Commonwealth Games Rosters?

I dont have the roster, but I know the games are on the 6th, 7th and 8th of July in Salem, Va.

Seen the team the other day, I think this has become a some what irrelevent since the majority of the top players choose to play showcase ball with the Canes, Orioles, Drillers, Hitters. I think this id due to the manner in which the commonwealth team has been selected the past few years. I have mixed emotions about this, I would like to see our community represented by the best but understand the desire to "be seen".

quote:

Originally posted by playright:
Seen the team the other day, I think this has become a some what irrelevent since the majority of the top players choose to play showcase ball with the Canes, Orioles, Drillers, Hitters. I think this id due to the manner in which the commonwealth team has been selected the past few years. I have mixed emotions about this, I would like to see our community represented by the best but understand the desire to "be seen".

I am not an expert on the subject matter, but my understanding is that in the past few years, coaches have tried to get them to move the dates for the Commonwealth Games. I believe The Games are the same weekend as the World Wood Bat Championships in East CObb every year, and you're correct...the very best players are playing in that event. Not sure about some of the teams you have mentioned, but certainly the Canes, Braves, and Virginia Cardinals will be down south.

The Richmond Baseball Academy West Elite 17U will be in East Cobb, GA as well. I know some of those players were asked to tryout for the Commonwealth Games but instead are going to the East Cobb event.

The PG/WWBA web site lists 257 teams for this event (one more than I expected, as I had thought there would be 32 pools of 8 teams this year).

14 of those listed show Virginia as their home state.

There are 2 Canes teams, 3 NVTBL teams, 3 Richmond Braves teams, and 6 others including:

Orioles Scout Team
Rawlings Total Performance Elite
RBA West Elite
Tidewater Drillers
Virginia Cardinals
Virginia Diamonds


Right or wrong, my perception has been that the organizers of the Commonwealth Games bristle at the idea that East Cobb has surpassed them as a scouting venue. Kind of like when you get people who want to argue Legion vs. travel with you.

I suppose it opens up the CG's to other players, but when you have over 200 players gone (taking into account non-VA guys on the above teams' rosters), it has to take something away from the event. And it could all be avoided if they would just move it back one week.

One thing for sure, the national event is not going to bow to the event of any one state. So the ball is in the court of those who organize the CG's.

There are 3 teams playing in East Cobb this week with 192 other teams. These teams will get the best of both worlds. East Cobb and regional college looks. The IYG SPIDERS 17 and 2 NVTBL 17u teams. There are a number of quality players on these three teams.

I think the state should move the games but, that being said, my son played last year and there were a a ton of colleges represented
. It's a great tournament to be a part of, especially if the player wants to stay somewhat local.

Both are very good events, CG has made a good point, all of their games are played at one field so any colleges/MLB that come to the event do not miss anyone by several games being played at the same time and different venues.

When you have an event with 257 teams playing, someone is going to miss seeing something.

After attending both and looking back, the Commonwealth Games averaged far more scouts per game. If your team makes it to the finals at East Cobb or they are an elite team that will play at the East Cobb facility several times, you may see more scouts. Many of the scouts, as well as some players, headed down to Atlanta after attending the CG's.

My son plays travel ball also for one of the teams mentioned above. My son see's this as an honor to have been asked to tryout and make a Commonwealth Team. To suggest that anyone's son does not have talent and that the best players will not be there is crazy. Remember the CG is for uncommitted players. Not the freshman who VERBALLY COMMITTED to USC.last sentence is jokingly made.

quote:

Originally posted by Ithrowhard:
After attending both and looking back, the Commonwealth Games averaged far more scouts per game...

It depends on what team your son plays. Many of our games were better attended than CG with every ACC and SEC school present at some points.

FYI - Last year the VA Commonwealth Teams had several committed players participating. The Northern VA team alone also had three sophomores on the roster, which I believe may have already been verbally committed. Probably better to have uncommitted players showing their talents for coaches at the Commonwealth, but there's no rule that you have to be a next year (2013) grad or uncommitted, as last year proved.

quote:

Originally posted by Ithrowhard:
After attending both and looking back, the Commonwealth Games averaged far more scouts per game. If your team makes it to the finals at East Cobb or they are an elite team that will play at the East Cobb facility several times, you may see more scouts. Many of the scouts, as well as some players, headed down to Atlanta after attending the CG's.

I am going to have to disagree, Last year CG championship game had 9 College recruiters and 3 pro scouts. By comparison, I went to 6 WWB pool games, 3 at Duluth HS and 3 at the complex, at Duluth HS each game averaged 12 College recruiters and 5 pro scouts, at the complex you could double those numbers. After pool play those numbers increased drasticaly. The CG does not even come close to comparing to WWB for exposer and the manner in which they "select" the team, at least in the hampton roads area, is suspect.

quote:

am going to have to disagree, Last year CG championship game had 9 College recruiters and 3 pro scouts

That may very well be true for the Championship game. That game starts about 1:00PM on Sunday and the coaches/scouts have been there almost 3 full days by then and have seen each team play at least 3 games each. Most of them leave at or near the end of the Sunday morning game. The rest of the games are very well attended.

