he feels most at home...

OH BBMom- you have a PM. OBC

As far as my college son’s identity with the game this fall there are a few differences. He has not yet fully realized how good a baseball player he really is, or at least he doesn’t verbalize his feelings of it if he does.

That lower opinion of self causes him to work harder to become a better player. Likewise, it also paints his internal reality of just what this game will mean to him in the long term. He enjoys the aggressive competition, he thrives on winning, but he doesn’t externally carry around a bad at bat or bad game with him very long at all. He also seems to understand that winning and performing today can be followed up by a loss or poor performance tomorrow. He knows that he will fail at hitting more than he will succeed.

His college coaches and several scouts believe he will have the opportunity to move beyond college and get his chance at MILB, but he doesn’t seem to dwell on it the way I would if I were him. Even though he is a projected sophomore starter on a very competitive and annually ranked team, I witness him worrying more about his academics than he does about his baseball performance. He is a 3.6 GPA in college after a 3.7 high school GPA, and each day is filled with concern over this project or that test. When he talks about his day, the first thing he discusses and brags about is the academic side, he never brags about how he did at practice. We have to draw out of him discussions of the baseball performance.

His college coaches use him as an example – to their grade school sons, to the incoming freshman/transfers, and to the potential recruits/parents who visit campus. We witnessed the head coach telling his two boys, “This is the type of player you want to grow up to be like.” The coaches also want him to stand up and become a captain for the team – something he is not always 100% comfortable with because of this vision of self that he has.

I think that this may be a carryover from his high school coach that treated him harshly at times because he did not have the camaraderie with the bulk of the team who were more socially active (use your imagination) and who didn’t care as much about academics. That coach didn’t hold him up as an example even though he was a 3 year starter, non-partier and great academic student. The rest of the school administrators – Principal, AD, office staff did, but not that high school coach.

It also might be because he is a younger player as most starters are junior/seniors on his team and across his conference.

We talk a lot about life after college. He verbalizes that the odds of making a living at PLAYING baseball are less than slim to none. That does not mean he is giving less than 110% to become a better player, he seems to have figured out that if he doesn’t balance the academic side and be just as aggressive with his studies as he does with baseball, he has a chance of striking out on both baseball and a regular job in life.

In the end he will be successful at whatever he chooses to do, but sometimes we as parents wish he would bow out his chest a little more as it relates to his baseball performance, and get a little more swagger in his step. But that is not who he is and you can’t change a humble personality. One thing I know is that he is a great team mate and will be there for any player on the team no matter what they need.

Sorry that this turned out so long, but I wanted to put this out there to get some feedback on how other players see themselves. I know all of the kids on here are great, and I expect that all of yours are just as zealous in their own way.

I really like this thread.

Kokomojo,

Great post. and a great example of a player who has risen to the occasion and understands what it takes to be at thatlevel.My own son doesnt rise up verbally either, it was something we tried to get him to do early but it is not him,he too is agreat teammate.

I think it is great when they see that the academics are as important in the long run, if not more so.Sounds like your son has a huge amount of potentioal, and you raised a fine young man.

OBC,
I did reply, but not sure if I did it correctly. Let me know if you can't access it.

Son is a freshman at NAIA Jamestown ND. He had a wonderful high school experience and now finds himself 8 hours from home missing all his high school buddies, high school football etc.

There are around 50 kids out for fall ball including 24 freshman. There are exactly three seniors on the team who started out as freshman (there are other seniors that came in as JC transfers). The math is pretty obvious. Welcome to the meat market.

The kid he hit it off with the best has already been cut - although he plans to stick around. Classes are tough (pre-engineering major). Son feels he is competing well on the team but his friend getting cut was disappointing.

I told him that whatever first impressions (its only been about six weeks) he has at this point about the school, the coach, the upper classmen, and everything else, will almost certainly change as six weeks turns into six months and months into years. What seems like a strange new world will eventually feel like home.

We don't get alot of information - he's a quiet kid - but we think he is dealing with all the new things that have been thrust upon him. He seems determined to succeed.

