High school coach question

My two cents as a parent....get another opinion. Of course, you want one that is objective and not just what you want to hear. Be prepared for good or bad news...as you see it.
I think the opinion of another coach he plays for or against may be helpful. Perhaps attending a Perfect Game event for their opinion.
I was treated in a similar manner 25 yrs ago by "mentors". I eventually played two sports in D3 and on a nat'l championship FB team.....and went on to the minors. BE realistic......but NEVER give up the dream. As they say in the NECBL, "Eye on the Dream".....whatever level that may take him.
Good luck

equipman you have a PM

quote:

The coach called him in and basically told him to stop dreaming.

That seems pretty unprofessional from my point of view, but this recruiting ride can be a brutal one, so please explain this to your son and let him know that he cant let the " nay-sayers " get the best of him.
My advice would be to fill out the questionnaire as much as you can and turn it back in to U of T.

Not all highschool coaches are supportive or believe in helping their kids reach the next level.


DIII and JUCO are great options.
If your son is interested in playing at a different level, and he's an 09' I'd have him make sure he gets evaluated by some of those schools this winter.
That way if he sparks their interest, they can come watch him this Spring.

As far as the HS coach telling your son to quit wasting everyone elses time,...that shouldnt stop your son at this point.
Let the college coaches decide for themselves if your son is wasting their time or not.

The wider the net, the greater chance for opportunity.


Best of luck!!

never listen to one person's opinion regarding baseball. it's not an exact science.

you only need one coach to like you no matter how many others pass you by.

socalcoach you have a pm

My son has played the last 2 years summer ball for the Asst coach/head recruiter for a major D2 in Michigan. This past summer he batted 4th for every game and started24 of 31 somewhere in the field or on the mound in the 16u div. His avg for all of his summer teams was .397 with 11 doubles, 1 triple and 3 hrs. Played mainly in RF, but also 1B,3B,C and Pitch. In the spring with the HS he pitched some and played maybe 3 games defensively. Won of the best D3's in michigan (Adrian) saw him at the Mich HS Showcase last month and sent him a letter stating they wanted to start the recruiting process with him by scheduling a visit. We gave the HS coach that questionaire, with the envelope, so we don't know what he put down on that one. We also had his summer coach fill it out. My son emailed the Adrian coach and told him that he didn't play much in HS and asked if it was alright for the summer coach to send one in. He told him that it would be ok. The JUCO that we went to see in GA, told him that they would expect him to be at 1B and dig in at the plate. They said that they didn't have any power in the lineup and that they looked for him to fill that gap next fall. At the YH showcase, they rated him at HS avg for fielding and arm strength and just below college for hitting for avg and at college level for power. So we have had several opinions that seem very positive, with the exception of his own HS coach

quote:

We also had his summer coach fill it out.

Good move!

As I said earlier, not all highschool coaches are supportive or believe in helping their kids reach the next level. If you have a summer coach who is supportive & willing, use him for a future contact person and for questionaires

quote:

So we have had several opinions that seem very positive, with the exception of his own HS coach

Take the good with the bad, and focus on your son's future. Not everyone will be supportive in this process. You have to take what you have, work on what needs to be improved on,..and forge ahead.

Sounds like you have been getting some positive feedback from several different college levels. Those are the opinions that will decide if you get an offer or not.
As nice as it would be to have your son's HS coach telling your son what he wants to hear, sometimes that just doesnt happen.

So how do you get around that hurdle?
Stay positive.
Focus on the big picture.
If interested in the colleges that are expresssing interest, have your son educate himself about those programs and see if they might be a good fit.

The ball is rolling,.....lets keep it that way. Dont let a bump in the road stop ya!

I think taking what the HS coach says as a piece of the puzzle is the correct thing to do. Every parent here has had to deal with coaches, scouts, other parents, etc. that have had a variety of opinions on their son and his ability. No one sees things exactly alike. I know parents to this day who are upset by things our HS coach told them.... thing is, IMO he was completely correct. Some coaches will be very matter of fact to the point of being rude, some will be honest and are fairly accurate knowing how to relay that information to the betterment of the kid, and some are so off base I could give a better report on the kid.

As was said and as you're doing, getting other opinions is important. When my son was back in HS, he worked out (at the coach's request) for a coach and son fell flat on his face. He was terrible! This coach said some things that were foreign and that we'd never heard in son's baseball life. This coach also shared his thoughts with at least a couple of other coaches that were recruiting son. (We know because they told us what he said) Bottomline, it made no difference to those other coaches who saw what they were looking for in son. Neither of those guys who had heard this negative comment from an actual college colleague took it to heart.

