BBdad1954
I am speaking only for me and what we are trying to do with our team. I really beleive that most teams are in this stuff for the kids. I say most. I spent most of my life playing the game and a good portion coaching it.
I was blessed with oppurtunity that took me to school and pro ball. I played for many , many ex Big leaguers and guys who spent their entire lives in the game. I learned much of who I am from those people. I learned a right way to do things and learned that the wrong was not an option. The game taught me that your accountable for your actions and you get rewarded for your hard work and dedication. No different then school or life. For me, the lessons learned on the playing field are no different then the lessons a parent uses to teach their son or daughter. Its not about the win or the loss, it how you approach the situation and how you make adjustments after a bad day.
To much of I am better then you and they arent that good goes on in the summer. My teams , between the 17's and the 18's have lost to local team this Summer. Top Teir got us 9-5 , Mchenry beat us early on a Smolinski Grand Slam. Cant leave out the Orland Sparks, top notch program with many good baseball people involved. These are kids, and anyone can take to anyone on any given day. I want to say both of our teams combined this season are somewhere like 33-8, but we have played some good clubs. Our area is heading in the right direction, Mike Van Horn, is doing good things in our area, and nobody has to tell me that we cant play with the best, because our kids can, and I mean our areas kids, not my teams.
Much has been said about Top Teir and in fairness to them, they work hard form their kids and have one of the strongest teams in the State. Understand that they are trying to build a program no different then any of us. There are no affiliations so to speak. To me the most important thing is putting the guys in the best situation , so they can get into a school and pursue the degree and play at a higher level too. If the one or two guys has the ability to play at the pro level, then so be it.
Bottom line, play ball where it fits your pocket, play where the kid will learn, and play where he can have some fun. Its not rocket science, its a game, the problem sometimes is that people make it out to be more. All the teams you metioned are good teams, included in those are Mchenry, Orland, Rockford, and more.
I can promise the kid D1 exposure but the reality is I cant promise them D1, thats up to the player and the coaches watching. What I can promise is I will committ myself to helping the player get to the level he is fitted for, and nothing more.
