ODAC baseball

Thanks for the reminder.  It gets so busy this time of year.   I hope your son is doing better soon.

PS...Watch out for those pesky Yellow Jackets.   They seem to come out of nowhere frequently under Coach Hendrick.

Good luck!

@fenwaysouth posted:

Thanks for the reminder.  It gets so busy this time of year.   I hope your son is doing better soon.

PS...Watch out for those pesky Yellow Jackets.   They seem to come out of nowhere frequently under Coach Hendrick.

Good luck!

Was certainly frustrating for him to lose a season, but hopefully he's all set moving forward.  Most importantly, LOVES the school and his teammates and really found a home at W&L.  Couldn't be more pleased for him.

Good Luck

@CollegebaseballInsights posted:

Good Luck

W&L is in a challenging position in the ODAC as it’s the only school with exceedingly high academic standards. And the admissions really takes that very seriously. Unlike NESCAC or Centennial where most (if not all) schools have the same academic barriers to entry, W&L has something of a competitive disadvantage on this front.  But the Coaches are doing everything they can to turn the program into the “Vandy of the D3” and they have a strong  young crew so hopefully they can build momentum over next few years.

The W&L coach verbally offered my son a spot but unfortunately, he didn't have the grades to get admitted.  My husband and I had a great conversation with Coach White for about an hour but our first question to him was "Have you seen his grades?"  He told us the same thing - that he was trying to turn W&L into the "Vandy of D3!"  I've been following their season because one of our son's friends and former teammate is on the team.  Good luck in the ODAC!

@VA_Mom posted:

The W&L coach verbally offered my son a spot but unfortunately, he didn't have the grades to get admitted.  My husband and I had a great conversation with Coach White for about an hour but our first question to him was "Have you seen his grades?"  He told us the same thing - that he was trying to turn W&L into the "Vandy of D3!"  I've been following their season because one of our son's friends and former teammate is on the team.  Good luck in the ODAC!

Thank you and I hope your son ended up in a school and situation he’s happy with.

My '22 had the same experience: coaches expressed interest, requested grades, and were politely clear that he wouldn't be able to clear admissions.  Appreciated how they handled it, frankly. Wondered how the team did this year so thanks for sharing, and good luck to your son.

My son plays for Salisbury, so we are definitely keeping an eye on the outcome of the ODAC.

@Wechson posted:

Thank you and I hope your son ended up in a school and situation he’s happy with.

Thank you for asking.  He's a RHP at a D3 that is a better academic fit for him (and monetary fit for mom & dad!)  W&L is a fantastic school but we would not have qualified for any financial aid.

His grades are good, he really likes his team and teammates.  The team will most likely finish 2nd in their conference (they have to see how one other team does this coming weekend.)  They were ranked earlier this season, dropped out when they had a couple of lopsided loses against two other conference teams, but they still have a very good chance at winning their conference tournament.  We are very close and my husband and I have enjoyed going to most of their games.  The other parents have been super welcoming and we haven't heard any negative gossip in the stands.

My son's adjustment to college has had some bumps - mostly in his confidence and as a result, he has only had minimal playing time.  He's been doing much better in his bullpen (received a very encouraging text from his coach), he has a solid summer plan and is feeling optimistic for his chances next school year.

@VA_Mom posted:

Thank you for asking.  He's a RHP at a D3 that is a better academic fit for him (and monetary fit for mom & dad!)  W&L is a fantastic school but we would not have qualified for any financial aid.

His grades are good, he really likes his team and teammates.  The team will most likely finish 2nd in their conference (they have to see how one other team does this coming weekend.)  They were ranked earlier this season, dropped out when they had a couple of lopsided loses against two other conference teams, but they still have a very good chance at winning their conference tournament.  We are very close and my husband and I have enjoyed going to most of their games.  The other parents have been super welcoming and we haven't heard any negative gossip in the stands.

My son's adjustment to college has had some bumps - mostly in his confidence and as a result, he has only had minimal playing time.  He's been doing much better in his bullpen (received a very encouraging text from his coach), he has a solid summer plan and is feeling optimistic for his chances next school year.

That’s great that he ended up in a place he’s happy with and that works for you as well.   Sounds like you had a chance to  enjoy as a spectator which is a terrific gift. Adjusting to FY in college seems like it’s a challenge for almost every young athlete, glad your son weathered it and is looking forward to a bright future.

Vandy of D3? Why does everyone think Vanderbilt has such high standards? I know the dads of two former players whose kids took nothing but general education (no honors) courses in high school. Both were drafted. One in the first round and had a nine year MLB career.

A special ed kid from our high school on probation for assaulting a cop played football at Vanderbilt. He did have a 4.3. It was his forty time not his gpa. He was a nice kid who wasn’t very bright.

getting drafted and a 4.3 40 are pretty high standards.

@RJM posted:

Vandy of D3? Why does everyone think Vanderbilt has such high standards. I know the dads of two former players whose kids took nothing but general education (no honors) courses in high school. Both were drafted. One in the first round and had a nine year MLB career.

A special ed kid from our high school on probation for assaulting a cop played football at Vanderbilt. He did have a 4.3. It was his forty time not his gpa. He was a nice kid who wasn’t very bright.

I suspect Coach is just looking to tie a top-tier southern university to a top-tier program.  Both aren’t really debatable in the macro sense.  As for recruiting and academic eligibility, I have no idea so won’t defend that, have no reason to not believe what you’re saying is accurate ( as an aside the singular least bright kid who ever worked for me played lacrosse at Duke).  

