Im a freashman and really want to make Varsity. I know a great deal of the game, and it seems all my coaches are impressed with me after seeing me pitch, and field. I am an average to above average runner, and am a great fielder. Also I have a strong quick swing. The only major problem is that im 5'6 115-120 LBS. When people first see me they say stuff like ' he probley cant even make the trow across the infield." Once they see me there jaw drops. I only throw 60-70MPH and am going to make sure i add more speed and accuracy.

By the way im a Pitcher, shortstop, and thirdbaseman.

I played my Freshman year. I was 5'9 12o lbs. Most coaches look for coachability, dedication, and attitude. They want someone on there team thats a team player.

Is your dad able to work on the baseball field? I did a lot of work at the varsity field on dugouts, bullpens, batting cage, backstop etc., a lot of people said that the only reason my son played so much as a freshman was because of all the work I was doing. I was naive enough to think it was because of all the hard work my son had done, just goes to show, ya never know!
You are about the size of that mlb shortstop they named world series mvp that plays hard every second of the game. His dad must have worked REALLY hard on the fields!
PS What I'm trying to say is; if you really hustle and work your tail off, you might surprise yourself!(really don't think it'll make a difference if dad helps out on the field)

It will also depend on which seniors are graduating and which positions are opening up.

quote:

Once they see me there jaw drops. I only throw 60-70MPH and am going to make sure i add more speed and accuracy.

I don't get it. What makes their jaws drop? That phrase at the HS varsity level is usually associated with 85+mph throws from SS/3B to the first baseman's chest.

And 60-70mph is typical freshman pitching speed.

quote:

im 5'6 115-120 LBS

That's 6 inches shorter and 60 pounds lighter than our HS's average varsity player.

You remind me of several of the recent American Idol contestants.

Mains3,

Hey, pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. Just work on your game, workout, and long-toss for more arm strength. There are many, many good posts on HSBBW suggesting how to do so.

Mic, do you really have to berate a 15 y.o.?

His hope that he can make varsity (a month off ) is belittling to all varsity players who sweated in weight rooms and toiled on HS freshman and JV teams to *perhaps* make varsity as juniors, or -- rarely-- as sophomores.

He asked: "What will it take for me to make varsity?" I presume he wants a realistic answer, not a dose of the famous HSBBW fantasy usually meted out by people who make their living from baseball.

At least in our part of the country, I've never seen a 115 pound freshman with average running speed throwing 60-ish on a quality large-HS varsity team. As for his "jaw dropping" fielding ability, I wonder how many 95+ MPH bouncers he's scooped up at SS or 3rd when he was in 8th grade?

mg, how about a tad more tact in delivering that reality since you dealing with a kid here.

Mains3, Do you like baseball?
Do you like playing all the time?
Then don't rush into the Varsity team.
You will get much more playing time on JV.
That's were you improve your game and grow into your body.
So when you do go to Varsity your a starter, Not a bench warmer.
Enjoy the game kid.

MG,
You Talked about belittling.
What did you do??
Adult's are open game, Kid's are not.
Understand??
EH

Mains3 is long gone. He posted one day. His posts that day show that he's pretty clueless about what varsity baseball demands. (he admits his 60-ish pitching could be more accurate)

My post was mostly directed to freshman Dads I've seen who can't understand why "junior"
has to play with kids his own age in 9th grade.

As for being tactful, HS freshmen --and their Dads-- are just a few weeks away from reality.

---
By the way, reality can involve the rare southern California HS where 100+ kids (virtually all highly experienced) try out for 16-20 spots on the freshman team.

How do you know he is long gone? You have the ability to know if someone is reading, but not posting?

Sorry, but you were offbase in how you approached responding to a kid's post.

Yeah I should have given the "jaw dropping" 14 year old the politically correct answer to making varsity:

quote:

Most coaches look for coachability, dedication, and attitude. They want someone on there team thats a team player.

MG

quote:

By the way, reality can involve the rare southern California HS where 100+ kids (virtually all highly experienced) try out for 16-20 spots on the freshman team.

How do you know what goes on anywhere?
Are you going by hear say?
Are have you experienced what happen's in SoCal.
Are you just blowen smoke?
I'm thinking about having my prostate checked.

EH

There is no magic elixir for making varsity. This should have started months ago in the form of workouts, etc. I am assuming you are asking "What can I do to catch the coach's eye at try outs?"

If THAT is your question then...show up early and leave late...wear your uniform (including your hat) like a baseball player...hustle/sprint everywhere you go...dive for balls, even when you don't think anyone is watching.

Just go out and do your best. Remember, unless you are starting, you really do NOT want to be on varsity as a freshman. It is much more important that you get playing time and AB's. If it does not work out, just play hard on JV and remember that you can always get called up later in the year.

The other thing to remember is that if you do not make it, it is in no way indicative of your overall talent. You are competing with guys 3-4 years older and probably outweighed by some of them by 75-80 lbs. Your throws now will be quite average for that level, but when you catch up in size, you will surpass them in ability, it just may take a year or two.

MG just spoke from his heart. Everyone has an opinion so let them voice it. We dont have to agree with it but we should at least try to understand where he is coming from. The fact is in this day and age of baseball it is becoming more and more of a (I want it now!) mentality. Baseball is a sport where you have to work and toil and persevere and look at the long haul picture. How about work your butt off and just try and make the team period? Get in the program and take it from there. The real work to make the team is done in the off season. Try outs is where you show off what all the hard work in the off season has done for you. Good luck I hope you earn a spot in the program. And I hope you want it bad enough to work at it when no one is watching.

Coach May

quote:

MG just spoke from his heart. Everyone has an opinion so let them voice it. We dont have to agree with it but we should at least try to understand where he is coming from.

Were all here on this site for one reason are another.

But Bereting a young man isn't one of them.
The kid's proud of the fact he's small in stature, But play's the game with Heart and Hustle, and people are amazed at how good he is for his size? That's all he meant.
EH

micdsguy

I normally read and never respond, I do not have that much wisdom. But is obvious from your post that you do, so what eaxctly do you mean by "HS freshmen --and their Dads-- are just a few weeks away from reality."

What reality? Who's reality? What am I going to learn as the father of a 15 year old freshman, I hope you can tell me so that I can avoid giving my son any false hopes.

By the way, I live in the DFW area metroplex
and the area is loaded with quality programs and players and yes my son is going to one of the quality programs.

So please explain reality to me!

Your points are well taken. Good Post!

Catcher28,

Mic I think means well but he has a tendency to rip. That's unfortunate, because a lot of what he says is true. In this case though (a frosh with perhaps unrealistic expectations of varsity this year) I think diplomacy was in order. There is no reason why this kid cannot eventually play varsity, once he adds some weight, power, and arm strength. But tell him that, don't belittle him in the process.

Heck, we've got one kid in our league who's 5'2" and can hit for gap power!

Size can be a sore subject for me because my own son is a LHP who is just pushing 5'10" (still growing almost 17). It is less of an issue now but as a freshman he was shorter than the kid who posted here.

Son, if you want it bad enough, and you are realistic with yourself and work at it and perhaps wait your turn, it will happen.