Legion ball...What Legion ball?

gotta do what's best for you, right?

 

The main knock against legion baseball is that not enough scouts go to the games. However, I believe that the quality of baseball being played in legion games is just as good if not better than many of the travel teams. My experience has shown me that many quality 17, 18 & 19 year olds continue to play legion baseball. I still believe that if a baseball player is talented enough he will be noticed by area high school coaches. Most high school coaches will make the appropriate contacts necessary for any young man who wants to play at the next level - I have seen this happen many times. If your son is interested in playing college baseball then he should be a starting varsity baseball player and have team and/or conference honors. You don't HAVE to play travel baseball. Many players that do are under the misinformation that showcase baseball is the answer. It's still about the talent. I see plenty of talent on many legion baseball teams. Many legion baseball players play college baseball, and some of the very talented get to play professionally. It's about the talent not the venue. Have your sons put in plenty of hard work. The cream eventually rises to the top. Encourage your son to have an honest talk with his high school coach or local scout and get some input/advice.

I'm not against travel/showcase baseball. My sons were involved with it for many years. They also have played legion baseball.

 

Lonnie Chisenhall- North carolina Player of the year, USC
Drew poulk- university of North carolina
Madison Bumgarner - unc, probable draft pick
Dustin Ackley- university of north carolina
Adison Johnson- Clemson
Wade Moore - N.C. State
Garett Bullock- Wake forest
Kyle Seager- University of North Carolina
Brett Hatley- Catawba
John Mcdaniel- Pfeiffer
Faggart Twins- ASU


The list goes on and on with outstanding players that played Legion ball I will take legion ball over any of those showcase,travel,aau,usssa,ball anytime .I agree with what Dave Winfield has said baseball is turning into a country club sport.

 

Chisenhall

Will L. Chisenhall be transferring to any other school after being dropped from USC?

When would he be eligible for the pro draft?

 

I agree with the country club comment.

 

great post.........great post

my son had the pleasure of playing against quite a few of those young men during his legion days. he is now in college only as a student. we'll never forget our days playing at some of those storied legion ball parks, packed with long-time, American Legion fans. good times indeed. hey, my son and most of those kids played high school football against each other too. go figure

 

Man oh man , here we go again!

I would like a definition of Country Club baseball. And please give me an example of it if you would. And One Putt please explain what you have personally seen that leads you to agree with that statement.

A thread that starts out about Legion baseball turns into a thread bashing showcase baseball. And it turns out that it is (Country Club Baseball). Whatever that is.

Is Country Club baseball what you play when you do not have a Legion program in your area? Or is it what you do when you are selfish and only think about yourself by not playing on the Legion team? Is Country Club baseball ImpactBaseball or On Deck O's or maybe the South Charlotte Panthers? The Carolina Copperheads are they Country Club Baseball? Help me out I need to know.

If a kid wants to play showcase baseball and is selected to play on a showcase team because he wants to possibly increase his college baseball options is that Country Club baseball? If he wants to go to venues like East Cobb or Jupiter is that Country Club Baseball? If he wants to play with some of the best players in the state even nation and compete against some of the best players in the nation is that Country Club Baseball? If he wants to play in college stadiums in front of college coaches every weekend during the summer and fall in order to help create more options for himself is that Country Club Baseball?

You have the right to take Legion ball over all those other options. That is your right and you should be able to do that without getting bashed by others for doing what you feel is best for you. Its a pity you and others do not afford others those same rights. My son plays for ImpactBaseball The "Dirtbags". He has never worn a jersey he is more proud of. Some of those same players on your list in fact played showcase baseball. I know because my son played with some of them when he was 15.

Country Club Baseball? How many times did you see the Dirtbags play this summer or fall? How many times did you see any of these showcase teams I mentioned play? How many times have you been to Jupiter or any WWBA event? I would be interested to know. And if your not talking about showcase teams who are you talking about?

