Anyone know if their invites for tryouts have gone out yet?
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I'm pretty sure they went out already
Lessons learned -- if your kid has DI/D2/D3 talent can play for his summer high school team or a close equivalent--- that is where he should play. Supplement that with a Perfect Game and Blue Gray and you will save money, no burn the kid out and ensure he gets plenty of playing time. These other teams, Oriolelanders, Dirt Bags etc, are totally over rated/money makers and the coaches are not aligned with the player year round.....
Absolutely dead wrong, Trepfan.
(Or, is it "Terpfan" misspelled?)
(Or, is it "Terpfan" misspelled?)
Trepfan, yet again we must agree to disagree. While I can agree that showcase baseball is not for every player and in every case is more expensive than High School summer league. You have to try and wrap your mind around the fact that you have very little personal experience in showcase baseball. It would be a very unusual year if over 90% of the rising seniors on the two teams mentioned in this tread didn't receive D1 scholorships AND have one or more players drafted. In fact on my son's team last summer/fall the rising seniors have signed significant scholorships with SEC powerhouses South Carolina and Alabama, ACC powerhouse Virginia, perennial top 50 contender Coastal Carolina, and a great academic school in Davidson. Two, and possibly three of those kids stand a good chance of being drafted (the young man I refer to as the "possible third" is the same one that you project as a second round pick. I only classify him as "possible" because of the quality/size of the program and scholorship, not based on talent). And the coach of this team is the same man that you call out by name as someone who is both greedy and ignorant. Amazing.
Now I'm not saying that these young men got these fabulous opportunities presented to them by playing showcase baseball, they earned them through God given talent and hard work. But what they did get the opportunity to do is play with AND against some of the best baseball talent in their age group regionally and nationally, not just in their county or section of their state. And in my opinion this allows them to get better, or at least better faster, than playing in a high school summer league. And my second point, and you should realize this yourself from attending St. John's games, is that college and pro scouts don't attend high school games (regular season, showcase, summer season, etc.) with the intention of surveying the whole team for undiscovered talent. They have the objective of giving one or two guys that they're following a first, second or third look. And how many times do they end up signing or referring an upperclassman that impressed them? More often than you think. How many times has an underclassman been put on their watch list because of a nice play or a bit of hustle observed by the scout because he was at the game watching someone else? A ton. Very few regular season high school games have scouts in attendance, even fewer at regular summer league games. The average number of scouts last year at the showcase tournaments we attended was around 20-25 (40-50% D1's) with a low of 12 (counted that one myself) and at any one game probably 8 average with a low of zero (only once, thank God).
Is a showcase team right for everyone? Absolutely not. Money is a big issue, and it's not limited to the team fee which usually covers coach(s), uniforms, balls, tournament entry fees, umpires, etc. If you like to watch your son play it's also gas, food and lodging for 6-8 weekends. My wife and I went to every tournament but the WWBA and with the team fee of $500 (which is below average)we spent a total of almost $2,500. Was it worth it? I think it was, the 3 of us had a blast, and my son had a strong outing against a strong East Cobb team that got him on the PG crosschecker list for '08 grads even though through bad timing and bad luck he hasn't been able to attend any other PG event ever. If he does get a scholorship was it direct result of what he did at this event? or one earlier in the summer? or the high school playoffs? But I know one thing for sure, it wasn't a direct result of the one's he DID NOT play in.
My broad advise is #1 don't go to any showcase tournament or event unless your injury free and in baseball shape. #2 get rated by Perfect Game, if you don't like your rating, work on your weaknesses and go get rated again. Now comes the tricky part, because your going to be invited to every camp and showcase in a 500 mi radius, be very selective. If you have a strong D1 competitive rating from PG, you'll probably be invited to a regional or even national showcase. Definitely don't pass those up as long as your healthy and in shape ( if you run a 7.2 60 instead of the 6.7 you ran last month, for a lot of scout there, you'll be a 7.2 guy forever because they'll never see you again). #3 get on the best, most competitive team that your abilities and the parents pocketbook will allow that plays showcase type tournaments at least sometimes in the region of the country that you want to attend school and plays in the WWBA Championships. And finally, don't overdue it...LOL Have fun, hustle all the time, run every ground ball back to the pitcher as if you were trying to beat the shortstop's throw from deep in the hole, and, not if but, when you strikeout or make an error DONT HANG YOUR HEAD OR THROW EQUIPMENT...because if you do and someone's watching you and you listen real close you'll be able to hear their pencil scratching your name off the list.
Now I'm not saying that these young men got these fabulous opportunities presented to them by playing showcase baseball, they earned them through God given talent and hard work. But what they did get the opportunity to do is play with AND against some of the best baseball talent in their age group regionally and nationally, not just in their county or section of their state. And in my opinion this allows them to get better, or at least better faster, than playing in a high school summer league. And my second point, and you should realize this yourself from attending St. John's games, is that college and pro scouts don't attend high school games (regular season, showcase, summer season, etc.) with the intention of surveying the whole team for undiscovered talent. They have the objective of giving one or two guys that they're following a first, second or third look. And how many times do they end up signing or referring an upperclassman that impressed them? More often than you think. How many times has an underclassman been put on their watch list because of a nice play or a bit of hustle observed by the scout because he was at the game watching someone else? A ton. Very few regular season high school games have scouts in attendance, even fewer at regular summer league games. The average number of scouts last year at the showcase tournaments we attended was around 20-25 (40-50% D1's) with a low of 12 (counted that one myself) and at any one game probably 8 average with a low of zero (only once, thank God).
