Legion Baseball

Area 4 Legion Baseball

I am hearin some rumblings on the legion fronts, so I have a couple questions.

Are Taylorsville or Boone having a Legion teams? If so, are they Area 4 too?

There is a new rule where teams can draw from more schools. How does that work?

 

I know we investigated starting a new legion team in our area last spring combining TC Roberson and West Henderson. The school districts have common boundaries and we had the area guy in to talk with us and also offered him a junior legion team which our area does not have. He was not very encouraging and the legion group in our area convinced the local school superintendent that it was "divisive" for the community. These 2 schools do no presently participate in legion baseball and never will with the current set up. Though they were very cordial I got the impression that they weren't interested in what we were proposing. Therefore, legion baseball in the western part of the state remains very weak without TC Roberson, West Henderson, and Tuscola participating. Maybe he was just trying to protect his own group since a TC and West Henderson combination would have surely dominated the western district. It's really a slap on legion baseball in our area of the state to have someone in charge that seems to be protectionist. The local legion group in our area found out immediately what we were proposing and found a way to put a stop to it. Until Legion babseball in NC decides they "really" want the best baseball players to participate it's not going to happen. Too much local politics from the district directors to current participants.

 

what is the current set up. can t.c.roberson play for anybody in that district . if some one is already drawing from those schools then i agree with the commisioner if not then they should let you guys form a team.but you have got to realize that starting a legion team and doing it right is more than just buying a few uniforms finding a coach and just showing up to play. it takes a lot of hard work if you want it done right.

 

they can but they won't. The programs here in the mountains aren't the caliber of the ones in your area. I know this county where I am hired a guy to coach the team that couldn't even keep a HS coaching job. As far as doing it right, all 3 mentioned programs are playing nearly 100 games a year. I think we could handle a 5 week legion schedule.

 

it is unlikely that Taylorsville will field an AL ball team....most of the kids here are looking for a place to play summer baseball outside of AL....some wanted releases last year and couldn't get them so this year they are looking to play somewhere else...

Taylorsville draws from 1 high school and they can not compete with teams that draw from 3, 4 or 5 high schools....in the past most legion teams from area 4 came to T'ville and delighted in beating(pounding) sophs, feshmen, and juniors....without fan support at the gate(visiting teams often brought more fans), it is hard to finance an AL team...

Commander Gragg says that T'ville has to be in area 4....i believe they should be in area 3...anyway with 19 yr. olds returning, T'ville can not compete with Caldwell, Hickory, Cherryville, or Shelby...they would not compete with Rowan, or Davie in area 3...so why waste the money?

if T'ville kids want to play AL baseball, they will have to be happy playing for the nearest teams because they can't get releases from teams they don't want to play with....most of them will just wait for fall ball or travel out of state to play this summer...

we are looking for a few good teams, who can use some good baseball players in the ....

 

playme

Your area isn't the only one where the players are scrambling to avoid playing legion ball. Most players around here view it as a last resort... just in case nothing else pans out.

Except in a few traditionally strong communities, legion ball is dying quickly.

 

I guess this area (Caldwell County and the Unifour) should consider themselves lucky because Legion thrives in this area. Its a war to get a roster spot on Post 29 and then its an honor to play.

I just do not understand the thrill of AAU and the like. Why should someone have to pay to play baseball? And thats what it amounts to. Alot of times in this area, it amounts to okay I am not good enough to make a team myself, so I'll get my daddy to coach me so I get to play or my friends dad can get a team and I can play for them.

 

DownSouth, you are dead on. Parents today do not understand role players and bench time. If a kid cannot crack the legion lineup, let's go play AAU, USSSA, etc. Former HS and college coaches are jumping on the band wagon. The money from coaching these teams is good and the season and commitment is short.

 

Huntersville post 321 looks to have a lot of returners from last year very talented team. Not sure exactly who all is coming back from college to play but expect some very solid core players to return. Some haven't played in a while and will be hungary, so be on the look out. Any college returners that are known from Posts like Charlotte, Newell, and whoever else is in the Area 4 section?

 

Let me qualify my statement first...

I love AL play and the quality of players participating. Also, I do not like the " pay for play " concept...something just seems wrong with that, but having said that, let me pose a question.

Since the name of the game for talented players is exposure, where would you have him play. At a Showcase tournament that may have 25-50+ scouts attending or an American Legion game, where there will be 0 scouts...unless coming to watch a relative.

Keep this in mind. A scout attends the showcases because he can see more teams in a weekend, then he can see in a month of AL games..so financially and time management wise, you know where he's going.

For those who get selected to play on true " Showcase " team like the On Deck O's or the Diamond Devils, this is a completely different situation. That is not Daddy ball. You are being developed by professional instructors that will not only develop your skills, but place you in the best position to showcase those skills. That, my friends, is an investment worth paying for.

For those talented players who have already signed, go have fun and play Legion ball.