Ok, lots of sharing going on in the college thread. We've got several parents of HS seniors this season, so let's hear from ya. The HS years are so very special.... especially that senior year!

Share your thoughts, questions, and excitement.... go ahead and brag a little if you choose! What teams do you predict to do well? What's your team looking like? How does your son feel about his year or if you're the player... how are you feeling?

I know KY is allowed to begin try-outs Feb 15... always an exciting date in baseball homes here!

Mine have been conditioning. And more over the past week. I'm getting excited about the season and so is C. B isn't, for some reason. Could be that it's his last year as a HS player. Or that one of his friends that he has played together with since tee ball, has decided not to play this season. That opens up the 3rd base spot for B's little brother, though. I'm pretty sure that B's friend will be on the field, before to long.

The college decision is getting to be hectic for B, as well. B was contacted by Berea's coach by phone on Wednesday. West Virginia's coach sends an e-mail every week about the status of the team and gives B the day to day things that are going on. Georgetown has contacted him several times, but the baseball coach doesn't seem that interested.

I really don't know how Knott's season is going to turn out. They've had 11 to show up for conditioning. But, basketball is going on. They'll be young. Knott will be in the All "A" tournament for the first time. They're looking forward to that.

It's going to be a bittersweet year for all of us.

Tas - I think you express the emotion of many senior parents. "Bittersweet" is the perfect word.

Don't worry about signing... plenty of time left. As I've mentioned to you, the starting catcher at G'town is one of Michael's best friends and he's just a sophomore. I know they've got a least one other young catcher too... so might not be the best place if B isn't wanting to continue as a catcher. I'm sure things will fall into place. Keep us posted and best of luck to the younger kiddo... maybe I'll get to see him play too!

We've seen a lot of parents come and go over the past six years. And most, during their son's last season, said that they couldn't wait until it was over. That they wouldn't miss it. And when you run into them on the street or at Wally World, they're missing it. I can remember B's last 11-12 yr old game. I looked at him putting his gear in his bag and thoughts of the past season came to mind and it hit me. That was his last AABC game. Good thing I was wearing sunglasses. C was different. He didn't play AABC very much after 9-10 yr olds. He stuck with the HS Summer team.

Our first game is a scrimmage game against Highlands High School out of Pennsylvania. (Anybody have any scouting info can PM me. ) So, that's gonna be one game I'll be looking forward to.

I know that the college search can be tedious, but B's enjoying it. And as soon as he signs with his choice, I sigh with relief.

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Our first game is a scrimmage game against Highlands High School out of Pennsylvania. (Anybody have any scouting info can PM me. ) So, that's gonna be one game I'll be looking forward to.

Highlands High School....hmmmmm....do you have any idea WHERE in PA it is? I've never heard of it.

Okay, just googled it (I don't know WHY that always makes me chuckle ). Highlands is in Natrona Heights, PA....which is in the Pittsburgh area....other side of the state from me. Any Pittsburghers out there who might be able to help?

Natedawg or Catcher41 - what is up these days? Any college decisions being made?

I would like to give all the young men who entertain us with sports a big thumbs up

We are lucky that our kids participate in an activity that is shared with the family.

From our front, my wife Elaine and I cherish every moment. Watching our son play youth football and quarterbacking the team, thinking how cool it was gonna be watching Friday Night games under the lights.

He gave up football after the 8th grade. Broke our hearts at first, then we got over it. He filled his Autumns with Varsity golf and Fallball.

On to Hoops. We have to make sure the VidCam batteries are charged properly. It is imperative. We have every HS game filmed. He was tracked as a future college hoopster, but he is a baseball player, his choice. His Senior season is winding down, and his HS hoop career did not go the way it could have due to a coaching change after he was a huge cog in the wheel of their Conference Title as a mere Sophomore. My younger boy is only 9, so it is his turn now.

Its hard to comprehend young athletes having to give up competing in a sport they excel at. I suppose we will get over it, just like football, as long as he keeps playing baseball, until some expert says he can't anymore.

