American Legion State Tourney

I agree with MOOSE'S post above....

 

speaking of the "can of worms"

does anybody here have any info on the four Greensboro players that were forced to sit after the first round victory over Pleasure Island? I was wondering when I listened to the games why Pegram and Polchinski weren't in the usuual spots in the infield and Whited had to move out from behind the plate.

Not that it would have changed the outcomes but its a shame that four good kids were forced to sit over some technicalities

 

I said earlier that there were 5-6 things that happened I totally think was wrong. This being one of those things.

I think it was 4 players from Greensboro and I think a couple from Laurelberg as well. The rule was put in a few years ago that once the playoffs start no player is allowed to play AAU or showcase events or anything of the sort. The rule is there to protect someone from wearing out players while they are playing everynight in the legion playoffs.

I bet money these kids had no idea that rule existed. I don't know if its the commisioners fault or the coaches fault for not knowing all the rules, but it really sucks for these kids.

By the way, I am not responding to that BS from an earlier post except to say Josh Leyshon was 11-0 this season for Post 29 with a sub 2.00 ERA. I think you might be wrong. He is a great MAN. It is a shame someone pushed his buttons and made him snap, OVER A YEAR AGO. Gary Hamby was 39-9 with one ejection this year. I think he might be know what hes doing.

 

no message.


but the MVP was Leif Baker from Post 232... not "Lief".

 

One more word on the whole picture thing in the hotel on Saturday night for those readers who doubted it happened ... wanted to make sure I had the facts correct. The "guilty" party from Caldwell stayed in Room 207 ... came in after the Pleasure Island team left ... it happened Saturday night as the Wojans were packing ... and at least 3 Kannapolis players confronted the person ... so YES unfortunately it did happen ... neither here nor there ... live goes on.

Good luck Garner & hats off to Shelby ... they hosted a GREAT tournament!

 

Wossa and DownSouth, thats unfortunate "if" some of the Greensboro players were not able to participate in Shelby, I didn't realize that happened. However, with that said, the legion rules concerning dual participation are VERY CLEAR. Its not the commissioner's fault,,,,,,, this blame falls squarely on the coach for not enforcing the rules. Like DownSouth said, players may participate in AAU or Showcase events up and until the playoffs start. Once the playoffs begin, players can do NO MORE showcases. I happen to know that several of the Kannapolis players were invited to the 2004 Impact State Games Showcase in Chapel Hill July 21-23; however, they did not attend for this very reason (because of the legion rules). If the Greensboro legion coach allowed some of his players to attend, then "he" is the one that dropped the ball.

Btw, I don't really like this rule, because I believe players should be allowed to do whatever's in their own best interest if it means catching a college coach's eye at a showcase; however, I also understand why the rule is there too. We all know that great legion players in the past have had no problem getting college scholarships. In today's world with all these showcase events available, the players simply must make a committment to their legion team especially during the playoffs.

 

It did happen tj - talked to a parent last night at school open house.

As a matter of fact I reember talking to one of the parents right after the showcase event, he was excited because his son had played well and was getting some contact from scouts there.

Greensboro was cruising through the playoffs then and the kids were playing because they had down time. Looks like that downtime came back to bite them.

 

OUCH!!!

Sorry Wossa, but your legion coach should've known better. I'm sure the Greensboro players will do fine individually as far as getting scholarships but I hate it hurt your team in Shelby.

 

Well like I said I'm not sure how much it affected the outcome of the games but I just hate it for the kids - having to sit and watch for two games instead of on the field playing.

 

The American Legion rules for Dual participation have gone a little to far in my opinion. They want the best players to stay home and play Legion instead of playing with travel teams.......but yet they restrict them when it comes to showing off their talents in front of College coaches/and or MLB scouts. An example is preventing a pitcher from showing his stuff at the "East Coast showcase" b/c he is still involved in legion playoffs. That happened to the Musselman kid from Pleasure island. It would have happened to the 2 pitchers from Wake Forest have they not lost to Garner the week before. To restrict a pitcher from throwing 3 innings in front of 350 College coaches and over 200 MLB scouts in a showcase put on by MLB is ridiculous!!!!! That rule needs to be changed. IMO!