The Best Darn Collegiate League experience - PERIOD

I'm sure that league is great.

If I'm a Florida kid and have a choice to play there or in the Florida Collegiate League I'd think about staying home. I have been to several games this summer and believe this to be one of the top leagues in the country and moving up the ladder fast.

Check out the league at http://www.floridaleague.com. FYI - The championship game will be played at Tropicana Field on July 31st. Does the Chicago league hold their title game at Wrigley?

Bob, with all due respect. If you check the rosters in the Florida Collegiate League, they have a little ways to go before being a sound league. It is hot as heck in Florida in the summer and beautiful in Chicago.

The Texas Collegiate League is in its second year and has done a very professional job. If I was going to play somewhere where it is hot as hades, I would pick that league.

Of Course the Cape Cod League, Northwoods League, Alaska, etc... are some of the more established leagues. I would be curious to see where the Chicago and Florida would rate compared to others.

Here is a link to the TCL.
http://www.texascollegiateleague.com/

They have great venues and very good rosters compared to the Florida League. Frankly I have talked to several who have had problems with the Florida League from a quality roster standpoint.

Here is an example of one teams roster. They have a very wide set of conferences displayed here.


Name Pos Bats Throws Height Weight College Year Hometown
Autry, Leighton OF R R 6' 6" 215 lbs Navarro Jr. College Soph. Stephenville, TX
Ball, Ronnie(Inactive) RHP R R 6' 4" 200 lbs **** Roberts Univ. Soph.
Biringer, Kevin RHP R R 6' 6" 185 lbs Bradley Univ. Fr. Albuquerque, NM
Boening, B.J. RHP R R 6' 5" 210 lbs Texas State Univ. Soph. Beaumont, TX
Cole, A.T. RHP R R 6' 1" 180 lbs Grayson County College Soph.
Corgan, Chance RHP/I R R 6' 2" 175 lbs Texas A&M Univ. Fr. Plano, TX
Czimskey, Matt C R R 5' 11" 185 lbs San Jacinto J.C. Soph. McGregor, TX
Diaz, Jason INF L R 5' 8" 155 lbs Texas Wesleyan Univ. Soph. Fort Worth, TX
Garcia, Isaias INF R R 5' 9" 185 lbs Sam Houston St. Univ. Jr. Houston, TX
Garrison, Seth RHP R R 6' 4" 200 lbs Arizona St. University Soph. Coppell, TX
Haar, Jermiah RHP R R 6' 3" 190 lbs Univ. of Texas-Arlington Soph.
Henley, Tyler OF L L 5' 10" 1900 lbs Rice University Fr. Colleyville, TX
Jeffcoat, Drew LHP L L 6' 2" 195 lbs Baylor University Soph. Arlington, TX
Julian, Cory LHP L L 6' 0" 170 lbs University of Evansville Fr. Lynnville, IN
Lambeth, Matt OF R R 6' 3" 210 lbs Lamar University Jr. Corning, CA
Langford, Tony RHP R R 6' 0" 175 lbs University of Notre Dame Fr. Fort Worth, TX
Lawler, Brett INF R R 6' 3" 200 lbs San Jacinto J.C. Soph. College Station, TX
McKee, John INF R R 6' 2" 214 lbs University of Missouri Soph. Creve Couer, MO
Mellies, Charlie RHP R R 6' 3" 195 lbs Wake Forest Univ. Soph. Clifton, VA
Myers, Derek INF R R 5' 9" 170 lbs Rice University Fr. Bellaire, TX
Rampy, Blake RHP R R 6' 2" 170 lbs Texas A&M Univ. Soph. Tomball, TX
Robison, Steve OF R R 6' 0" 175 lbs University of Arkansas Soph. Tulsa, OK
Rodgers, Caleb RHP R R 6' 0" 180 lbs Navarro Junior College Soph.
Simon, Jared RHP R R 6' 1" 175 lbs Wichita St. University Soph. Wichita, KS
Stein, Keith OF/IN L R 5' 10" 165 lbs Texas A&M Univ. Fr, College Station, TX
Walker, Jeff(INACTIVE) LHP R L 6' 3" 205 lbs University of the Pacific Jr. Abilene, TX
Weber, Tyler C R R 6' 2" 205 lbs Wichita St. University Fr. Wichita, KS
Widmann, Stan INF R R 6' 1" 190 lbs Clemson University Fr. Hurst, TX
Young, Kyle RHP B R 6' 3" 175 lbs Wake Forest Univ. Jr. Southlake, TX

All of the leagues referenced are terrific. The CICL has been around for 30 years. Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Kirby Puckett are 2 of the 154+ that played in MLB. A Yankee scout said he thought DuPage [being 25 miles west of Chicago] would be more like a true minor league feel and it would be interesting to see how kids from other regions of the country adjust to "the big city." I guess there's more to scouting than I thought. I wish all leagues the best and hope the NCAA doesn't put the kibosh to them. Take care

DuPage (Mr. O'Conner)
In case you don't know, the premier location for summer ball is the Cape, will always be the Cape. No facility can ever replace the history or lure of Cape Cod. I hope that your son gets to play there one day, you would understand.

