State Games of NC

State Game Tourn.

Great Post by all.

The first State Games tourn my son had the honor of playing was the single most important event in which he participated. This experience lead to all others. Showcase opportunities, travel team invitations, college recruiting experiences and ultimately the opportunity to play at the next level, all originated here. The number of college coaches and professional scouts represented was mind blowing to us and to our son. Our experience was by no means unique as you can tell from previous post.

What a wonderfull experience! While attending this event is by no means a prerequisite to playing ball beyond high school, it certainly was a great first step for our family.

Good luck to your son!

 

Huge event!

I know of many many players personally that were good enuf to play at the next level with lil interest from the college ranks BUT once seen here WAHLA! Knockin at the doors the "blue chippers" got their callin...

 

The Players side of it

There are several things that are good from the player's side. You get to experience a tryout with some college scouts around and other great players around you. You get to meet some excellent players that you would never get to meet in any other situation. Also coaches from your conference get to see you tryout and might make a light go off in their head about the conference awards at the end of the next season (little addition to the pot).

The games.
Top pitching in the state playing the top hitters. You go through another tryout were scouts get to see you again and look for: speed, power, arm strength, range, and just overall ability. Coaches can move you around to different positions to let the scouts get a look at you at other positions. You hang out with the guys and around other teams along with other sports teams that participate in the events of the weekend. I loved all 3 years that I played in the event. I know I will remember all 3 years especially last years seniors and old region 6 from 2 years ago.

 

Without a doubt, I recommend the State Games of NC. I believe that the State Games of NC is the best forum with which players can showcase their talents in front the largest crowd of scouts and college coaches in one location at one time. The experience is immeasurable. I have had the privilege of coaching some of the best players in the state in my years with the state games. I have been an Assistant Coach for Region 3, the Head Coach for Region 3 twice (2001 & 2003), and the Head Coach for the East (2002), and an Asst Coach for the East (2004). Even if your son doesn't make the team, the experience is worth the trip, it costs nothing to try out, yet there are usually college coaches and sometimes scouts at the workouts. When I was the Head Coach for Region 3, and the East Head Coach, we had at least one of our tryout dates at a college field. During my years, we have used Barton College, Mt. Olive, NC State and UNC. This gave the college coaches the opportunity to see the workouts. Other regions have done the same things. I have seen pro scouts at these workouts and other college coaches looking for players they may not see otherwise.
If you go and don't make the team, what have you lost? Only a few dollars gas and another day at the ball park. To be nominated for the state games is an honor in itself, so to be nominated by your coach must mean that your coach feels you're worthy.

If anybody has a question for me, I will gladly answer.

 

FR / SO RULE

"It's not critical, but it is a good measurement of where you stand. If you think about it, you have 8 Junior teams, each with 20 players and no more than 2 (I believe) can be sophs/frosh. "

From what I have been told from a reliable source, this rule of 2 soph/frosh has been waived for the upcoming teams.

 

I favor doing away with the rule anyway.

If you have a player who is having a great sophomore year, why penalize him by not having him on the team because of the numbers game. He might be injured during his junior year tryouts ....

Pick the 20 best underclassmen you can for each team.

 

The player experience is truly unique. My son was chosen to play last year with Region 6 as a junior. The exposure is like no other event all year. I have to say the most fun for us was simply meeting and playing with players from different schools in the region. All of a sudden, you were able to put a face to some of the names you have been reading about all year. The coaching staff was tremendous.

Last year at Wake the first few days drew around 80 to 90 scouts, coaches and the like (if not more). Interestingly enough, on the day of the finals (Sunday), the scout and coach attendance was way down. I guess they had seen what they came for by then.

One thing to note if you are fortunate enough to get invited: there are tryouts for this and not everyone will make it. You need to go into this with the desire and motivation to make the team but also the understanding that you might get cut. This is never a fun thing for any talented player and the color of threads like these will change quickly!

 

I have heard freshmen can not try out for the undeclassman team. Is it for

sophmores up?

 

Yep. Sophs and Juniors only with a recommendation from their HS coach.

 

Emotions Can Run High

I agree with everyone here that the State Games are a terrific experience for both the players and the parents. The exposure that the players receive is better than any paid showcase event that they will attend. I remember my son running into a swarm of scouts as he ran the 60 and just seeing scouts everywhere as the teams did their skills workouts. The flipside of this enjoyable experience is the experience of letdown and anger that many players and parents have when they don't make the team. In my area, I have found emotions to run very high with the parents of the kids that are not chosen. The standard line "it's all politics" is a common statement for many that do not make the team. While I do believe in some cases politics do factor into play, it is a tough task for the coaches to select only 20 players from such large geographies. If a player is chosen, he should be very proud because this state is rich in baseball talent and there are many deserving players. The only thing that I would recommend that the State Games coaches refrain from is the practice of bringing players from their own teams that might not be as deserving as some other players. This practice seemed to really cause some anger from some players (ones that did not make it).



The net/net of the State Games in my opinion is it is an outstanding event top to bottom - organization, players, coaches, hospitality and fun.