I dont want to sound cocky, but i just want to know if any of you guys have heard my name about, im Jake Darr, i attend TJHS(thomas johnson) in frederick.

Can't say that I have...but that means little since I have been out of coaching for almost 3 years now. Who do you play for in the summer?

I played for FSK post 11 junior legion

Well I'm gonna jump in on this one. Legion has taken a minor role with many competitive travel and showcase teams. If you want to get your name out check out the Mid Atlantic Rookies or the Oriolanders.

Cuban...you should qualify what you say when you recommend a team. Those are both fall baseball teams. As for his playing legion during the summer, I see no problem in it. His legion league and the other league they play in (MD League of Champions) are as competitive as any other league in the state of MD for 17-18 yr. old players. I say stick with the legion during the summer, and play on a well-travelled fall team. The fall team stuff is good, but very EXPENSIVE!

yea so ive heard larrythompson, a few guys i know played for the Maryland redsox last fall and they said it was real expensive, but great baseball. Im not sure if i really want to pay that much money, or if i can afford it.

pudge7...don't know who the MD Redsox are, but...fall baseball is expensive, no doubt. I know that a lot of people like it. In the mid and late 90's, me, and coaches from 2 other summer programs use to pool our talent and play a fall schedule. Positives...great weather, only 2 or 3 days each week after a grueling summer schedule, excellent teaching environment, exposure to college coaches. Negatives...and this one was big for me. Since you are only playing a couple days each week, if a college coach sees you on a bad 2 day stretch, you are toast!

the MD redsox were sponsored by the Boston organization or something, the whole thing was a little cloudy but evidentally there was great competittion

Actually the General Manager went to the SOMD camp and spoke with us. He said that he has placed every single one of his players in college baseball. Something like 103/103. Don't really know much about it.

yea he came to talk to us at the Quad state camp

Pudge...

Sorry to say, I haven't yet heard of you...I do know of several of your TJ teammates from Summer and Fall Teams.

If you're happy playing where you are and you feel that you're getting the coaching, playing time and exposure that you need, then by all means stick with your Legion program. My son decided when he was 16 to leave our immediate area to find a place where he would get the best coaching and more exposure. We have a successful legion program here, and no doubt he would have seen playing time... BUT the bottom line for us was getting his name out there and getting exposure. The exposure for our Legion program is almost nill. It was a hard decision, but leaving our area to play for the the 16 yr. old Columbia Reds, in the Baltimore Metro League, two yrs ago,opened many doors. Last year as a 17 yr. old, he was invited to play for four very competitive travel teams, was invited to all the major showcases and many other camps and events. He was selected to the Area Code Tryouts in PA which was an invite only event for about 100 players between Maine and NC. He was invited to 4 major league tryout camps.. and by April of last Spring he had been asked to play for the Mid Maryland Red Soxs Fall Showcase Team. He was also invite to play on several other Fall teams, but went with the Red Soxs. Last Summer he played for the Columbia Reds 18 & under team, which is a select travel program. He chose the Reds over all the others that he was invited to be a part of BECAUSE he felt that the coaching was the best and he felt that he was going to get more exposure than playing legion or playing in the metro league. Playing on a good travel team, Summer or Fall is expensive. You and your parents have to decide whether or not it will all be worth it.

After doing both, I would venture to say that the summer travel programs can get you almost as much exposure as a Fall showcase team, IF that team attends some good tournaments during the summer. Fall teams are expensive and playing time is very limited. A Fall roster can be 30 deep. Pitchers normally get two innings a weekend and position players get 2 - 3 innings a game, and not very many at bats. And then it's a matter of the right coaches being there when it's your turn to play. Consider reputable name Showcases (Blue & Grey, Team One, Perfect Game etc.) or specific college camps as an alternative to a Fall team....BUT know the NCAA recruiting rules and time table.

Perhaps if we had it to do again, the only thing different we would do would be to try to get to a Perfect Game Event. The timing just never worked out, nor did the money. We're very lucky.....the National letter of Intent to a Div. I program was signed last Fall. Once again our son got invites to play with several "elite" summer teams...but his loyalty is to the Reds Coaches and his Reds teammates...He's hoping to help his team have another successful season. Find what works best for you.

OK...nice of you to say the kind words about the C.R., since Donovan and Mowder have been working with me for about 15 years. I was hoping to take back the reigns of manager this summer after a 2 year hiatus, but the recent death of my dad has made me decide to not come back this year. You gave very good advice to pudge. BTW, this is a biased opinion, but I can't think of a more "elite" summer travel team in MD than the C.R. Your son is where he needs to be! But, I would put the Mt. Airy A.L. and Severna Park A.L. programs right up there with us!

im my opinion last year FSK had the best group of 15 and 16s, but 2 of our top 16s played for the seniors, and we missed out on there pitching and hittin. If we would have had both of them we would have dominated our league, because when we had them we went on an 11 and 0 run until they started to play up more. thats when we lost it. i as a 15 was an everyday player either catching, outfield or short. We had an injury plaqued season, our SS had back problems in the middle of the season several people had arm problems. it got to the point were its wasnt much fun for some of the guys. if all this did not occur and we stayed healthy and had those 2 players we would have won the league