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If you don't get enough info, try sending lhp4life a private msg. He goes to school there but I haven't seen any posts from him in a long time. Nice kid. Would probably be more than happy to give you first hand info. Not sure if TR helped him get in down there but I know he played for TR's college select team.
My brother was warned about MWC's "crowded" tryouts. I'm not sure how many tryout, but the important question is how many of those trying out were actively rcruited by the coaching staff?

At Tufts, where my brother is now, they have about 25 freshmen who came to the first meeting. 10 of those freshmen figured out after one practice that they don't belong. Of the 15 remaining, I'd say 1/2 were actively recruited (weekly phone calls and letters) and 1/4 were passivley recruited (occasional letter) and 1/4 were not recruited at all.
My son had 43 players tryout at his school. The majority of the guys trying out were not freshmen but transfers from JUCCOs and other 4yr programs. He just found out that he not only made the 32 man roster but also the 25 man travel roster.
I believe there were a couple of walkons but all the rest were actively recruited.
I must admit that I didn't know that he would have to try out to make roster and to be able to go on trips. I guess it makes sense.
May I add this-- we have had a number of players recruited by MWU and they most have been happy

Folks let me say this--making a college team and getting playing time is not an easy step after HS ball--you have to suck it up and go for it or go home -_ I am beginning to think that too many people feel it is a walk in the park--- it aint-- you either earn it or you don't--there are no givens-- you have to earn the right
TRHIT,
I couldn't have said it better myself! As a college coach I can tell you this. UMW is a nice DIII program (even though we've split with them each of the last two years <--shameless plug) I have heard they bring in many player..how many? I don't know....The problem we run into as coaches is simple...we don't want that many guys however the longer I'm in the business the more I realize that because DIII doesn't have a National Letter of Intent, players can change there minds at any time! Its become a product of our society where players make commitments and DO NOT follow through therefore as a DIII coach we have no choice but to recruit multiple guys at our positions of need because too many players back out of verbal commitments or even deposits at the school! I can tell you we had 16 in our last incoming class 9 heavily recruited, 3 passive, and 4 true walkons...We will only have 2 Freshman start (baring injury) because it is NO SMALL TASK to make a team and get playing time! Top D3 schools in the east can rival many DI's. IT's not a walk in the park! TRHIT your up by Eastern Connecticut State...you know what I'm talking about!
TR...you said it right. Son is a freshman at a D3, and has told us that he has never had to work as hard at his baseball as he is having to do right now. He says it's all good because it's helping him as a player.

He was recruited, but there are no givens...no promises....just a lot of kids, some recruited, some not.....all wanting to play ball.....a lot of competition.....

VJC....there are kids who will keep their word....and over-recruitment....still bothers me....but I can't see any other solution for a D3.....and I understand your position.
AZdad,
I know there are some very good kids that keep their word, the problem is we don't know who they are when they are recruited. One of my current players asked if we could give a "psychological exam" to try and narrow down those who probably wouldn't keep their word (he is of course a psych major) I can tell you their are many of us coaches who also wish to not over-recruit and I do my best not to, but It never fails there is always 1-3 per year that change their mind in July or August and hang us out to dry! I hope your son is enjoying his experience!!
TR....Brian is doing very well...he is working hard in the classroom and on the field.....thank you for asking.....he is determined to play college ball.....but getting use to the weather is another thing.....for the first time in his years of playing baseball.....he has asked for a warm-up jacket (and HeatGear....).

VJC....I'm not a Dad, but a Mom....a Mom who very much appreciates the job coaches have to do....we have communicated in the past and I have respect for the job you do at VJ....Best wishes to you and your team (except in February at H-SC!)
Brian is an outstanding addition to the Tiger program...H-SC played in the college world series this past yr and only graduated 1 player, 2nd baseman Mike Clark...Brian will see some play time this year at that position...since fall BB has completed he's been the buzzzz around campus regarding the young talent Coach Kinne brought to the team this yr. Kev's rehab has been going fine and hopefully in feb 2006 he will be standing there with Brian when they play that great national pregame song.

Regarding MWC they were ranked as high as 7th in the nation at one time last yr...still finished in the top 25...I have a friend who's son pitches for MWC and Towny Townsend youngest, Chase Townsend is one of their top ball players...and yes a lot of competition...great academic school...Your GPA needs to be at least a 1000 pts higher than your Sr BA. State funded institution...which is much cheaper than most D3 schools in the region.

Coach VJC...sounds like you and Coach Kinne come from the same school of thought regarding recruiting...He hates to cut players but you just don't know who is going to show up and with their 2005 peformance he experianced something that doesn't usually happen at Hampden-Sydney.... that is transfers. Good luck and I will make a point to come by and shake your hand this Feb 17th and 18th when you visit us.

Go Tigers

fc v dad

2005 NCAA Division III ODAC Champs
2005 NCAA Division III South Regional Champs
2005 NCAA Division III College World Series
Last edited by Former Member
For at least the non-atheletes, a 3.5 GPA and a 1250 on the SAT (old one) were required a few years back to gain acceptance - it may be tougher now. They get to turn away a lot of potential students due to having a "best value" rating in national magazines year after year so they can pick and choose. I know that they recruited 2 freshman catchers last year from local HS's and I hear (not verified) that one left in the fall for another college - I'm sure I'll hear the story come spring if the one dad comes to see a game at the ol' HS.
Tim Robertson
I am not sure if this is deliberate over recruiting or the fact that all of the programs who are in the top 25 day in and day out have the luxury of attracting high quality players. If you check back to the Marietta thread and look into the other schools that show up you will see the same issues. You will also notice, the further south you go, the more tryout.

