Small Baseball World

Bumping your own thread is considered taboo sometimes... but oh "fudge"...

I forgot gotwood4sale... him and I stood right next to each other at a CABA World Series tournament here in Cleveland and never realized it until we both became members here. Small world indeed...

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Pass the fudge!



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You stood next to this guy all day and it didn't dawn on you as to who it might be????

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More like this papi...



And I'm not the one in the red shirt.



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ClevelandDad,

I also stood next to Gotwood at 15 yr old CABA Crystal Lake and had a great evening with him about a year before I joined here!
catchersdad

quote:

Originally posted by catchersdad:
ClevelandDad,

I also stood next to Gotwood at 15 yr old CABA Crystal Lake and had a great evening with him about a year before I joined here!
catchersdad

Good point.

catchersdad - how about our son's and their "long-distance" connection. Yours grows up in Washington near Seattle and mine in Cleveland and end up playing college ball against each other in South Carolina.

Here is another small world story. My son played against a kid up here in the Cleveland fall leagues and who was two years behind mine. That kid was drafted in the 3rd round by the Astros yet ended up at Georgia Tech. When Coastal played Georgia Tech a few years back for a weekend series, the two Cleveland school boys were again playing against each other but this time in Georgia. This past June, that same kid was drafted in the second round by Tampa who a year earlier had drafted my son. This past October, the two Cleveland school boys were on the same field while in Instructional League in Florida.

Maybe it is only me who thinks it is a small world?

I am going to keep bumping this as they come to me..

rabe62 - his son and my son played against each other in college when Coastal traveled to Nebraska. They played against each other in the Florida State league playoffs this past fall where his son (catcher) was with the Yankees and mine with the Rays.

baseballmom - her pitcher son attended Tulane and our sons did not cross paths in college. They also got to face each other in the same Florida State league playoffs mentioned above as her son was pitching to rabe62's son while my son was batting.

I am positive, I am the only one who believes in conspiracy theories

I know I'll miss a few... I'm old school, so many of these folks don't post anymore...and I'm pretty infrequent these days...Goes without saying, in the beginning, I relied heavily on many of these wonderful folks to navigate the "roller coaster" of recruiting/showcasing, etc. And have many many great memories & pictures of lots of these folks! Thanks so much, guys & gals!!

And ClevelandDad, you top the list as most recently our guys faced each other in Florida, as you just explained. Wow, it is a small world!
TRHit (PG 17U & 18U Ft Myers)
Bama Bomber (Auburn 2005 & PG Palm Beach, Fla.)
BigWI (same as above, son's were teammates a few games)
BigHit15 & LilHit (several showcases, camps, tourneys in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Arlington, Fla)
PGStaff (well...you know!)
Bob Williams
Panther Dad (kids played against each other thruout HS
rabe62 (son's played against ea. other , summers 2002-2006, and are currently teammates with Tampa Yankees!! Whoo HOO!!)
Raider06 (Summer teammates)
Oldbat-never (2002-2006 HS teams played against ea other)
BK'S Mom ( TCU showcase, & a couple others 2002-2004)
Captain Jack (HS opponents & summer teammates)
Keller Dad (HS opponents, TCU showcase)
trojanx2 (HS)
gloveman (Houston tourneys)
berknerdad (HS opponents 2002-2006)
Southpaw Pop (summer opponents)
OPP OnePitchersPop (emailed & phoned for advice on certain "select team. OPP is great!!)
8BaughDad (more advice)
Ken Gutherie (coached on a fall team)

baseballmom - thanks for including me on your list. I remember thinking how ironic all that was when two hsbbweb kids from Texas were pitching and catching to mine from Cleveland while they were all in Florida.

Here is one infielddad may recall...

His son developed a close relationship with an up & coming strength and conditioning coach while at Trinity in Texas. The coach moved on to Columbia in NYC but they (infielddad and his son) maintained a close relationship. A similar position became available at Coastal Carolina and infielddad had this young man call me about my take on Coastal. I remember kidding him "What's the matter, you got a problem with nice beaches, low cost of living, friendly people, and a nationally ranked baseball program?" Seriously, he took that job and he has taken that program at Coastal to new, record-setting levels - setting all-time power marks for slugging, homeruns, doubles, and stolen bases. He has had a huge impact on my son's career as well.

I am glad I was able to play a small part in that and when I finally met him in person, we recalled fondly how our mutual relationship with infielddad at least played a part in his decision.

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That was a great evening catchersdad. Your son played well. I remember the score too.



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I took TwoTex Jr to a showcase tournament to watch the big boys play - found out later we were watching 1bmom's son play.

Funny, but a number of those I have gotten to know in person...I cannot easily think of their screen names anymore unless I see them.