Is a showcase team right for everyone? Absolutely not. Money is a big issue, and it's not limited to the team fee which usually covers coach(s), uniforms, balls, tournament entry fees, umpires, etc. If you like to watch your son play it's also gas, food and lodging for 6-8 weekends. My wife and I went to every tournament but the WWBA and with the team fee of $500 (which is below average)we spent a total of almost $2,500. Was it worth it? I think it was, the 3 of us had a blast, and my son had a strong outing against a strong East Cobb team that got him on the PG crosschecker list for '08 grads even though through bad timing and bad luck he hasn't been able to attend any other PG event ever. If he does get a scholorship was it direct result of what he did at this event? or one earlier in the summer? or the high school playoffs? But I know one thing for sure, it wasn't a direct result of the one's he DID NOT play in.
My broad advise is #1 don't go to any showcase tournament or event unless your injury free and in baseball shape. #2 get rated by Perfect Game, if you don't like your rating, work on your weaknesses and go get rated again. Now comes the tricky part, because your going to be invited to every camp and showcase in a 500 mi radius, be very selective. If you have a strong D1 competitive rating from PG, you'll probably be invited to a regional or even national showcase. Definitely don't pass those up as long as your healthy and in shape ( if you run a 7.2 60 instead of the 6.7 you ran last month, for a lot of scout there, you'll be a 7.2 guy forever because they'll never see you again). #3 get on the best, most competitive team that your abilities and the parents pocketbook will allow that plays showcase type tournaments at least sometimes in the region of the country that you want to attend school and plays in the WWBA Championships. And finally, don't overdue it...LOL Have fun, hustle all the time, run every ground ball back to the pitcher as if you were trying to beat the shortstop's throw from deep in the hole, and, not if but, when you strikeout or make an error DONT HANG YOUR HEAD OR THROW EQUIPMENT...because if you do and someone's watching you and you listen real close you'll be able to hear their pencil scratching your name off the list.
quote:ACC powerhouse Virginia, perennial top 50 contender Coastal Carolina,
Had a few good years in this decade, yet a powerhouse? That says it all.
They haven't had a losing season since they got their new stadium. They haven't won fewer than 40, or failed to make the tournament, since the new coaching staff arrived. Now they're ranked in just about every top 10 list in the country. They had 2 ACC players of the year in a 3-year span, with a # 4 draft pick thrown in for good measure.
Granted, they could stand to win a regional ...
But you're a hard man to impress indeed.
Granted, they could stand to win a regional ...
But you're a hard man to impress indeed.
TREP(TERP)FAN
What do you base your statement on ?
What do you base your statement on ?
quote:Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
They haven't had a losing season since they got their new stadium. They haven't won fewer than 40, or failed to make the tournament, since the new coaching staff arrived. Now they're ranked in just about every top 10 list in the country. They had 2 ACC players of the year in a 3-year span, with a # 4 draft pick thrown in for good measure.
Granted, they could stand to win a regional ...
But you're a hard man to impress indeed.
Don't worry Milo Dad,
Bear just hasn't watched successful D-1 Baseball in a longtime...if ever.
I'm not a UVA fan but last 2 years in NCAA's this year pre-season polls top 10, preseason selection to make it to Omaha.
Coastal Carolina 2 years ago #1 seed in regionals out in AZ.
Whens the last decade MD had success...or year???
2001-2006 ACC record 27-97 (.218)
Bear,
I admit that I used a little "puffery" when describing Coastal Carolina as a perennial top 50 contender. But they have a solid program overall, a good coaching staff and they recruit hard in our area and others selling the program and location while having less than top notch facilities. As a VaTech alum and former player, I revel in bashing UVA at every opportunity. However, the turnaround in that program starting with the coaching staff and premier facilities and continuing with top notch recruiting classes, their success will certainly continue in the near future. While Maryland (you) and Virginia Tech (me) will continue to dwell at the bottom of the conference unless the repective universities make a concerted effort to change things. I stand by my statement that UVA Baseball IS an ACC powerhouse.
I admit that I used a little "puffery" when describing Coastal Carolina as a perennial top 50 contender. But they have a solid program overall, a good coaching staff and they recruit hard in our area and others selling the program and location while having less than top notch facilities. As a VaTech alum and former player, I revel in bashing UVA at every opportunity. However, the turnaround in that program starting with the coaching staff and premier facilities and continuing with top notch recruiting classes, their success will certainly continue in the near future. While Maryland (you) and Virginia Tech (me) will continue to dwell at the bottom of the conference unless the repective universities make a concerted effort to change things. I stand by my statement that UVA Baseball IS an ACC powerhouse.