All of these teams attract good players, but majority of the boys from the teams are from within that state, just wanting to be close to home and family during the summer and keep their game going. Same as you have done with yours.
The top talent in college, especially those entering draft year, head to the cape, regardless of where they play.

Scouts are everywhere, it's their job, you find them at the strangest places.

Tiger Paw Mom, I hate to dissapoint you but I am not "DuPage".

My pet peeve is to have people roaming the board with 2 or 3 (or more) monikers.

I agree with your assessment of the CC league. This is well known and understood by all baseball people..and hopefully my guy will be there next year.

But, if he plays there...HE WILL encounter a lot of Mickey Mouse facilities compared to the C.I.C.L. That much is true.

TPM. Btw, O'Connor is spelled with an "O", not an e.

I agree with DuPage that the top venue (from a players perspective) would have to be the DuPage team.

30 miles outside Chicago is easily the most interesting, culturally diverse and fun place for a college man to be for the summer!...it sure beats Provincetown!

The top players will continue to head to the CC, but given a choice, the guys would head to the premier city in the U.S.

Soxnole,
Forgive me for the misspelling of your last name.
Also forgive me for assuming that you were DuPage. If he is owner of the team, or involved with the team, why doesn't he come to the HSBBW to speak about other players on the team, as I see he has made mention of only your son on the Illinois thread. I guess that must be a coincidence, he happened to come across the HSBBW by accident and wanted us to know about how well your son plays and how great the team is. I understand you are vey proud of your son's accomplishments, I have myself praised his efforts (his first game way back when). He doesn't need anyone to come to the HSBBW to let us know about him. Maybe it is not what is done but how it is done.
If the league and team are as good as DuPage suggests and you are in agreement, I suggest that maybe you and he should share in the General or After High School threads about it so more can read about the opportunity. Don't limit it to the Illinois thread or the FL thread.
I don't think that the players that play at the cape are really concerned about the "Mickey Mouse" facilities but more of the competition, instuction and the experience. I myself have traveled all over the world and US, but my fondest memories are that of my visits to Cape Cod and Nantucket and Boston during the summer.
Also many of the players don't just hang out on off days and games, they work and many take classes at the community college. The Cape is serious summer ball, so I have heard. I didn't know if you were aware of that or not.The beach also seems to be a favorite spot, as many players don't get that opportunity that often. They also live with families who become their support systems since their own parents are not able to be there to watch them. Many of the players there go on to be future major leaguers, they also enjoy the attention that is lavished on them as future stars, the parades, the autographs, trips to Fenway, etc. An "invitation" to play at the cape, is an indication to the player that he may be a high draft pick. I never heard a player say they wanted to play summer ball in Chicago, it;s always "the cape". I'll bet if your guy had a choice, we know where he would be this summer.
Your comments about the Cape are out of place, and an insult to the kids who play up at the "Mickey Mouse" fields. I feel the same way about it you did when I made comments about what I SAW in Jax, so if that was your intention you made payback.
I and a many others will write this one down to see if your son is invited next year or two to the cape if he will turn it down over DuPage.
Please understand that I do not go around checking posts by soxnole on a daily basis. The posts here in the FL thread sent me over to the Illinois thread. I usually stay out of other people's backyards.
I just find the whole thing interesting and too much of a coincidence.

TigerPawMom,

What are you referring to? Where in the Illinois forum did I mention Ruairi O'Connor? I did start a thread to let FLORIDA STATE FANS in the STATE OF FLORIDA learn what Ruairi's doing this summer in Chicago. I thought posting in the FLORIDA FORUM made a little sense. I am not related to the O'Connor's, do not own the Dragons and do not have a kid on the team. Cape Cod is a waste of time for freshman. I've reviewed their websites and noted top freshman from top programs playing 1/3 of the games. It's hard to get noticed when you're not playing. If Mike Schmidt, Kirby Pucket and 152 other guys over a 30-year span [5 per year?] can make it from the CICL to Major League baseball, then perhaps it too has a little tradition of its own and warrants more respect than you're willing to give. The mystique of the "Cape" will wear off when kids learn they can work out at the White Sox's academy, play in a minor league quality stadium and their parents can travel no more than 3 hours by air [from any part of the country] to Chicago to visit them and spend time in the world's greatest city. Last night 26 MLB scouts were in attendance. Take care.

