Maybe Baseball in Our Region is Getting Recognized

Taking a spin from Dawgswood post from another thread. Do you think that NC baseball is putting a solid foot in the powerhouse staes like Fl. Texas, Cal. ? Or do you see it as just a temporary period shift? Meaning is NC just showing a strength over a short period of time or that they are becoming deep rooted. Your thoughts and why.

 

I think that NC baseball has always been very very good. I'm young and I remember back to when Alec Zumwalt and company were very good and even at Glenn had some very very talented players. I think what is helping to recognize NC baseball now is the success of UNC at the College World Series and noting the fact that the majority of the players on that team are from North Carolina.

 

Baseball America looks at the PG events as excellent resources to make their evaluations of players. The fact that North Carolina has done extremely well in those events for the past 5-6 years is indicative of the talent in this state.

Eagles is right. UNC has been a perfect reflection of the talent and has done most to promote our area of athletes by their NCAA successes. They have also been instrumental in the priority of other state schools to go after the NC player (it was not always this way.)

The fact that Cameron Maybin, Madison Bumgarner and Justin Jackson were all 1st round picks out of HS has not hurt the attention of the NC players either.

Speaking of PG's grandaddy event in Jupiter, I'm still astounded by a record produced by the On Deck 2004 program. They pitched 25 straight scoreless innings in Jupiter finishing in 3rd place at a time when PG and BA gave very little respect to he talent in NC. To this day, I strongly believe that team put NC on the radar in the eyes of PG and Baseball America. Since then, the successes of the Dirtbags, South Charlotte Panthers, Megastars and the Cubs each year has carried on the tradition.

Here's a quick story of the Dirtbags. Initially AP's team was called Impact Baseball. Andy had some very talented players with the likes of Chad Flack, Josh Horton, Adam Warren, etc., etc.. But his teams only played in the fall and it was truly a showcase team. Andy's intentions were to allow his players to show what they can do, but their priority was not necessarily to win. The chenistry on his teams did not have the time to gel since they were put together during the fall. Some of his players were selfish and only cared for themselves (this was not true of the players I mentioned). After Andy's 2nd year of doing this, he realized for his teams to do well, he needed to have players that were willing to check their egos and play as a team. It might have started when he decided to change the name from Impact to the Dirtbags, but when he went to choosing a team to play all summer and fall and to develop some chemistry, that his teams started doing real well in the PG tournaments.

 

I would have to agree. On Deck was a beginning. Breaking the ice. Impact as well as others have done a great job getting Carolina HS players seen. I think that travel baseball (AAU, USSSA) becoming larger in NC helped ready the field. Back in the day (mid 90's) it was AAU in Concord leading the way. Then USSSA in the Greensboro/Traid and the Gastonia area got it's share. I did see that later it became more about getting more teams (the money factor) not more talent. Thats another thread. But many players (showcase) came up though those travel ranks. Teams like the Carolina Mariners, The Heat, Copperheads, Yellow Jackets, Carolina Angels, Catawba Valley Storm, Kernersville Cardinals and many others. I think that this got many of the players we see today ready get to the next level (showcase). I think this is where NC players have gotten ready. Not waiting for HS like before and then a couple of good players stand out. Now we have teams that have competed against teams other than the neighbors down the street.

 

Keep in mind, prior to 2003, there were very few players across the state that garnered a D1 scholarship. Freddy Suggs and Bill Capps were one of the few people fielding teams that could make a call to a coach and get a player a scholarship.

It wasn't until 2003 with the On Deck program, Impact, Megastars and very few others that the number of NC kids started to get noticed.

It started at the beginning and it holds true even more now. Andy Partin is the single biggest reason that the NC baseball players gain the recognition they deserved. His events are unsurpassed in gathering the attention from college scouts.

All the coaching a player may have received when they were younger would have meant little if Andy did not provide an opportunity for those players to market their skills. If you really want to measure his success then count the number of NC baseball players receiving college scholarships prior to 2003 and match them to today's numbers. It's is mindboggling

 

Credit where credit is due

You are very correct. He really brought the eye to NC though showcasing players. Found a niche so to speak. Just as the directors brought AAU & USSSA to NC. I remember a couple of names Donnie Broome for AAU Clyde Alridge? and Joe Hill for USSSA. Each had their agenda and goals. I'm sure that somewhere down the road another will pop up. Point is regardless of who it is that shows the players. It comes down to the players staying ahead of others. But, in the same breath He first drew from the well of well coached players from coaches that came up though the travel team ranks. Not a bad thing just something that is one part of the whole picture. Now it about getting the players early and winning to hold firm that they are the best. Growth is a good thing but can turn bad if left unchecked.

 

The improvement in NC prep baseball is not temporary. Feeder programs are better, travel options at young ages is better, training facilities have expanded, showcase is exploding. It may ebb and flow but I would say the growth chart on NC baseball is upward.

 

But, do you see it as a solid growth with a future or a spike?

 

I also agree that North Carolina baseball is doing very well. I truly believe that showcase tournaments and folks like Andy Partin and Freddy Suggs are a big part of this growth.

There's only one thing I would like to add to the discussion that not many people talk about much. Part of the reason I don't think north carolina is at the level of florida, texas, arizona, and california is the sheer number of athletes playing baseball who are guys with a chance of playing at the professional level.

I think we are at the top of that second tier. With a huge number of players who are good enough to play at the college level but the numbers drop off after that. Don't get me wrong I am well aware of the 10-15 guys who are drafted in our state every year but that's a lot smaller number than the states mentioned before.

We are definitely competing with any body in the country for quality college programs and one can look at any roster in NC to know we have lots of college quality players.

 

PD, I believe NC baseball will continue to be strong relative to other parts of the country except of course Fla., Tex. Cal.. While showcase has helped, I firmly believe the major reason for the growth is in the feeder programs and the development. These kids have to play the game and learn the game for the showcaase programs to have something to showcase. Probably a point for another discussion but I'd be hard pressed to say showcase develops players. The growth of AAU/USSSA the last few years has seen those kids age into the showcase age and we have seen showcase teams expand very rapidly. Andy and every other showcase team has definitely had a strong role but they had to have something to showcase. It comes from the feeder programs. Other people have tried to duplicate/compete/copy (you choose the word) what the original showcase programs established because they have the opinion that it works better than any other venue. I would tend to agree. I think this adds to why you see showcase grwoing and Legion waning, at least for now.