It's not surprising that you don't have the rosters of the Commonwealth teams. There seems to be no organization or standard approach to how the four teams are selected or put together. And there is no published criteria for a player to apply or be selected. From what I can tell, it is left to the individual discretion of the four Head Coaches on how to put together a team.
For those of you not aware, the VA Commonwealth games is a weekend series of games that are designed to showcase the best uncommitted underclassmen in the state. It is widely attended by College coaches across the region and should be considered quite an honor.
In the past there was a scheduling conflict with the biggest rising Senior showcase event in the nation, the Marietta, WWBA. This meant that a lot of Virginia's best were not at the Commonwealth. They apprently resolved that for this year and the games will be held over 4th of July weekend and it should showcase the state's best talent (or at least the best marketers).
Last year, I recall seeing Posts where some of the Region coaches, like the North, conducted a try out based on an invitees list either from the All-District teams or Coaches recommendations.
This is a fair system and helps level the playing field from the big school vs. small school, public vs. private debate and the everpresent statistics inflation.
Not all teams did that nor did it again this year from what I can tell. It's hard to believe that an event with such visibility and impact can be conducted behind closed doors with impunity and no transparency.
This system needs to be changed and I will be interested to see if VirginiaPreps gets the names anytime soon.
Posts: 3 | Location: Midlothian | Registered: May 04, 2007
I'm not sure how the other regions do it, but the East holds open tryouts (I believe about 80 showed up this year) and then brings back the top 32 the next weekend for evaluation games to select the final 16. Granted, if you are a relative unknown, it is dificult to stand out among a group that large and get selected, but I'm sure it has happened and I can't really think of a fairer way to select the kids. Additionally, I'm told that only two kids from a given school can be selected...I'm guessing that is so a coach can't select all of his own kids. I'm not sure that is necessary and there are certainly years in which the selection of more than two from a given school is warranted. Anyone know if this is a rule applied across the state or just in the East?
"Character: How hard you work when no one is watching."
Posts: 272 | Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003
I am pretty sure that is a set rule. In the West, they have two open tryouts, since that part of the state is so spread out. One tryout is usually in the Lynchburg area, and the other in Pulaski...with selected players brought to Salem for a DH in which the final team will be chosen.
JT
Posts: 3516 | Location: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: January 15, 2003
[QUOTE]Originally posted by AU Marine: it should showcase the state's best talent (or at least the best marketers).
I can't speak to the other regions, but this certainly applies to the North. In my experience, the selections are highly political (influenced by marketing) and are poor indicators of future performance. Twice I've looked back 2-3 years post-CommGame and have been shocked (well, maybe not) at the washout rate. I'm not saying there aren't deserving players on the rosters, but certain area coaches have far to much say in the picks, "selling" certain players rather than taking a wider, region-wide view, and this, unfortunately diiminishes the value of the honor. The "tryout" itself is window dressing. Basically, the whole process could use an overhaul to get reduce what AU Marine accurately characterizes as "behind closed doors with impunity and no transparency".
Posts: 121 | Location: VA | Registered: July 23, 2005
Part of the problem with the North is that it stuffs the entire HS Northern Region and at least half of the HS North West Region into one geographic. There are a lot of players from these AAA schools plus the private schools and there is no real way for the coaches to get around and see everyone during the high school season. So, going into the tryouts, I agree that 3/4 of the 16 person team is picked based on reputation/prior knowledge alone. Even then, coaches want to spread resources around.
Given the 3 game in two day nature of the tournament, I believe the rosters could easily and justifiably be expanded to 20 in order to allow some additional pitchers to be brought in on each team. Last year it was not a good situation when coaches had to bring players in to pitch directly from the field with no warm up/no rest on very hot days. It was not surprising at all that scores were way up.
Posts: 123 | Location: Virginia | Registered: January 31, 2007
It seems that the Central team is basically hand picked by the coaching staff and with that the case you can count every year on seeing players from Hanover (Commonwealth head coaches school) Deep Run (assistant coaches school) Louisa (assistant coaches school)and now Powhatan (new assistant coaches school). Every year those schools will have players on the team guarnteed They have other good players but the Central coaches look to showcase their own kids often at the expense of maybe more deserving kids.
Posts: 57 | Location: Prince George, Virginia | Registered: January 15, 2003
Originally posted by Local8SS: It seems that the Central team is basically hand picked by the coaching staff and with that the case you can count every year on seeing players from Hanover (Commonwealth head coaches school) Deep Run (assistant coaches school) Louisa (assistant coaches school)and now Powhatan (new assistant coaches school). Every year those schools will have players on the team guarnteed They have other good players but the Central coaches look to showcase their own kids often at the expense of maybe more deserving kids.