I doubt many FSU fans come here to read about players, I may suggest posting that info on their scout.com website.
I don't doubt freshman players get limited playing time at the cape, I have not taken the time to look. Freshman players that are sent are essentially getting a taste of what it would be like the following year. Freshman pitchers, who have seen lots of time on the mound that year, don't play that much. I think that they know that in advance and head there for the experience. I may be wrong, but I think the "city boys" especially like being there, the beach, the samll town atmosphere, etc., One of the jobs given at the cape is maintaining those "Mickey Mouse" fields,and surprising enough the job is usualy filled up pretty fast.
I think for some of these players, getting exposure at smaller venues and being close to home is a preference for many. Many of them never get the chance to see 25 scouts at one time at their school, I am not doubting the league has great facilities. And is not a good league, you just can't compare it to the Cape experience.I am doubting that a player invited to the cape would give up the opportunity to go there instead of somewhere else.
I am curious why you wouldn't take this post to the general forum.
Please read the book, The Last Best League.

TPM. Take a moment to ponder the following!.... The poor field's in CC are a fact.

The truth is NOT an insult.

If you have indeed traveled the world and find CC and Boston in your fondest memories...great. I lived and worked in Boston and CC and its right up there, but I'll take San Tropez, Via Reggio and Hong Kong!

Keep in mind that the great CC location for beaches and Boston doesn't stop bad hops or tear down any chain link fences.

I'll try one more time to make my (and I think DuPage's) point. Boston is nice, Chicago is world class. CC has better beaches (full of boys), Chicago has hundred's of gorgeous women at Oak street beach every day! Boston has 1 MLB team, Chicago has 2, including baseball's best team.

Finally there is simply no comparing the DuPage facility to virtually ANY other in ANY collegiate league. Roger Bossard, baseball's most respected field landscaper designed the field.

As this IS DuPage's very first year...I expect you will soon begin to hear a lot of young men tell you that they are anxious to play in the new 12 million dollar facility near Chicago!

Oh yeah, the young men in the CICL are at the ballpark from 4PM to about 11PM each day, just as the CC player's are. I would have a hard time believing that either group works harder than the other. For most, 7 baseball hours a day after about 110 games (121 for my guy) and 75-100 practice day's, 7 hours a day (add another hour or 2 for drive time plus 3-8 hour bus trips regularly while out of town) is enough! (not to mention work outs on off day's BEFORE they head to Comiskey,Wrigley or the beach).

CC IS the premier league while DuPage is the pemier location.

My dad can beat up YOUR dad...

Is there any sand left in the sandbox ?

Okay, I'll admit I don't belong in this argument but I enjoy a good discussion anyway. I've never been to CC but I have been to Danville, E. Peoria, Quincy, Galesburg etc and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that any CC town is better than those. And while the DuPage facility is one of the best unless they have improved it the Danville Stadium is not very good. That being sad if my sons are every good enough to have the choice of leagues I would certainly enjoy seeing them play everyday.

PA,
You got that right!
I found quite interesting over in the Illinois thread a poster getting a whipping for being critical about something from another poster.
I think sometimes we need to take a look at ourselves to realize that we have a tendency to
give out advice while not following it ourselves. I myself have been included but do admit and apologize when I am wrong.
Soxnole,
You stated your opinion about the CC fields from what you have observed. Though when I mentioned something that I observed a few months ago, I go blasted.
You and a few others around here just don't get it, do you?
Wishing your son the best of luck at FSU this year, see ya at Clemson!

"Finally there is simply no comparing the DuPage facility to virtually ANY other in ANY collegiate league. Roger Bossard, baseball's most respected field landscaper designed the field."

Pretty bold statement. I hope you've seen the complexes at Sanford and Winter Haven, Florida(Spring Training for the Indians). Tinker Field in Orlando is not too shabby either. BTW, what does it take to design a baseball field?

Just a note-The Florida Collegiate League's
championship game will be held at Tropicana Field-St. Petersburg.

please invite mine to Hawaii! Now your talking about a great venue. http://www.hawaiicollegiatebaseballleague.com

TPM, Best of luck to you and your son. The ACC will be a lot of fun next year, can't wait.