Its all about adjusting and it can be a rocky ride, especially when you are far from home.

How will it turn out? We think a year or two from now all the pain he is feeling now will be long gone and he will have grown to love his new home. But there are no guarantees. Its not always easy growing up.

First time poster, long time reader. This thread has stirred my emotions to new heights. Two Seamer,Jr is a freshman at very respected, both baseball wise and academically, NAIA school in the Mid South area.
As I told his mom, he is either putting on the greatest show ever, or he loves everything that is going on regarding school and baseball. They have been practicing and scrimaging since the first week of school. His experience so far could not have been any better. The upperclassmen have taken the new guys under there wing to help in any way. Each freshman was assigned a "mentor" to assist with school, baseball, and anything else needed. This was a great idea.
Haven't had a chance to make over to see any action yet, but hope to soon. I new everything was ok when Jr sent me a picture of the name plate above his locker with his name and number on it along with the caption "I guess its real now". I just about lost right then and there. He's really playing college baseball, unbelieveable!!
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for all the insight this board brings.

quote:

Originally posted by Two Seamer:
First time poster, long time reader. This thread has stirred my emotions to new heights. Two Seamer,Jr is a freshman at very respected, both baseball wise and academically, NAIA school in the Mid South area.
As I told his mom, he is either putting on the greatest show ever, or he loves everything that is going on regarding school and baseball. They have been practicing and scrimaging since the first week of school. His experience so far could not have been any better. The upperclassmen have taken the new guys under there wing to help in any way. Each freshman was assigned a "mentor" to assist with school, baseball, and anything else needed. This was a great idea.
Haven't had a chance to make over to see any action yet, but hope to soon. I new everything was ok when Jr sent me a picture of the name plate above his locker with his name and number on it along with the caption "I guess its real now". I just about lost right then and there. He's really playing college baseball, unbelieveable!!
Sorry for the long post. Thanks for all the insight this board brings.

Welcome to the hsbaseballweb Two Seamer!

This has turned out to be one wopper of a thread! I have thoroughly enjoyed every post!

While these threads have focused mostly on all things goodness and light, there is another side to college baseball that can be painful; that is getting cut at some point and having to put the game in the rear view mirror.

Here's a story that might provide some perspective for those going through this difficult experience. My nephew is two years older than my son who is a freshman playing college ball now. They are quite close and played baseball together growing up. My nephew went to one of the service academies to play baseball but was abruptly cut the fall of his freshman year. It's a great place but the driving force to go there was to play baseball and he was devastasted. At the time he thought about transfering but decided to stay. Instead he discovered that the academy had a sky diving team which he decided to try out for. During the tryouts he put forth the same dedication and commitment that he had put into baseball over the years and he managed to make the team (afterward the guy making the decision commented on my nephew's commitment as a key factor in making the team).

Fast forward a couple of years and he is having the time of his life now with the team. Going all over the place with great guys. He wouldn't trade his experience with the team for anything. Interestingly during my son's parents weekend last week, I spoke to his AD about inviting my nephew's sky diving team to jump into my son's college football stadium for a game next year and he was all for it and was going to make the invitation. That will be a thrill for all concerned if that comes to fruition.

If there's a lesson in this story it may be that there is life after baseball and to tell our sons when its time to hang up the cleats to take the same passion and commitment that they put into the game and apply it to the next phase of their life.

Thats a great story. I have always preached that the same things that will make you a success on the baseball field will also make you a success in life. Come early stay late. Be a great team mate. Work harder than everyone else. Etc etc etc. The fact is your going to be a baseball player for a short time in regards to your entire life. Even if you play four years of college baseball and then 10 years of pro ball your still in your early 30's. And those guys are the exception not the rule. If all of this was simply about baseball would it really be worth it? I mean if when they walk away from the game the only thing they have learned is how to hit or field , etc - is it really worth it?

