Raleigh City Schools Need Feeder Programs

The city schools have a big disadvantage when it comes to fielding higher level fastpitch teams. The players' softball experience when they try out as freshmen is far below the schools outside of the city.

Some examples are Wake Forest, Apex, Garner, Fuquay, Johnston County. And there are more. They all have programs that benefit the kids and the schools they go to.

Raleigh doesn't have programs like that. The closest thing I can think of would be Wilders Grove and they don't turn out the players they used to.

I know Raleigh Parks and Rec has been approached and offered assistance by at least one of the major travel ball organizations at no charge.

Something should be done for the city schools so that they can be more competitive. What little is offered now is too little! They're pretty active with slow pitch for the younger girls but slow pitch seems to me more suitable for co-ed teams and adult leagues.

Why can't we support the kids? I know there is excellent free help available if someone would just put the programs in place. We're tired of one game and out playoffs!!!!!

 

Feeder programs, they have not.....

....been where they have to be in order to help kids get to the next level. No slander. Oh BTW, nice props to Wilders Grove. My DD started out there. Anyway, in Raleigh, far more kids are choosing golf, lacrosse, and SOCCER. IMO, the best feeder system is the middle schools coaching. No doubt TB is a must at some time or another (I say the earlier the better), but in order for any program to be in an advanced stage, the fundamentals have got to be taught first! Different strokes for different folks!

 

Fastpitch rec

I believe the rec leagues that abound just outside the city do more for fastpitch. The kids are being taught the fundamentals. Those rec programs feed their middle schools and vice versa. Raleigh Parks and Rec could do much more to promote fastpitch. In fairness, I must admit it has been several years since I spoke with anyone there about it but their response at that time was "that's not what we're here for."

The city has the facilities and they seem to be empty a lot of times. Go to South Garner Park and there's always young teams there playing and learning. That's why Garner HS always has excellent teams. Same with the other communities I mentioned earlier.

 

South Garner Park.....

.....yep, my DD played 10u there as well. If you can't beat em' ....join em'! I'm proud but not stupid! Atleast IMO!!

 

what

do some or all middle schools in Wake Co. have girls fastpitch softball teams? I had heard that midd sch sports is limited in Wake??. what's the true deal on this?

And I recall coaching in 10U rec league / fall ball several yr's ago that included Wake / Johnston / (maybe Harnett County?) teams; "Raleigh" had 1 team only (which I always thought why the capital city couldn't field more teams?) and were mostly a weak entry. Takes work and I think many kids do tend to other sport as mentioned.

 

Right in my wheelhouse

Having been a Raleigh middle school softball coach for the past 5 years, I could literaly write a book on this and get myself into a lot of trouble so I will try to keep my tongue/opinions in check and stick to the facts...

Wake County does have middle school fastpitch teams/conferences. They also have all of the other sports - volleyball, football, basketball, soccer, etc... I can't say all of the schools have teams because I don't know of or pay attention to most of the schools outside of our conference.

As far as this thread is concerned, I completely agree. Raleigh just does not seem to consistently have/get/develop the talent that the Garner's do. Pitching is by far the biggest gap. We used to live in Apex and my DDs played on rec teams out there. They had a lot of fun and it was pretty competitive. We then moved to Raleigh to get into the school district we wanted and joined Raleigh rec teams. Let's just say they played one season and that was more than enough. We were lucky to find a rec league in Durham that was made up of mostly travel ball teams and players. That was a great league but when TB season rolled around, there were a lot of teams and girls missing the games.

The way we see it at our school, North and East Garner set the bar. We know they are going to be good teams year in and year out and they are the ones we HAVE to beat. Those teams seem to reload every year with very good talent. We on the other hand, search high and low at our school for 'athletes' that we can turn into softball players. This year was no exception. 6 of our 13 girls had never played organized softball before but they were good athletes. With our coaching (have to pat ourselves on the back), we turned 4 of them into every day starters that contributed heavily on offense and defense. We were lucky to have three pitchers this year and our team went 13 - 1, tying for the conference championship with North Garner.

Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a team full of girls every year that were all softball players but I also embrace the challenge of taking girls that have never played, teaching them the game from the ground up, and watching them blossom. No better feeling in the world than to see this happen right in front of you over a three month period.

Now what happens with the girls after they leave our school, well.... I am not going there!

 

Middle schools....

...in Wake Co. As for the number fielding teams? I'm notsure. I do know that there appears to be plenty of interest and particpation in the vast majority. As for 10u rec. ball, yrs past, I have no idea what raleigh team was in the mix. But I can tell you this.....at South Garner Park, 9 yrs ago, my dds team included Amanda Davenport, Kelsey Eddinger, both UNCW signees, vs. Ashley Fowler, pudge, B A Kleekamp, Jesse Jones, the Stewart girls, and many more kids who, as time went by, andthey grew up, ended up 18 yrs old and still rocking the TB circuit. Props to who administered this program yrs back! The bottom line is this........Coaching fundamentals, then teaching the game within the game, takes 1. talented kids 2. coaches who give their time, and "know" 3. parents working with their kids at home......
After that, TB is must! JMO

 

Rec level

There is a certain level of satisfaction teaching at the beginner level. I've found out that it takes years to develop players and coaches to the point where they really do "know almost everything." I've also learned it only takes most parents one tournament before they know everything.

The kind of program you mentioned is exactly what I'm saying is needed in the city. Wouldn't it really be a cool thing if some of the parents would use some of the free time they'll have after their dd's go off to college to pass on to the next bunch of kids the knowledge they have accumulated over the years. That is a LOT of knowledge!! Why waste it? They could get in a couple good years of teaching before non-appreciative parents drove them away. How about it? Who's volunteeering?

 

Very well stated.....

...sbfreak! you are dead on right! 18 yr old DD off to college, 13 yr old DD going into HS,.........Bam, I'm back in the mix. Fundamentals first!!!!!!!!!!!!!