How do Southern Teams Compete???

Population numbers are one reason why the Northern teams should be better.

However, where the South has an advantage is that they usually don't play any Northern teams during the season or the summer but only during the State tournament and the kids/scouts never get a chance to see the kids from the Southern schools except in a State tournament game situation....and as you well know, anything can happen in a single game, winner take all, situation.

Lots of Legion ball in Southern Illinois. Would love to see them up here regularly playing the travel teams.

That Edwardsville team (think Pile was their coach the couple of years they won) and Harrisburg (one year) were exceptions to the rule where each year the best teams are from Chicagoland.

Is this topic what I think it is? How do teams in the midwest compete with southern teams? If im wrong disregard this post, im im right, your crazy. Take a look at the top 100 players in the nation, take a look at the top college teams and confrences....it should be, how do illinois schools and other mid west schools compete with baseball in states like florida, arizona, california, texas and so on. I have always thought that teams in our region are at such a disadvanatge, because when we would start practicing teams in those states would be able to get on a field, they would have out door practice all season long, baseball could be played every day of the year, were as in the midwest, you have to worry about the game time temp being above 40, getting snow of the field. The example I will use to get my point across was my frehmen year of college. We got on the grass twice before we left for our spring trip in georgia and florida, and that was a lot compared to the years prior. We played some of the top d3 teams, but we were at a disadvantage...we were announced 0-0. 1-0, 1-1 while other teams were 12-2, 11-0, or if they were 0-0, they played 10 or 15 practice games. Colleges like OKl. State, Miami, Florida and so on pay northern schools to come down there and play practices games, pay meaning cover expenses. How could we compete when we were able to practice outside once or twice and these teams played 8-10 games. You could work all you want of tees, live pitching in cages, grounders in the gym, but none of that compares to the real thing, espeically when it comes to seeing how guys play together and who will be your main guys. I mean you could only tell so much from inside practices, and in college, guys improve from fall to spring so you can not base it off the fall. Our first 7 or 8 games back we played games were teams were shoveling snow off the fields, coast schools dont have to deal with that. Now I havent looked at pre-season polls or top whatever stuff in a few years because I think they are a load of garbage, but I do recall the majority of top players being from the same few states, coincidence....I dont think so. On the high school level they dont go head to head, thats why its easier to say that the north is better, but if high schools ever played head to head, a few northern schools may be able to compete. So again, I have always believed, more so at the college level, and in general, that midwest states cant compete with Texas, Arizona, Florida, Calafornia and other warm weather places because from the begining, baseball players in those areas have the chance to play ball year round and practice outside year long.

Bill Dwoinen Jr
Assistant Coach Melrose Indians Baseball www.melroseindians.com

Bill...I think that the coach was talking about Northern versus Southern high school teams in the State of Illinois.

Beenthere....Thanks, I feel like a nimrod......all though I do bring up a good point!

Bill Dwoinen Jr
Assistant Coach Melrose Indians Baseball www.melroseindians.com

Now that I know the real question, I could speak first hand on why southern illinois cant compete. I am down in Bloomington/Normal at ISU, and I realized a few things. One there are some great athletes down here, but the reason why no one team is big is becuase there are so many darn high schools down here! I mean between Bloomington and Normal there is about 5 or 6, maybe more, and that pulls kids in different ways, were as each team may have a few good players, but they dont get talked about. Imagine Downers Grove or Hinsdale having 6 high schools each!

Bill Dwoinen Jr
Assistant Coach Melrose Indians Baseball www.melroseindians.com

indians08, Yes, Southern Illinois vs Northern Illinois. We're in the NEW ILLINOIS FORUM although you did make some good points about the midwest. Oh, and you made a good point about me being crazy. My players would agree 100%. No the bias tends to be topheavy on the North probablly due to more Northern Posters and so the question. I have my own opinions on the subject but didn't want to taint the question with them.

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

I presented this thread to see why posters believe that the northern part of the state is so much stronger than the south. This is apparent when threads begin on the "best" and with comments on who is going to dominate this year and win state. We really do play ball in the south. Granted there have been some major drawbacks in the past. They are:

1. lack of hitting/fielding facilities
2. The comment by Indians08 is so true. The schools in the north are so much bigger. We are in the St. Louis Metro- area and are small compared to most northern schools. We are 1,200 but we do have some bigger schools here and do play them. I think that when a conference is comprised of schools 2,000 or more and they play a schedule comprised of out of conference schools the same size, it helps that team prepare for state.
3. Definitely, the travel teams help. We can do this in our area but our kids would have to go to St. Louis to play on teams most of you have heard of. We play legion ball in this area more than travel teams. I like this because my high school team plays 35+ games in high school ball and then play 44 games in legion ball all together. However, sometimes the level of competition isn't as great. I say sometimes because some of the legion teams are essentially all-start teams from 3 and 4 high schools. We won't let any outside teams play on our legion team. They won 30 last summer and so were able to compete.
4. SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL BALL – This I believe is big. However, I also can see some detriment to it. I think that the kids would hate me if they had to be around me for 50 games in a year.
5. FALL LEAGUES – we have never been able to do this. Our athletes have to play all sports here which leads us to the next item.
6. Single sports athletes – I think that with the size of the northern schools, it is easier for athletes to specialize. Here at our school, a part of our mission statement as it applies to athletes is to encourage them to participate in all sports.
7. Other – this is a catchall phrase for finances, field houses, etc. that southern teams can only dream of.

Side note, we are making great strides in the south. Within 30 minutes of us, 5 hitting facilities have opened with the past year and a half. We are going to make drastic curriculum changes here at our school that will really enhance our athletics. We/I already run a plyometrics and weight lifting program specifically for baseball. Also, I believe we are the only team south of Springfield that has a trainer as a part of our faculty. Our trainer has a training room with all of the equipment you will find in a hospital with the exception of x-ray and MRI. He begins work at 10:00 and is here until all athletics are complete. Like I said, we are trying to catch up. Having said all of this, I am not saying that the South can't compete now for a state title. I have been to state numerous times and have been an assistant on 2 state champs and a state runner up. Therefore, southern states can compete.

"There comes a time when you have to stop dreaming of the man you want to be and start being the man you have become." Bruce Springsteen

CoachB, the funny thing is that alot of time when the south is spoken of people are talking about the Springfield area. Starts to make us feel that way down here is another state.

I have seen baseball throughout this state and your school plays baseball the way it is supposed to be played. I have always thought that your community should be so proud of all of your athletic teams. Congrats on having such a great year.

Thanks Coach that means alot. I've read alot of your posts and with your knowledge of the game and teams I respect your opinion. Jay Thompson put alot of time and effort into developing a program that our community can be proud of. He's probably forgot more about baseball than alot of people will ever know. We have a fine bunch of coaches from top to bottom in all sports that know their sport very well and love to take the time to teach it to our kids. My hats off to all of them cause i have coached summer league baseball in the past and as you know CoachB coaching alot of times can be a very thankless job.

Jay and I are friends. I used to stop by the high school field on my way to and from Kentucky. I was an assistant coach on that Edwardsville 1988 team that Harrisburg beat to go to state. Since then, I have had a great relationship with Coach Thompson. I know that his brother and the rest of the staff are top notch. I want to add that the success of any school program has to be based upon a successful summer program starting at an early age. Obviously, you have a quality program during the summer as well. Keep up the good work.