My point is regardless of what one person says, each coach will make up their minds based on their own opinions or at the very least, a collection of opinions. Let your son carry on with the plan you have in place and not be daunted by one person's thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by shortstopmom:

quote:

The coach called him in and basically told him to stop dreaming.

That seems pretty unprofessional from my point of view, but this recruiting ride can be a brutal one, so please explain this to your son and let him know that he cant let the " nay-sayers " get the best of him.
M....

I don't know your son or the coach nor do I know all the facts of your situation, however, is the coach telling your kid something he needs to hear rather then what he wants to hear? i.e. perhaps its more about motivation?

btw if you believe your son is not a d1 level player I would suggest the JC route to see if he'll develop into one. There is nothing worse then getting an opportunity for play for a coach who is not really committed to your son.

btw there are many good JCs all around the country and a JC should be thoughly checked out just like a 4 year program.

quote:

Originally posted by equipman:

The coach called him in and basically told him to stop dreaming.

Equipman, you have undoubtedly received some very valuable information from many of the posters on here. As to the above comment that your son's high school coach made, I'd like to give my 2cents worth if I may.

Its unfortunate, but true, that there are indeed a LOT of high school baseball coaches who could care less whether or not any of their players go to the next level and play ball. To them, coaching simply provides an extra stipend to their pay and they HAVE to coach to receive it. Our former coach sounds just like yours. Our new coach (2yrs) takes great pride in seeing his players go on and play college ball.

By the comment your coach made (whether it is word for word or what your son assumed he was saying by certain verbage) it's hard to say whether he is a good Coach and just a jerk of a person, or a jerk of a Coach AND person. Either scenario doesn't reveal his expertise in knowing talent and projecting potential.

When my son was a freshman and sophomore he didn't "appear" to be your proto-typical college player but he had love and desire that no one could distinguish the fire in him. He was slow as molasses on a cold winter day. He saw some growth his junior year (1st year of our new coach) and played well (2nd Team All-Region), saw more growth his senior year and played even better (1st Team All-Region, selected Team Georgia, etc.). He saw his biggest growth (size and strength) between the fall of his senior year and this past summer. And they continue growing into the college years. So yes, even though you can't see it right now, he WILL grow and even get better than he is right now.

Take a look at your coach's past track record of getting players to the college level. Is he successful or is his record lacking? That should tell you a good deal about how much your coach invest in the lives of his players and their future.

I think it's awesome that at least your son knows about what level he should play. You did right in wanting to send back the questionaire to UT. Who knows, after JUCO who's to say that UT might not be where he attends and plays...???

By the way, was the YH showcase as awesome as I told you it would be? I'd like to hear how it went, what you thought, how it was ran, how your son liked it, etc. It is topnotch in my book.

Very good advice from all. We are 90% sure of the JUCO that he will attend next fall. It's not so much that I want the coach to tell hiim that he is better than he is, we know where my son talent level is. I just don't like a coach to tell him to "quit dreaming" or to not have goals. My nephew went to the same school and 9 years ago, he had a sub 3.0 gpa, 28 act and wanted to go to Mich State for accounting. A counselor told him he would be in over his head and he should go to JC. Well he went to MSU and now has a master's degree and works for Price-Waterhouse. Now teacher/coach should ever try to burst a persons bubble. If he has a child that definately does not have any talent, then he should call the parents and talk to them first. I am hoping that this is just his way of motivating my son to prove him wrong, but, this coach has done many things to lead me to believe that is not his motive. We will continue to work together on his goals and one day maybe he will achieve them. Thank you all for your advice. The only thing that I did not get in your feedback is, does anyone know of current or not so past players that didn't play ball prior to college, or didn't get much of a chance to play in HS, that did blossom into great ballplayers. I want this for my son, so he can research them and use them as a driving force for his motivation to succeed

I think what the coach needed to say is "be realistic"; he should not have stated “quit dreaming”, if that was his exact words.

Some coaches know their players and abilities; some coaches may not have the background or experience to know how to get their players to the next level.

It sounds like you are a caring father who wants the best for your son, but the competition in college sports is super competitive at all levels even at the JC level, unless the school just does not have a chance of a winning season or even a few games, which some teams don't, they are looking for the very best they can get.

You need to realistic of what your son's ability is and where he can play, it will not do any good for your son to actually get into a school expecting to play and to have him cut before the fall starts, the college coach may be nice, but he will not sugar coat it!

