The first year as a definite Growing experience for my son. (Alaska League) Day after HS graduation he is on a plane and gone, and lasted until mid August where he came home for a couple days before flying off to school. First experience of LONG.. LONG... did I mention REALLY LOONNNGGG BUS rides. Then being on his own without a parent within a 1000 miles. Plus he learned what it was like to not work at a cush job, as he arrived late and ended up doing landscaping work in the mornings (not just field maintennence but landscaping jobs elsewhere including ... "heaven forbid the thought"... manual labor) There was also an incident where he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and had to deal with the consequences himself. (remember Dad was more than 1000 miles away) I chalk that summer to a BIG, no HUGE...growing experience, He learned what its like to be a role player and not one of the TOP DOGs and to rely mostly on himself. BTW GREAT HOST FAMILY
Next Year, his College coaches get him the opportuinity to play on the Cape. I had been used to arranging for all the summer leagues and everything, and was thrilled when my son called in september and told me about that opportunity. This also was a growing year, but now it was about the baseball experience and proving he belonged. Since his team didn't get chosen for the NCAA regionals he was able to come home for 10 days during the summer. He wasn't the Star, and didn't always get to play his preferred position, but got to play most of the time, and against the best competition around. (Oh and BTW even in the Cape league some of the SCORING issues persist and ohhhh... umpiring, is a bit of a reach... Like about 6-8 inches outside...
but since when is that new???) And did I mention... at most an hour and half bus ride. He didn't have a car but Host family helped and other players. He signed a contract to play the following season with the same team before he left that summer. BTW Another GREAT HOST FAMILY!!! that invites him to return the next year.Season three.... Back on the Cape. He's one of only a couple returnig players on this team and so the veteran... College team went to the NCAA regionals this year so didn't get a trip home. Same host family, same team... Couldn't be a better situation. His maturity is obvious... He goes in with the thought of becoming better, so he works early on in changing some aspects of his swing to get it closer to what is needed for the pros. First couple weeks are not pretty. He tells me he isn't comfortable with changes... He keeps at them... after 3-4 weeks he finds his comfort, and goes on to have a great season Near the end he gets an injury but only sits a day and play through with it. (LEARNS about the GRIND). Makes the playoffs, but loses to another great team on a roll. BTW the Host family was GREAT.. they even let my younger son come and stay with his brother for a month.
Right now I must say these summers My son will always remember very fondly.
BTW... comment about STATS...
The New England TOP Prospect Award went to a player who hit.. .222 BA, with 2 HR
And here are comments from a blog.... How does ***X ***XX make the all-star team ? At the time of the selections, the ******XX pitcher had a 1 - 2 record and an ERA of 4.70. I understand the 1 - 2 record may be due to a lack of support, but explain how an ERA of 4.70 is worthy of all-star status.
I guess the SCOUTS who selected him didn't care so much about Stats either....