BAttle of the Border Softball Nominations and Recomendations are Due

Year two of the Battle of the Border Softball Showcase is all set for June 21 and 22. We have taken all the information and suggestions and thoughts from last year and added to this special NC vs SC all star showcase

Before we get to the press release, a few new highlights for 2010

We have added a Middle School All Star Game to the equation! They will play on MOnday night following a Home Run Derby and Skills Challenge for the juniors and seniors! Should be a very special night for sure!


We are reducing the roster sizes to give the coaches more flexibility and playing time for the ladies.

We are completing final paperwork to hold the event at what I believe may be the nicest high school park in the area, Nations Ford High School!

We have added more special bonuses for all the girls and we can't wait to see the incredible display of athletic ability again!



We need your help now,,, please take the time to nominate players from Middle School -Class of 2010. You can submit these nominations at www.battleofthebordershowcase.com or you can email me with more than one nomination at [email protected]



We really need your help for the Upper South Carolina area and the North Mecklenburg areas. Send us your thoughts on players ASAP.

Yes, this does conflict with NC State Games and we will lose 5-7 players to that event. We did all we could to keep from the conflict, but by moving it up or down, we created bigger conflicts. No worries, we have a ton of great softball players in the area and this will create more opportunties.

Thanks for sending those nomination by May 1

2nd ANNUAL BATTLE OF THE BORDER SHOWCASE GAMES SET FOR MID JUNE
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The top baseball and softball players in Mecklenburg and York County and their surrounding counties will gather together for The Battle of the Border Showcase Games. This prestigious event will enhance the reputation of quality baseball and softball along the North Carolina and South Carolina border. The four days of baseball and two days of softball showcases are scheduled to be held on fields at Winthrop University and area high schools. With the exciting schedule, a multitude of events will be held, including two talent showcases and 11 showcase all-star games.




Sunday, June 13 The Battle of the Border All Star Showcase Games kicks off with a Home Run Derby, Skills Contest and All Star Game for the top area players in the Class of 2010. Winthrop University will be the site of all seven baseball games.




Monday, June 14th - Two Showcase Games for Mecklenburg and York County area baseball players from the Class of 2012 and 2011 will be held. Each class will play a 9 inning game in front of an anticipated crowd of over 50 college and professional scouts. New this year will be two games for both of these classes, answering the requests of many college coaches to see the local talent as much as possible.

Monday, June 14th - The Battle of the Border Baseball Talent Showcase will be held at Belmont Abbey College. This event will bring together the top talent in the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 classes for a day of showcasing their skills to a large group of collegiate coaches and pro scouts. The top baseball players from across North and South Carolina will have the opportunity to participate in this event. Top Showcase and Travel baseball players are invited to register for the showcase event at www.battleofthebordershowcase.com Every major league baseball team and over 100 colleges have been invited to attend this event.

Tuesday, June 15th - The members of the Class of 2011 and 2012 return for a second game in front of college and professional scouts.





Wednesday, June 16th - The top local talent in the Class of 2013 and Middle School All Stars will each play a 9 inning game in the continuing battle for baseball supremacy between North Carolina and South Carolina.




SOFTBALL

Monday, June 21st- The Battle of the Border Softball Talent Showcase will be held for a large group of showcase and travel softball players from the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 classes. These selected players will be invited to attend the talent showcase with a large group of coaches from every division of college softball. Top showcase and travel softball players are invited to register for the showcase event at www.battleofthebordershowcase.com





Monday June 21st - New this year to The Battle of the Border Showcase Games is the Middle School All Star Games. The best of the best from the Class of 2014 and 2015 will participate in a true Battle of the Border event. Also on this special night will be a Home Run Derby and Skills Contest for the older softball players!


Tuesday, June 22nd - The Battle of the Border Softball Showcase Game will be held between showcase and travel softball players from the Mecklenburg and upper South Carolina areas. A Future Stars Game will be played for members of the 2013 and 2012 showcase and travel softball teams. The Class of 2010 and 2011 players will also battle it out on the softball diamond. Softball games will be a best of 3 series, with a shortened game 3 if needed.

