What is the difference in objectives among som of the travel teams that are written about a lot on this site. Ie. Teams like Top Tier 18u, Orioles 18u, White Sox Academy 18u, Norwood Blues, Wilmette Waves. do these teams recruit against each other for the same kids? Are they all promising to get kids exposure for D1 and/or the pros? Do the play the same type of competition?
I have been reading that some go to East Cobb and some stay around here. Is it financial issues or are the teams trying to accomplish different things for the kids? Do the teams have different affiliations?
If I could find out about the teams I mentioned, it will help me figure out what htey are trying to do and where kids with certain talent levels may be better off playing.
Thanks in advance!

I cannot speak for everyone and I have "retired" from coaching but the big reason my two boys played were simply to play more games. Most of the competition was better but not always. Our High school plays 4 days a week & nothing on the weekends. Many times the kids get 8-10 AB's in a week. It is hard to get better when you do that little hitting and "live" pitching is always better than a batting cage. The problem we run in to now is both of mine boys are pitchers and that is very, very tough to balance when your high school coach doesn't bless the travel schedule. I have turned down many, many opportunities for them because I will NOT allow them to get put in a position of abuse. I cannot speak more highly of our travel coach (Orioles) who understands that and puts up with us not being there so much. He's a smart guy! The travel schedule has given them a lot of exposure that never would have come from only playing high school summer league. This is just one man's opinion! As a parent, find someone who is willing to accomodate you!

BBdad1954

I am speaking only for me and what we are trying to do with our team. I really beleive that most teams are in this stuff for the kids. I say most. I spent most of my life playing the game and a good portion coaching it.
I was blessed with oppurtunity that took me to school and pro ball. I played for many , many ex Big leaguers and guys who spent their entire lives in the game. I learned much of who I am from those people. I learned a right way to do things and learned that the wrong was not an option. The game taught me that your accountable for your actions and you get rewarded for your hard work and dedication. No different then school or life. For me, the lessons learned on the playing field are no different then the lessons a parent uses to teach their son or daughter. Its not about the win or the loss, it how you approach the situation and how you make adjustments after a bad day.
To much of I am better then you and they arent that good goes on in the summer. My teams , between the 17's and the 18's have lost to local team this Summer. Top Teir got us 9-5 , Mchenry beat us early on a Smolinski Grand Slam. Cant leave out the Orland Sparks, top notch program with many good baseball people involved. These are kids, and anyone can take to anyone on any given day. I want to say both of our teams combined this season are somewhere like 33-8, but we have played some good clubs. Our area is heading in the right direction, Mike Van Horn, is doing good things in our area, and nobody has to tell me that we cant play with the best, because our kids can, and I mean our areas kids, not my teams.
Much has been said about Top Teir and in fairness to them, they work hard form their kids and have one of the strongest teams in the State. Understand that they are trying to build a program no different then any of us. There are no affiliations so to speak. To me the most important thing is putting the guys in the best situation , so they can get into a school and pursue the degree and play at a higher level too. If the one or two guys has the ability to play at the pro level, then so be it.
Bottom line, play ball where it fits your pocket, play where the kid will learn, and play where he can have some fun. Its not rocket science, its a game, the problem sometimes is that people make it out to be more. All the teams you metioned are good teams, included in those are Mchenry, Orland, Rockford, and more.
I can promise the kid D1 exposure but the reality is I cant promise them D1, thats up to the player and the coaches watching. What I can promise is I will committ myself to helping the player get to the level he is fitted for, and nothing more.

Are there many programs with good 17U programs? I think that 17U kids are the kids that the colleges are really looking at.

Seems like the 18U kids have already signed in the fall or spring of their Senior year which they just finished. Or if fortunate enough been drafted. So I'm not sure how many 18U kids are getting exposure with the exception of the kids who are going to JUCOs. Maybe scouts are get an early look at these kids. But to me it really seems like 18U is one summer season too late for exposure.

If I'm a kid with college talent, I'm looking for the best 17U program around. 17U programs are at the level that should get the kudos for getting their kids signed with colleges.

Tuzy,

No question the 17 yr is the big one. 18's need to be playing the best comp available to get ready for the Fall. Its not all about the exposure , there needs to be a time where the kids get developed too. Everyone is always running around playing games on the fly that they forget they need to practice and work on weaknesses. 2 Months in the Winter isnt enough imo..