Maybe Coach should simply add, “Only W&L’s academic admission standards are more rigorous for athletes” because that would certainly be the truth.  As has been stated here many times before, HA D3 maybe the hardest route to college athletics there is.

@Wechson posted:

I suspect Coach is just looking to tie a top-tier southern university to a top-tier program.  Both aren’t really debatable in the macro sense.  As for recruiting and academic eligibility, I have no idea so won’t defend that, have no reason to not believe what you’re saying is accurate ( as an aside the singular least bright kid who ever worked for me played lacrosse at Duke).  

Maybe Coach should simply add, “Only W&L’s academic admission standards are more rigorous for athletes” because that would certainly be the truth.  As has been stated here many times before, HA D3 maybe the hardest route to college athletics there is.

The top HA D3’s often have lower acceptance rates than HA D1’s. A lot of the same kids who apply to larger schools also apply to the D3’s which are typically small enrollment.

My son looked up Bowdoin when he was in high school. My family pressured the kids to be sixth generation after I broke the string. His reaction to Bowdoin,  “They have less students than my high school!”

He was just curious. He went D1. So did my daughter (softball).

@VA_Mom posted:

The W&L coach verbally offered my son a spot but unfortunately, he didn't have the grades to get admitted.  My husband and I had a great conversation with Coach White for about an hour but our first question to him was "Have you seen his grades?"  He told us the same thing - that he was trying to turn W&L into the "Vandy of D3!"  I've been following their season because one of our son's friends and former teammate is on the team.  Good luck in the ODAC!

I expect they might have a problem with that Hopkins school just North of them...but it is a great goal to have

the Odac is a great conference year after year, have played many multiple times and always get tough ball games.

@old_school posted:

I expect they might have a problem with that Hopkins school just North of them...but it is a great goal to have

the Odac is a great conference year after year, have played many multiple times and always get tough ball games.

I have been impressed with the quality of the ODAC, the top teams are VERY tough and there’s strong parity throughout.  

JHU certainly a powerhouse year in year out.  When a current coach has the field named after him, thats an indicator of sustained dominance.  Not entirely sure my son would have made the academic cut, possibly but it’s a high high bar at Hopkins.  I was somewhat amazed that they are able to sustain such a large roster (I know my son was a little concerned about the JV dynamic), but it is a larger school about 4x W&L.  And very different experiences culturally.  

South of New England would say JHU, W&L and Emory top of the pyramid in D3 land.

@Wechson posted:

I have been impressed with the quality of the ODAC, the top teams are VERY tough and there’s strong parity throughout.  

JHU certainly a powerhouse year in year out.  When a current coach has the field named after him, thats an indicator of sustained dominance.  Not entirely sure my son would have made the academic cut, possibly but it’s a high high bar at Hopkins.  I was somewhat amazed that they are able to sustain such a large roster (I know my son was a little concerned about the JV dynamic), but it is a larger school about 4x W&L.  And very different experiences culturally.  

South of New England would say JHU, W&L and Emory top of the pyramid in D3 land.

no but i don't grade baseball by the notion of HA.

Vandy / Hopkins are respective powers because they have strong program and more importantly major donors. The big myth is that all academic money is based on academics...that is laughable but people will argue till they are dead it is true!

@Wechson posted:

I suspect Coach is just looking to tie a top-tier southern university to a top-tier program.  Both aren’t really debatable in the macro sense.  As for recruiting and academic eligibility, I have no idea so won’t defend that, have no reason to not believe what you’re saying is accurate ( as an aside the singular least bright kid who ever worked for me played lacrosse at Duke).  

Maybe Coach should simply add, “Only W&L’s academic admission standards are more rigorous for athletes” because that would certainly be the truth.  As has been stated here many times before, HA D3 maybe the hardest route to college athletics there is.

My son had a couple of visits and applied to W&L. Had great interactions with Coach White and he was very upfront with us on the challenges of getting in to W&L for all including my son.

My 2022 has a 33 ACT with a 3.65 non weighted gpa from what is said to be the top prep school in our state and often ranked in top 50 in the country. Virtually every class has rigor (no PE...every kid has to participate in a sport FR/SO year) and do not have class rankings and offer few AP's as they don't feel like they are as good for academic growth and rigor as teaching those subjects "their" way (whatever that means). Son has all the extra curricular's to go on a great application including student leadership all 4 years, admissions ambassador, community service, etc. Despite all of that great stuff my kid ended up on the waiting list until he committed to play Division 1 baseball at another school about a week ago.

Son loved the school but applied Regular Decision (son was injured majority of his Junior year and wanted to get healthy to see if the interest from many HA schools prior to injury was there but in most cases those schools had locked up their recruiting classes by late fall). Coach White told us after his pre-read that he fell square in the middle of W&L's applicant pool and also told us that he had virtually zero pull with admissions.

It is my understanding that the NESCAC schools all have a specific number of spots per team that have more relaxed admissions standards. We experienced this with our 2020 hockey player. She had a slightly higher GPA and less extra curricular's and an ACT that was a 29. She was offered a spot at 2 top tier schools in that conference but ended up at a HA D1.

In summary, Coach White was great and very upfront the whole way and son was very interested in playing ball at and attending W&L. Facilities were nicer than some of the D1's we visited. My wife and I absolutely LOVED the school (I liked it better than Washington University St Louis, Haverford, Williams, Amherst, Middlebury, and Colby...visited them all with one kid or the other), the town of Lexington, and would have been very happy if son chose W&L (tbh would have not been as excited to write those checks every semester). But...God's plans or fate has taken us in a different direction and are super excited for those plans.

Good luck in playoffs @Wechson and to anyone that has Washington & Lee on their kids radar!