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Cooperstown Tips

C Calahan10+ posts
My son's team is going to Cooperstown this summer.

What kind of competition should they expect?

He plays in one of the hot beds of competition in the country. His team does well for what they are. They usually thump American teams and hang with National teams but have a tough time beating them (still competitive just have difficulty winning).

90+ teams from all over the country go to Cooperstown every week meaning close to 1000 teams go every summer which makes me wonder if some of the talent is diluted and that the level of competition is going to be all over the road.

I read "Little League, Big Dreams" and the author made it seem like every single team that goes to Cooperstown is a monster (our team is good but not a monster). I've seen some monster teams but it's difficult to believe that there will be 90 of those type teams in the same tourney every single week.

Any other tips for our trip to Cooperstown?
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55mom55mom1,000+ posts
I would suggest going to the website - you can see game standings etc. Our week there were a few teams 7-0 and a few 0-7. Obviously the 7-0, 6-1 teams were in the finals. No matter where you end up, the kids have a blast. We ended up playing two teams in the top 10 and were 1-1. So that was something. Smile Some do take it very seriously, and will fly up fresh arms on Wednesday. imho, the child loses the entire experience. it happens though.

Some teams really practiced the 'round the horn, golden arm, speed racer thing and homerun derby. They were lots of fun too.

Focus on the entire experience. The folks are nice up there, and there are things to do off site.
D Doughnutman1,000+ posts
We are going for the first time the week of July 20th-27th. I cannot belive that they let 12 year olds use fat bats on a 200 foot fence. What's the personal record? 5 homeruns a game? 6?

You might as well play the center fielder like a midfielder. Anything over his head is either a homerun or a single off the fence.

Might as well defend against the bloops.
baseballmom03baseballmom0310+ posts
We went to Cooperstown 2 years ago this summer. Great Experience! Hall of Fame is cool.
At that point there were about 60 teams that went each week. We play in Georgia (East Cobb area) and see some pretty good competition locally. The teams we saw in Cooperstown varied in ability. Some were more "all star" level and some were very "Elite" travel level and most were somewhere in between.

If you go to the Coopertown website they have a webcam and you can see some of the games.....I agree with another response...SHORT FIELDS...lots of home runs....
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Doughnutman:
We are going for the first time the week of July 20th-27th. I cannot belive that they let 12 year olds use fat bats on a 200 foot fence. What's the personal record? 5 homeruns a game? 6?

You might as well play the center fielder like a midfielder. Anything over his head is either a homerun or a single off the fence.

Might as well defend against the bloops.


We played our OF shallow because they run pretty well and anything over their heads was either a single or HR.

At 10U, my CF threw out 7 or 8 kids at 1B for the week...a record.
CSGCSG100+ posts
We also went two years ago in 05, I personally think most teams head to Cooperstown for the experience of the tournament and with no high expectations of going home as that weeks champion. We ended up seeded 43rd and won a playoff game. Unless your son plays for a Major Elite Team just enjoy the week, he will never forget it.

Baseballmom03 – What team does your son play for, we will be playing in the USSSA Major State Tournament in June at East Cobb.
redsox8191redsox8191500+ posts
Calahan - What week are you guys heading out? My son is playing on a team heading out week # 9 (8/4 - 8/9). We are a team of Cal ripken players throughout the city put together just to go to Cooperstown. All the kids play all-Stars for their respective leagues. Needless to say the 70' bases and leading will be somewhat new to them. The team that went out last year was seeded 25th for their week so "upper middle" is where I'd place the caliber of our team.

I don't know why the 200' fence is such a big deal as that is what they play on normally for Cal Ripken baseball (atleast up here in New england). Now if the issue is the big barrel bats on such a short field I understand the issue..lol.

We are looking forward to the experience for sure!!
redbird5redbird510,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by redsox8191:
I don't know why the 200' fence is such a big deal as that is what they play on normally for Cal Ripken baseball (atleast up here in New england). Now if the issue is the big barrel bats on such a short field I understand the issue..lol.


Most of the travel teams haven't played on 200' fences since 10 years old.
SandmanSandman500+ posts
We are also going the same week as you redsox8191. We are from RI. Our kids all play LL All-Stars too, but in addition, they're playing a Spring AAU season - Sunday (and a couple Sat.) doubleheaders only. That will stop June 15th and we'll resume practices after All-Stars, maybe even a tournament the end of July. At least that way, our kids s/b used to the leading off and stealing, etc..

We're really looking forward to it. Feel free to PM me and we can exchange particulars (team names, emails, etc.) so that maybe we can check each other while we're there together.

Regards,
Sandman
redsox8191redsox8191500+ posts
Sandman,

Thats cool that we will be going out the same week. There is another person on here (who's name escapes me) from california that will be there that week too. We are the "NH Dirt Devils" and the Tazmanian Devil in a baseball uniform is our logo. We got our pins and they are sweet looking!! I am helping coach so I get to bunk up with the boys..lucky me!

We have two 12U AAU teams in the area (who will also head out there but different weeks then us) so we are going to scrimmage against them a couple of weekends in July before heading out there. Plus some of our Cal ripken leagues in NH have converted to the 70' bases with leading..so we will try to set up some scrimages with them as well. Hopefully the boys All-Stars won't interfere too much with our cooperstown preparation.
D Doughnutman1,000+ posts
Quick cooperstown question for the old timers that have been to Cooperstown a few times.

We go on the 27th of July and my son was just invited to fill in a roster spot of another AZ team that is going week before(for free!).

We know the team and he is going to play 13U with those guys in the fall(our team only coaches 12U).

What are your opinions on the amopunt of games played? Too much for a 12 year old? He will probably pitch about 6 inning per week and play shortstop the rest of the time.

Just looking for some opinions.
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