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11 replies

Which Path?

X XssbaseballX1110+ posts
Okay, so I am a rising sophomore, and I have strong hopes for a future with baseball, and a pretty good plan to go with it. I am lifting every day after football practice, and hitting 3 nights a week using a bat speed program. I am not bad, because after my freshman year, they cut around 10 freshman out of about 15. I was one of the ones kept, and when the coach told them they did not make it, he added that they only kept the guys that they could see making contributions to varsity. I am bigger than most of the guys I know, and I am only 14, playing with guys that are 15 and 16. I am dedicated to the sport with everything, and willing to do anything to just keep making my game better and trying to move up in the ranks. There is a school I am most likely going to go to in the northeast after sophomore year, and play baseball. But there is a catch, in the classroom I am an excelling student, each summer I attend gifted and talented programs, which cause me to miss many baseball camps and showcases I would love to go to. My dad would love to see me play college ball and he would help me, but he also sounds like a broken record every time we talk about it. He says if it were to come down to school or ball, I would have no choice but to choose the education. So my question is this, do I begin to focus just a little more on baseball and follow my dream of playing in college? Or do I really keep up what I am doing, and stay an average player? I would love to go to Vanderbilt to play for the Commodores, as where they have a wonderful baseball program as well as extremely strong academia. Thank you!
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KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
Just the fact that schools like Harvard, Stanford, USC, Duke, Cal-Berkeley, etc etc etc have excellent baseball teams flush with very smart student-athletes should tell you that you never need to sacrifice one for the other when heading into college. That sacrifice will come, for almost every player, but not until after college, and when income needs to be generated to support oneself or the coming of a family!

My opinion only -- at your age, work the two in tandem, and as mutually supportive endeavors, and forget about the either/or conflicts. You're at an age where you can have your pie and eat it, too. So grab a fork and start eatin' that pie! (gotwood, that's your cue to come up with the perfect pie-eating photo........)
Last edited by Krakatoa
X XssbaseballX1110+ posts
Thank you very much. I have actually though about attempting Stanford because I have loved that school since I was little. And I am at an academic camp at the moment, and I am learning more and more about Duke, and the entire university intrigues me more and more, and I am visiting this winter. I have also given Harvard thought, and I never knew that UC Berkely's baseball program was great. Thanks! I don't entirely know why, but Vandy is just my all around dream school.
KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
You sound like you are a blue-chip student. Those schools listed represent just the tip of the iceberg for high-end academic schools that also play solid baseball. Johns Hopkins, Davidson, Emory, Lipscomb, I mean - literally - the list can go on for quite awhile once you start looking into other corners of the country. If you're a great student, and it sounds like you are, then you can take your time to find the right fit athletically -- a place where you can go, contribute, and have the best of both worlds.
X XssbaseballX1110+ posts
Thank you so much, I really had no idea that these schools play baseball like you say, I have been kind of focused on certain schools that I already know of. I will definately begin looking into these schools. But the thing with my situation is that i seriously am willing to do anything, do break back work, make sacrifices with going out, and etc. etc. to make it to the next level and better my game as far as it can go in every way shape and form. But really thank you for the schools!
B baseballmom
Do you play on a summer team? Have you considered showcase events or a baseball camp @ Vandy, or other schools?
I'd suggest you look over the recruiting timeline here on this site, recruiting tips, etc. Use the pull out tab found on the top left margi of this page to go to those pages.
Good luck!!
X XssbaseballX1110+ posts
No I do not play on a travel team, and I have been to one thing, it was kind of like a showcase, and I would love Vandy baseball camp and I have strongly looked into it. The only thing is these camps, they take up a large chunk of my summers, and so that is why I am looking at this school I would like to attend, because I would get a better education than normal, and still be able to attend the baseball functions I would love to attend, thank you, I have skimmed over the timeline before, but not really looked at it in detail, I will be sure and do that! Thank you, especially for the names of those schools, and would there be a certain summer league that you would suggest I look deeper into than others?
B baseballmom
go to California Forum & look for Trombly Baseball, & ABD...Or contact Bob Williams,(here on site) who runs Goodwill Series (international play). Mr. Williams knows everyone in Cal. Baseball community, as well as Nationally.
Perfect Game, Jerry Ford, has an affiliate in Cal, too so, Jerry would be a great resource! Contact PGStaff here on hsbbweb.
Trombly is in Northern Ca. & he posts frequently.

Now, if you were in Texas, I'd be able to help you, but I'm half a continent away!!
Good luck!
BW Bob Williams500+ posts
XSSbaseball:

Are you interested in playing in our "Marshall Brant"
tournament August 6-7-8.

Location is Healdsburg in the wine county of Sonoma County.

We have players from Colorado, Southern California participating on the SSK teams.

Please complete a player profile on our web site <www.goodwillseries.org>

Our coaches, one former ML player and OU graduate have many Academic college contacts and they can assist you in your research.

Bob Williams

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