wOULD LIKE ANY FEED BACK ON BASEBALL PROGRAMS, COACHES,CAMPUS,LOCATION, CRIME ETC ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE WELCOMED
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I can give you some general information on the UNCA Bulldogs as my son is a freshman on the baseball team. They are in the process transferring over to a new website http://www.uncabulldogs.com/, so there is currently very little information on the site. In summary:
They have 4 coaches. Willie Stewart is the head coach. Tim Perry is the associate head coach and chief recruiter and pitching coach. Bob Fenn is the assistant coach. Tom Smith, formerly of T.C. Roberson HS, is the volunteer assistant and has coached several players drafted out of HS including CF Cameron Maybin of the Detroit Tigers. My son says that he likes all the coaches and they are, in general, easy to talk to and are hard workers. UNCA won the Big South Conference (Coastal Carolina, Winthrop, Liberty, VMI, Charleston Southern, Radford, High Point, Presbyterian, & UNCA) Baseball Tournament in 2006. In general it is a good baseball conference.
UNCA is and has been a partially funded D1 program. They recently made a commitment to the Baseball program but until then, I believe they offered only 3 of the 11.7 max D1 grants. Within the last 2 years they have upped that to 7 or 8 and I was told by one of the coaches they are getting ready to up it again next season, this time I believe it will go to 10. There are supposedly other commitments in place to make them more competitive but I don't know all the specifics. At present they have 37 on the fall roster – including walkons. 8 players that I know of are seniors. I was told they like to carry between 32 to 35 on the Spring Roster.
They have a nice home field, Greenwood, but it doesn’t have lights so they play a lot of their games at recently renovated and historic McCormick Field (home of the Asheville Tourists and a place where Babe Ruth played and they filmed a portion of Bull Durham). McCormick is an excellent facility about 1 mile from campus and there is probably not a better minor league park around. My son said they were scheduled to play all but about six of their home games at McCormick this coming season. I heard rumors that they may be getting ready to upgrade parts of Greenwood Field or either the baseball facilities, with the help of Ty Wiggington of the Astros and formerly UNCA, but haven’t seen any announcement about it.
Generally, UNCA plays a very strong schedule. This coming year they play their conference games and South Carolina, a three game series at Florida State, and a mid week game at NC State in addition to others I don’t know about yet as I haven’t seen the whole schedule. Last year they played the Big South teams plus Tennessee, FSU, NC State, Tulane, New Orleans, Elon, UAB, and Appalachian State among others.
Currently I believe they have contracts with New Balance and with Wilson so they use Demarini bats.
Freshmen have to stay on campus unless there are special circumstances. If they are on an athletic team, they can have cars but they have to park in a gated remote lot just off campus. The campus police will give them rides to and from the lot. UNCA is serious about their players keeping their grades up. The Freshmen have 8 hrs of mandatory Study Hall each week. I’m not sure about the upper classmen. The Administration of the school, at least the ones that I have talked to, seem to be supportive of their athletes. My son says his professors are supportive. The school, of less than 5,000 students, has an excellent academic reputation. The website http://www.unca.edu/ has a lot of information about the school. I am told by other parents that the crime rate at the school and in Asheville is low. The campus Police are visible and appear to be helpful. The campus is relatively compact and easy to get around on. It is roughly 60% female. It is about a mile walk from downtown Asheville. The schools ONE CARD, gets you rides on the city bus line as well as acting as student ID, providing as access to meal plans, snack machines, book store, library and other student activities.
Asheville is a pretty town and the area has a fair amount to do, particularly if you like outdoor activities. The temperature runs about 3 degrees, on average, cooler than Charlotte, NC and about 6 degrees warmer, on average, than Boone, NC. They don’t have a lot of snow but January can get nasty. Asheville is an artistic type town so there is a wide variety of people there. The Biltmore Estate is there and they are just minutes from the Pisgah National Forest with great fly fishing for trout as well as other recreational activities. UNCA has an Outdoors Department that sponsors rock climbing, kayaking, and various other trips during the year. Asheville is pretty easy to get around in as I-40 goes just south, I-26 starts there and I-240 loops around. There is a great variety of restaurants and shopping.
