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I just returned from the Dan Duquette Memorial Day Tournament out in Hinsdale, MA.

http://www.duquettesports.com

I have to say it was a very positive experience. This weekend there was both a 12U and a 14U tournament being hosted at the complex.

The facility is located right off of I-90 and made for an easy commute. Players and coaches stay in cabins located right on the facility and all meals are provided and included in the per player fee. The cabins had plenty of room and even had private bathrooms and showers which were clean and comfortable. Our teams bunk actually had foosball, a pool table, and couches. We checked in on Friday night played 2 games Saturday, 2 games Sunday, and a fifth game on Monday morning.

The camp itself is right on a lake with its own beach for swimming, kayaking etc. Infact the DD program provided Kayaks and Canoes for the kids to use along with lifeguards on duty for safety.

There are also several basketball courts and a street hockey court which were top notch and in excellent condition including glass backboards and plenty of balls for everyone to use. There was field space available for wiffleball and other games when the kids were not on the diamonds.

The 14U group played on 2 fields, one was right on campus including lights for night play and a small scoreboard which was operated by the DD staff. The second field was off campus about 15 minutes from camp and was an old fashion style stadium kept clean and modern. DD staff ran the full sized scoreboard, played music between innings over the sound system, and announced all starting lineups and batters as they came to the plate. The kids really enjoyed that.

The competition was very good, there were 8 teams in our age group. 3 games were played for seeding purposes before a single elimination tournament began, all teams played at least 5 games as there was a consolation bracket.

The "Major League" club house was a bit of a dissapointment as it did not offer much but the players did not even notice as they were busy playing ball, making new friends, shooting hoops, and swimming.

The staff was friendly and accomediating. I personally spoke with Director Kent Qualls on several occasions as he and his staff were very visable the entire weekend. He was very professional and friendly and knew the teams that were playing. I had mentioned that I was going to go watch one of the 12U games (more on that in a different post) and he could speak on both teams and told me it would be a competitive game, he was right. His team was very knowledgable and friendly. I had time to talk to two other admins there and both were college baseball players. One from Western New England College and one from Southern Vermont College, both were very friendly and polite. This was great news as a previous tournament we played in this year was not nearly as well run.

I spoke with one team that was based closer to the DD facility in Western Mass that had chosen not to stay on campus but drive back and forth each day. I would say that they missed out on a great opportunity to team building. If the coaches can suck it up for a few nights and stay in the bunks it is more than worth it! The kids loved it there. I had a chance to see the end of a 12 U game where the winner would be staying for another game on Monday. The kids had already packed up just in case they were leaving and after they found out they had won they went crazy with excitement, they were not cheering for the win but were yelling "we're staying!!!!!" They just wanted to stay another night! Plus there are a lot of 8am games and some 7pm games so if you can avoid commuting I would suggest it.

There were plenty of restaurants and hotels in the area for parents who are staying the weekend. Parents were allowed on campus and in the bunks, I think there may have been a small parking fee for the day.

The only knock I have on the place was the umpires. They may have been the worst umpires I have had the displeasure of working with. Not many of them were patched, some did not look or act very professionally, some did not even know the rules. (Infield Fly, Balk, Substitution rules) I do not want to say that about them all because there were a few good ones but I can think of 4 seperate official right now that I would say were pulled off the streets that morning. I actually heard two umps talking about a bad call they made and one of them say something along the lines of "All I care about is that I get paid" and that showed. We would have been better off if they could have just gotten local college players or students, gave them a tutorial on the rules just to brush up and had them work all the games. I know there were 44 games and getting umps all the way out there is probably tough, but its was sad. I don't think it cost anyone a game because it was equally pathetic both ways. It would have been laughable, but it was too ridiculous to be funny. We were able to talk to opposing coaches after we had just played them and nobody seemed pleased with the quality of umpires.

If at the end of 4 days at this place if my only complaint is umpires I call that a success.

This was our second tournament of the year, first being Baseball Heaven in New york, and I can say the Dan Duquette was a superior experience. I would recommend it to any coach or team that was looking to play and would be happy to discuss in a private chat.

I would suggest parents and coaches prepare their kids for camp. The bunks were not comfortable to sleep in, I know toughen up, but if you can get an air mattress it is well worth it. Also come preparred with warm blankets and with a personal fan. The temperature on the lake can change fast from swealtering hot to chilly. If you are playing 5 games it would be smart to plan on a parent or coach running out and washing the uniforms and socks. I think there might have been coin op laundry on site but I do not know for sure. Those bunks were not the best smelling places after a couple days of baseball. I'd also bring snacks and waters for after the mess hall closes down (7pm).

This is well worth the time, trip, and cost.
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I agree with everything posted except the quality of competition. But it was a great experience. This is the only place I've ever been tossed as a coach. The umpires got tired of me telling them every inning the opposing pitcher was balking. I pointed out his coach was telling him he was balking and how to correct it. I got tossed for saying "Wow" to myself on a bad ball/strike call. Half the umpires weren't patched by any organization.