The things that baseball teaches you that you take away with you for the rest of your life are way more important than the things you learn to actually play the game. Thanks for sharing that story.

quote:

Originally posted by Coach_May:
If all of this was simply about baseball would it really be worth it? I mean if when they walk away from the game the only thing they have learned is how to hit or field , etc - is it really worth it?

No it would not be worth it imho. I agree that was simply another great story! I feel like sky diving today

This thread basically represents the essence of this site. We are called the hsbaseballweb but if you think about it, the site is really about college baseball. Most of our members here have seen their kids have some success in high school and are willing to do just about anything to see that continue in college.

Bob Howdeshell, the site founder, wanted to find a way to help people navigate this mysterious thing called recruiting and now we have participants who not only have been recruited but are now facing the challenges at the higher levels of the game. It is never going to be a cakewalk at that level but the rewards can be enormous for those who are willing to see things through in the game or apply lessons learned to other productive areas of their lives.

A postscript to the sky diving story. My nephew came into town over the summer and we were tail-gating at a Sox game and I noticed a tatoo. He was proud ot it but also a bit embarrassed to talk about it because he knew his father wouldn't approve of it but finally he explained it as his team's number and the phrase "Blue Sky". I asked him about the phrase and he says its their motto that you make your own Blue Sky by keeping a positive attitude at all times no matter what life throws at you. Pretty good point of view.

quote:

First time poster, long time reader. This thread has stirred my emotions to new heights. Two Seamer,Jr is a freshman at very respected, both baseball wise and academically, NAIA school in the Mid South area.

TwoSeamer; I certainly echo your sentiments about the thrills and even the unknowns, of our sons playing College baseball. I know my boy has never worked harder but, as you said; I don't think he's ever enjoyed himself more. His Coaches and Teammates have been fantastic.

I'm looking forward to Friday week; the date of his First offical Scrimmage against a neighboring State JUCO squad. His Mom and I will be driving up with hopes of seeing him play.

All the athletes are good or they wouldn't be there and he know's, as a Freshmen position player, that there are more experienced, bigger, stronger players ahead of him. Patience, hard work, persistence, paying your dues are among just a few of the lessons of baseball and life he is beginning to experience..

Thanks CD for "Featuring" this thread.

I have to say that this is one of the most valuable (and comforting) threads I've read on this site, which is saying something given all the fabulous information and advice that is available here.

I dropped son off 3 weeks ago (has it only been 3 weeks?) and 1,000 miles away. Leaving him was very emotional and he was clearly anxious about all of the unknowns but from the few conversations we've had I can tell that with each day he is growing more comfortable with his surroundings and routine. He is eating and sleeping baseball but seems to be enjoying it and confident in his ability to compete at this level. Biggest challenge (for him) seems to be the early morning wake-ups and workouts (he has never been an early riser!). It remains to be seen how it will all work out but I have no doubt that the "journey" will prove to be invaluable. I am looking forward to visiting next weekend. I have low expectations of significant time with son but I get excited at the propsect of seeing him even if just a little bit, with a little baseball thrown in for good measure.

I can echo the feelings of a number of people on this topic who are so excited to see their boys play their first college games. My son had a injury in the early spring of his HS senior season. So he red shirted last season. He attended the same college as Three Baggers' son. Came home last May and immediately began playing in a brand new College League our area had started. So watching him play in June was the first time for me in about 18 months. The league was great for him, they played about 40 games against all levels of college players. Played well enough to be named Player of the Year for the league. Fast forward to Sept, he is enrolled in a CC about 2 hours away from home.
He is swinging the bat very well for the new coaches and is doing an outstanding job. It is an absolute joy for both his mom and I to watch him play this game at the NEXT level.