At the Commonwealth Games today there were 35-40 recruiters/scouts there for team workouts and during both games. That is pretty good exposure.

The first game was won by North, 3-2 over West, in 11 innings. Second game was won by Central, 6-2 over East, in a game that ended at 11:40pm.

Pretty good "bang" for the buck. How much $ does Commonwealth cost???????

Who all is on the East Roster?

Central:
Jordan Schmeer, Benedictine
Kyle Palmer, Patrick Henry
Stuart Brown, Trinity
Nic Phelps, Mills Godwin
Philip Van Keuren, Matoaca
Joe Bugas, Patrick Henry
Will black, Mills Godwin
Andrew Knizner, Hanover
Trevor Denton, Hanover
Cole Hawkins, Douglas Freeman
Matt Jamer, Trinity
Jack Sutton, Collegiate
Jamar Hinton, Dinwiddie
Hunter Williams, Cosby
Christian Buckler, Louisa
Conrad Brown, Deep Run

East:
Jake Grady, Nansemond-Suffolk
Jordan Carter, Woodside
Jack Markey, Norfolk Collegiate
Tucker Rhoads, Nansemond River
Trevor Kelly, York
Stephen Hux, Hampton
Christian Hartley, Green Run
Will Daniel, Norfolk Collegiate
Brandon Savage, Nansemond River
Kyle Matthews, Great Bridge
Connor Inskeep, Indian River
Brandon Harvell, York
David Meehan, Salem
Robert Fitzwater, Lakeland
Robert White, Indian River
Michael Brumfield, Warhill

North:
Drew Mikula, Colonial Forge
Robert Farrar, Woodbridge
Jake Kuzbel, Stone Bridge
Brian Burns, Oakton
Braedon Lawson, Paul VI
Alex Lewis, Lake Braddock
Cal Jadacki, Langley
Mitchell Carroll, Oakton
Michael Evans, Marshall
Tommy Doyle, Flint Hill
Alec Grosser, TC Williams
JB Bukauskas, Stone Bridge
Jake Blevins, Potomac
Sean Morgan, Mountain View
Keaton Tettelbach, South County
Kyle Staats, Forest Park

West:
Cal Hodgert, Jefferson Forest
Devin Cassity, William Byrd
Will Cline, Lord Botetourt
Ryan Coale, Rockbridge County
Ryan Sigmon, Hargrave Military
Jon-Ryan Breeden, Liberty Christian
Jack Moore, Hidden Valley
Cory Franklin, Gate City
Zack Kelly, Lord Botetourt
Lucas Nowlin, Northside
Blake Bivens, George Washington
Zach Mineroldi, Salem
Ryan Hedrick, Turner Ashby
Nic Ratliff, Hidden Valley
Luke Simpson, Tunstall
Collin Hill, William Byrd

Apologize for any typos-- taken right out of the event program...

FWIW on this thread, the Stars 17U Gold team that came in third in the WWBA 18U was in that tournament because of the importance the coach places on the Commonwealth Games. A half dozen of the kids on the North roster were on that team. The 17U gold team is NOT in the 17U tournament this week. One could argue that isn't so great for recruiting of those kids, but does show a real commitment to the Commonwealth Games that the coach would put the best 17U team in the earlier tournament and not the 17U tournament. Hope the games are going well.

quote:

Originally posted by ffxbballfan:
...One could argue that isn't so great for recruiting of those kids, but does show a real commitment to the Commonwealth Games...

So the coach shows more loyalty to the CG's than the players? Doesn't seem right.

Kids that seemed to stand out this weekend.

Central:Philip Van Keuren, Andrew Knizer, and Trevor Denton.

North : Robert Farrar, Drew Mikuual,

West: Nick Ratliff, Ryan Hedrick, Blake Bivens

East:Brandon Harvell, Trevor Kelly, Brandon Savage and Jordan Carter

Also from the north Alec Grosser clocked at 95 several times

I watch the north team Saturday and thought Denton struggled a little bit. Jack Sutton had hits in six straight ab's for the North Saturday.

If you look at it with an open mind, the Stars' maybe out smarting the rest, and getting the most for their players.

A quick look at the 16 players from last year's North roster and where they are going to play college ball, I found that all but two players have committed to a school. The two that I couldn't find info on may be preparing to play college ball as well and I just missed it. Good numbers I'd say.

On the other side of the coin so to speak programs like the VA Cardinals and the Canes had 35+ players going on to play college ball this fall, 30 of which are going on D1 scholarships from VA (19 from Canes & 11 from Cardinals), plus many D2 & D3 players.

