Son is considering committing to Bentley College D2 school. We visited, it is beautiful, field is great and the athletic facilities are amazing. He will probably get to play as a freshman and the education is second to none, it seems.
Also has offer from small D1 which were are going to visit today- UMBC. Any info or insight into either of these programs would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Go to Bentley!!!


He will play sooner there
The education is second to none, IN FACT!!!!


Go for it !!!

Depends on what is important to your son, is playing Div 1 baseball? Do both schools offer a major he would like and a back up major? Can he deal with being away from home? I can speak for UMBC knowing some people that have gone there and being located not to far from it. It is a good school not to bad area and if your son goes there he will likely redshirt?? UMBC has a fair amount of seniors which means he maybe could play off the bat, alot of stuff to think about, also how is the weather in UMBC compared to the weather where Bentley is (MASS?)

Yes D1 still matters to him, but less since he saw Bentley. He is a pitcher, doesn't want to be redshirted. He wants to play. UMBC is losing lots of pitchers, Bentley lost there ace. Mass is very cooooooold!
Baltimore is not as bad. all input welcomed. He wants to major in business and they both have it .Bentley is of course a very strong business school. but he wants to play pro ball and is afraid he won't be seen at Bentley because it's DII, the play in a wood bat league.
We will be at UMBC tomorrow and he will be able to compare. the D1 thing is big.

Bentley is one of the top schools of management in the country. If the coach can get the player in the NECBL summer league he has just as good of a chance of becoming a prospect as playing in the America East Conference.

Thank you RJM. got the PM. We know absolutely nothing about UMBC. The coach has been very nice on the phone. We have to go and see, but he did love Bentley. But as I said the baseball is a very, very, big part of his equation. The field at Bentley is really nice and the athletic facility is very impressive as are all of the buildings. First Class.
I have a non baseball son at Babson. Similar but seems like more diverse and less intense and it is bigger which is good for my baseball son.

Look at the schools and see how many players have been drafted or signed after college and that should give you a great idea of whether or not the school can do something for your son. If the school has a history of players signing or being drafted your son will have the opportunity. There is probably better college baseball at UMBC, but just guessing.

As far as weather goes, all the other America East teams play in cold weather anyway, upstate New York, and waaaaaay north in Maine and Vermont (compared to Bentley).

Has your son looked at UMBC's recent history since they moved up to America East from the Northeast Conference? It's the same coach so the approach hasn't changed. I suppose there's a glass half empty or glass half full approach to this perspective. Is there an opportunity to be part of an improving program?

07 - 13-40/4-20
06 - 18-34/5-17
05 - 16-34/6-15
04 - 14-38/6-15

I delt with UMBC for a little bit towards the end of the summer...The two coach's were just great people..one of them just finished his Minor League ball and was a catcher as well..In fact both coach's were catchers so that was important..I didnt get a chance to visit but I heard great things

Worry about the education first. If you can pitch they will find you. Pro ball drafts for protential. That's why they have a draft every year and players are released. They will break you down and rebuild you if they have to.

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Good thoughts all, thank you. Just back from UMBC. Son was offered a very nice scholarship. The coaches could not have been nicer. They spent all day with us. Met a few boys from the team. They were very nice and very positive.

The field is very nice too. So the dilemma continues.
I was prepared not to like it, but I was very surprised.

D1 school outside of Baltimore or D2 outside of Boston. Wood bat vs. metal. extremely beautiful campus vs. not so beautiful campus. State vs. Private
school. Totally business vs. liberal arts.
He really likes them both. He has to decide. I still don't know what he should do. Sounds like you all are leaning towards Bentley? Any further thoughts? Thanks.

masterm,

Basing the decision on D1 vs "any other level" doesnt make alot of sense to me.

The decision should be based on overall fit - not some NCAA classification.

And if the kid can really play - he will most likely be found.

Regardless of where he plays.

IMO.

quote:

He really likes them both. He has to decide.

There it is. You've answered your own question!

just went through what you are going through with your son. My son chose a highly academic D3 with a very good baseball program where he will play right away over a D1 where he may have never gotten a chance to play alot. He told me that his final decision was based mostly on the school and not baseball. He said that if he wasn't going to play baseball that he would want to be at the school he chose. That sold me.

PS - he has a former HS team mate that is a freshman player at UMBC.

Basecoach21,
As you may know from our "'08 signing" post. He committed to UMBC.
He is very happy with his choice. We are too. How is your sons friend doing there?
From what we could see the team seemed very tight and a great group of kids. As I said earlier the coaches are great.
Thanks. would love to hear if you know anything about his experience.

masterm219,
I did see that your son signed at UMBC--congrats! My son's former teamamte seems to be doing well. Looks like this fall they have moved him from C to 3b, which he has played before. I was told that they wanted him for his bat...so this makes sense. Another of my son's teammates, an'08 grad may be looking there based on the other kids recommnedation to the coach. He is a rhp and threw low 90's this fsll at Penn State camp. Was hurt as a jr (nagging blister on pitching hand) so he has been an unkown, but did get alot of interest from Blue-Grey at Wake this summer. Good luck at UMBC!