Great thread everyone! Well, with fall ball almost over here in the NE, RightyShortstop is now Rightythirdbaseman! "The toughest thing I've ever done" according to Rightythirdbaseman. The coaches changed everything he has done for his entire baseball life. A new swing, a new way to field ground balls and a new throwing motion. Some days he got to practice an hour early and stayed an hour late to cut the grass, rake the dirt and take extra ground balls. He got yelled at for everything and took dozens of balls off the head and chest. Huge black and blue marks. "Gain 25 pounds or you'll never play." He was pretty discouraged and felt like the coaches were exposing him because they weren't happy with him as a recruit. Our advice was the opposite. When they stop yelling at you the've given up on you. No one is going to wast their time yelling at a player they don't want. They just cut those kids. Of course, things starting to turn around. 3 for 4 in the intersquad scrimmage followed by a start in the saturday double header against Nearby University. I haven't seen any of it. Staying far away until spring. Great for me to watch him grow and face adversity. That can only be done from afar. He says he gets it now that fall ball is a test for freshman to see if they are coachable and whether they can handle the "pace" of the college game. "Everything is so much faster" he says. "I can see why they wanted me to change." He still has a long way to go, he says, but he also says he will appreciate his hat when they get awarded in the spring.

Luckydad,

Good to hear that Jon is playing ball and doing a great job. I know Jordan misses him as they had gotten to be good friends.

Last weekend son came home for a short (4hour) visit, his first one since going off to school. School is only an hour away, so I was eager to go pick him up when he asked if he could come home.Working hard in school and on the field. On the way back to school he asked me "what am I going to do if I dont make the team, baseball has been part of my life forever?" He is generally a pretty confident kid, and it took me by surprise. That had never occured to me and my poor response was, "dont worry, you'll make it". Off course, I havent seen the competition and have no idea what I'm talking about. We have since talked about not being able to play baseball forever, and he realizes he most likely only has four more years to baseball.

leftyshortstop,

Awesome post! Reading my mind. I know my son was going through the same things and came to the same conclusons even though he is a pitcher not 3rd base. New pitches, new workouts, new drills, and new way of doing things. Sounds like RightyThirdbaseman he had a great Fall learning things the "right" way! ;-)

quote:

and he realizes he most likely only has four more years to baseball.

Never has to be the case. My brother's 1978-79 Yavapai (AZ) college team got together last spring for a big national adult baseball tournament in the Phoenix area (any AZ folks know Ray Etchebarren and George Chadwick of the 'Casey at the Bat' facility in Phoenix? Ray was my brother's roommate at Yavapai). Guys came in from all over the country. Every guy playing in their large bracket was at least 50 years old!

As long as there's baseball, there's a place to play it competitively as well as for FUN!

So i just gotta brag a bit(sorry but I really cant help it) Son is ripping it up in fall ball, got his velocity almost back in line with where it should be, and has some great coaches that are really helping him out, such as adding a change with arm side run so that he now has a change with ASR like his FB, and one that looks like his slider. Has given up 2er over 15 innings, and has really only faced the upper classmen since his first outing. I just think that once he got used to the work load, he really benefited from some very solid coaching. Turned down some chances with some bigger name baseball schools for the academics and coaching where he is, and it seems to be paying off so far, so its like people say on here, dont fall in love with a name, find the fit that is right for your particular situation.

Highcheese,

It is amazing how quickly they develop & improve with an EVERYDAY pitching coach and senior mentors!

Prime Jr. texted me last night after Scrimmage. He hit 3rd for the "Scrubs" and had a good day with 2-rbi's. They beat the "Starters" 3-1. Their 1st official test comes next Friday against a JUCO squad.

He realizes he will likely NOT be a starter next Spring but it seems to be spurring him to work harder. As others have said; he feels he made the best choice for him; baseball/coaching enviornment first and then considerations of the School and area next .... he likes it all which makes Dad very happy!

Still hates those new bats but everyone is adjusting!

Looking back at my son's experience, those that played with the 'Scrubs' and had success against the 'Starters' in the fall were 'Starters' the next spring..............

quote:

Originally posted by FormerObserver:
Looking back at my son's experience, those that played with the 'Scrubs' and had success against the 'Starters' in the fall were 'Starters' the next spring..............

FO - nice to see you!

I remember reading too much into the fall experience. Definitely was guilty of reading too much into the positive reports.