To address your question about players who did not play in high school that were great players, I can not answer that, but trust me, if there are, the player would have been a great athlete that happen to have skills which translate to another sport, Bolt from Jamaica could be in that category, it would be interesting to see if he could play football, the question is could he hold on to the ball and will he like to get hit when he is show boating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are looking for a motivating story, google David Eckstein and find his whole story of how he walked on into college and the rest of his story...

Good Luck, enjoy the ride!

Thanks Homerun for the David Eckstein lead. I'll look that up. In regards to his past record moving kids up, he has a couple that went D3 and a couple that went D2 and then some that went JUCO.

To YOUNGGUN, it was a good showcase. Not too much standing around. Although I wish that the defensive side would have been better. My son played at 1B and the defensive workout was during batting practice for their partner team. they hit everything to the outfield or 3B and SS, maybe some to 2B. Very few to 1b. My son got 2 plays out of the 15 batters. Then during the game, he got I think 1 more. The YH players played the bases during the arm strength drill. I wish when they were hitting grounders to the MIF and 3rd basemen, that they would have let the 1st basemen take the throws. That would have given them a chance to make some great scoops out of the dirt, because there were quite a few bad throws. And when can a 1st basemen really shine? When saving the other infieders from errors. But other than that, very well run, alot of coaches, I think about25 or 30 in attendance. So thanks for the advance info on it.We went down to Andrew College and the head recruiter really liked my sons bat. After coming out of the cage he told us that they didn't have alot of power coming up and he would be in contact with us. My son really liked the program and the coaches. They have some good plans for the future and he liked the fact that it is a small school and out in the middle of nowhere so he can concentrate on academics and baseball. Plus they seem to move alot of players up.

We have a lot of good JUCO's here in Georgia with Andrew being one of them. He should be able to concentrate on his studies for sure because it definitely is in the middle of nowhere!

I'm sure he will also enjoy being able to begin play earlier in the year without contending to snow, ice, etc. that I'm sure Michigan does each year.

If you ever have any questions about any other JUCO's in Georgia or questions about Georgia in general, please feel free to send me a PM.

I think most high school coaches are concerned with living "in the now" with their team. College recruiting is a nice afterthought for some. But not all. Maybe his comments are more directed at keeping your son "in the now" with his (your son's) efforts towards the team. Sort of counterproductive, however, to tell him to forget his dreams of moving up. A non-motivator, in my opinion. My son's high school coach was equally non-plussed at son's ideas for college. In fact, son's two seasons playing for the guy was unmatched in coach's negativity toward's son's ability, talent, ambition and work-ethic. Coach was equally surprised when he was recruited for a D1 college. You're on the right path with much of the advice here and what you're thinking for yourself. It's part of a bigger puzzle, as somebody pointed out here. And you're right to seek outside opinions and keep an open mind. Curious, what does your son think about his own ability? After all, it will be your son doing the selling of his own ability. He needs to stay convinced he can do it against all odds, if that's the case. Good luck. Keep us posted. These are the kind of posts I like to follow!!

Did everyone ignore his 60 time of 8.6?

Equipman

Different sport but Michael Jordan got cut from his H.S basketball team at one point . Have your son research M.J.s path from high school to college .

quote:

Originally posted by Louisiana Lightning:
Did everyone ignore his 60 time of 8.6?

I know it is not "Lighting" speed but more so trying to be nice.

Equipman,

I am 99% certain that I know what team your son played for, and I am pretty sure I know who your son is. At least I have it narrowed down to one of two on that team. Son's coach was at Wayne St., now going out to Eastern....am I right??

My thought is that Maki's opinion will carry much more weight than HS coach, (there are only a few HS coach's in our area who's opinion really means something ) and his recomendation will also carry more weight to the colleges.

My $.02..... One; don't let anyone shoot down that boy's goal, dream, of playing D1. If reality is that he goes to a JUCO first, so be it. Two; I am sure you already have, but, I would seek out seek out Maki's advice and have him help game plan with you. I am sure Andrew will help with a plan that has your son's best interest at heart !!!!

sulltiger, thank you for the lead, will look it up...
Lightning, That is the problem that I think his HS coach has, he is looking at 1 thing instead of the whole package. This summer out of 40 hits, 11 where doubles, 1 a triple and 3 HR's. He had 37 rbi's. We can and are working on the conditioning to help bring that 8.6 down into the high 7's. Will he ever be a speedster, no. Can he hit power to the gaps and drive in runs, yes. Can he play a very good 1B, yes. Does Prince Fielder run a 7.4 60? No.. So we continue to work to get better. I think Homerun04 said it best "the coach needed to say, be realistic instead of quit dreaming or get out of lalla land.

