Nick Boothe Showcase

THE VWC Expo is alive and well. It has always been a great showcase for the mid-major to D3 type kids. They are having 2 showcases again this year - Showcase I: November 4-6 & Showcase II: November 11-13.

Nick is very well respected and connected in baseball circles. He always gets great instructors and scouts out there. Schools represented the last few years: ECU, Va Tech, UNC Charlotte, Hofstra, Richmond, W&M, ODU, VCU, NSU, GW, VMI, Radford, Liberty, as well as all the D3's in VA and NC.

Here is the registration form: VWC Expo Form

These camps usually sell out.

This was one of the best showcases my boys attended. They both had their first college contacts at the showcase and visits as a result. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to be exposed to almost all of the Virginia colleges.

I think the best aspect of the showcase is that it is 3 days. That gives the college coaches 3 days to see the players and not just a small glimpse.

Coach Boothe has it very organized and well run too.

I am beginning to look for something similar for my upcoming softball player.

I appreciate the responses. Redbird, I saw the link for the form you posted. How do people generally know when, where, and how to sign up? I don't see much advertising in the area.

Word of mouth, I guess. It is VERY well attended and, as I said, usually sells out.

DISCLAIMER: I realize by asking I am opening myself up to a lot of opinions and there are surely many varialbles that would impact each individuals decision(s).

That being said what year do most start attending showcases? Is Freshman year too soon? Would never see any positive experience as a waste of time or money,however value is certainly a consideration.

A good general rule is...when he can contribute at the vasity level.

Funny this topic came up. My son saw the flier at a tournament (some kid he knew had it I'm guessing) and has asked about going.

I had assumed it was too early. He's a 2015. Late birthday, doesn't turn 15 until the end of the year. Just hit another growth spurt, currently 6ft, 175lbs.

I think the VWC Showcase is a good primer for a PG Showcase as he gets older...not only from a "what to expect" perspective but also to show him the level of competition that exists. It can be very motivational.

Well I ran across this one

Dynamic Baseball Showcase

$200 plus it's literally 15 minutes from the house.

quote:

Originally posted by ctandc:
Well I ran across this one

Dynamic Baseball Showcase

$200 plus it's literally 15 minutes from the house.

That looks like a great event. Would love to have my son attend but he will be taking SAT's that Saturday morning.

Is anyone going to this? It looks like another great Expo.

Riley Koonce 2013 IF/P Ocean Lakes
Has played on a pretty good OL varsity team in both his freshman and sophmore years.

I heard about the Pilots' Showcase this past weekend. How did that go? Did many attend? How does it compare to the VWC Showcase?

quote:

Originally posted by BottomLine29:
I heard about the Pilots' Showcase this past weekend. How did that go? Did many attend? How does it compare to the VWC Showcase?

The weather was miserable. Unfortunately it had an effect on everything. Wet balls hindered the transfer during pop times, wet, heavy balls affected the velocity measurements, wet balls were causing wild throws during the infield demonstration, the field was soaked during the games so errors were made, etc.

The weather affected the planned organization of the 3 days. However, everyone did their best and I can see this event growing in coming years.

any feedback on last weekends VWC Showcase?

quote:

Originally posted by vavals:
any feedback on last weekends VWC Showcase?

~100 kids...lots of baseball...lots of instruction...quite a few coaches. Off the top of my head:

ECU, Richmond, Va Tech, Longwood, VMI, JMU, VCU, VWC, UVA Wise, Bridgewater, Lynchburg, Averett, CNU, H-S, COA, Rappahannock

IMO, a GREAT showcase for instruction and exposure to VA schools.

A friend of mine went this past weekend and told me that Va Tech was not there. They are supposed to be there this coming weekend.
ECU was not there but is scheduled to be there this weekend as well.

ODU wasn't there?

Coach Levine of ODU was there on Friday until he had to leave for ODU's fall "World Series." Coach Levine also was there early Sunday morning until he had to leave to be at ODU's field at noon for the final game of ODU's World Series and a team cookout. Not sure if he was there on Saturday, as I was not, but ODU did have a "World Series" game from 11:00 until 2:00 or so on Saturday.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:

quote:

Originally posted by vavals:
any feedback on last weekends VWC Showcase?

IMO, a GREAT showcase for instruction and exposure to VA schools.

A particularly good piece of instruction, for parents and players alike, was Friday night's lecture by Andy Altman of Atlantic Physical Therapy on arm care. It always is fascinating to listen to him talk about the science behind what is good and not good for the pitching / throwing arm. Should be a required lecture for all high school coaches.

Sorry...I was there on Friday only.

ODU WAS there. Coaches Lavigne, Wisnewski and Bottigliero were there. Nice guys.

ECU and VT were supposed to show on Saturday and Sunday. I guess they didn't.

Actually, they were all there with the exception of Coach Finwood for part of Friday.
Grasscutter, tell any infielders that want to get seen by ODU they should attend ODU's infielder camp on December 3 and 4. Each player will be instructed by the ODU coaches including Coach Finwood.

quote:

Originally posted by WB Reporter:

A particularly good piece of instruction, for parents and players alike, was Friday night's lecture by Andy Altman of Atlantic Physical Therapy on arm care. It always is fascinating to listen to him talk about the science behind what is good and not good for the pitching / throwing arm. Should be a required lecture for all high school coaches. [/QUOTE]

Ditto that on Andy. He's a wealth of information and is the BEST in 757 for sports injury rehab. Sadly the best thing you can do for some HS coaches (ED in particular) is buy them a pitch counter and maybe show them how an arm can change throwing slots when it gets tired.

I was out there on Saturday watching a few of the games. Nick always does a great job with these showcases. He's also straight up with the kids about the expectations they should have in the recruitment process.

Just curious: How old is that Andy Altman?

There was a stud Little League pitcher around my area by that name back in the 1970's. He later moved away. Would be about 46-47 now.

That would qualify for the "small world" department.

http://www.atlanticpt.com/allstaff.asp

Bio at link above does not say what year he graduated from undergraduate school but I will find out this upcoming weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Just curious: How old is that Andy Altman?

There was a stud Little League pitcher around my area by that name back in the 1970's. He later moved away. Would be about 46-47 now.

That would qualify for the "small world" department.

I'm pretty sure Andy was born in Tidewater and grew up here. Could be he was up in your area for a while. I'm sure he'd respond if you shoot him an email. His website should have a contact tab. He is in the age range you mentioned. I do think that his pic on the website needs an age appropriate update though.