You do need to show up at these schools ready to compete and there are very few free passes. I am not going to tell you that I was comfortable when I heard the number of freshman that showed up the day my son did (TR can probably remember the hysterical phone call from me) but I can tell you I don't think he would be playing at the same caliber he is now if he didn't fight for that spot. So, you have to decide if you want the sure shot or the best baseball. (As an aside, my son was invited to a tryout this summer with some of his friends from the Northeast who also play D3, they commented that they had never seen pitching like that and my son replied that he did everyday.)
What needs to be clarified is how many of the players that tried out had baseball sold to them as an inducement to enroll at the school.

Generally speaking, alot of kids go to a DIII, and not just baseball, thinking they are "part of the team" only to find out, as the
VJC coach admitted, they were just one of TOO many.
Seniormom, that is a fabulous post IMO. applaude
The way the NCAA controls the DIII process, it is imprecise, at best, for coaches and players. There isn't a NLI so a coach has no idea who to anticipate will be on campus the first day of school. Every successful DIII coach can talk about the number of players who deposited...and never showed up. One year, my son's former DIII coach ended up 4 weeks before school with no catchers at all, even though 2 committed and deposited. Boy did he have to scramble but then ended up with 2 catchers who shared the duties the next 4 years.
The next year he had one catcher/ recruit deposit who showed up along with 3 he had never spoken with until the first baseball meeting.
This doesn't even consider the vagaries of players returning, transferring, quitting, girlfriends, injuries etc.
The issue for DIII's is not a one way street where coaches overrecruit. There aren't easy solutions. Players and families deposit and keep up that DI dream, change their mind, don't play, etc. and many times never tell the coach they are not coming or not playing.
College recruiting and college choices are extremely difficult. Add in the vagaries of baseball and it is even more so. Some will do all the right research and still be disappointed. But, IMO, too many do not do enough homework, do not watch enough games/practices, hear only the good from the coach, leave way too much to chance, underestimate how good the quality of play can be at better DIII's, don't show up in shape... and then blame the coach when things don't work the way they anticipated.
Some very good posts on here.

My son was recruited by MWC (i.e., invited by phone to visit, meet the coaches and players, tour the campus, etc.) and in speaking to a couple fathers of current players, it sounded like not only do a lot of guys try out, a pretty substantial number think they were "recruited", only to learn a heck of a lot of guys were "recruited". The program is successful, very nice facilities, and a nice school, but it sounds like more than a little bit of over-selling goes on in this case.

If I know going in I've got to beat out 7 guys at my position, that's one thing. If I'm told I'm wanted, and I'm pumped up a bit as to how much the school thinks I'll contribute right away, and then I arrive to learn 5 other guys at my position were told the same thing, that's a horse of a different color.


p.s. I agree the DIII situation needs some work, but the Presidents Committee, the group that kind of controls things, apparently is worried about DIII's becoming mini-D I's, so don't look for anything positive any time soon. The fall practice restrictions seem only silly. Next, they'll ban it all together.
Last edited by hokieone
hokieone, other than comments sbout the school and program of MW itself, about which I know nothing, I agree with everything you have to say about recruiting, including the comments on Fall ball/just ban the whole darn thing.
Maybe we were lucky to have a DIII coach who was so darn honest with our son and us. But he has recruited a number of players from our area and I know he has been extremely honest with them also.
In fact, they just posted the roster at Trinity yesterday and a player from our area who went having had his chances very candidly discussed with him and his parents ended up on the team. This player knew how hard he had to work, how much he needed to be in the weight room, etc. Took every one of those comments to heart, and exceeded everything the coach explained he would need to do, just to have a chance to be on the roster. When I saw him at Xmas, he felt he had improved 100% as a player and still felt he had to improve another 100% to have a chance. When I see how hard he worked just to be on the team, not to start, I get a tear in my eye.
Last edited by infielddad
JT, for someone who loves to play baseball and loves competition, having an opportunity to be part of a team in college is fabulous. In the CA section, there are some comments by DB2BMom, O44, and others about that first college game/series and the feelings it generates. That is one of the reasons I continue to post here. I certainly cannot share any experiences that would be relevent to showcasing and the like. I long ago passed my "Peter Principle" in terms of teaching the game of baseball. But I can still vividly remember sitting in the stands for the first college game, the last one, and the emotions in between. From that experience, I share a son who is a better, more driven and confident person. It is a glimpse of that excitement/experience that I try to capture so other readers might see playing beyond high school, whether in college or professionally, can be worth all the effort and sacrifice. It is just terrific that you and your son will get that chance. I am a little envious though he will be so close to home and you will get to share so much of it. Smile
Last edited by infielddad
Infielddad, I have really enjoyed your posts on college baseball as well as on your talented son. My son talked to Trinity before deciding on a different school (closer to home), but he had nothing but terrific things to say about the coaching staff. As for the thrill of college ball, son's team does not start for three weeks. I am way too excited and often walk around with the school baseball cap and jacket on counting the days to the opener. I want to enjoy this whole thing, with all the expected and unexpected ups and downs, as much as possible. This is a rather long note to say thank you for sharing your experiences.
I'll add to seniormom's post. My brother was in a similar position at Tufts. Many freshmen show up saying they've been "recruited" to play baseball. Only 5 to 10 have been "recruited" in the manner that people on these forums understand. Getting a letter from a coach who is simply responding to an inquiry is not being "recruited".

I'm sure UMW and Tufts have their fair share of disgruntled kids who feel they were mislead. My brother was told by Coach Casey that he could do 2 things...1- help him get in if he applied early and 2- make him better if he worked hard. He never promised an inning. He told him he was recruiting other pitchers and that the best would get innings. When my brother showed up, he saw all of the pitchers, went to work, and got in the rotation.

Overrecruiting, on the Div. III level, is more of an issue to kids who completely misread the recruiting process.

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