 

Well guys, I've said I wasn't going to chime in,,,, but Coach27, you make some good points. I agree that there are areas in NC where good legion programs are not available and in those cases (in any cases) there is nothing wrong with kids going elsewhere to play baseball. And I would never criticize anyone for playing showcase, and I haven't, in fact some of our own legion players have done showcase and I only wished them the best. With that said, folks have got to remember that certain legion programs do provide great atmospheres, experiences and opportunities that kids actually dream about being a part of. I agree legion folks shouldn't criticize the showcase participants,,,,, but at the same time its not at all true when showcase supporters get on here and talk about improvements legion needs to make or how legion is dying or all that other nonsense. There are many folks around this state who will tell you that there are NO CHANGES WHATSOEVER needed within the current legion system. Quite frankly, if a player don't want to committment 100 PERCENT to his legion team and be fresh and ready during the playoffs whenever his team needs him and not go out here risking injury doing something else, then the legion belief is that kid needs to take a hike, because theres such a thing called committment to your team. Sorry.

As for the list posted above, I will only say what I've always said,,,,, the VERY BEST players will play college baseball if they sit in a hole all summer long,,,, the scouts will find the blue chippers, plain and simple. I don't have a problem with the marginal players doing whatever they feel necessary to get their name out there, and to some that may mean showcasing, but to some in certain legion hotbeds, the legion attraction will take care of it.

I wish the best for all the boys, and that includes your son too Coach27. Now that is all I will say about this subject until next year.

 

I'm not bashing showcase ball. Both my boys play AAU and may or may not play showcase ball.

After running a youth league for 6 years I have seen the cost of baseball rise. Parents spending 300.00 for a bat for 10 year old, training, hitting and pitching lessons, grow of travel ball where parents prefer that to REC and all-stars. We have tons of kids in our area that play travel ball that couldn't make their middle school team or their REC all-star team.

My reference to the country club comment refers to kids 12-13 and younger, not necessarily the showcase teams. The cost of baseball his risen. I see it 2st hand with the youth.

I have seen the Dirtbags play along with just a handfull of other showcase teams including the East Cobb group. Been to some of those tourneys. While they serve a good purpose, when you add in the TOTAL costs, it's not cheap.

Nobody is slamming travel ball that I know of. As to our area, we do not have Legion ball. It's not an option unless we go outside our area. Travel ball is all we have once you reach 16. Hope this explains my position.

 

Sorry I had to cut short Coach 27. Had to get them to school and get to work.

My country club opinion comes from the cost of the sport. I have experienced it first hand at the youth levels and also managed it with teams and a youth league for 6 years. I also see tyhe numbers of kids playing baseball dropping on a national level as well as a local level.

I did not ever mention the Dirtbags but I have seen them play a few times over the last 4 years and I'll watch them this year and the next and the next. Some of my son's friends are starting to play. And I have been to Fla. for tourneys where I watched some showcase teams as well as AAU teams. Been to East Cobb a few times. Wake Forest, Boone. Always good baseball. Spent the last few years traveling the roads going to these tourneys. It takes a bunch of money. Not every kid can afford it. While there may be scholarships available, I know some kids have had to walk away. On the other side, I have sponsored 4 kids in the last 3 years to play outside of my own boys. When we traveled to Fla. and East Cobb and other places I had a couple of kids where I paid all the food and hotels and transportation. I feel I have a pretty good idea of what it costs. I'm happy for your son that he was able to enjoy his showcase experience and that he could take advantage of the opportunity.

While the number of players is declining nationally and locally, the rise in batting centers and physical training is expanding and growing. ie. Greensboro Batting Center, Baseball Academy, Hitting Zone, Velocity, Carolina Accel. the new Proehlific Park, and many others. This is an indication of the money being spent on the sport while less kids are playing the game.

This is why I have the opinion I do. Nobody is slamming travel ball. I imagine my son will play it if it doesn't impact his football. It's our only option. We don't have a legion team.

I sign my name and include my email to every post. Feel free to contact me directly if you want. Maybe I'll see you this summer at some Dirtbags games. Good luck to you and your son.