Quality of Legion Ball?

While watching a 20-5 legion game of not-top-quality-baseball last night, I got to thinking, what's the quality of Legion ball in your part of North Carolina?

Here in the triangle it's uneven. Some teams are very strong, drawing kids from as many schools as the rules allow. Others are more like summer development teams for a particular high school - drawing kids primarily from a single school. While the latter approach is great because more kids get to play and get better, it makes it difficult for them to be competitive with the stronger teams and the quality of play suffers. It almost seems like there could be two "divisions".

-jda

 

Quality of Legion Ball...

Here in the Rowan County/Cabarrus County area, American Legion baseball is a very strong brand of baseball and keeps getting stronger with the local teams seeming to get stronger every year. Kannapolis has had some recent success going to 2 state tournaments in the last 4 years and are the defending Area 3 champions, while Concord has a rich history of winning going back 30+ years. South Rowan is the newest team in our area, but they're getting stronger every year and finished 2nd last summer only to Kannapolis. Then of course we have Rowan County, who has had several state championship teams and went to the AL World Series a couple times. Rowan is simply one of the "kings of legionball" in North Carolina along with other powerhouses like Cherryville, Shelby, Caldwell County, etc.

Of course theres a few weaker teams in Area 3 (won't mention any names), but overall in our 2 county area (Cabarrus & Rowan), these local boys really challenge each other every night. When these 4 local teams play (Kannapolis, Concord, S.Rowan and Rowan County) you always have large crowds and these rosters are filled with all-conference players, and now college players as well. These are NOT developmental squads...

I realize some people prefer other types of summer ball and thats fine,,,,, a person must do whatever is best for THAT individual. But since your asking specifically about legion ball,,,, I can say that its as strong as ever in this area. Its the best show in town throughout those hot summer nights, and a tremendous experience for the boys lucky enough to play because they face top pitching and challenges every night.

p.s.... I don't know what to tell you about the weaker teams who draw players from only one school,,,, because actually the number of schools is a "myth" among the fans,,,, the actual rule is based on the "total number of students" who attend the schools in your area. So yes, one legion team may draw from 4 schools while another legion team draws from only 1-2 schools,,,,, but "IT IS SUPPOSED" to be based on the "total number of students" attending those specific schools.

Of course players get ask his coach for a release so he can play for another team, but thats a totally different issue, and something that his coach can refuse.

 

I agree...Legion ball will always be strong in the historically strong districts...it's the cities like Charlotte that the talent pool is usually divided.

Pineville Post is the rare exception. Coach Rummage is very successful in getting the players in his district to play for him.....and he is a very, very good coach

 

Legion Ball,,,,,

Braves, Your exactly right,,,,,, a good "coach" can make or break a legion team. Boys will want to play for a good coach or a good program,,,,, but if there's a history of problems or lack of interest,,,, the better ballplayers will find "other things" to do and will not play. Pineville has certainly done well recently for "some" reason, and maybe the coach is the difference.

 

I believe in Pineville's situation...that's the case. He also has some very good assistants. For some reason, the Charlotte area has quite a few options for the players to choose from, but in Pineville's situation, Coach Rummage has been excellent in convincing the players in his district to play legion....a lot of that is from prior players having siuch a great time. Nearly all of his players have signed with a school...so no pressure "to be seen". They get to play for fun...and in reality...isn't that what they really want to do?

 

LEGION FOLDED IN OUR TOWN LAST YEAR AFTER A 46YR RUN. OTHER TEAMS HAVE FORMED AROUND US, MAKING OUR POOL OF PLAYERS INCREASINGLY SMALLER. YES GOING BY NUMBER OF STUDENTS IS CORRECT BUT A LOT OF RECRUITING. 2 CATCHERS A SOUND SHORTSTOP AND GOOD CENTERFIELDER ARE A GREAT BASE AND THE REST PITCHERS WILL GET YOU IN THE PLAYOFFS. 28 BALLGAMES OVER 35 DAYS, LOVE IS WHERE THE HEART IS. WHILE WE ARE SMALL AND FOUND ONLY TO DRAW FROM 2 1-A SCHOOLS TOTAL ENROLLMENT 960 WE COULD NOT CONTINUE, NOW DRIVING TO GREENSBORO TO PLAY PALOMINO BALL. SURROUNDED BY GOOD QUALITY TEAMS BUT NOT THE LIKES OF ROWAN. ALSO BEING THE FURTHEREST EAST IN THE WEST NOT GOOD. EAST HAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FORMAT TO REACH PLAYOFFS. WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC ACROSS STATE (GOOD OR BAD):huh:

 

recruiting in legion ball?????

If recruiting in legion ball is a problem in anyone's area, thats the coach's fault and nobody elses. Yes recruiting happens all the way down to little league. And I'm certainly not trying to be a smarta$$,,,, but again, this problem can be controlled. Each and every coach "DOES HAVE THE OPTION" of refusing to release a player to another team. As for "which team" has a players' rights, its simply the team which he lives the closest to. The area commissioner settles all questions about residency and which team has the rights to the player.

A player cannot simply jump from one team to another from year to year,,,,,,, he must get released.

 

Legion was weak in our area of 2-4A highschools last year and I believe has folded this year as the boys have mostly migrated to travel baseball teams.

 

Pineville, nada

Pineville is good in part because the boundries have been changed and consolidated. What was once 2 or 3 posts was one last year (Newell, Pineville and Matthews). This year Newell is back (Butler & Independence HS), so its based on old Pineville and Matthews posts. EDITORIAL: I believe the American Legion org has hired some of the CMS redistricting specialists to rework the lines every year and drive everyone crazy.

Pineville is also good because it draws from a pretty rich talent pool (PHS, SMHS, CCS, CLatin, EMeck, and Myers Park to name a few, but not exclusively as the boundry line apparently meanders down 51 and MacAlpine Creek). Coach Rummage has a great affinity for the guys and their families and loves ALB... that is very true, but I have never heard one player say they play in Pineville because of Coach Rummage... (other than maybe JR!).

Most that I know play because they can be on a good team, can have fun and want to get off the showcase circuit or just lay back a while before the rigors of college begin. And oh by the way, outside of gas, it doesn't cost a thing. The Post makes it very easy to play and supports the players quite well.

 

I have always lived in a hotbed of Legion Baseball, Caldwell County.

I feel Legion baseball has things AAU or other baseball organizations just do not have. First of all is rivalries. Caldwell County Post 29 versus Cherryville Post 100 was huge for both areas last year in revenue and quality baseball.

Secondly, legion's fan base, atleast in this area is much better. Its more than parents and girlfriends... its former players, coaches, neighbors, people you haven't seen in months comming out united for baseball. I know that sounds Field of Dreams, but here its true.

Then, I am not a fan of anyone having to pay to play baseball. No player pays a penny to play for this legion team. Post 29 pays for their players meals on the road. They stay in motels when they travel any distance for free. And the last few years Post 29 has traveled to Alabama and Florida.

Lastly, legion has much better exposure. Here in Caldwell County, WJRI AM covers every game. Lenoir News Topic's sport section leads with the Legion almost everyday. People in this area are hot talking about legion baseball. People wear the 29ers hats or pullovers or shirts and its instantly noticable.