Carolina Challenge Baseball League!

Just curious...many of the teams in AAU ball are coached by one of the player's dad. What's the difference? Youth organizations historically have been coached by volunteers (most are fathers)...some are good, some are bad. The biggest change has been the flood of talent leaving the community leagues to form teams to play AAU, USSSA and others. There is no question that the talent level has dropped in the (rec) leagues because of the "flight" of players....but what of the players that are still playing with their communities? Should they not enjoy the opportunity, if presented, to play in a Tournament type event? With their team vs an individual allstar type challenge?

I dunno...I may be wrong, but I think any opportunity giving a kid a chance to play more baseball is a good thing.

But oldguycoach brought up something that I didn't know. The "rec" leagues and AAU allow players to play in both? How do they decide which teams to play for when their schedule conflicts? And who decides when a pitcher can pitch?

 

too many times they don't communicate and that's when kids have arm trouble...

 

Challenge League and AAU or USSSA Tourney Teams

Speaking only of the 12U Tourney Team we coach, we have this thing called "Communication"! We ask the boys who played in their Rec League or Challenge Team, if they had pitched. If so, we dont use them in that position. We have a strict 70 pitch count regardless of score or inning. We also give the Rec or Challenge Teams advance notice that we will be participating in a Tourney well in advance, hoping they will co-operate with us as we do with them. But, too often, when the player gets to our game he has already been used on mound. If their is a direct conflict between his Rec ball and/or Challenge Team we tell them to play for their community team as a priority. After Rec/Challenge Leagues are completed, the players are then totally commited to our Tournament Team. Our longest trip to date has been approx 25 miles. We might, however, as a reward (if deserved) take them somewhere special (Myrtle Beach), if the parents agree.

 

Memorial Weekend Tournaments

Memorial Weekend Tournaments - Over 1000 youth baseball players on 73 teams competed in 11 tournaments in 7 age divisions at 5 locations Memorial weekend! Competitive games, great plays and clutch hitting made for a fantastic weekend of youth baseball.

I saw a 7U game tied in the bottom of the last inning. Bases loaded, 2 strikes on the batter. Batter chalked a line drive down the left field line to score a runner from 3rd and win the game. I saw an 8U one run game that had a game ending 6-4-3 double play. Another 8U game had a player come to the plate with his team down by 3 runs in the last inning. The batter calmly hit a 3 run homer to tie the game. His team went on to win in extra innings. I saw a 11U game in which 3 pitchers combined for a 4 hit shut out against a team that scored 10+ runs in their previous 2 games. I watched a 12U pitcher throw 75-80 mph fastballs and showed a pretty good change of pace. I watched a 14U team come from 4 runs down to win in their last at bat.

Carolina Challenge Baseball League - Charlotte's alternative to travel baseball. www.challengebaseball.com

Just boys playing a boys game for FUN!

 

No matter what the good intentions of the player or parents are, there will always be conflicts in scheduling. What happens then is one of the two teams the player committed to comes up short. I've told players in the past that you need to make a decision to play for one team or the other and give it your all.

As far as the pitching situation, the players will not always be truthful with you because the want to play. And then there are a few coaches who will use a pitcher even though they know he's pitched recently for another team.

 

Great turnout Marty.....I'm glad that you made it happen for all of the teams and players. You guys do a 1st class tournament