Seminoles Thanks!!

joemoms, I would have to say the tornado would give us a game. I like your post, and understand your point. The topic was started to congrautlate a very good 15u baseball team. The team started their season with traveling to California and winning a good opening season tournament out of state. It's that simple, and should be recognized. The only problem with certain threads they drag on way to long, because of certain people that change the original topic to another subject.

Beenthere, you must be talking about another Seminole team five years ago. From what I've heard the Seminoles had teams years ago coached by Bob Savada. That was a completely different team, then the team that has been at the top in Illinois over the last 3 to 4 years. I don't even think Upperdeck had a team at our age level over the last 3 or 4 years. I know my son's old team was always gunning to beat the Seminoles and the Sparks. These have been the two top teams representing Illinois for the last few years. To Play Dog, the Seminoles did dominate last year in Illinois. Just look at the record it speaks for itself. I'm sure your team will also do very well this year.

Grand...Not talking about anyone else.

In 2001 and 2002, the 15 and then the 16 year old Upper Deck Cougars played everyone.

We run-ruled the Sparks in their own tournament in Orland Park.

Wanted to play the Seminoles and they would never agree to play a game.

Beenthere, your missing the point. What I was trying to explain to you is, that was a different organization. This Seminole team and program has been around for 5 years. I don't know what 16u Seminoles team that was 5 years ago, but it was under different leadership. There's been no Upperdeck team at our age group over the last 4 years for the Seminoles and Sparks to beat up on. I'm sure your Upperdeck team was really good years ago, but it has nothing to do with the current Sparks and Seminole teams. I can assure you the Seminoles and for the most part I think the Sparks as well play anyone anytime.

quote:

Originally posted by joemoms:
Who would win in a fight: A tornado or the Seminoles?

Ditka!

I have been looking at comments on this site for the past month or so. This is my first post. I don't mind if anyone knows who's mom I am but not sure it is wise to tell. Those who know us will recognize my son and those who don't won't care My son plays for the DuPage Diamondbacks. Last fall he played some games with the Seminoles because they had
players involved in HS football. I learned that the two teams are different in many ways. But, they both have very talented players, coaches and great parents. We look forward to the tough competition on the field and the friendships off the field. Can't wait!

Play Ball or Mrs N-man? What was the point of your post. Just to announce that your son plays on the D-Backs and that he was asked to fill in for the Seminoles?

Your comment is why I have not posted before. No, not at all. Did you read the whole thing. The point was that these are young men who are very talented no matter who they play for. If there was only one really good team it would get to be a very boring season.

quote:

There's been no Upperdeck team at our age group over the last 4 years for the Seminoles and Sparks to beat up on.

lol....

If I decide to coach a team again, you won't have to worry about "beating up" on anyone.

You will be the team catching a beating!

lol...

Where is your schedule posted for this year? Would like to see a few of your games.

Look out for the 15U top tier squad might casue lots of problems for some teams this year.

Beenthere, your Cougars team was very good awhile back. The Seminoles list their schedule on usasportsrankings, and I think they also have a new website where they probably post their schedule. The Seminoles 15u team should be a very strong national contender. I'm looking forward to seeing them play in the CABA World Series in Crystal Lake this year. It looks like they are playing in some 16u national events as well this year.

That Upper Deck team was as good a team as Illinois has ever seen. No doubt about that it. You can't really compare the two teams. Upper Deck did very well at an older age. The Seminoles haven't had the chance to do that yet. I'm sure they will continue their success. However, I believe Upper Deck had only players from Illinos. You'd have to ask Beenthere about that.

MR, I'm sure that Upperdeck team was a fantastic team. I was just pointing out to Beenthere that he was talking about a different age group and at a different time. Hawk, we're playing in atleast three 16u national events this year. The AAU Regionals, Junior Olympics, and the USSSA National World Series. All three tournaments are located in Florida. I think we'll have one of the top 15u teams in the country, and are playing in all the top 15u events. Our coaching staff thinks we can do very well in these select 16u national tournaments also. It should be a very fun and competitive season.

Beenthere- We're you involved with the Upper Deck team that had Bo Flowers and LaFringe Hayes? I think there were some other current D1's and pros on that team.

I thought this was a High School web site not a forum for past and current players (parents) of Russ and the current Seminole team. The high school baseball season hasn't even started yet and everyone is talking about the 15u travel team(s). Alot can happen during the high school season and maybe kids that didn't play ELITE ball on travel teams might BE SEEN during high school play. Who gets bumped then? Loyalty?
Whats that?

baseball2009,

You've hit the nail right on the head. This is NOT a site for the exclusive, non-stop chatter about 15 yr old elite summer travel. My objection is that there is never any mention about where these HS All-Americans go to school. We talk about 17-18 yr old travel teams all the time, but these boys are known more for where they go to HS and what they achieved in HS. OK, we know that the Seminoles are a great 15U travel team. Heck, they should be as they played 120 games last summer. But why don't we hear about where these boys go to HS? Is HS just not important to the boys or their fathers? Is their time on the Seminoles all that matters? I hope not.