The old stadium is Waconah Park. It's the oldest standing wood stadium in the country. I believe it's a registered landmark. It comes with a fifteen minute sunset delay as the sun sets in the hitter's eyes. It's the home of a NECBL team.

Waconah Park
I too was at the Dan Duquette's sports Academy Memorial Day tournament in Hinsdale. Son had a blast. It wasn't cooperstown Dreams Park but far better then other tournaments we've played in. Shipbuilder, we actually played the Hammerheads on Sunday afternoon at Wahconah Park, son plays on the Nashua Knights. That was a heck of a game! I didn't stay with the kids but all their comments were positive about the experience. I also agree that the quality of umpires was all over the place. Our first game the ump behind the plate had to be one of the best I've seen ever. Actually went uo to him after the game to let him know it, 99.5% consistent with his strike zone the whole game for both teams. Now the rest of the umps were a different story. Inconsistent strike zones, bone head calls on the bases, refusals to ask the other umps for help on blown calls etc..you saw it yourself..so you know what I mean. Other then some shady umps (we also questioned if they picked them up off the streets as their uniforms and general appearance was old and tattered..lol) and one team that had no business playing there it was an enjoyable tournament, one I hope the program continues to play in for future years.

Now 7 of the 8 teams were run of the mill AAU teams and then there was the Select team that also was there. I hope they enjoyed their plastic trophies because they hardly earned them. Kids on that team probably didn't have an enjoyable time either creaming everyone. But hey they now have a big notice on their website congratulating them on winning the tournament. They had no business playing in that tournament....they have a normal 14U AAU team but felt compelled to bring the big boys instead. That took some of the shine off of the weekend in my opinion.
The umpires where absolutely aweful. I will say that in NH we have some very committed and knowledgable umpires. These guys at this tournament were aweful, I fully expected to be tossed in our final game due to the ridculous calls they were making, both teams agreed that these FOOLS were miserable. I feel that if you run a tournament like this you hire quality umpires and not local yocals for minimum. Besides the jokes of umpires the tournament was a blast my kids loved the experience we would certainly return. The staff running the tournament was top notch. Besides umpires the tournament was a great time.
quote:
Now 7 of the 8 teams were run of the mill AAU teams and then there was the Select team that also was there. I hope they enjoyed their plastic trophies because they hardly earned them. Kids on that team probably didn't have an enjoyable time either creaming everyone.
When I took my team there a few years ago I wasn't aware of the level of competition. The teams were community oriented AAU teams. My objective was a team oriented trip and getting my son playing in front of his grandparents and other relatives. I told the director to tell coaches we were really good so we would draw every team's #1. I don't get any joy in easy wins all weekend. The opposition's ace in the championship game beat us. He could have pitched at any level of travel.
Last edited by RJM
Polemecist - You are dead wrong. Dan Duquette did NOT start this thread. Get your facts straight before posting such an idiotic statement!!

Shipbuilder is from NH and helps run the Granite State Baseball Fall League in NH. It is a great concept in its early stages (year 3 I believe) where they strive to get the best kids from NH and have them play games on the weekends at local college campuses throughout NH and New England so that the coaches can see them play on their own fields or school near by. He is also affiliated with the NH Hammerheads AAU program that PLAYED at Duquette's place over Memorial Day Weekend. My son's team was also there that weekend (actually played the Hammerheads) and it was an excellent tournament for a smaller local AAU team.

I suggest you remove your post or perhaps a moderator could remove it as it is a$$inine!!
Last edited by redsox8191
Actually Duquette was there for a brief moment on Saturday night. I saw him in the main building while heading to the bathroom. Alas he was gone by the time I came back out into the main lobby. I'd have thanked him for his part in helping the Sox finally win one. He made a lot of mistakes (not signing Texeiria out of the draft)and said a few stupid things but overall did a fairly decent job during his tenure with the Sox.

He runs a nice tourney too, especially for a non-select type AAU program.
Hi everyone,

I'm going to be there this summer and had a few questions about the cabins. I'm a little OCD about cleanliness... are the bathrooms and sinks clean or do they get really dirty quickly? And what about the showers? I know it's a camp with cabins but in the past I've had very different experiences. Are the cabins air conditioned? I imagine it gets very humid by the lake, if there's no AC do the cabins get really humid? The reason I ask is that usually people spread their towels and when they don't dry due to the humidity it makes it sort of stinky.

Does anyone have any pictures of inside the cabins they could send me or post? Any information and/or descriptions would be really great and very much appreciated.

Thanks!
Our team didn't arrive till the following morning due to the lateness of our first game on saturday, so they actually had to stay at a tennis camp right down the road (walking distance). The cabins they stayed in were excellent. Knotty pine interior with wooden bunks. You sleep on the wood so a thick sleeping bag or air mattress is a good idea. Son said it was very clean and the showers were very nice. The facility is less then 10 yrs old so everything is still in really good shape. It is up in the bershires so temps can really fluctuate. I'd bring a fan for sure as well as a sweatshirt for the cool mornings or nights when the humidity is down.

Hope you guys have a blast out there!! and dson't have a select team there destroying everyone like we did..lol.
Last edited by redsox8191

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