Does anyone have some helpful information on some traveling/tournament teams in NE Wisconsin(Appleton, Oshkosh)? I'm 14 and recently moved here and want to play as much baseball as I can. I have been told that if I work hard enough that I could play college ball so any information would be helpful. I also want to know more about showcases. What are they exactly? How much do they cost? Where are some that I could go to? Thanks

I think there is a big midwest one in waukesha, it is tough to get on, but baseball in wisconsin, literally sucks, maybe it will change, i hope it does

I think the State of Wisconsin produced 10 draft picks this year. The Wisconsin Blazer program being responsible for nearly all of them.

"Responsible" seems like a pretty strong term. Kind of relates to another thread on taking credit. The Blazers are one opportunity that fits for some players. I believe that each of the draftees attended the Showtime sports showcase, maybe they were "responsible". High school ball, legion ball, skills learned by playing multi-sports, showcases - and countless hours of hard work by the player at every practice and on his own all go into the equation.

So many people have asked us what my son "did" to get a scholarship - I've started to answer that the number one answer is the same as how do you get to Carnegie Hall - practice, practice, practice. Then you'll be ready to take advantage of opportunities at camps, showcases, tournaments and tryouts.

Sorry PG Staff,

Gotta Disagree.

The players were very very good which allowed them to make the Blazer team, it also allowed them to get drafted.

Blazers do a great service for baseball in Wisconsin, no doubt about that.

But to say they are responsible for the guys getting drafted is a bit of an overstatement.

Now I would certainly credit them for helping many guys get scholarships they might not have otherwise gotten.

BigWI,

You're right, I should have said partially responsible. When most every player drafted out of an entire state have all come from one program... Well... That's all we know for sure!

Have to remember... These Blazer players have been seen by big decision makers outside the state of Wisconsin. Hard telling if that would have happened if they were not with the Blazers.

One thing for sure... It's the players themselves who are most responsible. All the Blazers do is give them the best possible national level exposure and promote the hell out of them to major decision makers. The Blazers even promote the Wisconsin players who are not in their program.

If you ask any scout or DI college recruiter where he is most likely to find the top prospects in Wisconsin I think the answer will be nearly unanimous. The Blazer Program!

So it's just a matter of interpretation as to how responsible they might be. I think you'd have to agree with the fact they are certainly involved to some degree.

Let's get off the TAKING CREDIT thing. The credit ALWAYS goes to the kids! Who is TAKING CREDIT for anything. Some people just work a hell of a lot harder at helping these kids than others do!!!

A little help never hurt any of them!

Thanks PG for the kind words. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you guys.

As for the rest…I know I was partially “responsible” for one player getting drafted by a certain NL Central team. (even if it was a very small part)

I don't want to open a can of worms here but this is one of those chicken and egg type things.

Is our program responsible for players being drafted? I would say not. But I would also say that of the 5 Wisconsin HS kids taken in this year’s draft only 1 of them didn't play for us.

Is there a correlation?...I guess I'll leave that up to everyone else to decide.

We as a program have never taken "credit" for any of our kids’ success. We merely provide opportunity, promote the heck out of our guys and put them in the right place.

If they do happen to get drafted you can bet we're going to congratulate them for their hard work and accomplishments. We're proud of our program and our program is made up of the kids. It's not about my ego or who gets "credit"...never has been.

It doesn't matter how much I promote a kid, if he can't play he's not going to be drafted.

BUT...if he can play a little and he gets himself in front of some of the bigger decision makers in the game...well then good things can happen.

It does anger (frustrate?) me that there is sort of a jaded "I don't need you attitude" toward our program by some. Sometimes it's from people protecting their "turf". Mostly from people that have never met us, or anyone involved in our program.

We are not for every player, and every player is not for us, but I bet if you asked 99.9% of the kids who have played for our program they would tell you they had a great time and got the most out of their experience. (Especially from an exposure standpoint)

An analogy for you:
Can you put together your new end table without directions? Yes...it might not be the easiest or the most efficient way but you can do it.

Can you get drafted or a scholarship by playing legion ball, going to local showcases and camps? Absolutely.

But if you have some ability it sure doesn't hurt to put yourself in the best possible situation. We'd like to think we provide that.

Blazer 25,
Your organization is absolutely great for Wisconsin baseball. You give many kids wonderful opportunities and do much to promote the sport. I've never heard anyone say anything negative about the Blazers. I just believe that there is more than one path to the goal of playing college baseball and/or getting drafted.

Congratulations to all the draftees and to all those who are going to continue playing in college. And, thanks to all the coaches (from little league to high school) and showcase directors, Legion programs and camp directors who have helped along the way.

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
BigWI,

(Snip)

So it's just a matter of interpretation as to how responsible they might be. I think you'd have to agree with the fact they are certainly involved to some degree.

Without a doubt!

My comments were not intended to take away from anything the Blazers do for the baseball players in Wisconsin.

If it was taken that way, I apologize.

I know first hand how hard these people work!

Clearly the Blazers contributed, probably significantly to the players success.

I personally think the greatest accomplishment of the Blazers is what they do for the kids who do not get drafted.

Any 13U teams in the LaCrosse, Onalask area?