Omaha Slumpbusters

We where there last year in the 14U bracket. The weather was terrible but the tournament was VERY well run. They did everything they could and managed to get all the games in. There was constant communication with game times and changes due to the weather. The fields where good and the kids did make it to 2 CWS games. Triple Crown did a great job.

Sons 16U team won the championship in 2007. Great tournament. Had tons of fun. Nothing like going to the CWS. We made 6 games. Still to this day talk about it. Watching the CWS on tv since 2007 is even more fun having been there. Yes go to the tournament. We went twice.

Triple Crown is a joke. It's all about the money to that group, 4 games guarantee for over $1100, give me a break! Please read the "fine print", they are a "bait and switch group", at best. There are plenty of other tournament organizations that host events during the CWS, in Nebraska and surronding areas.

Don't get stuck with a nag. If you want to spend that kind of money for a tourney, go to Perfect Game showcases or Cooperstown.

We went summer 07' and our team had a fun time.

My son chose to participate in the showcase.
Made the All-Star team along with a fellow team mate.
Unfortunately, it poured buckets the night of the All-Star game, and thus the ESPN coverage was cancelled, but the boys still played on a different field and made the best of it.
Both received college offers ( DIII, DII, & NAIA schools from Texas, Tennessee, Missourri, Iowa, etc.) as a result.
Sure cant complain about that!

His team mate is now playing on scholarship at one of the colleges that found him at the tournament!

As far as competiton goes, we saw/played some good teams. Eclectic group from many different states.
And yes,..we went to the CWS.
Last two final games of the series and it was a STINKIN' BLAST!!! Hot as heck,..but a blast!

I have a 18u tournament in Lincoln during the College World Series.I hope teams will check out my webb site. CWS Tournament

Old school:

While it is $1100 it does include 20 tickets to a CWS game which I'm sure has to have at least a $500 value so let's compare apples to apples.

Our 13U team went last year. TC did a very good job of running the tournament, but it isn't worth $1,000 in my opinion. If it was, we would do it again. Fields were ok, but most of the fields we played on last year were better. No grass infields (that we played on). You get 20 CWS "general admission" tickets. Make sure you understand how those work. You need to get to weekend games at least 2 hours before game time and probably earlier to get the chance to sit in the outfield where there is no shade and can be very hot and humid. If you go, trade your GA tickets in for an assigned ticket. PM me if you want more info.

My son and I have attended the Slumpbuster tournament the last 3 years. It was well worth the time and expense. My fondest memories are watching my young boy play ball during the day and then going to the CWS later in the evening together.

The competition is variable as the tournament does not require teams to qualify. Most people are there for the recreation and not the stiff competition. However, in the later rounds you can see a very good team. The tournament is spread over enough days that you can survive without having 5 stud pitchers.

The General admissions tickets are great for the kids but not so much for the dads. Every year our boys would walk around and find great seats behind home plat. At first I worried about the seat owner or the neighboring fan being offended. On countless times the adults in the near by seats would smile and watch with ejoyment as young boys sat with stars and wonder in their eyes as they envisioned themselves on that field some day. Who could be upset about the true spirit of baseball? When the seat owners arrived the boys thanked them and kindly moved on. On one occassion, a couple of the seat owners let the boys stay in their seats that were 3 rows behind home plate and they watched from the concourse. It was a couple of grandfathers and they seamed pleased with themselves in allowing the boys to watch the game from great seats.

The CWS has become very popular. Be prepared to wait in long lines. There are lots and lots of kids and families. I was touched with the number of adults looking out for any kid that was in their area. I saw plenty of dads and moms providing gentle reminders to kids that were stangers to stay safe (climbing railings, running, etc.), behave and enjoy themselves.

I highly recommend the tournament. The baseball experience is like non other. We have participated in Steamboat, Disney and numerous other tournament across the country and Omaha is one of my favorites.

For the very elite teams trying to tune up for a world series, the Omaha tournament can be a little frustrating if you're primarily focused on competitive play. You will likely only get 1 or 2 challenging games. You will definately have several blow outs. The tournament is expensive and takes up a good week of time. There are other venues where the families effort and money would have more benefit in preparing for a national title.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark B:
Old school:

While it is $1100 it does include 20 tickets to a CWS game which I'm sure has to have at least a $500 value so let's compare apples to apples.

The tickets are the best value, even though they are non-guaranteed outfield seats, IMO.

Charging 14U and older $175 each, for the "showcase event", which in reality is nothing more than a dog and pony show at best. Having to stay in Triple Crown sponsored hotels is just another way for them to milk the public, of more money.

As I stated in an earlier post, There plenaty of other quality tournaments in the area, during the CWS. As from a team standpoint, those tournaments will be more economical and generally have better competetion than TC. Then you can take all the money you saved and go purchase guaranteed reserved seats, and really enjoy the games.