Moc1, I've seen the Winter Haven facility but not Sanford. DuPage's field is superior to Winter Haven, although there are only 1250 seats.(D3 school). The chairbacks (1000) are the widest and most comfortable my wide body has been in. Lots of legroom too. (at Wrigley you need to be a contortionist or 5"1 to get comfy)

IL2008, Danville is pretty cool for the fans. They filmed "The Babe" there. My son said the playing field was poor. East Peoria has a very nice field but lousy for fans. Dubois County's field ("A league of our own") and facilities has had good reviews.

Soxnole...not going to get into a debate with you over the better city...Boston or Chicago...but will over "baseball's best team". It's the Boston Red Sox....they won the Series.....and are the current World Champions....Chicago may be at 57 games now...but it's a long way to October....just ask the Yankees.

Cape Cod....grew up summering on the Cape.... the better place to spend a summer....Chicago or Cape Cod? No contest...the Cape...absolutely....without a doubt. Summer baseball....on the Cape? Hands down winner...IMHO...to repeat....IMHO

I wouldn't take much pride in Tropicana Field [pka Suncoast Dome]. Playing indoors at the home of a AAA club isn't much to take stock in. I didn't say the Sports Complex in Lisle is better than other college facilities - it's a DIII school for heaven's sake! For a collegiate summer league experience it is 2d to none. As far as "big city" v. "little city", the beauty of playing in Lisle is you're still 25 miles from the "big city" but still close enough to visit and enjoy. Best of luck to all. I can assure you, from what the DuPage Dragons' personnel folks have indicated, they will go after top talent and improve the experience for the players and fans every year. Take care.

arizonared, I agree with you, to a point. The Red Sox WERE the best team in baseball, LAST YEAR.

As of now, today, July 14th, the Chicago White Sox are the best.

This may change, but please allow for our own personal 88 years of frustation in showing a little pride in what the wizard,Frank and baseball's best staff have accomplished in 2005.

Soxnole....no....it took us a long time to get here too....and I'm not giving anything up...including the title current World Champions....

Come October....we will talk again....

Red Sox

Cape

DuPage---

I am just curious---what is your connection to this league, then, if you are neither the "owner" (or a sponsor?) of the CICL nor the Dragons, have no son playing in the league, but have suddenly popped up as a league promoter on nearly every forum here?

My wife and kids and I own 4 season tickets to the Dragons and live 2 minutes by car and 5 minutes by bike from the gate. A Sox fan, LIsle is about an hour and a 15 minutes from the Comiskey Park by car. Price comparisons? Worst Sox ticket $16, best Dragon ticket $7; parking? Dragons: free; Sox: $18 Funny you mention "Is this heaven", on July 2d 15 hot air balloons took off from the local festival and flew about 1 block north of the field. At the end of the game, the village fireworks display began just as Ruairi O'Connor crossed home plate. A whole bunch of people commented "This is Field of Dreams!" For the 250,000 people in DuPage County who live within 5 miles of the stadium, it is the best entertainment value going.

PAmom,
Did that answer your question? Dupage is posting everywhere to let everyone know that the best value for your dollars is going to a DRAGONS game. Are we team promoting or league promoting in every thread. I am surprised TR hasn't jumped in on the multiple post thing.
Heck, I'll raise you 10 and meet you there at the next game!

Dupage, I wasn't quoting YOU about the quality of your facility, please note it was from Soxnole and he responded. Also, what has the quality of a team that plays in a facility have to do with the facility itself? Tropicana is good enough for the Yankees, Red Sox, your White Sox, and Oh,yeah, all the rest of the Major League teams.

You come on a Florida site and start bragging and showing your ignorance of Collegiate Leagues
all over the country, Maybe the Cubs and White Sox will be playing their home games 5 minutes
from your house next year. Home pride is great, but don't forget other people have "homes" also.

On another note, I agree that the Cape has always been THE place to play, and have heard a lot
of nice things from players who have played there. My son was invited to play there this summer as a freshman but chose not to because he wanted to stay close to home after being away at school all year. Although the overall quality of play in the Florida Collegiate League may not be in the same category as the Cape or the Valley League or some others, in a few years it will be right there. I would not ever come on here and say this is the "premier" place to play-even if I thought so.

DuPage, contrary to popular belief and the fact that the people of St. Pete/Tampa are not very supportive, Tropicana is a really great place from a sectator point of view. It's great to get out of the oppressive Florida heat and sit in wide back (some rocking!) chairs ...and see MLB baseball in 70 degree weather.

