Illinois should be proud!

Congrats to Ruari and his family....good kid, good parents and good things happening.

We on the South side congratulate you and wish
you all the best.

Congrats to Ruairi!! one of the best players ive ever played with. Wish you the best of luck and make us proud. - Quinn Ewert

Thanks Quinn. I know that feeling is mutual. For those of you interested in following Ruairi, you can go to [sectionb.com] and get all the info you want. Sectionb is run by "The Animals" known throughout the college baseball world as the #1 rooting section in D1. Currently there are a couple of stories and lots of pictures featuring this years team with quite a few pictures of Ruairi. Look under "Current Seminole Baseball News" in the middle of the sites front page. BTW, he loves everything about FSU and has "fit in" well.

I think you should get RUAIRI his own website!!!! Don't you think so???

Oh, and by the way, "Illinois" isn't proud of anything yet. Like Harry Truman once said, "show me!!!"

Until something is accomplished, there is nothing to brag about. Even if he did finish high school early, big deal!!! Many kids could do that, but why miss-out on all the fun with your classmates. Personally, I think it's selfish DELETED BY MODERATOR!!!!

Mr.Peabrain, you bio states "lots of integrity". I would ask, where? How is living life for you with the glass always half empty? What are you trying to prove by pissing on this boy's parade? He has already accomplished much and the people of this area who know him only wish the best for him.

If you have a problem with his father, take it up with him manno de manno, not on this board. I hope you enjoy the rest of this collegiate season hoping that Rauiri goes hitless and is a flop. Will that make you happy? Go bury your head in the snow, you grinch.

It is a New Year. Let's all do our best, to be positive and have some fun here.

After further review....from Mr Integrity, er Peabody..."Until something is accomplished" insults every scholarship baseball player in the nation! Ask the player, his parents or his HS coach if that scholarship was nothing. Ask the college recruiters if its "nothing" when they offer a scholarship. The player, his parents and his coaches must want to puke when reading your balderdash.

Ok Corky, Let's have some fun! I agree. Our best to Kyle.

Fun and meaninful discussion is what this board should be about. So lets have lot's of each. I'm also OK with good natured banter....but the sniping is B.S.

Pat,

I wish every one of my players worked on their games like Raurie & Quinn.

Will be keeping an eye on all the boys this spring.

We'll be talking...

One bad apple.......or grinch. Words to live by: Never let the accomplishments of others diminish what you have done.

Bobby...what team do you coach?

Soxnole- We have spoken before, and I still may not understand the reasoning (a family decision and no business of mine, I might add)why Rauiri would bypass his senior season and enter a college program early, but since the choices have been made- we in Chicagoland wish him all the best and are anxious in follwing his baseball career. Naysayers that only see the negatives only cloud thier own and others' dreams. Good luck and best wishes to Rauiri and the O'Connors.

Gees, Mr. Peabody, why not be happy for the kid?

In my opinion, quite an accomplishment, I might add.

He's a kid, after all.

sox,

Nobody is trying to insult anyone. Your son has accomplished much. Congratulations to him. It's just that you get tired of being bombarded with "Ruairi this, and Ruairi that" all the time. Give it a rest and let nature take its coarse.

rosey,

You have been on this website about a year now and your an authority on everything. Put a sock in it.

Been,

Your right, he is still a kid in your opinion, and in mine. I hope it works out for the young man. Like I have said, time will tell. He doesn't need to be put on a pedestal yet.

Geez! I didn't think anyone was getting on their knees and worshiping the kid.......or putting him on a pedistal. Hopefully none of the kids ever will be. Just think of it all as a postive reflection on all those he played with and against....thus the reason for anyone who cares about baseball around here to feel some pride. Does it prove anything? Does it mean the kid was a better player than any of the rest? No, but so what? He has nothing to prove or justify what he did or where he went. Is success measured by reaching the Major Leagues, or even by starring on a top-level D-1 program? If it is, then 99% of all these kids we love to talk about are failures. I think any kid playing on a High School team is successful, anything beyond that is icing on the cake.

Rosy......the voice of reason.

Congrats to Rauri. I hope he tears it up.

Mr. Peabody, Your post came across very petty!

Gosh, if you can't say something nice, PLEASE, DON'T SAY ANYTHING.

If you are the parent of a high school ballplayer, you'd have to be nuts not to let your player do what Ruari is doing! I know my
kid would give up Prom and all the other stuff
for the chance Ruari has been given. And if you, as a parent, say that you wouldn't go along
with it,,,,,well......I think you're fibbing!!!

Again, good luck O'Connor's!!!!