I did not consider the showcase my son and others attended as a " dog and pony show ".
Real college offers, from real college scouts, came out of it.
Although we were in an older bracket ( not 14U )
we did NOT pay $175 for the showcase.
Just our experience.

It was an easy commute for us, we love Omaha, we love the CWS and the atmosphere that comes with it, .....we had a fun time and it was a productive time as well from a recruiting standpoint. My son was a to-be senior.

quote:

did not consider the showcase my son and others attended as a " dog and pony show ".
Real college offers, from real college scouts, came out of it.
Although we were in an older bracket ( not 14U )
we did NOT pay $175 for the showcase.
Just our experience.

TC may not have charged for the showcase in the past, HOWEVEER look at their website now. All players are charged for the showcase. As far as offers go, DIII, does not offer athletic scholarships.

It sounds like it was a good fit for your son with the DIII, DII and NAIA, since he is an upperclassman and was still looking, that is great. My point was, if your going to pay that kind of money for an event, then the host should have multiple top D1 programs in attendance. If you look at the list of colleges attending, you will see what I mean.

I am aware that DIII does not offer athletic scholarships, but they do offer roster spots upon acceptance into their college.

quote:

My point was, if your going to pay that kind of money for an event, then the host should have multiple top D1 programs in attendance.

As I said, my experience was from several years ago.
But I also believe not everyone is looking for or fits into a DI program.


At the time, my son and his team mates ( upper classmen ) had not had much, if any exposure.
For us this was a good place to start ( not located too far away, CWS atmosphere, Omaha Zoo, sort of a family vacation & baseball event all lumped together ). Our boys had no idea what level they " fit " in at and the exposure/feedback from this event got the ball rolling in a multitude of directions.

Are there much more highspeed showcase formats for the serious competitve potential DI player? Yes, absolutely, imho.

But the poster who originally asked the question has a son who is 12U.
I think the Slumpbuster would be a fun event for a player that age, if they deem affordable...and it was also a good event from a recruiting stand point for my son's team who was older.

I have yet to look at the list of colleges for this year's Slumpbuster event, but will.

I just looked at the list of colleges that, according to the TC website, were in attendence in 08':


Colleges that attended 2008 Slumpbuster Showcase:

* Ancilla College - Donaldson, IN

*Bellevue University - Bellevue, NE

*Berea College - Berea, KY

* Blue Ridge Community College - Flat Rock, NC

* Bossier Parish Community College - Bossier City, LA

*Butler Community College - El Dorado, KS

*Carthage College - Kenosha, WI

*Cedarville University - Cedarville, OH

*Chicago State University - Chicago, IL

*Clarendon College - Clarendon, TX

*Colby Community College - Colby, KS

*College of Santa Fe - Sante Fe, NM

*Colorado Northwestern Community College - Craig, CO

*Colorado School of Mines - Golden, CO

*Concordia University - Seward, NE

*Coppin State University - Baltimore, MD

*Doane College - Crete, NE

*Elgin Community College - Elgin, IL

*Ellsworth Community College - Iowa Falls, IA

*Evangel University - Springfield, MO

*Flagler College - St. Augustine, FL

*Heidelberg College - Tiffin, OH

*Henry Ford Community College - Dearborn, MI

*Kaskaskia College - Centralia, IL

*Linn-Benton Community College - Albany, OR

*Metropolitan State College of Denver - Denver, CO

*Minnesota West Community and Technical College -Worthington,MN

*Muhlenberg College - Allentown, PA

*Muscatine Community College - Muscatine, IA

*New Mexico Military Institute - Roswell, NM

*North Central Texas College - Gainesville, TX

*Northern Illinois University - DeKalb, IL

*Northland Community and Technical College -Grand Forks, MN

*Northwestern College - Orange City, IA

*Otero Junior College - La Junta, CO

*Patten University - Oakland,CA

*Penn State Greater Allegheny - McKeesport, PA

*Peru State College - Peru, NE

*Pima Community College - Tucson, AZ

*Prairie View A&M University - Prairie View, TX

* Rochester Community and Technical College - Rochester, MN

* Saint Joseph's College - Rensselaer, IN

*Salt Lake Community College - Salt Lake, UT

*San Francisco State University - San Francisco, CA

*Southeastern Community College - West Burlington, IA

*Southern Connecticut University - New Haven, CT

*Spring Arbor University - Spring Arbor, MI

*Tabor College- Hillsboro, KS

*Truman State University - Kirksville, MO

*University of Central Arkansas - Conway, AR

*University of Texas at Brownsville - Brownsville, TX

*Western Illinois University - Macomb, IL

* Western Nebraska Community College - Scottsbluff, NE

*William Penn University - Oskaloosa, IA

case and point

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