Hello baseball webbers I need some advice from those with some more experience on the subject. I am a sophomore right handed pitcher at a pretty small division III college and I am trying to get into one of the NCAA sanctioned summer leagues. I am pretty aware that its going to be really hard for me to get into one of these leagues because of the fact I go to a small D3 school and I am not getting any help from my coaches in terms of contacting these leagues and coaches for me. I had a very successful freshmen year, going 8-1 and being named conference rookie of the year. Do any of you guys have suggestions for me on how to get my name out there and get the attention of the people running these teams and leagues?

I would go to the league websites and call the GM. My son sent out emails (also D3) that was able to get his placement.

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Originally posted by WIBASEBALLER:
Hello baseball webbers I need some advice from those with some more experience on the subject. I am a sophomore right handed pitcher at a pretty small division III college and I am trying to get into one of the NCAA sanctioned summer leagues. I am pretty aware that its going to be really hard for me to get into one of these leagues because of the fact I go to a small D3 school and I am not getting any help from my coaches in terms of contacting these leagues and coaches for me. I had a very successful freshmen year, going 8-1 and being named conference rookie of the year. Do any of you guys have suggestions for me on how to get my name out there and get the attention of the people running these teams and leagues?

Don't let your D3 status worry you. Son played in the Northwoods League after his freshman year in JC and was one of their main guys after just a couple of weeks up there. Was also still only 18 at the time. Team just looked for the best players. similar experience in the ABL this past summer. Coaches could care less what Division you've been playing in.

Just saw this posted the other day. Maybe it will help.

http://floridaleague.athleticsite.com/article.asp?articleID=327&refer=

Thanks for all the information everybody. I am not worried about my D3 status because I have seen a lot of successful d3 players in these leagues, it is just the fact my school has next to no history in baseball and has never had anybody play in summer leagues that worries me, but I think that has more to do with lack of help from the coaches than anything else.

JT gave you good advice. A small addition: Work up an e-mail selling your abilities, accurate but not too over-the-top (comparisons to Sandy Koufax and Little league stats will be too much), and e-mail as many teams in as many leagues as you can. I know folks involved with some of these teams and many of them do check out e-mails, especially pitching. Your college coach might not be helping much so far, but list his name, phone number and e-mail information, and bad-mouthing the college coach is a no-no; he may yet be of great help to you! Let him know you're contacting teams so he won't be surprised with a call.

Summer teams with winning traditions got that way with a reliable, and usually DI, talent pipeline. In addition to the obvious benefits of getting really good players however, summer coaches must also accept a certain number unproven DI players who got little playing time in the spring, plus a few "project" players. These guys will always get their time, cause thats just part of the deal.

Playing time is the name of the summer game. My experience is that a good DIII player may need to seek (and play) on a summer team without a winning tradition..... to get a fair chance at significant innings. After that, and once on the field, its a meritocracy.

HaverSon (DIII) made a significant, career changing hitting adjustment during MLB-sanctioned summer baseball. 90+mph fastballs will do that to you.

HaverDad/Brussels