What a bush league comment. "Nothing accomplished yet" I guess that every major league player hasnt accomplished anything yet until they make it to the hall. A scholly to a great baseball school and getting to play there early. Screw prom and all of the other stuff sure it would be fun, but what would be more fun than playing baseball to someone who has dedicated as much time to his craft as this kid has. I would give up my entire HS career for the opportunity he has gotten. Punk*** peabody.

The best thing about the Illinois forum is that nothing is candy coated.

Illinois and the Midwest should be proud. Ruari has and has broken the mold of the midwest player. Whether he succeeds in the future is irrelivent, he has more than succeeded up til now.

Ruari isn't the only one that has "broken the mold" in the Chicago suburbs. By the way, the best baseball in the midwest is undoubtedly in the chicago suburbs. Ruari is just the topic of conversation because he is taking off earlier than everyone else.

Sorry Peter North I wasn't aware of there were others that left during the senior year.

Good point Peter North.In 2005, 2 are going to Texas, 1 to ASU, 1 to FSU, 1 to Coastal Carolina, and 1 to Florida that I can think of. On the other hand there are very few, year to year going to top programs in the south, so rz1's point is well taken. BTW, I'm still trying to find another player that has left early (for basball) other than Landon Powell.

Welcome to the ACC !

Stevenson High School has 2 former players on Wake Forest - Tim Morley and Brian Shust.

FSU, although a tough place for visiting teams, is a great baseball atmosphere - 1000's of very animated fans . Your son is on a great program and will be exposed to the highest levels of College Baseball. I applaud anyone who takes that kind of challenge. Good luck, except for your April 8,9, and 10 games against Wake !

Thanks Crafty. Coach Rick Rembielak will get the most out of the Deacon's! A fine gentleman and a great coach who is very well connected. He has put together a very nice recruiting class this year, especially considering his late start and the limited numbers (academic standards) with which to work. Good luck to Wake. BTW, what is your connection to Tim and Brian?

Tim's Dad. The new coaching staff is very positive-minded and has had a good effect on the kids already. Looking to rebound from a rough year.

Crafty, thought you'd like to know that Wake was picked to finish right behind FSU in conference. SEBaseball.com. Of course same guys had us 5th last year as well when we won the ACC Championship.

sox-The ACC will be different with Miami in. The best part is that it finally makes Miami travel more. By the way, I noticed that FSU will be spending spring break in Hawaii, you going?

Congrats to Ruari, and I wish him all the luck at FSU. One of the best players I have played with. I look forward to seeing how all the kids that I've played with do at the next level. -Johnny Lee

il2008, 10 days 11 games and 85 degrees-Kona,Hilo and Honolulu. I knew I was saving those sky miles for something.

spartoon86,thanks and please say "hello to your Mom and Dad.

Soxnole

Got your e-mail and sent you one back. Hope I did it correctly - you receive ?

Crafty. Not as of 4:30 PM today.

soxnole- How about an update? Opening day is tomorrow right? I noticed Ruari played C in the scrimage game last weekend. Any chance he'll get a start this weekend?

Il2008. Intersesting story @ [seminoles.com], click on the PDF format. You can also get the results or listen to the games by going to [sectionb.com]. To get the live internet broacast click on Team Information and go to schedule...on the far right you can click on the picture of a speaker horn and get the games. ( 330 PM friday, 2PM sat + 2PM sun, E.S.T.) He has held his own and we are optimistic about playing time. Click on that latest story at seminoles.com and pull up the PDF format...pretty neat stuff. I'll provide a full report monday. On my way to the airport now..won't find the time I think to hit the boards till then.

I just cant believe this kid will play at fsu? He will for sure be redshirted and every one will wonder why not play senior year of highschool and set some records, then sit on the bench keeping score and catching pitcher's in the bull pen ?????????????????????

fyi....

Got his first hit today...an rbi single up the middle against Charleston Southern.

Well done Ruairi!

Check it out!

http://www.collegesports.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/012905aac.html

do you only get four years of eligibilty? and if so does that mean ruari will be done playing baseball after his junior year? what will he do then? banking on the draft? finish college?

When you're at a 4 year school, you are eligible for the draft after your junior year.

Long way from a single up the middle against Charleston Southern to the draft after his junior year.

Gees...Give him a chance. Only one game and two at bats in his collegiate career.

backwards- count 4. If he plays 4, consecutively- that will take him through senior year. He would not be able to play as a 5th yr senior. Playing as a freshman also allows the cushion of a future redshirt year in case of injury.
Also- draft eligibility is after junior year OR upon turning 21.