Tuzi asks the very question I've been asking anyone who would listen.. why are there graduated seniors with college plans playing on so-called "showcase" teams? My own son opted out of a showcase team for the summer and chose to play legion instead for that very reason. Are they hoping for a better offer? If I'm a 17 year old, I'm going to try to find a team of other 17 year olds to make sure I get a chance to play. I understand the desire to play good competition to keep improving, but do players feel they need to keep traveling to do so after graduation?

Perhaps the HS grads should be playing on a "scout" team not a "showcase" team

TR... excuse my ignorance... when you say "scout team" I'm assuming you mean pro scout team? Can you give some examples of which teams in IL are scout teams?

Duece:

Very good points you made...more evidence that you're running a program designed and developed to benefit the ones' that need it the most...your players!

There are plenty of GOOD baseball players in the state and there are enough good teams to join. There are however, In my humble opinion,Not enough good coaches. Some are in it for there own ego and some are in it for the kids. I keep telling guys that if they take there ego out of the game they will play more relaxed and learn how to play the game and make adjustments. It is all about making an adjustment each and every pitch , play, out etc...If a coach, not dad, is paid by the club they represent to COACH the kids, then they deserve to be Coached. The "be seen" attitude of some of these organizations is a line...If you build a program , the coaches,college or pro, will find you. You also have to be lucky in some regards to be at a good tournament. East Cobb has built a reputation over many many years of playing and running tournies. Our guys from the Il area arre picked a very very small percent of the time to go to one of the "bleesed" programs, ie.FSU,LSU, Miami, Florida etc....if you work hard and keep your nose clean, you have a better chance then the next guy. If you work hard, you will find a fit that is right for you. 15 16 17 yr old guys play and the college guys come watch and ask all the time , what year is he,what is his GPA, what was his ACT and sat if taken. Is he coachable, what is his family situation. FIND A PROGRAM WITH SOME TIME UNDER IT'S BELT. Find a guy like duece or sam sorce to coach your kid in the off season. enough said....

Good points sweaty...good coaching is really important and when you have one, you know it!

I think you are always going to have the situation that when coaches in the Midwest are successful, many of them will head South. If they want to get into the post season, it is their best shot. Not many Northern teams go very deep in the NCAA tourney. It will be interesting to see if the new "delayed start" has any effect on evening things out. To be honest, I am not totally understanding the reasoning behind it... cramming more games in a shorter time frame may lead to more arm abuse.

I second Sweaty's points too. My son has had the privilege of playing with Duece this summer and he will continue working with him until he leaves for school in the fall. Duece is a very, very good baseball man and more importantly, he is in it for the right reasons...to teach the kids. You can see how he loves what he does, not for himself, but for the kids. He truly wants to see his players succeed at the next level the right way...through hard work (no shortcuts). And finally, and to me, most importantly, Duece is a very, very good man.

A little travel team updates.

Top Tier 18's are co-champions winning the Connie Mack Illinois State title and move on to Battle Creek, MI for the regionals.

The Top Tier 17's win the Indiana University 18U Wood Bat Tourney with key victories over the Norwood Blues and a team from Northern California in the finals. This group also won the National Prep Tourney also in Bloomington earlier in the month and are 11-0 this summer in the Hoosier state. Maybe they like the water. This group moves out west this week to play in an 8 day invitational event in San Diego called the West Coast Summer Series. Teams exclusively from California and Washington. Probably going to see some of those ex Seattle Stars. Summer travel baseball with your son, can't beat it.

ROSY, i couldn't agree with you more...i'm just bummed out it's over for me this summer. he is off to college and who knows where next summer.....right now the white sox 18's are in myrtle beach defending a title they won last year....as you may recall colin bates made his money down there in the championship game. he was smokin and hasn't let up since...what a great hs/travel pitcher. all the best to you and your bunch on the left coast.

Thanks Sweaty and all the best to Dan as he begins his next journey.

If the teams are "exclusively" from California and Washington, how is Top Tier playing in it? Did they change citizenship?

bballdad,

Is your question about semantics or baseball?

This tournament has been on the schedule since it was first posted. I don't make the schedule, I just show up with my son. On the website it currently is showing a field of 18 which includes 11 teams from California including NorCal Baseball and 6 teams from the state of Washington. The lone outsider is our team. Can't tell you how or why we were invited, but the players and their families are really looking forward to the challenge and the end of the season vacation in So.Cal.

quote:

Summer travel baseball with your son, can't beat it.

Agree with you 1000%, Rosy...The best of times!

The first day in San Diego, Top Tier 17's face off against the highly ranked NorCal. It doesn't get much better than that!