Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League

I heard some good and some not so good things about the league. It would be interesting to hear from some coaches who participated to get their opinions of the first year of competition. Pros and cons and where they think the league is headed. Thanks.

 

league tournament

The CCSSL tournament begins Tuesday, 7/25 thru Saturday, 7/29.

Bracket 1 at Fuquay

Tuesday, 7/25
6:00 Enloe v. Triton
8:00 Orange v. Harnett Central

Wednesday, 7/26
6:00 Fuquay v. winner of Enloe/Triton
8:00 Middle Creek v. winner of Orange/Harnett Central


Bracket 2 at Lee County

Tuesday, 7/25
6:00 Northwood v. Green Hope
8:00 Smithfield v. Jordan Matthews

Wednesday, 7/26
6:00 Lee Co. v. winner of Northwood/Green Hope
8:00 Apex v. winner of Smithfield/Jordan Matthews


Semifinals Friday, 7/28 at Lee County
6:00 winners from bracket 1
8:00 winners from bracket 2

Championship Saturday, 7/29 at Lee County
7:00 winner bracket 1 v. winner bracket 2

 

CCSSL Tourn.

First day rained out.
Tournament will be played Wed. - Sat.
Same schedule, just pushed back one day and using the Thursday rain date.

 

Playoff Results from Wednesday and Thursday's Matchups

7/26 Wednesday

At Fuquay
Enloe 5 vs Triton 7
Orange 9 vs Harn. Central 2

At Lee County
Northwood 5 vs Green Hope 4
SSS 17 vs Jordan Matthews 1


7/27 Thursday

At Fuquay
6:00 1 Fuquay Varina vs 9 Triton
8:00 4 Middle Creek vs 5 Orange


6:00 2 Lee County vs 7 Northwood
8:00 3 Apex vs 6 SSS

 

update

Fuquay games on Thursday rained out as 3 inches dumped on Fuquay.

Lee County 10
Northwood 0

Smithfield Selma 6
Apex 3

Friday's games at Lee County
Fuquay v. Triton 4:00
Orange v. Middle Creek 6:00
Lee v. Smithfield 8:00

Saturday's games
Fuquay/Triton winner v. Orange/Middle Creek winner 4:00
Winner of 4:00 game v. winner of Lee v. Smithfield

 

spacedawg, overall has this been a good summer league? any significant pro's or con's to mention?

 

IMHO

Not much response here so I'll offer my opinion and thoughts just from what I've heard, as I have no dog in this fight......yet.

The biggest drawback I hear is that the competition is weak. However, I'm sure people are comparing that to other summer opportunities which are legion and showcase and that should be expected. I personally know of many high caliber players, capable of playing showcase, legion, etc. that opted to play for their respective school. Now whether that was by choice or not I'm not sure.

The biggest strength I hear is that it gave many more kids a place to play this summer that may or may not have made a legion or showcase team. And by doing so will continue to strengthen a high school program. And IMO this is always a good thing. I can certainly see where a high school coach would want ALL the players in his program not only continuing to play, but playing under his tuteledge (sp?) and with his school teammates.

What I think would be the best case scenario would be for this league to co-exist with legion and showcase where a coach would run his summer program but allow his upper echelon players to play showcase/legion if they so choose. From personal experience, sometimes I think it's good for kids to "get away" and play with other players and hear things from other "quality" coaches. I can't see where it would be advantageous for a stud senior pitcher to blow gas by freshmen and soph's all summer. In fact in talking with a head D1 coach this past weekend, his words exactly were "these kids today need to get out of their backyard and see just how good the talent is statewide and regionally."

Anyway, as I said, just MHO and I'm sure there are many other mitigating factors such as $$$ and field availability etc. etc that play into the equation. Love to hear from some HS coaches opinions on this one.

 

FINAL RESULTS FROM THE PLAYOFFS
SEMIFINAL #1 Friday, July 28
Lee County 21, Smithfield Selma 9

SEMIFINAL #2 Saturday, July 29
Fuquay Varina 12, Middle Creek 8

CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, July 29
Fuquay Varina 8, Lee County 7


The CCSSL is a great concept. Thanks to Charlie Spivey at Lee Sr. and Milton Senter and Tom Hayes at Fuquay for starting the league and being great "co-commissioners". Thanks to Jeremy Thompson, Middle Creek, who updated the website.

It began as a league of 8 teams last October and went to 24 by February and wound up being 22 teams in three divisions by the June start date. Fuquay won the league tournament over Lee Sr. Both teams were very good.
The league hosted two showcase weekends and each team was able to spend a day at NC State getting valuable intruction from their staff. Overall I would say it was a very successful first year. When the "co-commissioners" meet again, some adjustments may be made.

True not every game was competitive, but not every high school or legion game is competitive either, and didn't the Yankees get beat 19-0 earlier this year. This is an issue that may be addressed. There were a couple of teams playing shorthanded because their best players were playing legion baseball or travel and showcase baseball.

The league allowed more kids to play yet at the same time helped some legion programs. Garner drew several Fuquay players (graduated seniors and college freshmen) after Fuquay disbanded its legion in favor of the high school league. Chapel Hill and Roxboro legion picked up players from Cedar Ridge and Orange. More kids play, more kids get better, isn't that what's its all about anyway. Giving kids a chance to play the greatest game on earth.

The NCHSAA will not let us start until school is out and that pushes our schedule into late July, which is not a plus for fall sport athletes. There may be schedule adjustments. Instead of two showcases, we may just have one hopefully on a college campus.

Overall it was a good experience and I hope the league continues to grow and prosper.