bob,

you have a pm

bbscout,

Have missed you posts recently, too.

Now recalling four years or so ago, when my son was a HS freshman, your gentle guidance about getting drafting, enjoying high school, and just letting things happen.

You might not realize just how much impact you and the rest of the real "old timers" had on me and my boys baseball paths.

I listened and allowed your advice to impact our decisions.

This is a tremendous site for young high school baseball players to maintain a track into college baseball.

As the hsbaseballweb continues to evolve, I am not sure it can return to the same way it was four years ago for me, in any form.

But, there are paths there to be followed and certain players will continue to find those paths and reach the highest levels of baseball.

And without Bob Howdshell to continue, Perfect Game is a logical continuance, even with the howls of favoritism that are surely to follow.

One thing I noticed while my son was on his journey is that the others on the path with him weren't howling.........................

Bob,

My dad has always said to me "If you're going to do it, then do it right"

My dad would deffinately like you Bob,

All the best,

Dave

Dear Bob,

Although I have never met you, I would like to thank you for this site. I have only been here a couple of months but have learned so much. Please consider letting some of your "more trusted" posters continue this site. My boys (all 4 of them) are young and don't want to imagine going through the high school years without the HSBBW. Please consider PG or TRhit. I know they are passionate, as you, about this. Again, no matter how this turns out, thank you from my family.

Jodi

Bob,

It's funny how the HSBB site has become a part of my daily life, and the idea of it not being here leaves a big gap! Altho I am the only one in my family who frequents the site...I can't tell you how many times when we sit down to dinner my husband and/or kids will ask "So mom, what did you learn today on that baseball site?". Thanks to the HSBB, I now have a group of "mom friends" that I got the chance to meet personally, and consider some of my best friends due to our shared interests (our sons and baseball!). Thank you for bringing us together, and thank you for all that you do. You will definetly be missed...and I agree with a previous poster...you ARE the George Bailey of cyberspace!

Kathy (luvbb)

Bob,

I have been out of town and just jumped on my favorite site to see that you are moving on. Back in the day when I first registered, I never thought much about the site not being around anymore. I guess it is like anything else we like and are comfortable with; you just do not appreaciate it until it is gone.

Although I was much more active with my posting/opinions before you made the "switch" to the current website, there is not a day that goes by that I do not check in to see what is going on.

There is nothing I can say or write to express my gratitude for what you have done for me, my son, and more importantly the sport we all love....baseball.

I also had to make a difficult decision this year after 18 years of coaching and for better or worse will retire from coaching and enter into scouting as well. I wish you and your family nothing but success and maybe someday, somewhere, we will bump into each other at a baseball field.

Thank you again and take care of yourself and yours.

Mike

Wow! I haven't visited the site in a couple of weeks and am shocked! I found this site last summer. I've learned so much and am addicted-my son checks in some but mainly just lets me tell him what I find out. He is going to be a junior in high school next year and we need this site! I started as a mom with a son with some talent but had no idea what we needed to do. I can honestly say without this website it would still be true. I know we still have alot to learn and know we can find the answers here with the help of all the great posters and info.Please find a solution

Bob,
I just saw the announcement today and it hit a little too hard form me to say much right now. Too many emotions at the moment come to mind and too many friends to mention for the sake of missing someone.

No matter the outcome, our friendship is something to cherish. A friendship that would have never happen without this site.

Hiwasse: I'm with you - just got back and saw the posting. I suppose we all knew this could happen; I do hope someone can keep it going in a manner that pleases Bob, since it is his baby.
I do know that through the last six years with Brian this website has been a lifeline. Now he is coming to the end of his college career and the beginning of his life as a teacher and coach, and through it all, the HSBW family has been supportive, prayerful, encouraging and a downright hoot all of the time. Even our disagreements worked themselves out - poor Andy, where will he go???!!!
Bob, thank you for everything - the time, effort, money, aggravation, putting up with us, etc., etc. I could go on for pages - many of us are indebted to you for so much. If you are ever scouting up here in Maryland, please let me know!
Forever grateful,
Meg Brewer

I have very mixed emotions about this.
First:
Thank you Bob, THANK YOU and best of luck to you and yours going forward.

Second:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! NOT NOW!!!! The kid just finished his 2nd year of High School now what the heck are we gonna do?

Bob,
I have not been on the site in some time....this being "State" time, wanted to check out the scuttlebutt on the Admiral's.....I would like to thank you for all you did for HSBB in general, and specifically what you did to promote my son.
Thanks
Soupkitchen and Family

Bob:

Grand Pooooooh Baaaaaah!!!!

Thanks for the friendship over the last 7 long years. You will never know how much this site has ment to me and so many others. You are a class act and I will have fond memories of this web site and the friends I made for the rest of my life.

Thank you my good friend!

Wow Bob. I knew you'd been busy lately, and can certainly respect your decision.

What you've done for us on this site is immeasurable. There's no way I would have been as prepared as I was for college recruiting without the valuable knowledge I gleaned from you and others.

"Thank you" is not enough for what you've done.

This place will be missed.

I to have mixed emotions. I am not one of those who believe ALL good things must end someday.
Thank you Bob for creating this site, hope things can work out for a continuation somewhere. Without the HSBBW I would be missing out on a lot of meaningful relationships I have made in the past few years.
For me, it it was not about gaining knowledge or giving it, but about the people that have given and asked.
Best of luck to you and your family.
Barbara Kopp aka TPM

only 7 days till the 31st...

Bob,

What a wonderful atmosphere you have created. All of the lives that you positively impacted cannot be counted. I hope it comes back to you tenfold.

BTW, I sent you another PM. I would be willing to keep the site going.

Thanks so much for all HSBaseballWeb and you, Bob, have done for high school baseball. We all owe you a tremendous debt!! Here's hoping that Perfect Game will provide a similar outlet for information-sharing for our guys.

Thanks again,
DugoutDad

Bob,

Not much to say that others haven't. This site has taught me so much in my 4 years. What a great forum and great idea. It took my oldest to college and the knowledge gained should help my youngest.

Feels like a close friend has passed away.

I'd subscribe if it ever came to that.

Good Luck and thanks for all your years of time spent to help baseball.

What can I say that already hasn't been said? I found this site a couple of years ago and it has helped me and my sons to learn more and more about the process of baseball. I had one son to graduate last year, but he wasn't recruited too heavy and now he is supporting his younger brothers along their way. I hope and pray that something can be worked out to save this great site. And if not, I will miss it and the people who have gave me advice and knowledge to carry on my son's dream's.

Thank's Bob and good luck with the scouting.
Tim Smith, formerly tasmit.

has it been 7 years? I was in middle school when Dad started this site. This site has grown to be a very valuable resource for those that need the info. At first I laughed at dad for spending so much time working on the site. I never really got on here and read the things people post until my junior year of college. Like any other kid growing up I didn't fully appreciate the effort and love he put towards helping me get to where I am now. Of all the people on this site, I am the most appreciative of my father's hard work in putting this thing together. Without him I would have failed.

To everyone else that has made the site what it is: thank you. Thank you for all the amusing entertainment you have given my roomamtes and I over the years. I know we always got a kick outta what Jolly Roger would have to say.

Thanks Dad