Just starting to explore the JUCO side of things and looking into these community colleges in NC that have programs. Any information, both general or specific would be appreciated....
Off the top of my head, some of the schools with baseball are Surry, Catawba Valley, Wake Tech, Rockingham, Lenoir, Brunswick and Pitt. I'm sure there are some others I've forgotten to mention.
Any pluses or minuses to NC community college baseball. Anything to be aware of?
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Louisburg is I think the only one with live on campus dorms. The baseball team has it's own dorm. It's just like a 4 year college with dining halls, library's etc. They were ranked #1 nationally a year or 2 ago. There is a new coaching staff since we were there.
Just starting to explore the JUCO side of things and looking into these community colleges in NC that have programs. Any information, both general or specific would be appreciated....
Off the top of my head, some of the schools with baseball are Surry, Catawba Valley, Wake Tech, Rockingham, Lenoir, Brunswick and Pitt. I'm sure there are some others I've forgotten to mention.
Any pluses or minuses to NC community college baseball. Anything to be aware of?
Stafford,
I know a little bit about the NC schools - baseball wise that is. My son (a sophomore) attends and plays baseball for Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, VA. His team plays several of the schools you mentioned as they are are part of the Region X. Of the 12 D2 colleges only three are in VA, the rest are in NC.
Of the schools you mention Pitt is D1 while the rest are D2. PHCC is D2 so they play those teams. As far as baseball goes, they all seem to have competitive programs - except for Wilkes and New River (VA).
Brunswick and Catawba Valley were the top two teams last year with Brunswick winning the Region X tournament to advance to NJCAA WS. However, shortly afterwards the college discovered a ineligible student had played in 19 games (too late to stop them from going to the WS) so those games were forfeited, but Brunswick was allowed to go to the WS. Their punishment is the team is ineligible for any post season play this year (2014).
Below is the unrevised finishing records for the DII Region X teams:
Brunswick Community College 33-10 24-4 (.857)
Catawba Valley Community College 32-10 17-5 (.772)
Patrick Henry Community College 31-15 18-9 (.667)
Rockingham Community College 25-19 16-12(.571)
Southeastern Community College 23-19 15-9 (.625)
Lenoir Community College 29-15 16-10(.615)
Danville Community College 26-22 12-14(.462)
Surry Community College 13-24 12-16(.429)
College of The Albemarle 23-24 11-17(.393)
Wake Technical Community College 18-22 11-17(.393)
Wilkes Community College 12-22 7-20 (.259)
New River Community College 1-28-1 0-24 (.000)
The top 7 enter the region X tournament. An 8th team from Florida - the only D2 school in that state - automatically earns an invite so long as their record is over .500.
The play a pretty hefty schedule - 56 games and the season starts in less than two weeks and will go to about early May. The Region X tournament begins shortly after the season ends. The winner advances to the NJCAA WS.
Hope that helps.
Thanks FoxDad: Got a few more questions....
1. How would you compare the talent ability/competitiveness of these teams in comparison to D2 competition/talent?
2. I would assume that the players are a mixed bag of talent, everything from D1 non qualifiers to guys who were just O.K. in high school and looking for a place to play? Is that a fair assumption?
3. I would also guess there are a fairly high amount of guys who would be D2 or D3 level, but chose a more affordable route than a private school?
sent you a pm Stafford. let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks FoxDad: Got a few more questions....
1. How would you compare the talent ability/competitiveness of these teams in comparison to D2 competition/talent? I'm probably not good person to ask, but since you did, I'd say that in general it ranks just below D2 talent - maybe about even with D2 talent depending on the team. For example, most starting pitchers have velocity in the mid to high 80's. I don't remember many that were in the low 90's. My son's team did have one that threw in the low-90's but he never made it to the spring season last year due to grades - good athlete but a not so good student. During his freshman year, they played a D1 university (Richmond) and hung with them for about 4-5 innings. Once our ace came out (had only given up 2 runs), Richmond began to light up the scoreboard.
A few sophomores (mostly pitchers) did sign on with D1, D2 and NAIA schools.
2. I would assume that the players are a mixed bag of talent, everything from D1 non qualifiers to guys who were just O.K. in high school and looking for a place to play? Is that a fair assumption? It's a fair assumption though I will say if a student was just "okay" in HS, he's probably not going to be a starter and more than likely he'll be a walk-on and not recruited. I can't speak for other JuCo's, last year nearly every player signed a NLI - only 1 or 2 walk-on's and I don't think either of those made the final cut. My son was one of the few standouts during his senior year in HS - he earned All District 1st Team, All Region 1st Team and State Honorable Mention Honors that year. If he had just been an average okay player I doubt he would have had an NLI.
3. I would also guess there are a fairly high amount of guys who would be D2 or D3 level, but chose a more affordable route than a private school? I really can't say for sure. At PHCC there was a few D2-D3 transfers. Also had a few JuCo transfers from other states. Even had one from Canada (he played hockey in HS - no baseball - was last years starting 1B - his fielding was a little different, but he could hit very well. Got a few from Canada this year as well.