Sign of age I guess?

A fair number of friends on here have become Facebook or email friends and that is how I now talk 'virtually' with them...mostly.

Here's a few more off the top of my head

-Observer44 (Cuesta v Moorpark)
-Rob Kramer (Duke v VT) I acually went to this game
-MildoDad/Baseballdad1228 (WF v VT)
-COach May (UNC v VT) chit chated on line about some players he knew on NCS and VT during the ACC playoffs
-Justbaseball (Just wanted to list him)
-Bullwinkle (UCI v west coast tour school)
-Level swing (Fullerton " ")
-RHP05Parent (Cal Poly " ")
-DB2BMom (LBSU " ")

I know there are a lot more, but I don't currently have the time to figure out which school and what year everone's assoc. with.

Always is a great topic to see how small the HSBBW world is.
I have met many here and seen many son's play, either in HS, college or pro, too numerous to mention again. And son has played against many websters sons and with one at CU.

Here are some updates since we did this a few years ago.
Mr.and Mrs. Justbaseball got to meet my son this summer, son's teams faced each other in San Antonio and just within the last 6 months, Fungo's son and wife moved into our neighborhood. Hopefully this winter Fungo will be in town.
puma's son drafted by the same team 2 seasons ago.
Son and njbb's played in the TL this past summer and faced each other several times.

Baseballmom, I am not sure but I think that our son's had the same host family at Falmouth?

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
baseballmom ....I remember thinking how ironic all that was when two hsbbweb kids from Texas were pitching and catching to mine from Cleveland while they were all in Florida.

Yes, indeed!! Mitch & Pres...didn't "Cleveland Kiddo" get a hit that AB? I'd have to dig out the box score page to research, but I think so. Pres is considering buying a condo or small house in Tampa, then renting it if he's moved...He lovees Florida, even the rainy afternoons & steam coming off the fields. TOO humid...I'm heading to Rockpost/Corpus Christi area in the spring.

TPM, yes, if DK's host was retired FBI! Now that is something else!!

quote:

-Justbaseball (Just wanted to list him)

Well...we live close enough to each other dangit!

I know I have met a few HSBBW posters in person, and suspect I have crossed paths with others unknowlingly. Also, so many in this community have been kind enough to share their knowledge and experiences with us as we have been navigating the world of HS, hoping to play college, baseball.

TRHit -- Son played for TR in Fall of 2009
CoachMerc -- Son played for at 2010 WWB Championships
MidloDad -- Met at 2009 WWB and has given excellent counsil
Coach_May -- Have never had the pleasure to meet, altohugh we've haunted the same fields
PGStaff -- Although we have had the pleasure to attend a number of PG/WWB events, I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting the famed and fabled "PG" ... hope to some day.

I'm sure there are others I have met but am either forgetting here, or am uncertain of your screen name; and there are those like TPM, Coach_May, CD, FanofGame, and many others who I almost feel like I've met thanks to their great support and advice.

I know that the HSBBW community has helped us make choices and has opened doors that have created tremendous experiences for SP_son as he chases his dreams ... and for his proud papa going along for the ride.

The unfortunate part is that many of us probably were at the same game, or next in line to each other at the concession stand, and didn't even know it. In the future, maybe we could wear something (button?) that showed we're part of this wonderful group. Just think of the conversations and friendships that could develop!

I have an idea.. Wear hat/shirts with HSBBW logo in certain events (See you there!!)

RR23

The HSBBW has an online store.

OK Cd, I love this thread too.

O44, my son played with his at UNLV (O and his wife are the most wonderful people in the baseball world)

Steve Trombly - my son played for his Connie Mack team.

SGVAresenal - from my area, said Hi at Jupiter. (now facebook friends with Jim Giles also SGV Aresenal)

Son met bbscout in spring training a few yrs ago. Son also played against his son in the Carolina league. Son played TPM's son in the Texas league so he must of played Justball in San Antonio

Njbb, they didn't face each other as mine moved up to SA after all of their games with your son's team (early August).

HSBBWebbies I have met personally and events:

Celtdad - 2010 Diamond Sports National Classic
Coach Waltrip - 2010 Junior Olympics USAB
bsbl247 - 2010 AZ Senior Fall Classic.

TPM..after I posted I realized there was an online store.. I would suggest newer cap designs flexfit and more colors for the baseball shirts.

quote:

Originally posted by justbaseball:
Njbb, they didn't face each other as mine moved up to SA after all of their games with your son's team (early August).

Nice to see your memory coming back

Any good infielddad stories to tell?

