Light at the end of the tunnel?

Lefty;
In 1998, during our Rangers AC tryout at TCU, a LHP 6'6 throwing 84 MPH was cut from the Rangers team.
I like this pitcher and place him on our 900 AC team. He returned to Houston added 10 mph to his fast ball and was drafted by Expos in the 1st round.

Carl Crawford was also at this tryout and did not make the Rangers AC team.

Bob
PS: if you are interested we can place you in the USA Labor Day tournament
<www.goodwillseries.org>

Dang, sounds like you are in a tough spot. Are you at a really big school?
My only input would be get on a summer team you can get some innings for and have fun.
Maybe there is a smaller school nearby you could attend next year?
If you love the game there are still other venues to get to play.... Best wishes to you lefty.

Yes I attend a very large school, with nearly 1,000 students in my grade. I am on a highly competitive summer team, but I see having no high school experience past the freshman level as nothing but a mark against me.

And thank you both very much for the advice and encouragement.

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I have a tall LHP who has managed to create a nice college career and great life experience out of an invisible high school and an invisible travel ball career. Watching him in college for the last 5 years...This is what he came up with and lived by...Belief, Passion, Knowledge, Faith, Help, Work Ethic, Patience, Reality, Adpation, Team, and Larger Goals.

Belief...Believe that your genetic givens (handedness and height) are your gift and it is your blessing/challenge/responsibility to develop them. Believe in yourself and you gift, no matter what others say, no quit until you decide it is time.

Passion...You gotta want it. Passion drives the others.

Knowledge...Knowledge that big guys develop later, and that Tall LHP's do not get free passes...but they do get more/longer looks.

Faith...Faith in the long run, that even with a lack of current results to date that your gifts and hard work will eventually set you apart...if you are willing to work.

Help...Find a mentor, someone who is as excited as you are about your future and can teach you the craft of pitching, baseball, and life (a great pitching coach would be great, a great pitching coach with contacts would be ideal).

Work Ethic...Control what you can, now. Get to work...long toss, weights, stretching, mechanics, bands, plyometrics, TRX...chase down every option.

Patience...Be in it for the long haul, this may take a while...but a readiness for athletic ephiphany.

Reality and Adaption...If you truly want to play you may have to make tough choices, sacrifcies and compromises..you may have to go to go sideways before you rise. And you are going to have prioritize.

Team...this ain't only about you, while you are waiting, make your teams and your teamates better, through your work ethic and you desire and your support of ohers (Honor Code) you can help create a culture of character that is what coaches seek, players love, and will make ohers want you to succeed.

Larger Goals...Regardless of how the baseball turns out the lessons you will learn about yourself and life will make you a success in any endeavor that you choose.

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It doesn't get any better than that lefty...you've hit the motherlode!



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