Hacker, if you know #99 you know us...You are right, coach Maki will be of great assistance when we narrow down our choices. I will get in touch and ask him for a letter of reference..

it sounds as though your son is a bigboy. 8.6 -60, play's first, hits with power.

can he play anywhere else? if you don't bring other options to the table(speed, play's other positions etc),you are limiting yourself to a school that needs a 1st baseman. good 1st baseman are hard to find, but tall outfielders that can hit will do. give your self as many reason's as you can for a college to pick you up.

keep up the hard work ,it will pay off.

No Prince does not run a 7.4. He is much faster than that.

Is your son in great physical shape? Does he train very very hard? If not get there and then see what he runs. Get some help with his conditioning and training. Is he motivated to get there? He will have to if he wants to play at the next level.

The pitching he faces will be much much better at the next level. His extra base opportunities will less frequent. The arms and speed he will be facing will be much much better at the next level. He will not be producing extra base hits at the next level without better speed. He will be a liability on the bases.

He should be focusing on getting in great shape and getting faster not on what people are saying. The fact is a 60 time like that will turn off coaches big time. He has to work hard on getting faster. And he has to focus on what he needs to do to get there.

quote:

Originally posted by equipman:
Does Prince Fielder run a 7.4 60? No..

He was in the Perfect Game 2001 National Showcase, and posted a 7.17 60. Based on the picture, I suspect he is in better shape now.


Prince Fielder at PG

Yes he does play other positions, OF, and 3B. He is working out everyday. As said in earlier post, on a 22 week program with some of the other boys on his HS team. His 60 time will get better. Part is due to his playing on the D line in football last couple of years. All of the weightlifting was for power/mass, instead of speed. So he slowed down. My mistake for letting/encouraging him to play it. The program that he is on now is strictly for baseball players to develop fast twitch muscles. He just got home from it. He is on week 3.

And my mistake on Fielder, but, the last time I watched him on TV legging it out from 2nd to score, he didn't look very fast. Also, they timed him on TV on his last in the park HR and he posted a time of around 16.2.

equipman,

I don't think you will go wrong going the JUCO route given your son's circumstances. It should provide a great opportunity to work on his game and academics. My son (who coincidentalyy was also at the YH showcase) will play at a junior college next year.

VS-which team was your son on, mine was on the red team #14...Had fun there. He is looking forward to his application being accepted to the JC so we can talk to the coaches about what they will offer and get it settled before the end of the year. He really liked Andrew College.

equipman

My son attended a PG showcase Oct. of 2007. He ran a 8.33 60. He had a case of the nerves as it was his first showcase and made the classic mistake of going to the showcase out of shape. The truth be told we never knew his 60 time and the importance it holds. He spent all his time working on fielding and hitting. The day after the showcase he started working on his speed and agility. Four weeks after that PG showcase he attended the Freson State prospect camp here in California and ran about the same as the PG showcase. The coaches told him he didn't have to get fast but did have to get faster. He did. This summer at a Headfirst showcase he ran a 7.6 60. His DREAM is to run a 7.4 60. Son will never be lighting fast as he has some bad parental genetics to overcome but he has become faster. It can be done. Our problem now is how can we change his PG profile to reflect his new 60 time.

I for one feel that you son's coachs bedside manner stinks. He should have tempered his feelings about your son's chances of playing D1 ball. Why be so blunt and take a chance of alienating a player for the upcoming season. No coach worth anything should ever tell one of his players to stop dreaming. How many times have we told our son's to dream big and if you fall short you will still be way ahead. Your son's dream will fuel him to work hard and improve his speed, fielding and hitting as it did my son. Short term his dream will benifit his coach by providing your son with the motivation needed to be the best player he can be for his senior year and long term may lead to baseball after High School. What coach would not want a team full of dreamers doing everthing in their power to improve all aspects of their game. My advice would be not to approach the High School coach with your feelings of the way your son was treated. Simply use that treatment as another form of motivation.

The thing I most enjoyed about your post is you and your son's realistic view of what level he can play at after college. My son knows he is not a D1 player but knows he can play and contribute at the JUCO or D3 level. That is his dream. As I compose this response son just walked out the door to a speed workout. The dream is alive. You did the correct thing in filling out the DI questionaire. It was the right thing to do and showed respect you never know who is watching and talking to each other. If I remember correctly from other posts some D1 coaches have close relationships with JUCO coaches.