Here's mine to add:

RZ1 - Watched a spring training game his son was pitching while RZ1 and bride were here in Tampa.
Bob Williams - Son and I went with him to Australia Xmas 2005.
Floridafan - So pleased to have his son at UT with my son this season, what a great player!
PGStaff - Everyone has met him.
Quincy - I am sure we have been at the same high school ball field one time or another here in Tampa.

Most wanna meets:

Cleveland Dad - hope to meet him soon in Florida when his son plays.
Coach May - would love to meet him, maybe this summer in the CPL?
Minnesota Mom - because she is so cool and I heard recently she is a rocker and downloads illegal music.
And many more....

quote:

Cleveland Dad - hope to meet him soon in Florida when his son plays.

We will meet soon! I hope to meet you at the Trop I'll be the one bawling his eyes out

In the mean time, I hope UT wins the national championship this year!

My son played against RJM's son.
Met TRHit at a tournament in Long Island.
Although I didn't realize it until the season was over I think my son played on the same team this past summer with Baseballdad1228 son.

This is a fun thread, especially as Fall and Winter begin to settle in...

I have to say straight up that it has been a real pleasure meeting Backstop-17 and his wife now that our sons are Team Mates at UT. His son is as his moniker implies a Catcher, my guy although primarily a position player is expected to pitch and always throws to Backstop-17 Jr. Great guy and great catcher!

My son played against JH during the summer in the CPL, but I have never met him. I love reading his stuff though!

Met Coach May a couple of times, dating back to the WWBA in 2007 down in Jupiter.

Met PGStaff also at those events and TPM.

Ran into TRhit down in Jupiter as well.

Son played with Bob William's program in Australia in 2007 as did BackStop-17's son, they (Backstop-17 jr.) actually have traveled in many of the same circles without ever meeting for years.

I would love to meet as many posters as I can, this is a great little community we have going on here!

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quote:

Originally posted by playfair:
OK Cd, I love this thread too.

O44, my son played with his at UNLV (O and his wife are the most wonderful people in the baseball world)

Gosh, Why thank you, I'm humbled. With all it's challenges it was a fun run last year...I look forward to watching Nolan continue his success...big things to come in AZ and beyond!

44
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Our son's baseball path crossed nearly every part of this Country.
Along the way, he had the true pleasure to play Milb with Fungo's son, Josh. While both had a few physical items that were not fun, our son got to see Josh when he was fully healthy.
Josh could really play and was a great teammate. Josh is the fruit that fell very close to the tree of the highest quality, as we all might expect.
Our's also got to compete against, and play one special game with, FutureBackMom's son. Special!
For those who have justbaseball on their wish list, I hope your wish comes true. He is a wonderful person with talented(not just in baseball) son's and a terrific family!
One of the best baseball seasons I have had the pleasure to watch was 2008 at Sunken Diamond and ED's string of complete games(7 I believe).
That team never makes it to Omaha without the leadership, grit, determination, and talent he showed.
CD, Brian is a very special person.
Thank you for giving his move to Coastal a boost. When it comes to strength and conditioning in baseball, he is one coach who makes a difference and earns the respect of his players.
And, of course, bbscout. Sitting in my office one day about the start of the season for Stanford. it is raining. The phone rings...bbscout: "want to grab a sandwich?"

Well my son is only beginning his big-diamond baseball experience, but I already have one to relate. Catchersdad's son is helping with my son's hitting instruction this winter! And the little guy and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Fillsfan,

Super 17?

MJM

quote:

Originally posted by tres_arboles:
Well my son is only beginning his big-diamond baseball experience, but I already have one to relate. Catchersdad's son is helping with my son's hitting instruction this winter! And the little guy and I couldn't be happier with the results.

I've met ILVBB, infielddad, Rob Kremer and Infield08. My son's team will be playing Observer44's son's team this spring (sorry I can't be there!), and I think I'll be able to connect with many of the northern California group this summer. I've heard from one webster so far whose son is also playing in the Far West Collegiate next summer, and looking forward to meeting everyone I can.

Oh yeah -- and I once interviewed gotwood, LIVE!, for an internet radio show!

Tres_Arboles,
I sent you a pm, enjoy every moment of your son's baseball!!

quote:

Originally posted by Baseballdad1228:
Fillsfan,

Super 17?

MJM

Yes. My son's first name is Eric. He DHed alot this summer.
Good luck to AJ this school year and at GT.

Thanks.

Eric can really swing it and has tremendous power. I saw him hit a bomb my first day in Georgia. AJ enjoyed playing with him. Best of luck to him this season.

MJM

I just met my first webster : Florida Fan and his son. Our son's hitting coach called and asked if he would like to hit with a player from University of Tampa. He thought my son might enjoy and learn from the experience. Well, as he's 15 I took him. Florida Fan was there, and the young man my son hit with was his son. What a fun time, and what a small world!