That said, it is one of the most exciting times for a college parent. When your son calls home with "I just crushed two hits off our weekend starters from last year" or "At scrimmage today, I struck out our top hitters from last year" Very exciting indeed.

Not all stories are positive. Sometimes the other kids have their way. They have parents and grandparents who want to see them do equally as well and that means having success against your player.

There is also serious coaching going on in the fall. Mr. Nice guy recruiting coach no longer is present on campus. It's all good - if handled the right way....

First scrimmage of the fall coming up this week. Son is primed, been working really hard on the body. He has been lifting with the team for a month at school after a summer of working out. In between all that he has put over 400 miles on the road bike in the last two months which has really strengthened the core. Says he is swinging with more authority as of late.

Scouts say they like the way his man body is coming along. Now let's see what it has done to his baseball skills.

Freshman son played in a game against a JUCO and had two intrasquads this weekend. He went 6 for 8 with 3 walks in the three contests. What I'm most proud of, though, is that he has had a rough beginning to college in several different ways. In spite of that, he has continued to grind (as Coach May would say) and hasn't given up on himself or his situation when things got tough. I believe it's called growing up.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through all of these posts from parents documenting their son's various arrays into college baseball.

I am now a junior in college and remember my first fall practice like it was yesterday. I was a 4 year varsity athlete in high school, hit 4th, ace pitcher. I won plenty of awards...All-Whatever. I stepped on the field ready to show the college coaches I was the biggest, baddest you-know-what out there.

Well it turned out I was the smallest, softest-throwing and most intimidated pitcher on the field. Some of the returners were a half a foot taller than me, 50 pounds bigger and threw 15 mph harder. Those batters I could pound with fastballs down the middle and complete game shutouts that had scattered my past baseball career quickly began to vanish in my head. Because after all, the coaches here really didn't care about them either.

I busted my a** for a long time to achieve some of the things I have up to this point. But I will never forget that feeling of becoming a very small fish in a much bigger pond than I was ever accustomed to. College is a whole different animal...athletically, academically and socially. There are adjustments that need to be made and humbling that needs to occur. But at the same time, you need to realize that you are there for a reason. Very few ever get the opportunity to play college baseball, to even step on that field and don a practice uniform. Very few have the priveledge to throw to the coach's radar gun, or run to his stopwatch. Very few have the 'good fortune' to wake up for 6 AM campus runs, or two-a-day stadiums in the pouring rain. Some dream of accomplishing big things in their baseball life, but few get to actually live the ride. Whether its your first fall experience or your last, enjoy every minute of it because once things fall into place, you sure as hell don't want to have any regrets.

Those are some great insights into the experience from someone who is living it. I'm glad to hear what it's like from your perspective since most of us parents see it from afar. I think your experience is what guys get in the vast majority of cases. I know that first year was very different from what my son expected. The second year seems to be so much easier in every way.

Thanks JH- it means so much to hear this from a player who has lived it. As parents we only know so much about what our son's go through as they step up to the college level. Hopefully being aware of how difficult it is to play @ this level it will help future college players be more prepared mentally and physically.

Good luck to all our hsbbweb players as they get their 1st taste of college ball. And if it doesn't go as great as you hoped don't lose hope- just come out hitting in the spring and who knows- you may make the 25 man roster.

Very well said JH! I'm cutting, pasting and e-mailing to Prime Jr. Before heading off to the first Fall practice I'm sure he felt just as you initially did.

And now as he is experiencing the very thoughts you have reflected upon. I'm sure he realizes that most players have to go thru this but hearing it from a younger, fresher voice will probably be a little more soothing!

Best weekend of the fall so far. Junior has a 4 day break from school (including weekend) and is home for 4 days for the first time since 2nd week in August. All the texting and phone calls don't compare to the real thing.

First time mom saw him since then. She promptly embarrased "her baby boy" in the middle of the mall where we met him. I think he loved it though!

Thanks JH for your insight. I hope my junior transfer is appreciating this opportunity.