You and I can take comfort in the fact that both our son's have a DREAM and are willing to put the time and effort in doing what it takes. A lot of things have to happen for them to find a place to play ball after high school. No matter what happens they will be able to say they gave it 100%. Good luck to your son in his upcoming season. Please tell him to never stop dreaming.

Awesome post! Beautifull post!

Equipman:

Great advice - let's deal with the ego question.

All opinions about high school players are projections. Your high school coach has given an opinion to your son privately, that he may not share with other coaches (or he may). But I don't like anything about his manner of negative motivation. Wouldn't he want to pump your son up to lead the team this year? Does this coach have a record of sending kids on to college ball? Does he have major D1 connections? Did he play at a high level himself? If so, then his opinion should carry some weight. But now, the better question to ask this coach, is what can HE do to help your motivated son get ready for the next level? Every coach wants motivated players. However, you might have to face the fact that some coaches don't want players to move on to another level because it shows them up.

Your ego is not important in this equation, so factor that out (as hard as that can be) but you make sure your son uses this as a motivation to continue to show what he can do.

i would like to add my 2 cents, again.

i prefer the term goal, a goal is a destination that can be reached. something that you can work towards,focus on ,know when you get there.
dreams are good but they usually are just that,dreams. many of us dream of hitting the lotto, but we can't work towards that dream.

i'm sorry if it sounds like i'm picking the pepper out of fly shat. i just have this picture in my head of me sitting under a tree dreaming of my winnings.

Great post gimages. Very inspiring. That is what I have been saying. My son is working for that goal. What I am afraid of when a coach responds as his did, is the negative effect that he could have on alot of kids that don't have the support that our sons have at home. We are very realistic in the immediate future and are working toward those goals. My son went to a mid-level D1 prospect camp in July and really hit the ball well. The recruiting coord asked him to come back to the next phase this month, which we are doing. The head coach has seen my son play at a game against his son's team. He talked with him and asked what his 60 time was, when we told him, he just said "speed isn't always that important as long as you can drive the ball hard". So we will see how it goes at the next camp on the 20th.

quote:

. My son is working for that goal.

quote:

We are very realistic in the immediate future and are working toward those goals.

quote:

"speed isn't always that important as long as you can drive the ball hard".

Sounds like you guys are headed in the right direction.

quote:

What I am afraid of when a coach responds as his did, is the negative effect that he could have on alot of kids that don't have the support that our sons have at home.

By the time a kid is a senior, they are usually alot tougher mentally then us parents sometimes give them credit for.
From what you have told us, your son is holding his own...and he knows that deep inside!

quote:

Originally posted by sulltiger24:
Equipman

Different sport but Michael Jordan got cut from his H.S basketball team at one point . Have your son research M.J.s path from high school to college .

This story is overused and a bit misleading. Jordan wasn't cut because he stunk. He attended a high school basketball powerhouse. He was 5'9" when he was cut from varsity as a sophomore. He was not cut from the high school basketball program.

The point is ...regardless of the exact circumstances ..Jordan didnt have instant success in high school and had to overcome some things first ..before he was on his way .

He had to wait to grow from 5'9" to 6'2" (the next year) in a sport where height is usually required to succeed in major programs. It was also a program sophs usually didn't make the team.

I never understood why this story is such a big deal. There are many more just like it. It's not uncommon in major high school sports programs to not make varsity or start until junior year. It often has more to do with physical development than skills.

Much of running is a form issue. Bad form/starts/arm action can slow you down by half a second. A good running coach can help reduce that time substantially.

In my experience, if you can flat out hit, they will find your son a place on the team. Isn't that why there's a DH?

Don't give up on the dream. If he's truly committed and has a great work ethic, there will be a place for him somewhere.

equipman,

I don't want to play "dreamsquasher", but here's what has come out above:

Son has leg speed that is a major negative. May not be in good baseball shape due to "bulking up" for football.

Son has only an average HS throwing arm.

Son hits for power but his average is only maybe B+ grade for HS level.

Father and son admit son may not be D-I potential.

Against this background, son asks HS coach about a major program in one of the toughest (some say THE toughest) baseball conferences in America.

I would also attack HS coach's "bedside manner" if he delivered the message in the manner indicated. But you didn't actually say that. You paraphrased him. So I'll say the jury is still out on the coach's sensitivity.