I wish everyone's son nothing but good luck in their baseball careers, but let's get this forum back to where Bob originally intended, a place for players and parents to learn and listen and share ideas which will make the player's HS careers and beyond the best that they can be.

We know that there is another site where you can talk about team rankings, All- American 10 yr olds and the rest. *** is just waiting for you.

Like I said before about all this 15 year old stuff

~yawn~

Baeball2009 and itsrosy

You guys are absolutely correct about this oversaturation of seminole talk ---mostly done by members of the seminoles themselves.
Baseball14 came on the board and gave a good summary of their tourney win in california . That was fine by me as i dont mind hearing about baseball that was actually PLAYED .
Its all the subsequent talk , talk , talk that is boring to everybody ...but i dont think they get it.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE QUITE A FEW EX-SEMINOLES ADDING IN ON THE CHATTER - WHAT DO YOU THINK SULTIGER?

What I don't understand is if eveyone is sick of a topic. Why do they read about it and respond to it?

Stage dad

If you have read the previous posts you would have understood that all the chatter is not welcome on the board.

Baseball2009---which other ex sems are you referring to ?

Sulltiger, I think your wrong. Baseball14, and Grandslam seem to be proud parents of their son's and the team they represent. Both wrote a nice post about a very impressive accomplishment their son's team achieved in California. I was impressed, and enjoyed the topic and conversation. It seems a few others are way to interested and have to change the subject to keep the thread going. I only noticed Baseball14 and Grandslam mentioning the tournament once, and that was fine. Others have continued the thread, and seem very interested. Let's face it, a very good team traveled to California and won a good tournament. Congratulations was given and deserved. If I thought Grandslam was bragging to much. Believe me I would have been the first one to call him on it. Many people congratulated Baseball14 after his original post, and that should've been the end of it. Like I've already said I enjoy reading about a northern team traveling to California and winning it all.

StageDad, I couldn't agree more. Baseball in January. I say thanks to the Seminoles. There's only a select number of teams around the country that travel year round, and play such a impressive schedule. Time for this thread to be over.

Sorry to get in on this one so late, but I have to agree on a lot of what Baseball14 and Grandslam are saying. I'm one who has seen all the angles on this one. My son started with the Seminoles and took playing time from other players. We were aware of the "issues" it caused and appreciated the support from the coaching staff and parents. The TEAM got better from it.
The next year the staff brought on more new(better) players and dropped some, some left on their own. The TEAM got better.
The next year we actively recruited the best players in the area to make a national run. And added players during the year as others dropped out (on their own). My son changed position to accomodate better players, but we welcomed the challenge and were excited to be on the same field as these kids. The TEAM got better.
Going into this year the Seminoles have stepped it up a notch again and gone after the best players available. This ultimately may mean a utility role for my son. His choice was to remain a Seminole because he wants the challenge to compete for a spot against some of the top players in the country. The TEAM will get better.
My son has stated frequently that he is going to miss those that are not a part of the Seminoles anymore, as am I. I hope the fun times we all shared will be fond memories and I urge our former mates and their PARENTS to root for my kids teams (HS and travel) as much as we are going to cheer for theirs.
J Cecchi...Proud Dad of 4 year Seminole, Joey

--The HS reference was for you, Itsrosy. (;

Traveldad,

I have assumed that these boys do go to HS, unless they are being home schooled. However, I have yet, throughout all the cheering and back-slapping read anything about WHERE these boys attend school. It seems to me that they are l) already playing tournaments for the Seminoles, even before HS season begins, 2)that being on this team is all that the player's and their parents are focusing on. My son, a junior, is playing on a top level travel team this summer, but he is looking forward with great enthusiasm to his HS season and representing his school.

I respect the committment of parents who are supporting their son's and paying the $$$ to fly them all around the country. I just hope that they don't grow up and look back and not even remember their HS experience. JMO.

I have a question, why would a team from Illinois choose the "Seminoles" as their name? I'm not knocking it, just curious "why".

Also, on a related note, did they get the approval of the Seminole Native Americans to use their name?

Joe, I'm glad to hear Joey will be playing in the tournament in Florida this month. It should be another terrific tournament, and he always makes our defense stronger when he's on the field. I can't speak for the coaching staff, but I'm sure Joey will play alot of innings this year. I know this is Joey's 4th or 5th year on the team, and I also know you guys enjoy the competition every day.

Rosy....I couldn't agree with you more.

Travel Seminole style may end up being the way of the baseball world, but think about it a little bit from another perspective.