I struck a great relationship with my sons former Varsity Hoops coach. He was pushing 40, and just about to become a father for the first time. He was/is very supportive of my son. We chat weekly as he is now on the east coast. He once asked me what it was like being a Dad.

I simply replied like this.

"The first day you hold that infant in your arms is the day you tell yourself(realize) you couldn't imagine life any other way"

He called me just after that happened and said he never felt more fulfilled. Point is..............

We are all on this site for mainly one reason. To help our kids in the game of baseball as much as possible, and on occasion, let others know we are proud of them.

It is our parental right to experience their moments, not vicariously as some suggest, but as proud supporters. This is the infant son you held, nurtured, and love. They are doing what they do in baseball because of their talents and desires and our unconditional love and support.

They will realize that the day they hold their first child. As of now, they have their own GIG to deal with.

There is no hurry to start and finish the HS Senior season. There is no reason for anyone to say, " I can't wait until the HS season is over".

Its not the result, but the journey one needs to enjoy.

So enjoy it!!

Great post O8.

I'm wanting it to start, about 2 weeks and counting. And in no hurry for it to end. I want to savor every bit that I can. We do have something in common. We both have a son that will soon end his HS baseball career and another that is on that same journey as a Freshman.

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There is no hurry to start and finish the HS Senior season. There is no reason for anyone to say, " I can't wait until the HS season is over".

Oh, I would hope no one would ever rush that senior year... it's a very special memory for parents and kids. I would hope that each and every one savor every moment as it will be gone so very quickly.

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Natedawg or Catcher41 - what is up these days? Any college decisions being made?

I'd been wondering this too! Where are you guys?

Nate - Does your brother play for Urbana or did I dream that? My son's team plays them in a tournament this spring.

Hard to even say where to start here. Just got back from a booster club meeting, where we authorized money for a new scoreboard. I like the idea of leaving my son's high school with something they didn't have when he started playing there. Meanwhile, while the parents were meeting, the boys were hitting and throwing and getting ready for the season.

Then I looked at the schedule: first real game of the year is March 26, and they play 4 games (including one against Cuyahoga Falls, OH) before going to Florida for spring break. I'll be missing the Florida trip for the first time this year, but that's ok, because my wife is GOING for the first time.

The boys come back from Florida and play 3 of their biggest rivals in one week. Wow. Fast forward, May 14...Senior Night. That's going to be SUCH a hard night, I just want the season to go all nice and slow up until then

Advice to younger players out there...appreciate what happens in your early years of HS baseball if the team does well. My son told me that he didn't really appreciate being on a state runner-up team his freshman year as much as he should have because he thought that he was going to get more shots at it. He only has one more, and now he realizes how HARD that was.

OS8 - nice post

John - couple of things from your post that caught my eye.

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Then I looked at the schedule: first real game of the year is March 26, and they play 4 games (including one against Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Cuyahoga Falls (CF) is traditionally a strong program. In 2003, they knocked my son's school Mentor out of the state regional semi-finals. Mentor came back the following two years and made it to the State Finals. CF typically goes deep in the playoffs and are well-coached.

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Advice to younger players out there... appreciate what happens in your early years of HS baseball if the team does well. My son told me that he didn't really appreciate being on a state runner-up team his freshman year as much as he should have because he thought that he was going to get more shots at it. He only has one more, and now he realizes how HARD that was.

I couldn't agree more with that sentiment. In Ohio, it is single elimination. You first have to win your district of about 16 teams per district, win a regional semi-final, regional final, state semi-final, and State Championship. The odds are poor to ever make it that far and it is often a once in a lifetime experience.

I have spoken of this here before, but as time passes, I look back at my son's play-off experiences with ever more fondness even though there was some heartache involved in that the ultimate prize eluded them. His experience was similar to Lafayette's but sort of in reverse. When our team made our state finals run in 2004, it was a team expected to make a run and was ranked at the top of the state and nationally ranked as well. In 2004 for Lafayette, you had a young team that came within an eyelash of winning it all. It was a magical season for them. I think it was naturally assumed the team would be back in the finals the following year with the majority of players returning. As you pointed out, it was not to be in 2005/2006 even though you had several college players on those teams including a first round draft choice. There are no guarantees in baseball.