It certainly doesn't hurt that those four schools are also four of the better schools around for baseball. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that those schools probably have deserving players pretty close to every year.
Posts: 385 | Location: Richmond, VA | Registered: December 27, 2006
I don't have the exact roster, but the Central team was picked by the coaches last year. As I recall almost the whole team ended up committing to D1 schools later in the year. Martin, Alford, Hardee, Mallory, McCann, Lowery, Shaban, Jung, Mikionis. Fleming, Cutler-Voltz are among the players.
Posts: 88 | Location: virginia | Registered: November 21, 2006
Originally posted by VA_Sportsmom: [QUOTE]Originally posted by AU Marine: it should showcase the state's best talent (or at least the best marketers).
I can't speak to the other regions, but this certainly applies to the North. In my experience, the selections are highly political (influenced by marketing) and are poor indicators of future performance. Twice I've looked back 2-3 years post-CommGame and have been shocked (well, maybe not) at the washout rate. I'm not saying there aren't deserving players on the rosters, but certain area coaches have far to much say in the picks, "selling" certain players rather than taking a wider, region-wide view, and this, unfortunately diiminishes the value of the honor. The "tryout" itself is window dressing. Basically, the whole process could use an overhaul to get reduce what AU Marine accurately characterizes as "behind closed doors with impunity and no transparency".
Does anyone know who made the teams?
Posts: 351 | Location: Virginia | Registered: September 08, 2006
Three years ago, my son wrote to the North's Head Coach, sent a profile used for letters to college coaches, and asked for a chance to try out. He got a call a few days later inviting him to attend tryouts. He actually missed the first weekend due to high school regionals, but was told to come to the second weekend, where they played a couple games. He was selected to the team, having no prior exposure in front of the northern Virginia coaches and coming from a small school in the Valley.
We had heard rumors of "all politics" but that didn't turn out to be the case. He made the team, and played a ton down at Roanoke. It was his favorite ever showcase experience far and away. There were lots of great players there and I'd hate to be the one to have to pare it down to one team. True we were pleased because he was selected, but as we left tryouts, before learning he made the squad, I recall my son commenting on how many darned good players there were, how well he thought he did, and how he thought it'd be tough to make since he was an "unknown".
Be proactive.
Go Hokies! Go Rams! Go Captains!
Posts: 1772 | Location: Virginia | Registered: December 28, 2002
These are almost as hard to find as the VHSL all-star game rosters!
09 Ethan Carter Menchville P 10 Austin Chrismon Menchville P 09 Justin Shively Bethel P 09 Shane Hoggard Bethel 1B 09 Chris Taylor Cox IF 09 Ryan Mattes Cox P 09 Erickson Keeton Nansemond River P/OF 09 James Taylor Kellam OF 10 Chad Pinder Poquoson IF 09 Coby Cowgill Maury P 11 Greg Tomchik Princess Anne P 11 Jake Cave Hampton Christian P 10 Cory Patrick Tabb OF 09 Blake Boyce First Colonial C 09 David Hughes Kempsville C 09 Jackson Shaver Jamestown IF
Note - Jackson Shaver is the son of William & Mary basketball coach Tony Shaver. Thanks to Sandy F. for that nugget!