High School Baseball involves countless teen-age kids.

Travel Ball on The "Elite" Level is exclusive by nature.

These kids are the future of baseball, not only on the field, but perhaps more importantly as Little League Coaches, etc......not to mention fans who love the game.

A shift in focus from HS Ball to just focusing on big-time travel could ultimately unravel HS ball as we know it. That would be tragic and long-term be very bad for baseball.

Learning to be part of a team is very important, but accepting at ages as young as this that you are just a cog in a machine and you should be happy with it is no great thing. That kind of limiting factor will come in to play early enough in life. Just think, if the Seminoles (or any team) managed to gather 20 of the top 25 kids in Illinois on their team, you could be the 25th best baseball player in Illinois and be a "Utility Player." Sorry, but I respectfully disagree......no 14 or 15 year old should take that role....they need to play. Once you are on a team, yes be a team player.....but no team...no not even The Seminoles is so important that you should accept that kind of role at that age. Maybe for a few tourneys, but for a season...no way.

Itsrosy, I think eveyone's looking forward to HS. ball on our team as well. It's just when your practicing with your travel team all winter, and then playing in Las Vegas, California, and Florida in big tournaments. Of course this is going to be the main topic, and focus. That's why we're playing for this program. It gives my son the best opportunity to play the best competition around the country, and also improve his skills. Some of our players have been mentioned on this site many times in regards to what HS. they will be attending. Brandon Duplessis (Lockport) Jack Havey (Loyola) Sean Kennedy (Warren) Angelo Burrage (St. Rita) Mike Olp (Wheaton) just to name a few. I personally think Havey will be a star at Loyola. I really think with him now playing on the Seminoles, he'll step up his game to an even higher level. I know we've had this conversation on this board before about freshman playing varsity, or not. I think Havey will be playing varsity very soon for Loyola.

fball, believe it or not I agree 100%

Fastball, I see what your saying. Although I must say it's about competition and competing. Even at the HS. level, most freshman teams have atleast 16 players on their roster. Granted those rosters aren't nearly as strong as top level travel teams rosters are. Playing time is earned never given. If some players only play a few innings a game in say a national tournament this summer in Florida. My answer would be, that's a few innings more than all the players on teams that didn't participate received.

All teams that play nationally seem to carry atleast 15 to 16 on their roster. Depth of teams rosters will be a very important key in the big tournaments. Teams such as the Seminoles, East Cobbs, Roadrunners, and some others need a big bench with the schedules and competition they play.

Grandslam, it was a Seminole Parent that used the term "Utility Player" I can see that a kid would love to play in a "National Tournament" even if it were a couple innings. For that week or weekend, that would be fine, but a kid needs to play as much as possible, especially if they are that good. Having any good player carrying another players' jockstrap and telling him he is being a trooper is wrong. Yes, compete for playing time...but even Major League Players getting paid a million dollars a year would rather be somewhere they could get on the field every day.
It's another thing altogether if playing time is split up....but then you wouldn't be a utility player.

Fastball, with the number of games our team plays I think everyone will be a major contributor to the team. Especially when you go deep in most tournaments playing 6 to 7 games over a weekend tournament. I do agree though that the word utility should be worded differently. Hawk, I completely agree with your comments. To play at the national level, you better have a very deep roster. Example, from July 16-23 we're entered in the USSSA 16u Nationals in Florida. Four days later we're entered in the CABA Nationals here in Illinois. Both tournaments will take over 10 games played to possibly win it. That's why you need alot of pitching and a very deep bench. Were carrying 15 players on our roster, and I think that's a good number. I have noticed some teams especially in Georgia are carrying around 18 to 20 players. I think that's a few to many on the roster. Every team is a different situaton.

Hawk...If you truly want to compete nationally, you need a roster of at least 20, including 9 pitchers and 2 catchers.

Even the "stars" get pounded occasionally, therefore, you always need pitching to soak up innings, especially in the preliminary rounds of a long tournament.

Been there, done that.

Beenthere, thanks for adding that. I agree that you must have alot of pitching. I think and most importantly our coaching staff thinks we have atleast 10 pitchers. I think having 15 on the roster is a good number, but I can see how having even a few more on the roster would be helpful. We're loaded with star pitchers, and I know were going to need all of them to do well. The competition is going to be at the highest level at every tournament.

There's a Nike ad that basically asks "would you rather sit on the bench and be part of a winning team or start on a losing team". Me, I'd Take the latter. If the parents of those "elite" travel players can get the time off of work and spend a couple of grand to watch their kids on the bench, then god bless them.

Well said Stage Dad 9, I couldn't have said it better myself. This is not college - its Travel baseball 15u or whatever.

For the players that are talented enough to play for the top national teams around the country at the 15-18 year old levels. They will have the time of their life playing the best of the best all around the country.