Dirtbags vs. O's @ Winthrop

i know where your coming from coach may but...

the only reason teams like impact and on deck are still playing is because the WWBA in Jupiter got postponed 3 weeks due to the hurricane, and they have had to find games to play on weekends so they don't get rusty for the biggest tournament of they're lives.

i guarantee you all these guys are in the weight room and working on mechanics and things during the week days at school and at practice, they know what it takes to be successful at this game, they aren't oblivious.

 

Having participated with both Impact and On Deck for 4 years, they both concluded their seasons at the end of October; some years the first weekend in November.

The whole fall was built around preparing for the Jupiter tournament. Frankly, we didn't play that many games. A couple of tournaments, conditioning work and skills improvement. By the time the teams completed their fall schedule, they were ready for a break.

It's too bad that the tournament was pushed back into November, but will it be worth it? There is no other tournament that these guys will participate in that they will be watched by 600+ scouts. To see all the MLB scouts with their directors, to have Davey Johnson, Lou Pinella, Roger Clemens, Doug Drabek, Theo Epstein and a host of others from the ML ranks to see you hit, throw and run. As there will be over 250 scouts from the college ranks, it's interesting to watch a Stanford, Florida, Arizona State, USC coach come up to introduce themselves to the parents of a winning pitcher after a ball game. It's interesting to walk the complex and see 100+ scouts attending one particular game and after a few innings....bam...they are off to another one. To go back to your hotel room or go out to a restaurant and you are continually bumping shoulders or sharing an elevator with a scout or a powerful sports agent.

This is just a portion of the environment they will be a part of. The games are even better. To play against the Puerto Rico team with their lively fans playing drums, shakers and chants is not something you will forget. To watch a team from Miami put on a pre-game warm up with flair and arrogance while their fans line the fences and cheer is something they will never forget. While your son is circling the bases after he hit a HR against Kolby Clemens and you notice Roger Clemens is cheering your son. To watch your son pitch against a Justin Upton/Cameron Maybin type hitter and he wins that battle and then you notice the 100's of scouts taking notes and beginning to walk your way.
To know that every game, your son is playing against many of the best in the country and you conclude...hey, my son can compete with them.

It's just an amazing, amazing tournament...one that your son will never forget. So, is it worth it for these players to extend their season a couple of more weeks?......you betcha!

One other note; I personally know of several players that went down there last year with little notice. After the tournament, they were flooded with attention and three signed with major D1 schools.

 

Graham Stoneburner pitched 1-3
Ryan Morris pitched 4-6
Derrick Lowery pitched 6-9

All pitched well....

 

Every person I have talked to has nothing but awe and sweet memories of this tournament. Why not play a couple of extra weeks to live through this experience. But one drawback this year.

It's a quiet period for Div 1 coaches
http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/membership_svcs/recruiting_calendars/2005-06/DI_Baseball

This means there will be no Division 1 coaches there who want to keep there jobs or not have there programs turned in for recruiting violations.

I bet the atmosphere is still amazing!

 

Ahhhh...to be a D2 recruiter in this environment. It would be like someone gave you the keys to the gate.

 

[ Braves....you know I'm counting the days to see Andress, Layman and Morris get going on the mound for South....please let them stay healthy!!!!


South had the most talent last year and could not win the conference or the state. Very talented group. The best talent is not always the best team. Maybe Bagwell will figure this out before all this talent leaves. Hopefullyt Bagwell will make this good group of guys a great team.

 

south won conference last year, and was runner up in state. bagwell is a great coach, and in my opinion, south was a great team last year

 

If I'm not mistaken, Providence won both the regular season and the conference tourny.

 

I think Providence finished 12-2 and South Meck 11-3. Also East Meck beat South Meck twice last year.

 

no south won both regular season games im pretty sure, i think south won the regular season