“We are real excited about the second year of this unique event for players in our area," said Tripp Roakes, Publisher of The South Charlotte Sports Report, an area youth sports newspaper and marketing company. " Along with Jeff Schaefer at Carolina Baseball Center (CBC), we developed this event to allow the showcase and travel players to represent their state, showcase their talents and enjoy the game on tremendous facilities at Winthrop University. many of these players spend their summers in Florida, Georgia and other far away areas, we wanted to give them a chance to play a home showcase game. Top players from across both states will also have a chance to participate in a baseball and softball showcase camps in front of college and pro scouts. In today's world, it has become so important to display your skills in front of a large number of coaches and increase the opportunities for college and beyond. It was so exciting last year when we had over 50 college coaches and pro scouts come out to watch the rising sophomores and juniors."

“CBC’s Talent Showcases have built a reputation for attracting some of the most talented players in these two states. Our relationship with the college coaches has come from continually providing them the opportunity to see the best of the best in a controlled and structured environment. The reception from both college coaches and professional scouts that we have shared this event with has been overwhelming. They are very excited about being able to see so much of the talent in this hotbed,” said Jeff Schaefer, Founder of CBC.

Coaches, players and parents may make nominations for all the showcase games beginning March 15th. All nominations need to be made by May 1st. Registration for each talent showcase is now open. Each showcase registration will be reviewed and the top showcase and travel players will be selected to attend the showcase. In addition, officials with the Battle of the Border Showcase will attend numerous baseball and softball games this season and have the authority to issue on the spot invitations to the showcase events.





The Battle of the Border Showcase Game selections will be made by an independent selection committee. Rosters for all the showcase games will be announced in Mid-May. Nominations and further information will be available at www.battleofthebordershowcase.com

 

Only a week left to send nominations

Really need help identifying top middle school girls for the new game

www.battleofthebordershowcase.com

 

why is that every time the state games moves the softball showcase, somebody tries to go over it. i believe that the battle of the border is a class event, but at the expense of the state games. last year we moved it to the middle of the week to stay away from travel ball tourneys and the dynamite moves their tourney back and starts a day earlier. this year its moved away from the dynamite and now the border class interrupts. its not fair to pop rivers and the nc softball coaches association. we put on a great show in greensboro the 1st 2 years and charlotte last year. this years tourney will be just as good as the other 2. it just seems like there are other forces trying to undermind a great showcase for talent in nc.

 

This is a great event. Too bad time issues conflicts with State Games. Great options for the girls. I know Tripp means no disrespect to Pops but very good for the girls to have fun and another event to compete in. Possibly play in both events as they are located in Charlotte.

 

Thanks for the comments and I will give you my comments. My dates are the same as last year, I didn't change anything about the dates. Same Monday and Tuesday as last year.

When setting my dates for this year, I polled many different folks in the softball world. I asked them to tell me when they were playing tournaments, etc. The dates I ended up choosing caused the least amount of conflicts OVERALL. Based on the 2009 NC Battle of the Border roster, I think I would have lost 6 girls if the event was held on the same day.


My philosophy on ALL youth sports is to create additional opportunities. That's why I was so adamant that if I was going to have a Baseball Battle of the Border, then I was going to have a softball one as well.

If I lose 6-10 girls to the State Games that would have played in my Battle of the Border, then in my eyes it will create an opportunity for 6-10 other girls that would not have had the opportunity to play if the dates didn't conflict. There is plenty of talent to go around for all events and it never seems to fail the folks that get those opportunities capitalize on them.

I will offer an example that I saw last year in the Baseball event. A star 10th grade middle infielder was hurt the week before our event. I found a replacement that had been looked over the first time,,, the replacement won the MVP award and last week committed to NC State to play baseball.


I wish the girls in the State Games the absolute best of luck. We are looking forward to choosing our rosters and playing ball in our 2nd annual event


Hope that helps explain a few things..... we can't wait to see all the ladies in action!

 

Battle of the Borders

M

 

I would like to thank Tripp and all of his associates who put on the Battle of the Boarders. It was my daughters first true showcase event and she competed with the best . When the games were over, our daughter told us how much she enjoyed playing with the members of her team and could not wait until the next event that she would be invited to play in.

 

With that kind of talent im sure she wll be invited to play in many more. Better not mention her name though. Anyway congrats for playing so well in the showcase. I heard all about how well she did.