That being said, the coach's comment is actually constructive. The info above indicates that your son does not have the arm required to play 3B or C at the major college level. He does not have the speed to play OF or MIF. He is not a good enough hitter to nail down 1B or DH at an SEC school, power or no power. (The competition for those positions at major programs is very keen, and those slots tend to go to guys who hit .500+ as underclassmen in high school, not development projects.) And SEC schools will finish their recruiting for major power hitters in about a month, so there's not a lot you can change in time to address this.

JuCo might help. But you yourself said, maybe D-II or III. What the coach was saying is essentially this: It's OK to aim for college ball, but let's look at places where you might have a shot. You want to send the questionnaire back to UT? I see no harm in that, but any effort beyond that is time you could've spent pursuing more realistic opportunities.

The coach also has a long term need. He needs to retain his credibility with college recruiters so that he can help EVERYONE on into the future. He cannot truthfully tell UT that your son is a hot prospect, because eventually they'll find out he was snowing them and then they might not come back some day when he has someone he really does believe they should see. (Remember "The Boy Who Cried Wolf"?)

That doesn't mean he's not willing to help your son to find a place that fits for him and his ability level. It just means he is not willing to waste his time on something that will accomplish nothing positive, but will damage his reputation and ability to help others.

Now, my son had a HS coach who was a jerk, who thought he knew everything when in fact he knew precious little, but it didn't matter because he couldn't be troubled to return a college's phone call or e-mail. We were fortunate that the school changed coaches after soph. year to an A+ guy, and that the summer program my son was in promoted him rather well. From this perspective, I'll say that if you know from multiple experiences that your son's HS coach is really a jerk, then all the advice about seeking help elsewhere is advice well taken.

But from everything laid out above, I'm sorry, I don't see it. Sounds like your son's coach may be trying to help the best way he knows, perhaps even in the way that is actually in your son's best interests.

I'd suggest you meet with him and ask him for his advice and opinions on potential target schools. Even jerks like being asked for their opinions; it's flattering. Hear the whole thing and then make your judgment. But this is an adult situation. Don't expect everything you hear to be glowing. We're not in Little League any more. You need to know the straight poop on how a knowledgeable baseball person sees your son and evaluates him.

I know plenty of kids who could've played D-III, but they missed out because they spent so much time showcasing and going to major programs' camps that they missed the D-III's and never did impress the D-I's. All that "follow your dreams" stuff is nice, but it can sometimes lead you down the proverbial primrose path if you're not careful. In the end you need to make your own assessments and decisions, but do it with open ears and an open mind.

Midlo Dad, your post makes a heckuva lot of sense.

Midlo-

First off, the questionaire was sent to my son, so we needed to fill it out and send it back. The coach only filled out the places where you rate the player from poor to highly rated by placing him as average in every respect except poor for running and very high for attitude. He made no other comments and didn't even sign his name to it. It's not like he stretched the truth and would bring shame to himself. He just has a poor approach when it comes to my son, because every other HS coach in the area (3 to be exact) that my son has played for this summer, wishes he could transfer to their school. That being said, we are focusing on JUCO's because of the ability to move up easily if and when he makes the grade and because of the money difference. Plus he like the idea of the smaller school to start so that he can settle in on the higher caliber classes to establish good working habits before going to a 4 year school. We both want this. He is truly a jerk coach because he does nothing to teach the players how to play baseball the right way. Let me explain, He has basically 2 starting pitchers. 1 starts game on Monday and will pitch the entire game up to 125 or more pitches if neccessary. We are winning going into the 7th inning, he has pitched 100 pitches, coach leaves him in, we lose game. This happened at least three times this spring. He has 5 other pitchers, but, he refuses to go to them in the middle of the game when he should. The next day, this pitchers arm is darn near falling off. His parents won't say anything about the overuse. Wednesday, pitcher 2, whose dad will limit his pitches, starts the game and pitcher 1 will go in late in the game in relief. Then Friday, pitcher 1 is back at it. He has another kid that all he will let him do is bunt. Doesn't matter if there is 2 outs or not, or even if the situation doesn't call for it. the idea that we are even dreaming of an SEC school is because those schools recruit from the JUCO's that he wants to play for. I think that I would do my son a disservice by telling him that he shouldn't think about going to one of those schools someday. That if a kid has a 3.0 and wants to go to U of Mich. Chances are he won't get accepted right out of HS, but if he goes to JUCO first and gets good grades there is a chance he could get in as a Junior. And there are good DIII's but I would rather him go to JUCO and get if great game shape, grade shape and then apply or maybe get picked up by one of the D2's or D3's at that time when he would play full time.