showcase vs. summer travel team?

Depends on a lot of factors...

His age, i.e., if he is a rising frosh, soph, and the team plays in the "right" tournaments I'd focus on playing games. By right I mean, JO, PG Wood Bat,etc., tournaments of that caliber. Where do you live? In the traditionally strong states, Fla., Ga.,Texas, Ca., I'd say play because of the overall level of play.

If he's a rising junior, go to showcases and select a couple of college camps (that he has a reasonable shot at making, both academically and athletically, and go and get exposure in front of those coaches. But play as much as you can summer and fall ball.



Just a few thoughts...good luck.

Conserve fuel...starve a terrorist!

IMO, I agree with njbbdad and disagree with your travel coach. The tournaments mentioned are very good ones, but not highly scouted like the big showcase events. If your son is going into his junior year, I also recommend going to the showcase over Connie Mack. Most coaches will understand and work with the player to help schedule his participation around a big showcase. If they don't, then it's time to make a choice for the benefit of your son.

Yep, the time came for us to make that "choice", too.
Coach wasn't willing to take the team to certain high profile events, nor allow son to guest for a team that was going.
This Coach has lots of contacts all over the US, but...son has had his sights set on JO for 4 years now, and PG @ East Cobb, because of the exposure and level of competition.
And , I see that the PG exposure he had last fall in Ft. Meyers has opened up this new opportunity.

Good luck in your decision.

Here's a little more info:
16 yrs. old, junior, 3.7 g.p.a. and we live in northeast ohio.
he played in a wood bat tourn. last year in Niagara Falls, Can. hit 1 hr, batted .487, led team in rbi.
This year the summer team is scheduled to play 80 games between 6-1 and 7-31 which includes tournaments in kentucky, mich., w.v., youngstown,oh., and sarnia, ontario. They are also scheduled to play the midland redskins, which is, I think, a highly scouted and very good program.
I haven't heard of any showcases in August, but, that would solve my problem. Are there any in the northeast ohio area?
Thanks for all of your responses.

Daddybags,
We (Perfect Game) have just scheduled some Ohio ID Showcases. They should be up on our website very soon.

my advice is showcase your son. Perfect Game, Team One, ect. From your location and the tournaments your going to, although Im sure they will be competitive, My opinion is to go to some select showcases, college camps and a pro tryout or so.

As a Junior, he needs to be seen. I think the showcases do a better job of showcasing a player rather than a team. I'm not sure if they will have it this year but My son ('04) attended the Perfect Game Northeast top prospects showcase in Cape Cod last August.