Moc1, just because you wouldn't boast about your locale and stadium doesn't mean that DuPage can't brag on his. He's proud of what the city of Lisle has done for thier populace. It's not every community and college can raise 12 million for quality entertainment like Jenny Finch and the Dragon's. Btw, the 3rd part of the triple field at DuPage is a 9 lane track with a state of the art football field/stadium. I could go on, (sky boxes) but suffice it to say that this IS a place where your son would desire to play. So...no need to get nasty and start calling somone ignorant when you are, seemingly, guilty of not knowing much about the CICL.

Soxnole,

From one Sox fan to another, every time I see Tropicana Field I am reminded of the current owners of our beloved team who used that facility to cajole the State of Illinois to build the new Comiskey Park. The Tampa White Sox would have killed me. Finally, am I not allowed to promote the Dragons to would be star baseball players living in Florida who may want to play up north after their freshman season? I want every stud high school player in the country to take a look at our franchise as a place to play summer collegiate league baseball. I haven't written anything derogatory about any other league. Go Sox! 10 game lead!!!

Soxnole-Dupage, Let's try this.

First-Re-read my post-I said Dupage was ignorant of Collegiate Leagues. Most of us are
ignorant of facts in a lot of areas. Does that mean we are "ignorant" people? Not necessarily. Don't change what was written.

Secondly, What if I went on the Illinois page and bragged that the Sanford team and facility
was the "premier" place for college players to play? Or there is no better facility in all
of Collegiate Summer Leagues than Sanford Memorial Stadium? If he was truly interested in
getting Florida players to go to Dupage wouldn't this be batter?

" Hey guys, If you want a change from the heat and humidity(and rain) down there in Florida
why not give us a try? We've got a great new facility here and we're not far from Chicago--
you could see some Cubs or White Sox games. Good competition, great fans etc."

It's called common sense.

BTW I'm REAL familiar with Chicago and agree it would be a nice experience for a young guy
in college. No one is saying Benedictine doesn't have a great place to play, I wish my
son's college facility was as nice. It's the manner in the way the information gets out.

Hope this helps you understand how your posts came across.

PS Where did I say I knew anything about the CICL or even mentioned it?

Moc1:

You have every right to go on the Illinois forum and encourage kids from Illinois to play in the Florida Collegiate League. It's called Freedom of Speech. In fact, I'm confident that no one from Illinois will jump on and tell you to back off. I noticed that a similar thread has been viewed over 225 times in the Texas forum without anyone whining about "stay in your own state." Who knows, my nephew is one of the top 14U players in Illinois. He may one day play in the Florida Collegiate League. HIs grandparents could see him play. It would be fun. Take care. [Hey Soxnole, the best White Sox fan website is http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com - have you seen it yet?]

To be honest I had never heard of the Chicago league before you posted here. So your post was a learning experience for me.

However, what I feel that Moc1 is saying is that the Chicago league may be a good one, but so is the Florida league. This was a league that was in the idea stage for a long time until the Whiting family stepped in and came up with the money to support the idea.

The league has been successful in its two years. They went from 4 to 6 teams this year and could have had at least 2 more teams if they wanted.

My point was that the Florida league is a pretty good league. I never said it was better than anyone else's league, just that it was a pretty good league.

As for Sanford stadium the facility is awesome. We will be hosting the Connie Mack State Playoffs there next week.

All of these leagues are great for the kids to receive experience and exposure, great for fans because the quality of play is outstanding and you can't beat the price, and it's good for baseball. These teams/leagues bring baseball back to its roots - small towns. Best of the luck to all collegiate leagues!

MOc,
THEY don't get the point. I think you do.
Love the conversation they have with each other, even when they apparently see each other every night at games.

Dupage- who's your nephew and what team is he on?

Moc1:

I regret that you perceived the original post as being negative towards other leagues. That wasn't the intent. Next time, if you don't mind, I'll borrow your post

" Hey guys, If you want a change from the heat and humidity(and rain) down there in Florida
why not give us a try? We've got a great new facility here and we're not far from Chicago--
you could see some Cubs or White Sox games. Good competition, great fans etc." Frankly, that was all that was intended in the first place.

I intend to check out Sanford at my 1st opportunity.

TPM. What exactly don't we get? I would call the post's by Moc1 and yourself kind of "Illinoisphobic" to coin a phrase.

I myself know Florida as well as anyone, having lived and worked there for 13 years. My entire family lives in south and central Florida and I visit often.

Had someone posted that Sanford (or any other) facility was the best place for a college player to spend the summer, I'd want to find out about it. I'd be interested, not aggravated!

This great board and all it's wonderful forum's are for learning and sharing.