Posts: 31 | Location: Richmond, VA, USA | Registered: April 13, 2003
No. First Name Last Name Pos. School Coach 11 Mike Baskeyfield P/3b Colonial Beach Steve Swope 6 Cody Brown P/3b Tabb Doug Baggett 1 Sean Fields Ss Hampton Danny Mitchell 14 Dustin Galbraith P Douglas Freeman Ken Moore 15 Will Lamb Of York Bab Pearce 3 Travis Lane Of Mills Godwin John Marano 3 Jake Lowery C Cosby Tim Lowry 20 Adam Mcconnell Ss Tabb Doeg Baggett 16 Timmy Mcdonald Of Strasburg Jeff Smoot 8 Christopher Mcdougal C Denbigh Chris Balis 6 Paul Nice 2b Powhatan Greg Connor 1 Luke Saunders Ss Lancester Welby Saunde 9 Ronnie Shaban P/ss Cosby Tim Lowery 13 Matt Shaffer P/1b Hampton Danny Mitchell 14 Shawn Sizemore Of Menchville Phil Forbes 5 Brent Steffey Ss Colonial Beach Steve Swope 31 Ben Tomchick P Princess Anne Jimmy Hunt 15 Jordan Walton 1b Lee-davis Kenny Lewis Steve Gedro
East Coaches
Gregg Connor Powhatan Jeff Smoot Strasburg Grant Odell Deep Run
West Baseball 07 No. First Name Last Name Pos. School Coach 18 Justin Bagbey 1b Halifax Kelvin Davis 3 Jordan Barnett P/inf Richlands Brad Strong 23 Jesse Beal Jr. P South County Mark Luther 7 Adam Bedsaul Of Grayson Co. Mike Worrell 46 Cody Bentley Ss J.j. Kelly Dave Wyrick 8 Daniel Bowman Of Turner Ashby Richie Anderson 4 Kyle Craun 3b Turner Ashby Richie Anderson 24 Caleb Dorton P/3b James River Gehrig Ferguson 12 Brent Frazier Ss South County Mark Luther 15 Zack Helgeson 1b Hidden Valley Jason Taylor 9 Josh Huffman C Jefferson Forest Ryan Gilleland 2 Zack Jones P/inf Grayson Co. Mike Worrell 23 Steven Keener 1b Alleghaney Gary Rice 25 Jake Myer 3b Woodbridge Jason Ritenour 8 Mikey O'brien P Hidden Valley Jason Taylor 8 Devon Snow Of Osbourn Keith Howell 11 Justin Thompson C/p Tunstall Barry Shelton
Coaches Mike Worrell Grayson Co. Jason Taylor Hidden Valley Mark Luther South County
"Character: How hard you work when no one is watching."
Posts: 272 | Location: Virginia Beach, VA, USA | Registered: January 02, 2003
Originally posted by Chris Taylor: I believe these are the VHSCA rosters
East Baseball 07
No. First Name Last Name Pos. School Coach 11 Mike Baskeyfield P/3b Colonial Beach Steve Swope 6 Cody Brown P/3b Tabb Doug Baggett 1 Sean Fields Ss Hampton Danny Mitchell 14 Dustin Galbraith P Douglas Freeman Ken Moore 15 Will Lamb Of York Bab Pearce 3 Travis Lane Of Mills Godwin John Marano 3 Jake Lowery C Cosby Tim Lowry 20 Adam Mcconnell Ss Tabb Doeg Baggett 16 Timmy Mcdonald Of Strasburg Jeff Smoot 8 Christopher Mcdougal C Denbigh Chris Balis 6 Paul Nice 2b Powhatan Greg Connor 1 Luke Saunders Ss Lancester Welby Saunde 9 Ronnie Shaban P/ss Cosby Tim Lowery 13 Matt Shaffer P/1b Hampton Danny Mitchell 14 Shawn Sizemore Of Menchville Phil Forbes 5 Brent Steffey Ss Colonial Beach Steve Swope 31 Ben Tomchick P Princess Anne Jimmy Hunt 15 Jordan Walton 1b Lee-davis Kenny Lewis Steve Gedro
East Coaches
Gregg Connor Powhatan Jeff Smoot Strasburg Grant Odell Deep Run
West Baseball 07 No. First Name Last Name Pos. School Coach 18 Justin Bagbey 1b Halifax Kelvin Davis 3 Jordan Barnett P/inf Richlands Brad Strong 23 Jesse Beal Jr. P South County Mark Luther 7 Adam Bedsaul Of Grayson Co. Mike Worrell 46 Cody Bentley Ss J.j. Kelly Dave Wyrick 8 Daniel Bowman Of Turner Ashby Richie Anderson 4 Kyle Craun 3b Turner Ashby Richie Anderson 24 Caleb Dorton P/3b James River Gehrig Ferguson 12 Brent Frazier Ss South County Mark Luther 15 Zack Helgeson 1b Hidden Valley Jason Taylor 9 Josh Huffman C Jefferson Forest Ryan Gilleland 2 Zack Jones P/inf Grayson Co. Mike Worrell 23 Steven Keener 1b Alleghaney Gary Rice 25 Jake Myer 3b Woodbridge Jason Ritenour 8 Mikey O'brien P Hidden Valley Jason Taylor 8 Devon Snow Of Osbourn Keith Howell 11 Justin Thompson C/p Tunstall Barry Shelton
Coaches Mike Worrell Grayson Co. Jason Taylor Hidden Valley Mark Luther South County
Posts: 88 | Location: virginia | Registered: November 21, 2006
