How does Maryland HS Baseball compare to states like Florida, California and Texas which are baseball power houses yearly?

Well, let me just say that whoever wins the WCAC (Washington Metro Area- MD, DC, and VA)and wins the majority of thier games on the way to it, will be ranked in the top 25 in the country.

moving from fl to md and playing highschool baseball for both states, FL baseball is a great amount better than MD,,, i played for state championship team in FL, but from all the competition, i could tell.... MD's more of a lacrosse state, which should change...

While all states (like Maryland) have a good share of talent, gotta give the edge to the warm climate states on this one. I have coached 17-18 baseball for 16 years, and our team has travelled many places in the U.S. Here are the reasons why I believe high school baseball is better in the south:

1. Better playing surfaces build lots more confidence
2. Better facilities (on a whole) allow more training
3. Better weather to prolong the high school season

I don't believe it is the players as much as it is the environment in which they play.

Meant the south and west.

J1mm5y,
You are right this is a lacrosse state, we have a kid from the south that didn't even know what lacrosse was! In the south, where I played we live and die baseball! Up here it's not as serious, I am trying to get my program to get to that live and die baseball attitude! but that, in my opinion, also supports FL, TX etc being stronger!

I have lived and have several generations of family located in FL, CA & MD.
Hillsborough County FL is at the top of heap with regards to talent and skill.
Tony Sal's HS Tournament ~ Easter has many prospects. If available, I suggest you attend and observe.

Regards,
Bear

vjc baseball

i know what you mean... i was the same way when i moved here a couple years ago... i said 'what is this sport with a stick with a net on the end.' i wish there was the live and die baseball attitude here as well as it was in florida. that's what the colder climate does to you.

Several email's went around the horn today, on this very subject, and what was returned that was of significant is the following:

Baseball America did an article (in 2004?) about the MD, DC, VA, PA and Delaware area...
.....stating that "per capita", there are more players that go on to play college and pro ball than Fl, CA and TX combined.

It is interesting for me to understand, however the writer put some tally numbers on the table to back up his finishing statement:
"The DC Metro area is a silent hot bed for baseball."

....And I thought that title was owned by Fargo ND!

The reasons: The players benefit from the winter break by allowing the body time to rest and heal. FL, TX and CA players suffer a higher rate of injury and burnout because of the 365 day non-stop play! ........
............Interesting!

Personnally, I don't believe in burnout!

Regards,
Bear

Bear,
That is a interesting article. Having a break to rest up does make sense when I think about it.

Son and I were talking about this yesterday too. He wondered if it has to do with Texas, Florida, and California being larger states. More kids to pull from? Their weather makes a huge difference too.

The burnout issue is a compelling one for sure. That is why I have always been against kids giving up one sport to play another year around, especially during the early teen years.

Another item I wanted to pass on. Was sitting in the dugout of Gulf Coast CC (Panama City Beach, FL) about 9 years ago and was approached by some local college coaches for a roster of our summer team. I asked, in jest, don't they have enough players in FL already? One of them said they have plenty, but if they see a kid from the North East or Mid-Atlantic area with comparable skills to a FL kid, they would take the kid from our area first. When I asked for an explanation, they mentioned a few things:

1. More down time, less likely to burn out.
2. Kids in our area play in bad weather, on bad fields. If they can play in those conditions, thay can flourish in FL.

Went to a coaches' clinic in Maryland several years ago. Jim Lefebvre was one of the speakers. Afterwards, out in the lobby, he was answering questions from 5-10 people. Can't remember how the subject came up, but he said it was actually an advantage to be a baseball player in a part of the country that has a winter season in which you can't play baseball. (Though maybe that doesn't apply where winter lasts until May.) More time to focus on training and practice on those parts of your game that need work, without the distraction of always playing games.

To illustrate his point, he told a story about being out in Arizona and getting caught in the middle of an argument between a husband and wife about their early teenage son's elbow problems. The wife was blaming it on the son throwing curveballs, but the husband said that wasn't the cause. They went back and worth, each trying to get Lefevbre to take their side. Finally, one of them said, "well, you know, he has played 190 games this year -- maybe that has something to do with it..."