AC Softball

Here is a little info from a TB coach inside the soap opera of AC softball. The rumblings have started about the traveling players that Monte is trying to put together. This is why there is such crying. Most of these parents have switched teams and maneuvered their daughters to satisfy their desires. I have heard parents praise the ground a coach walks on 1 week only to say he doesn't know anything about softball 1 month later because their child isn't batting third or playing shortstop. This shows that the parents are less mature than the children. The kids can and do fit in on most teams only to be jerked up and moved to another team because of their crying parents. This brings me to SOME of the TB coaches. I have been to tournaments and seen a shortstop make 3 or 4 errors in a game and take the third strike 3 out of 4 at bats while batting in the 3 spot. This you can bet is the coaches daughter. The child might hit one hard ball the entire tournament and the coach (her dad) will say something stupid like ," All Day Long" or " now your out of your slump" the list could go on but I won't bore you with quotes that you have heard a hundred times. This my friends is why so many people are crying about Monte being here. They know that he will see through this crap and play kids where they should play and bat them where they should bat. The smoke and mirrors will be removed and the true players will play. Thank Goodness. Now here in the county you will hear many parents saying that UNTIL their smoke and mirrors are exposed. Some of these people are crying already because they know their child will not be batting .196 and stay in the 3 spot. These parents are trying to cause turmoil now so when their child gets to the HS they already have a built inexcuse as to why their kid isn't playing or doesn't make the team.

 

This is advice for parents of TB players or Rec ball players. Since it is a given that you want your child to play school ball then you must be honest with your self. You should be willing for your child to learn any positions on the field. You also must realize that if a coach is trying to change your daughters swing it is ONLY to give your child the best opportunity to succeed at the plate. This advice should be taken by all parents, but especially by the parents of pitchers. There is only one circle on the field and if your child isn't in it you owe it to them to have allowed them to be able to play another position or they will be like 3 or 4 girls at ACHS right now that don't even play anymore. There are children at ACHS that don't play school ball that could honestly start at any other HS in our conference, but they are not playing at all because of the level of talent in this county. Don't limit your child's chances because of your own stubborness. This doesn't mean to stop working on pitching at all, but to realize they are playing a position that is VERY competitive. If you want to give your child the best chance to play school ball then you need to have them taught how to HIT. If your child can hit well a coach will find somewhere on the team for them.

 

Who are you talking about, make sure you know what you are talking about before you those statements!!!!!!!!

 

Take away the specifics of the school name and forget that this might be about particular players and you will find that this is good advice for any school or player... It's too bad that it was directed at a particular program because it will get lost in the emotions of change...

 

I and probably you know exactly who I am talking about. My point is that some people are in a tizzy because Monte is trying to establish a system to make the entire county better. This will give all children a chance to develope their skills CORRECTLY and more importantly to give all kids an even playing field. I have been a very succesfull coach for a long time and it is very obvious that people are scared of Monte's approach because he doesn't let parents or politics cloud his coaching decisions. It isn't just the same old county politics. He is the most successful HS coach in the nation and I think we as a county should consider ourselves lucky that he is back at ACHS. Not all coaches play there kids in a position that they shouldn't, but most do. I know of more than 6 players in our county that won't play for local travel teams due to the politics of this county. I would also bet that these kids will probably play school ball too.

The tough thing about what Monte is trying to do is that there are more than 12 good travel ball players in each age group and even a few very good rec ball players.

If you go to any tournament within 60 miles of Alexander County you can just about bet that there will be a couple of Alexander County players on each team if not more. I believe Monte is doing this also to help parents who sometimes have to drive several miles one way to practice for these out of town teams 2 or 3 times a week.

If anyone is upset about having such an incredible opportunity for your kids right here in little old Alexander county you are absolutely crazy or afraid your child isn't going to play.

PS " Hit dog always hollars "

 

Give him a chance....

Well said, like it or not!

 

I think things will work themselves out in due time. And it would be better for all AC players if everyone didn't know what their laundry smelled like. This type of stuff goes on in alot of places no sense in telling everyone it goes on here too. If you don't like it just smile with your mouth closed and grit your teeth because you have just as much chance of changing it as you do getting an ump to change his call.

 

I just wanted to clear the air about some of the things I have been reading about .My DD plays on a 14u team in Rowan Co. with 2 other girls from Alexander Co. When we found out that Monte was coming back to coach at AC, we thought we needed to look at possibly putting together a 14u team in the county that could move up together into high school ball. We had a meeting to see how many players would show up. Only 5 girls showed. We had a TB team in this age group several years ago but due to lack of dedication it folded and we moved on to play elsewhere. We have decided to stay and play in Rowan Co. because we feel like we have already tried this before. Not one time did Monte tell us that we had to come back and play for him. He never put any pressure on us to make a decision and I never felt like we would be black-balled if we played for someone else. Monte knew that it would be hard to make a 14u team. We love the girls and the parents on our TB team. They took us in when we had nowhere to play and we feel like this is the best place for us . When our girls get to high school they will make the team because of their ability not because of where they played TB. Monte will make sure of that. GO FLAMES!!!

 

Great kids and parents

You really didn't need to add anymore to this, a lot of "misunderstandings" have been solved. I am glad that the young ladies from AC are wanting to stay. (because they want to, not because there's nowhere else) Monte is a great coach, hands down but Tim can also get some great results with the girls. I would suggest getting the other 2 girls who came to the meeting to come to our tryouts and you guys could still play together like Monte wants. We are holding tryouts to fill a couple spots anyway. Maybe even invite Monte to some of our practices to make sure his girls get what they need out of practice. We drive from Newton to Salisbury twice a week, sometimes three for extra hitting with Adrian. I'll carpool for the AC girls if I need to.

The girls who will play for AC that play with the Flames are the best kids and friends a team could ask for. The parents are also wonderful and a joy to be around. Glad you want to stay.

 

Let's play ball.....

Glad to still have everyone, now let's play some ball.