In my son's case in 2005, they lost every player except one from the 2004 team and there absolutely were no expectations for the team. This was used to their adavantage in 2005. You had a bunch of guys that were forced to play JV's their whole careers and were hungry to show people what they could do as seniors. That team came together and showed every team in the state how to play like a team. At one point, they won 21 games in a row. They started to believe in themselves and lo and behold, made another run back to the state championships. That was magical. Everyone in our situation assumed our once in a lifetime moment had expired the previous year - except the team and their coaches. Sometimes in baseball/life, you get the exact opposite of your expectations. Cherish every moment indeed

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I like the idea of leaving my son's high school with something they didn't have when he started playing there.

That is a neat thing to see happen John. Michael was in the first group to get to use the indoor facility (the green building!) and it was paid off his last year allowing those other improvements. It did feel special to know you'd contributed to making the program stronger and improved. Last year it was neat to see the new seating too! A new scoreboard is really needed!

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Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
Cuyahoga Falls (CF) is traditionally a strong program. In 2003, they knocked my son's school Mentor out of the state regional semi-finals. Mentor came back the following two years and made it to the State Finals. CF typically goes deep in the playoffs and are well-coached.

CD - I bet it's Walsh Jesuit.

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CD - I bet it's Walsh Jesuit.

Beez - WJ is in CF but they are usually referred to as WJ. WJ is an even better team than CF and were ranked as high as 14th in the nation last year by USA Today. OS8's team got a chance to play WJ last year. Chad Rogers' from that team was drafted in the 3rd round by the Braves last year. Either way, JohnLex's team is likely going to get a good opponent. FWIW, my son's team lost to WJ in 2004 6-3 and beat them in 2005 2-1. I don't believe they played last year.

CD, thanks for the scouting report on Cuyahoga Falls From what we heard they are playing a few games in Lexington that weekend. Lafayette is leaving right after the game against CF to go to Florida. Play, change, get on the bus and ride a long time. Well, that will prepare these players for college ball!

That's a great story about those two playoff teams, and you're right, there is so much that can happen in baseball that you never know. I keep telling Daniel that for this year. They play in a tough district, where all 5 teams are usually ranked in the top 25 in the state. Four of the 5 teams in that district have played for the state championship in the last 4 years. Lafayette is not expected to challenge for the district title...not by anyone outside of their own locker room, that is. I have this sneaking feeling that this year could end up surprising a lot of people, and if it does, it's going to be a heck of a lot of fun!

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Play, change, get on the bus and ride a long time. Well, that will prepare these players for college ball!

John, This is the way that we use to always do the schedule, but for a couple of years in a row, the games ran late making it very late by the time they boarded the buses. I would imagine he may have had parents complaining? So, anyway, he changed things and we no longer played a game that night.

I'm glad P's getting to go to Florida!! Make sure she knows about parent's night and all the fun stuff!! Make sure and send me the scoop too!

Beezer...we've got it listed as Cuyahoga Falls, but I didn't see CF's schedule on their website to confirm that. Either way, it should be a good game and a heck of a lot warmer in Lexington than Northern Ohio. (I hope!). Having gone to school in Northern Ohio for 4 years, I know that the end of March really isn't "spring" despite the calendar.

Charlotte, the scoreboard should be up before the first home game, or at worst by the time the boys get back from Florida. It's going to be one of the bigger ones that shows the inning by inning score rather than just totals, and uses LED lights so that we won't have the problem of bulbs burning out!

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so that we won't have the problem of bulbs burning out!

Won't that be nice for a change!!! LOL

I would imagine K and I will get to a game before they head to Florida. Maybe that last one as a matter of fact. She needs to get a schedule from Coach L.