Summer League Assignments

DB2BMom,

Congrats to Vance as well....remember you and I are going to meet in Houston at the tournament this year. I am really looking forward to it.


Ann

Awesome news about Vance! Congratulations to him and you, DB2BMom. I'm sure he will have a wonderful time at the Cape!

Thanks everyone!

Prepster-

I had the pleasure of meeting Jared a few weeks ago when I went down for a weekend of scrimmages. He came over and introduced himself and his mother to me during a women's volleyball match. He IS indeed a terrific young man.

OUB-

My flight's already booked. I too am looking forward to it.

luvbb-

I hope when the regular season is over, we can still afford a trip back east.

I'd love to see the Green Monster too.

Try to be there for the Fourth of July. Chatham has an incredible parade down mainstreet that is something that has to be seen to be believed. Probably the most fun I have ever had on a 4th was watching that parade followed by a game on the Chatham field that night. No fireworks - which is all the night lacked to be perfect.

On another note, I would suggest the book "The Last Best League" by Jim Collins. It tells the story of the 2002 Chatham A's. A great baseball book - one that I have read and reread.

in responce to lhpx2, i think the ncaa rule for juco players only allows them to play for d2 coaches.the rule i saw allowed them to play ford2 and d3 coaches if they hadn't signed a letter of intent. but was ammended, to only d2 coaches .i may be wrong and would be interested in knowing the rule since my son is a juco player. happy t day

DB2B...Wow, Congratulations to Vance! It sounds like everything has worked out very well for him, in every aspect of baseball.

Reading your note that he'd been placed with Chatham, I started thinking back to the times we've faced Vance in summer games when he was younger, and those are some great memories. The first time we ever saw him, he was playing for Natomas and came in to pitch in relief. 2 innings and 6 batters later, Vance had 6 K's, and we were wondering where "that kid" came from. For 16u baseball, he was heads and shoulders above just about any other pitcher out there, and there were some outstanding players in that league. The other memory I'll remember for a long time was when Vance homored in a 18u wood bat tournament off a 90+ fastball down around the knees. He lined the ball over the center field fence, and we were all thinking "here we go again".

Please pass along my best wishes, and tell him that if he ever gets into Carmine's Pizza in Chatham to tell Brad and Amy (they own the place, and Amy is my wife's cousin) that he played baseball in Sacramento and needs a hometown discount. He should tell them he played summer ball for Elk Grove, as that is their home town. Best of luck!

He should definitely go to Carmines - best Pizza in Chatham!!!! And when the parents come to town, Vining's right above Carmines is a great place for a little "nicer" meal.

08Dad -

Thanks for the tip about the parade on the 4th of July and the book on the 2002 team. I'll definitely keep that date in mind when planning our trip.

06catcherdad -

Thanks for the well wishes!

I'll pass on the word about Carmine's and will make sure to pop in and say hello to your wife's family.

An email is coming your way.

p.s. Those were great memories for me too.

For those who will have there son playing on the Cape in 06 this might make a nice stocking stuffer http://www.touchingthegame.com Happy Holidays

Son is FR Pitcher for Quinnipiac and has signed to play for Manchester Silkworms in the NECBL.

Proud Dad

bballnh Congrats it will be like he's playing in your back yard

bmx05,
Thanks, we are very excited that he will be in the general area. Sanford and Concord are only half an hour away. Quinnipiac is 3 hours away, Manchester Conn is about 2 Hours from us, not bad. Thanks for the note.

bballnh, congratulations. Mine got the opportunity to play two summers in the NECBL. Had a wonderful time, great baseball, terrific people combined with beautiful country and communities. The league and most franchises are extremely well run. Taking in a game at Cardines field in Newport is awfully fun. Can recommend the seating (and beer) in Mudville's, a little pub built into the right field foul area.

My son has signed to play in the NECBL as well, for the Keene Swamp Bats. He is looking forward to playing in the New England area!

Catchersdad

infielddad,
Thanks for the tips, we are certainly looking foward to making the rounds and getting the chance to meet others. Thanks again!

catchersdad,
Congrats on your son going to Keene. Very strong and well organized program in Keene. Very short porch in right field. I help coach a High school team that plays againts Keene High on that field. Lot of history at that field. If you plan on flying in, Fly to MHT airport, you will like it 100 times better then BOS. You will be about 1 hour away from Keene.
Good luck, send me a private message if you want more info.

Bballnh,

I sent you a pm.
Catchersdad

Catchersdad,

I sent you a PM.

bballnh

Your sons are going to love the experience.

Great League!

Best of luck to them.

I coach in the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League http://www.wccbl.com. Most the teams in this league are full in the fall. We are currently full also. Alaska, Cape Cod and Northwoods are similiar. As someone said earlier injury, overwork and grades always open spots in the spring. Thats when we come back through and look for Freshman having strong seasons at the D1 or Juco levels. I also look for D2 or NAIA players that have been over looked in the spring.

My son pitched for the Moondogs last summer as a feshman and loved it. It's a pretty grueling schedule though.

I was just wondering if Division III players can play in the summer leagues? And if they can is it a lot harder for them to be placed on a team than a DI or DII player?

Many summer league teams take DIII players. I know the Great Lakes League has quite a few. I believe that the New England League also takes DIII players. It is probably a bit harder for DIIIs to be placed there, because their first spots seem to go to the DI schools they are connected to. Probably the DIII coach and his own connections would make all the difference.

quote:

Originally posted by leftycatcher:
I was just wondering if Division III players can play in the summer leagues? And if they can is it a lot harder for them to be placed on a team than a DI or DII player?

Little doubt that DIII players can be placed. My son's college coach from a DIII in TX already has players in the Cape, Coastal, NECBL and a newer league in Colorado for the summer of 2006. In the past he normally places 6-8 players and one year has as many as 13 in summer wood bat leagues.. There are plenty of opportunities for DIII players if your coaches will help you and are persistent. Also, many opportunities will open in the Spring. See you are from the Bay Area. If you want to send me a PM with your school and coaches name, would be happen to talk about our son's experience and provide the coach some possible contacts to explore.

Our son played in the Northwoods League the past two summers for the LaCrosse Loggers. It is a great experience. They play a 68 game schedule. You will find out quick if minor league baseball is for you or not. There are many high profile players in the league.

LaCrosse is a pretty town. Also, a great baseball town as the team averaged 3000 fans per home contest. Not to many college teams can say that.