Hope this helps, if you want to discuss anything specific, just drop me a private note.
I cann’t give many details about UNCCs program but I live North of and work in Charlotte and have a friend whose son is on the Charlotte team so I could give specifics about the city and could find out some specifics about the program if you have any questions.
They have 4 coaches. Willie Stewart is the head coach. Tim Perry is the associate head coach and chief recruiter and pitching coach. Bob Fenn is the assistant coach. Tom Smith, formerly of T.C. Roberson HS, is the volunteer assistant and has coached several players drafted out of HS including CF Cameron Maybin of the Detroit Tigers. My son says that he likes all the coaches and they are, in general, easy to talk to and are hard workers. UNCA won the Big South Conference (Coastal Carolina, Winthrop, Liberty, VMI, Charleston Southern, Radford, High Point, Presbyterian, & UNCA) Baseball Tournament in 2006. In general it is a good baseball conference.
UNCA is and has been a partially funded D1 program. They recently made a commitment to the Baseball program but until then, I believe they offered only 3 of the 11.7 max D1 grants. Within the last 2 years they have upped that to 7 or 8 and I was told by one of the coaches they are getting ready to up it again next season, this time I believe it will go to 10. There are supposedly other commitments in place to make them more competitive but I don't know all the specifics. At present they have 37 on the fall roster – including walkons. 8 players that I know of are seniors. I was told they like to carry between 32 to 35 on the Spring Roster.
They have a nice home field, Greenwood, but it doesn’t have lights so they play a lot of their games at recently renovated and historic McCormick Field (home of the Asheville Tourists and a place where Babe Ruth played and they filmed a portion of Bull Durham). McCormick is an excellent facility about 1 mile from campus and there is probably not a better minor league park around. My son said they were scheduled to play all but about six of their home games at McCormick this coming season. I heard rumors that they may be getting ready to upgrade parts of Greenwood Field or either the baseball facilities, with the help of Ty Wiggington of the Astros and formerly UNCA, but haven’t seen any announcement about it.
Generally, UNCA plays a very strong schedule. This coming year they play their conference games and South Carolina, a three game series at Florida State, and a mid week game at NC State in addition to others I don’t know about yet as I haven’t seen the whole schedule. Last year they played the Big South teams plus Tennessee, FSU, NC State, Tulane, New Orleans, Elon, UAB, and Appalachian State among others.
Currently I believe they have contracts with New Balance and with Wilson so they use Demarini bats.
Freshmen have to stay on campus unless there are special circumstances. If they are on an athletic team, they can have cars but they have to park in a gated remote lot just off campus. The campus police will give them rides to and from the lot. UNCA is serious about their players keeping their grades up. The Freshmen have 8 hrs of mandatory Study Hall each week. I’m not sure about the upper classmen. The Administration of the school, at least the ones that I have talked to, seem to be supportive of their athletes. My son says his professors are supportive. The school, of less than 5,000 students, has an excellent academic reputation. The website http://www.unca.edu/ has a lot of information about the school. I am told by other parents that the crime rate at the school and in Asheville is low. The campus Police are visible and appear to be helpful. The campus is relatively compact and easy to get around on. It is roughly 60% female. It is about a mile walk from downtown Asheville. The schools ONE CARD, gets you rides on the city bus line as well as acting as student ID, providing as access to meal plans, snack machines, book store, library and other student activities.
