The end of one journey....the start of another....
I have not been out here much over the past few months. For us here, the journey towards playing college baseball has ended. For the first
summer since we moved to NH in '95, our son will not be putting on a baseball cap and heading out to games and practices.
Last fall, my son (then a junior in HS) decided to change the emphasis of his athletic career and for the first time focus primarily on basketball.
After being a backup as a sophomore, he knew he was going to be counted on by his teammates to step out as the starting center and give the team big presence under the basket. He had enjoyed a wonderful season, averaging 12 pts, 11 rebs and 6 blks a game in earning all-state honors.
Unfortunately, the dream season came to a crashing end in the state qtr-finals on a 35-ft buzzer
beater. In that game, he played the 2nd half with a cracked schaphoid bone in his left hand (the pitching hand of course). Now after a short but succesful run with a local AAU team, he has some D3 schools wanting him to come play college basketball.
(One of which was one of his top choices from a purely academic standpoint)
His summer is now fully loaded with camps, strength & conditioning workouts and summer ball for his school.
Most inportantly, he has been re-infused with a passion for sports again, and it's wonderful to see again. We are blessed with a 6'6" son who is a true student athelete. He has worked hard and has maintained his GPA over 4.0 heading into his senior
year.
Believe me all you athletes out there, that makes a HUGE difference in the recruiting wars. Especially in DIII, where a lot of the aid is merit-based.
The past 11 years of baseball have been an incredible trek for the three of us. He was a LL allstar from his 9-yr old season on. At Fenway Park as a 10 yr old, he won the Diamond Skills competition. As an AAU player, he went to national tournaments and pitched his team to wins. Last summer the American Legion team he played for
was runner-up for the state title. Along the way, we encountered all the usual ups & downs, experienced the gambit of emotions & met some outstanding and incredible people.
I wanted to acknowledge a few of the HSWEB people
2,7&27Dad
We first met at that Diamond Skills competition in Concord at White Park when Matt was 8. Wow, has it really been that long! I want to thank you for all your support and counsel over the years. You have helped us more than you will ever know. I have a feeling you & I will be standing along the fence at the LL field watching the next few generations of players come up. (The wives will probably on the opposite side of the field...LOL)
For those who dont know him, 2,7&27Dad has had two sons play DI baseball. He has helped myself and others through this maze and minefield we all call youth athletics and now through the fun of college recruiting.
KmomNH
We met when our sons joined an AAU team going into their 12 yr old season. We have been through a lot of up & downs over these past few years. I think now both our sons have found their athletic passions and I hope we both can watch each of them succeed at that next level over the next few years.
We will defintely be bumping into each other a couple of times next year with basketball at your school and baseball at ours.
I appreciate our talks and want to thank you for all your support over these years.
20dad
We met a few years ago through a common friend (2,7&27Dad) and then when our boys played together in fall league down there in Portsmouth. My Matt was 10 & yours was 11. We have seen each other on & off over the years and I have appreciated your kinds words and support. I'm sure we will continue to bump into each other from time to time around the LL & HS fields of the area. Also want to once again send along our best wishes and hopes for both your sons futures.
Some people I have talked with on & off here at HSBWEB
piaa_ump
Thank you for your wonderful explanations and frankness in our discussions. You gave me a good insight into umpiring and a better understanding of some issues that we discussed. I have a great deal of respect for you.
I truely wish that more of the officals in all HS sports took their responsibilty to the sport and the kids the way you do. Your always working to keep your skill set & knowledge base as up to date as possible. If everyone did this, it would result in a much more enjoyable expereince for everyone.
Swingbuster
I have learned from reading a different thread here that he has pased on. He is one who will be sorely missed. Thank you so very much for helping me find that quality info. It really does make sense and was helping my son up until the point he decided to pursue basketball. It will help him in HS ball next year.
TRhit
If we had stayed in CT (my son was born in Middletown), I have a feeling we would have met
more than a few times. We have had some sprited discussions in my time here and I respect your opinions as well as all you do for the young players here in the northeast.
Keep fighting the good fight!
Last, but certainly not least, to those here who run & sponsor this wonderful site,
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
I wish I could say there was a companion site like this for basketball, but i have yet to find it.
you folks have provided a fantastic place for both player & parents! Keep up the good work!
Finally, from myself, my wife & my son, we wish all the young players & their families the best of
luck in the future. May you take your skills and abilities to their maximum potential.
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