Just an argument for the other side of the coin so to speak...

Sorry to stir up controversy on this. I didn't mean to imply that the coach was doing anything that didn't best serve the kids. There was a lot of discussion on the 17U Stars team (my son is on it) about why we were in the one and not the other. On the contrary, the coach has done a TON for my son to get him in front of coaches through his tireless efforts! The Stars talent level is typically appropriate for in-state schools and middle tier division 1 schools and they do indeed place a lot of players at those schools. They have built good relationships with those schools. Those that are talented enough for larger programs have typically jumped ship to the Canes and other programs that have more connections at the larger schools.

quote:

Originally posted by Swampboy:

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:

quote:

Originally posted by ffxbballfan:
...One could argue that isn't so great for recruiting of those kids, but does show a real commitment to the Commonwealth Games...

So the coach shows more loyalty to the CG's than the players? Doesn't seem right.

Redbird,

I don't think your comment was fair. You accepted ffxbaseball's belief that the coach has a "commitment to the Commonwealth Games" and extended its meaning to imply the coach has more loyalty to CG than to his own players.

The record simply doesn't bear that out. For at least three years he has brought his top 17U team to the WWBA 18U to permit them to get East Cobb exposure and in-state exposure. This strategy for answering "both" to the perennial "WWBA or Commonwealth Games?" question has served his Northern Virginia players extremely well. It might not be a good approach for your team, but the Stars put a lot of players in in-state schools, so it makes sense for them. There is absolutely no basis for believing he ever put loyalty to an event (whatever that means) ahead of the interests of his players.

Please reconsider what you said.

My comment wasnt meant as an indictment of Carson but more as a question to the poster. His comments did not jive with what I know of Carson.

It was a good weekend...but definitely hot!

The North team played well and got some breaks to finish at 4-0 with the Gold medal.

It should be noted how well the North team played on Friday night against a very good West team. As mentioned above, there were at least 5 players screaming home from Atlanta (from the 18U WWBA) that showed up after the 4th inning. The team was thin but battled through it with multiple players at unfamiliar positions.

Hats off to all the teams and players that made the commitment to participate...especially those on the North team who played a heartbreaking semifinal game in Atlanta, then drove 8 hours to Salem, and the put on the North jersey and helped win a Gold medal.

A real testament to the love of the game.

Always fun to hear about standout performances....anyone?

If you are a "Virginia" Player and want to play in a college in Virginia, I believe the best place to show your stuff is the Commonwealth games. I am surprised the Richmond Braves, the Virginia Cardinals, the Orioles Scout Team, and the these other teams listed don't attend the Commonwealth Games.
Rawlings Total Performance Elite
RBA West Elite
Tidewater Drillers
Virginia Diamonds
The other "Virginia Teams" are not made of many Virginia Players.

I agree with you golfball, even though my son never played in the Commonwealth Games. I know many players that got great exposure at CG, and did get recruited in state. It was a great opportunity for them.

Possibly these other teams (Cardinals, Braves, etc..) have players that want to be recruited nationally or have other means to get recruited in-state. I know we did. In the end, you have to do what is right for your specific recruiting strategy.

This WWBA/CG scheduling conflict has been going on for some time and don't see an end to it if these teams can get national level exposure at PG WWBA.

The Commonwealth Games were the best showcase event my son ever attended in terms of quality (top notch organization) and scouts (somewhere around 75-90 were present-some Virginia schools had 2-3 coaches present, all ACC schools, several SEC schools, and a boatload of pro scouts).

And despite the "good ole boy" selection process we were hearing about, my son contacted the North's head coach, asked if he could attend the tryouts, was welcomed to attend, and was ultimately selected knowing none of the coaches involved beforehand. He even missed the initial weekend of tryouts due to a state playoff game, but was told to come for the second weekend.

Commonwealth Games were just a wonderful event all the way around.

Just to ask the question...

Has anyone considered that the Commonwealth games are still a valid/ valued setting for aspiring college baseball players that are not of the current recruiting year.

A lot of the kids from this year's rosters like last years' roster... seem to be younger than the 2013 graduating year/ the 2013 WWBA tournament that is played at the same time. This doesn't mean that they are not bound for D1 schools. Just means they are not playing at East Cobb (when the WWBA 2013 grads are).

How many of these kids are 2014 grads? There are many players that attend both. There are many players that are only pitchers and attend both. There are many players that are not of the current graduating year that can attend both. Big deal. My opinion is ... more bang for the buck at the Commonwealth games (thanks Yankees 1943).

This is still a great venue for Virginians. Why is this so hard to understand?

In this case Commonwealth > Common Wealth...we are talking about Virginia

quote:

Originally posted by dblemup:
In this case Commonwealth > Common Wealth...we are talking about Virginia

Thanks...fat fingered that one.