Asheville is a pretty town and the area has a fair amount to do, particularly if you like outdoor activities. The temperature runs about 3 degrees, on average, cooler than Charlotte, NC and about 6 degrees warmer, on average, than Boone, NC. They don’t have a lot of snow but January can get nasty. Asheville is an artistic type town so there is a wide variety of people there. The Biltmore Estate is there and they are just minutes from the Pisgah National Forest with great fly fishing for trout as well as other recreational activities. UNCA has an Outdoors Department that sponsors rock climbing, kayaking, and various other trips during the year. Asheville is pretty easy to get around in as I-40 goes just south, I-26 starts there and I-240 loops around. There is a great variety of restaurants and shopping.
Hope this helps, if you want to discuss anything specific, just drop me a private note.
I cann’t give many details about UNCCs program but I live North of and work in Charlotte and have a friend whose son is on the Charlotte team so I could give specifics about the city and could find out some specifics about the program if you have any questions.
The old site is still good.
http://uncabulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/unca-m-basebl-body.html
One thing I noticed is that they only use about 10 pitchers and of them they rely on 5-6 of them. A couple 100+ innings.
The Big South had some teams that were a lot stronger than others last year. The year before they seemed closer competetively.
http://uncabulldogs.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/unca-m-basebl-body.html
One thing I noticed is that they only use about 10 pitchers and of them they rely on 5-6 of them. A couple 100+ innings.
The Big South had some teams that were a lot stronger than others last year. The year before they seemed closer competetively.
UNCA is also an outstanding academic school. Michael's dad described the rest pretty much dead-on. I worked there for 8 years, back when Coach Stewart was a player, there.
JT; you didn't, by chance, attend & have a son working out at an Atlanta Braves tryout in July/August in Danville, VA?
LOL...yes I did. I know who you are, now. Michael had a pretty solid workout, from what I saw.
Thanks, Michael hit very well that day and fielded pretty well. I remember your son had a good workout also and was very athletic. I specifically remember him looking very good running the 60. I also remember it was hot that day! Luckily Billy Best seems to run tryouts pretty well so it kept the boys busy.
I enjoyed talking baseball with you while we were there. I wish I had known you were a HSBBW member at the time.
Was your son a rising jr or sr? How are fall workouts going?
I enjoyed talking baseball with you while we were there. I wish I had known you were a HSBBW member at the time.
Was your son a rising jr or sr? How are fall workouts going?
Actually, he's only a Soph at Lynchburg College. Got moved from LF to 2B this fall. So far, so good. How's Michael's fall going?
So far so good this fall. He graded out, I believe, 2nd or 3rd on the team in strength and conditioning testing and has been swinging the bat very well. So far they have been moving him around alot with him playing 3rd, 1st, a little OF and a few innings pitching. Hopefully they will settle down and find his spot. Best of luck in the Spring.
Thank You Michaels DAD both schools have shown some interest UNCA will watch son play at WWBA in Jupiter however UNCC will not be attending and are requesting Ryan come to their prospect camp for them to evaluate him closer. We seem to get alot of these offers and are weery of some that may just be income sources verse sincere interest. Both seem to be good fits athletically and UNCC offers a course My son is interested in, however neither have football which does help with the social enviroment when attending college.
My son plays at UNCC He is a redshirted Jr. I have had a great deal of respect for the coaching staff. They have great relationships with the kids both personally and academically. The team on a whole are very close,(LAST YR. A PLAYER DRAFTED BY TAMPA BAY PASSED IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT, THE TEAM AS WELL AS ALL OF THE PARENTS, AND STAFF FROM THE SCHOOL ATTENDED THE FUNERAL.)Last year they recieved a very large donation and rebuilt the stadium 5.1 million( go to the website to see pictures) In the summer coaches place them in pairs to many summer leagues. Also school is very good, since he has been their almost all Seniors have graduated, those who havent and were drafted returned to finish in the fall.Charlotte is also a beatiful city we plan to retire in this area.
I can't tell were your son should go but one thing I have learned is the should go on visits, camps if possible and talk to kids involved in the programs he is interested in.
I can't tell were your son should go but one thing I have learned is the should go on visits, camps if possible and talk to kids involved in the programs he is interested in.