HS Championship or WWBA World Championship

Are you asking which you would want him to attend if the two events were scheduled at the same time, or more generally which you'd rather have on his resume?

On his resume.  Which one for him to play in, be a major contributor and win.  Or going back to why I started the thread......Whats more important to you

No contest for me. WWBA. Any kid who is a major contributor on a WWBA champion is playing at the highest level, and will be seen by every major college and by pro scouts.

A HS State Championship is great fun, and the memories will last a lifetime, but that wont have nearly the recruiting impact of the WWBA.

One thing that might cause a player to think a HS championship would be more important... If he is already known well by everyone in the scouting community and considered a first round pick. If he is one of those the HS season as a senior will be his last baseball "exposure" before the draft.  That period is vitally important when it comes to the draft.

Most, not all, first round types want to do both and many do. The two are played at completely different times of the year.  

Also, the two can't and shouldn't be compared. The WWBA is the biggest scouting/recruiting event in baseball.  The competition is about as good as it gets at that level.  From an individual stand point it can create unbelievable interest.  Winning is important, but the whole event is based around exposure.

However, from a team stand point winning a HS state championship is as good as it gets. And if it is someone already well known in their senior season it will determine their draft slot. It is based around winning as a team and as a school.

Over the years we have had many players participate in the biggest WWBA events who then went out and won a state HS championship. I might be wrong, but I'm guessing most of those young players would say the HS Championship was a highlight of their baseball career.

PG

I know its hard to compare, for the record I am not, because both bring some of the same but yet some different things to the table.  Of course players would want both and can achieve both because they are played at different times of the year.  It was not a question to pit PG against HS baseball at all. 

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shortnquick,

Yes, that's the way I took it.  I wasn't trying to argue one way or the other.  Just giving my thoughts on the topic.

I was at the Ohio HS state championships last year.  There weren't more than a dozen college coaches in attendance.....so if you're comparing the two events with regard to being seen/recruited, there is absolutely no comparison.  A HS senior who is looking at being a high MLB draft pick has likely already been "the guy" at a WWBA event...likely at 16U or 17U. 

I am not comparing them for recruiting purposes, it wouldn't be fair.  Simply whats more important to you as a parent.  The choice could be the WWBA Championship because of recruiting, that would be a choice and a reason.  One might say a HS Championship for all the reasons PG listed and we all know.  But that is the question.

My son's team won a PG WWBA title in 2008.  It was far and away the apex of his baseball experience at that point in his life, and a very memorable moment.  Thousands of talented kids play in that venue every year, and only a few walk away with rings.  He was a major contributor on the mound as he started the semi-final game.  A high school state championship would have been meaningful but not nearly as much as a PG WWBA championship to him or me mostly because of the competitive level required.

Fair enough....your initial post said  "If your son is still searching for offers to play in college or a better offer to play in college...." so I took that to mean with regard to recruiting.  In my son's case a HS state championship would be a much bigger deal to him, his teammates on his HS team and our fans and community......because I'm fairly certain not more than 4 or 5 people in a 30 mile radius of us would even know what WWBA meant....lol

I got ya Buckeye, I think I stated that about your son still searching for offers to play in college or a better offer to play in college, because that would probably describe most HS juniors. 

I had the good fortune of experiencing both; and, each was as exciting and fun as the other.

Not indecisive. Just being honest about two memorable experiences.

Fortunately, the timing of each doesn't preclude participation in the other.

That is exciting and an awesome experience to be part of both.  But you must admit the rarity of that experience is shared by few.  Your right one does not preclude the other.....but most wont have either, so that is why I asked, given the choice, Whats more important to you (parent).

I find the original question to be right up there with "Do you walk to school or take your lunch?" In the baseball context both situations relate to baseball. In the quote context both relate to school. But in both situations they aren't looking at the same thing. So how do you compare and decide?

WWBA is better ball than high school. But high school involves the players and parents you've grown up with in the game since LL. WWBA is for recruiting. High school isn't necessarily for recruiting. I've never heard anyone sitting around at a coffee shop talking about how the Bombers beat the Heat in travel ball. High school ball is a community conversation. 

Both WWBA and high school ball are positive experiences for most players. I don't see how you compare them. 

RJM

I went out of my way to say I am not comparing them and I am not asking you to do that, please don't make it that.  Just take the question for what it is. 

Oops! I was in a hurry and didn't read the original question closely enough; so, my apologies, shortnquick.

To set the record straight, we participated in both a high school state championship and WWBA. Did not win both.

However, from a parent's perspective, I'd rate them equally significant...in addition to being both fun and exciting.

To keep it simple...my vote would be the WWBA

OK, I'll try to play within the rules...

More important to me would be HS Championship.  Others in this thread have done an excellent job of describing the difference in purpose and nature of the two.  The HS Championship would be something tied to community pride and bragging rights, something acquired along side childhood friends and memories shared for a lifetime. 

I think a good way to look at this question is to ask what would be the difference between finishing first or second.  "HS state champs" carries a heck of a lot more long-term clout, pride and memories than "HS state runner-ups".  But there is much more emphasis on exposure at WWBA, so a little less concern whether team finishes on top or second.  Either way there, if son shows his skills and ability and is a major contributor, the objective of the mission is largely accomplished.

The high school championship is occurring with those more likely to be lifelong friends. The player is forever part of the history of the community. To me, that makes winning a high school championship a bigger deal. 

Here's the qualifier - "on his resume." If he's already been exposed, it doesn't matter, but, as a mind experiment, let's say that, for some strange reason, no recruiters/scouts have seen him. Would you rather they know that he was on a WWBA championship team or a state high school champion? I think, in terms of resume, this is an easy answer.

Now, from a standpoint of which I'd rather see. State championship. We have moved to a small community with a long baseball tradition. people still remember guys from state championship teams forty years ago. They are household names and, in a place like this, they are names that open doors.

No fair....Please delete one of the above...Ha ha

16 year old son was recently asked a related question in an interview.

He never won a State championship,

biggest school win for him was a regional JV tournament.

Son said by far his best baseball experience was winning a World Series (not WWBA), very good teams (East Cobb and the rest etc) and he had a great tournament personally.

Great group of kids, 99% of parents were non-political & nice, a devoted coach who cared about all the kids, very tough talented competition and he had been measured against the best from around the country and done well. (paraphrasing the last one).

The experience above was fantastic as a parent in so many ways, my best "Baseball Dad" experience, I hope everyone gets one or more of these to share with their son.

IMO, If you're not committed PG bigger deal,

if your son is a senior and all set, HS state title likely your dream now.

Locally, HS bigger deal,

Say WWBA here and some would ask is that the oldies radio station?