WWBC 15U Perfect Game National Championships 7/21-7/26

Richmond Braves National 2012 are there for two weeks. 16U and 15U. See you there!

The rising sophomores from my son's school will be going-- I don't know what name they'll be using, though. Sounds like the pitching is going to be tough! Has your team gotten the "confirmation number" back? I told our coach I'd do the hotel stuff through the web site, but he said he hadn't gotten that number back yet.

LHPMom

Not sure about confirmation number-i am just a dad. Yes there is great pitching and the umpires for the most part were great for pitchers they gave the corners. (though one of our pitchers had 3 balks called on him that cost us a couple runs in a tight game never had one called on him before or since but what can you do)
Anyway last year there were 40 some teams and I didn't see any cupcakes in the games I saw. Top notch talent.

Hurricanes North will be there trying to better our Runner up finish in last year's 14U WWB

In your experience, what's the scout level like at the 16u and 15u tournament? Clearly, the 17u must be packed - but do the colleges hang around for the weeks after and see the younger guys?

Not an expert on scout level but radar guns were at every game.

quote:

Originally posted by gamefan:
In your experience, what's the scout level like at the 16u and 15u tournament? Clearly, the 17u must be packed - but do the colleges hang around for the weeks after and see the younger guys?

gamefan,
Last year at 15U I did not see, or hear about, any scout at all. Kids that age get excited when scouts are around, so I think the word would have spread amongst the kids if any were there.

The only scouts at this one are PG scouts. That is still important, to start building your dossiere with them.

Also, it gets your players used to the venue and the level of competition, so that they don't come back a year or two later and run into a buzz saw.

Midlo - Son's 16u team (extremely competative) is playing in the 16u tournament-with the hope of competing to win AND getting on the college scout radar. Other than getting used to the venue - will there be college exposure? Should they (as a team) be playing 17u - even though they won't win, but they will be seen?

Our Braves team played in the 17u tourney as 16's, and did pretty well. But that team was loaded with pitching to the extreme. Scoring was a big challenge for us, as I recall.

There were not scouts at the 16u when I was last there, but that's been 2 1/2 years ago. Early signings are becoming increasingly common, but I still wouldn't expect to see a lot of college guys there for a third straight week. That is really crunch time for them in dealing with rising seniors, so it's hard to be on the road all the darned time.

The 17u event is extremely heavily scouted. Even the 18u event is heavily scouted, even though most teams are full up by then and a lot of the players have already committed as well.

How important is this event?

Here is a link to a site with a team photo of the 2005 summer 15u WWBA champions:

http://www.eteamz.com/08braves/index.cfm?

The current status of those players is:

Front row, left to right: Freshman on baseball scholarship at VCU; freshman on scholarship at Maryland; MLB draft pick and freshman starting pitcher (Friday nights!) at UVA, also playing 1B when not pitching; current HS junior with commitment to Richmond.

Middle row: Current HS senior, signed NLI to Richmond (MVP of the 15u tourney); unknown; freshman on scholarship to Vanderbilt; freshman at Marietta, Division III perennial contender.

Back row: MLB draft pick and freshman, weekend starting pitcher at UVA; MLB draft pick and freshman, weekend starting pitcher at Wake Forest; 2008 draftee and $1.25 million signee with Kansas City Royals; MLB draft pick and freshman pitcher on scholarship to N.C. State.

Not pictured: MLB draft pick, current freshman starting pitcher and starting 1B at Wake Forest.


You gotta have talent, but you also gotta get to where you can put it on display. The 15u is a good place to start.

Midlo Dad-Wow that is impressive! They must have been one heck of a team. Did they play together long? Our coaches goal for our team is that all the boys get to at least play college ball, I beleive that is a wonderful goal to have. Many of them (only 12 on team) have played together for years (they are 15U this year). Very impressive Bravo!

The Richmond Braves have/had very good teams over the last few years. Watched them play at PG events in Marietta the last couple of years. Very impressive players.

At last year's 15U event, coaches from UNC, UVA, Clemson, UNC were seen at some of our 15U Hurricanes' games.

I have talked with quite a few coaches who plan on attending this year's event.

PG has posted all the teams in this tournament. Looks to be a good one.

The rosters appear to be from last year, though. I clicked on ours, saw that it was last year's roster, and I thought our coach had made a mistake. Then I clicked on a few more, and they were all populated with 2011 grads.

LHPMom

LHPMom2012--That is strange! Ours is correct because we have 3 new kids from last year. Maybe if teams haven't summited knew they used last years . The teams I hope are correct-looks like it will be loaded with talent.

quote:

Originally posted by Baseball Dad 46:
Maybe if teams haven't summited knew they used last years . The teams I hope are correct-looks like it will be loaded with talent.

This is correct. If a coach hasn't entered his roster, last year's roster will show.

The team list is correct.

I tried to find the answer on the website for this tourney, but no luck, so I figured someone here might know:

Since this is a 2012 or U15 tourney, that does mean that U15 players who are 2011 are eligible, right? Does anyone know if this tourney uses the current April 30 cut-off, or are they still on the old July 31 date?

LHPMom

WWBA
It is listed under the schedule and pool standings on this page.

Thanks! Squinted real hard and I saw it! ;-)

quote:

Originally posted by LHPMom2012:
I tried to find the answer on the website for this tourney, but no luck, so I figured someone here might know:

Since this is a 2012 or U15 tourney, that does mean that U15 players who are 2011 are eligible, right? Does anyone know if this tourney uses the current April 30 cut-off, or are they still on the old July 31 date?

LHPMom

The 2012 WWBA tourney would be the 16U tourney...the 15U tourney would be considered 2013.

We will be at the 16U tourney with the Blue Chip Bulls this year. Were at the 14U tourney last year with our long-time summer team the SC Heat...we had a good tournament and can't wait to get back there.

This coming summer will be our first participation in WWBA's tournament.

What are your top three lessons learned from previous trips?