This has been a very good posting on Philadelphia schools-My son recently got a call from Villanova coach and being from Georgia we did not know much about the school. Currently he is looking at DIII Emory, but really wants to play DI if possible. Its sounds as if the academics are good and baseball good also. What about the coach and how many games are cancelled due to weather Is anyone familiar with the baseball atmosphere? Do the players really like playing for 'nova'?-I do see from their website that they do play some in Fla. Is Villanova a good choice "baseball wise" over Emory?

My son played for Coach Godri back in the mid 90's when he as the Asst Coach at New Mexico State---today Coach and I are still in touch regularly. He is one fine gentleman and a excellent baseball man

The baseball atmosphere at 'Nova is excellent and the facility, though not on campus, is excellent. Our travel team has played there a number of times in recent years.

My son got to play two middle school games on their field. The field is the property of the town. It's used in the summer for Junior Legion, Legion and a semipro team.

Are you saying it is not a good facility?

My son enjoyed playing on the field. He did comment there's too much foul territory. Yes, he fouled out on a ball that would have been twenty feet out of play at a typical high school field. The kids I know where it's their home Junior Legion field kind of take it for granted. By north of the Mason-Dixon Line standards it's a nice field. From a complex standpoint, there isn't a complex. The locker rooms, concession stand and bathrooms were never built. There have been rumors of a new complex near the campus from money provided by an alum. But, I've never heard anyone confirm it. However, the price of admission is great, $0.

Villanova's Ballpark is very nice sits around 800 in elevated bleaches and the barbaque in rf or behind plate in late april and may. playing surface is in top half of big east the same people who put the phillies infield in i believe did villanova's entir park.

villanova park is definitly pitcher friendly and I think Villanova won 20 home games this year. i usal make the weekend games starting in april.

hope the data helps.....and yes I would say Villanova is a upgrade in competition then emory

Emory has a great baseball program consistantly top 10 and the academics are 2nd to none. Make sure you are looking at overall fit and what your realistic long term goals are. I attended Villanova and campus is located a good 30 min drive from Plymouth meeting where the home field is so not much student support. Have friends who have graduated and have had son's attend Emory and they really loved the experience and they are from Wall NJ.

RYNO

what are you talking about the field is 4 miles from campus the woarst part of the drive i understand is getting of lancaster ave. 30 mins round trip. do you play baseball at villanova i see you have a lot of data in your bio?

It's about ten miles from the campus to the field. During rush hour it's an ugly ten miles. During rush hour it can take more than ten minutes to get from the field, down the street just to the entrance of I-476. The same goes for exiting at the Villanova exit. What makes it worse is there aren't facilities at the complex. Temple has facilities at the Ambler complex. Not that I want my kid attending Temple over Villanova or playing in the A10 over the Big East.

rjm

do you have a son who plays at nova? seems like you know a lot about the baseball team. why would the team travel during rush hour. i don't believe they have lights so i guess they would be playing or practicing at the hieght of traffic.

I live three, four miles from the field. My son and I watch games or parts of games when we have time. If a Friday game starts at 3pm, about what time do you think it ends? It can take forever just to get from Walton Road to the entrance to the Blue Route even though it's only one mile. Then the Blue Route is the only way around the city. It's a parking lot during rush hour, especially Friday's. It's not a criticism. It's just the way it is.

Having attended 50+ games on the mainline, I would strongly suggest parking away from campus, and using the R5 (regional rail) to leave area.

St.Joseph's is in the process of expanding their campus, and they are building an on campus baseball facility- may be ready for the spring 09 season. looking forward to seeing what it looks like- on campus will be a big benefit for their program.

quote:

Originally posted by sef22:
St.Joseph's is in the process of expanding their campus, and they are building an on campus baseball facility- may be ready for the spring 09 season. looking forward to seeing what it looks like- on campus will be a big benefit for their program.

Episcopal Academy will be consolidating upper and lower schools in Devon. SJU's bought the EA campus.

I am from the Philadelphia area, having lived in Center City and its surrounding area (very near St. Joes). I have to disagree about the comments concerning the area around St. Joes ("Saint Josephs and LaSalle are in mediocre areas"). To be sure, St. Joes stradles City Line Avenue. North of City Line Avenue is Lower Merion Township, an extremely affluent and exclusive area. The Episcopal Academy campus (an exclusive "old Philadelphia school"), which St. Joes is buying, is located on the north side of City Line Avenue and is lovely. South of City Line Avenue is in the City of Philadelphia and just a tad dicey at night. For a big strapping athlete, however, it would be no big deal.

Furthermore, while a couple of decades ago St. Joes did not have much dormitory space and was known as a "commuter school," it has purchased a number of really nice apartment buildings in the area and is no longer considered as such. You should visit and see for yourself. While time consuming and exhausting for parents, this is the only way to see whether any school is a "fit."

" ....just a tad dicey at night. For a big strapping athlete, however, it would be no big deal."

Big, strapping athletes get killed confronting these situations. Big, strapping athletes can't punch out a gun or a knife. Dicey is dicey. There's no way for the person to know what they are dealing with. I would not wander around at night on or south of City Line Avenue.

What's it like near Swarthmore? We're going to visit later this fall.

RJM,

Can't disagree with your position about confrontation. Certainly a weapon would counter balance size and weight. But, as a small middle aged female who (maybe) once was strapping (but probably is no longer), I have no problem with jogging my byself in that neighborhood along City Line Avenue. Do I loiter by myself on corners south of City Line? No. But certainly I drive to take out restaurants south of City Line Avenue by myself and feel pretty safe in the process. I would say it is not too different from most urban areas -- be smart and you will be safe. St Joes has its own security group and provides busing through campus. There are lots of terrific kids who go to St. Joes, and I don't hear of too many problems.

DCBa, Swarthmore is not too far from St. Joes, but is decidedly different in feel. Swarthmore is a lovely town, with the characteristic "suburban Philadelphia" look and feel. It is a Quaker instituition, while St. Joes is Catholic. I would say that Swarthmore might have more of the academic elite feel, while St. Joes is more "salt of the earth." We know great kids at Swarthmore as well, including some on the team. I would feel comfortable sending my kids to either place. You should allow for 20-25 minute between St. Joes and Swarthmore. Take Route 1.

St Joes has announced a new baseball head coach--Fritz Hamburg. Coach Hamburg was Army's assistant head coach and pitching coach. In addition, he was named the assistant coach of the year last year. Coach Hamburg is an outstanding individual, very knowlegable, and is well respected by the Army players and his piers. Look for this program to improve.

He is a great addition for St Joes---I first met Coach Hamburg a few years back when he was an assisitant atNew Mexico State where my son played

Good luck Fritz