Bryce Harper story below
Mike Montvilles dad here in sunny 85 degree Cary, NC. I have been following your discussion about summer baseball, Babe Ruth, Legion etc. I agree the level of play has not been good in NH. The legion baseball at the state tournament and regionals was very good. Of all the games my son played over the years the state and regional tournaments did have a fair amount of college and pro exposure. Other than that, even at AAU level it was minimum.
My son wants to play in college so thats why he passed on legion this summer to play on a Mass travel team that's going to 4 major tournaments from Albany NY to Ft Meyers Florida. This type of exposure is not going to happen in NH or anywhere in NE for that matter.
If a player wants to get exposure they have to find a team that travels to major events or be skilled/lucky enough to get invited to well attended showcases. My kid attended the Yankees Area Code tyout in Trenton NJ on Sunday. There were 30 MLB teams and over 75 college teams, Duke, Texas Tech, Virginia, Virgina Tech, Miami
and on and on. Now thats is exposure.
This Tournament of Stars is unbelievable. My son and I went to USA Baseball facility yesterday - jaw dropping.
I took him to registration and you thought the players were in MLB. They all have press badges, they then lined up to get gear from Rawlings, Easton, New Era etc. My kid needed a truck to take out the shirts, shorts, batting gloves, hats etc.
Watching the players register I am pretty sure my son realizes this isn't NH anymore. You should see the size of most of these players - they all look like they can play. This isn't Class I anymore Toto.
Bryce Harper walks into the gym at 6:30 pm and you thought he was a rock star, both kids (not players) and adults were on him in a second for autographs. The kid couldn't even get his gear. I hope this is what he wants.
Yesterday we found our Bryce Harper is on my kids team (Legion)- do you think the place will be packed every game they play? Little different than the 50 family and friends that go to Portsmouth High School games.
Hope it stopped raining in NH
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