Something to Think About

A very lopsided outcome from a recent game sparks the recollection of a conversation I had on a baseball sideline yesterday:

The person beside me was offering the opinion that the Charlotte school system ought to offer schools the option of not fielding a baseball team, COUPLED WITH the opportunity for players at those schools to play at a nearby school of their choice. My friend's thesis is that there are some schools in the area that simply aren't fed enough talented players from their district. In many cases, these schools have no JV program. Their varsity is typically made up of 2 or 3 kids who can play the game at the high school level, joined by enough students who can be talked into putting on a uniform to fill out the squad.

The predictable result? They get pummelled game after game by the numerous quality teams in the region.

How can this be healthy for anyone involved? The several honest-to-goodness baseball players at the have-not program never get an opportunity to practice and play with kids whose skills and interest level are comparable, the "players in uniform only" at the have-not program have to wonder why they're out there, and their opponents take little, if anything, from the experience of playing them.

At a time when school resources are precious, one does have to wonder if we're approaching this situation in the smartest possible way. Other thoughts?

 

Tough Question

We can all imagine being on the loosing side of one of these games. The stigma (if that is the right word) associated with lop-sided loses can be "injurious", but I believe only temporarily. We as a society may try to protect people too much. The National networks stopped carrying the images of the twin towers shortly after 9/11 as to not injure our nations delicate psyche. I can't agree with either position.

I jumped out to the NC High School record book, to see if there were any examples of this one-sidedness. These are placed here for a couple of reasons. #1: They ARE records, even if no one other than the team that won wants to look at them and the very nature of baseball is to COUNT EVERYTHING, including the number of times the bullpen catcher scratches himself between innings. #2: It's not a unique situation to our area.
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HITS

Game, one team:
33 - Jacksonville Georgetown vs. Rose Hill Charity, 1966 (41-1, five innings)

RUNS

Game, one team:

49 - Bethany vs. Asheville McGuiness, 1967 (5 innings)
44 - Farmer vs. Broadway, 1970 (Farmer 44-0)
42 - Bear Grass vs. Cape Hatteras, 1993

Game, two teams:

52 - Bethany vs. Asheville McGuiness, 1967 (5 innings)

Runs in inning:
25 - Bear Grass vs. Cape Hatteras, 1993 (Bear Grass 42-1)
23 - South View vs. West Robeson, 1987 (South View 34-14)22 - Wilson Hunt vs. Rocky Mount,1990 (Hunt 22-10)
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A student who's basketball team got hammered by Vance this season or got murdered by Independence in football may not mind having one sided reports printed. They happen in other sports (20-0 score this season in HS Softball has been posted).

As much as you feel for the players, I don't believe that not reporting it is the right. Maybe the answer is to have conferences by "sport"? Match up the best with the best but that will only work in metropolitan areas.

I don't have an answer. I don't think we ever will. But we may have some great debating material.

 

A couple of brief, clarifying points:

(1) I am FAR from certain, myself, that my friend's recommendation should be followed. Rather, I find it an interesting approach to consider; one that requires a lot of thought, beforehand.

(2) For me, the core issue has a lot less to do about losing, itself, than it does about relegating kids who are passionate about the game to an environment that can't be as good developmentally as one they might find close by....along with a resource question for the school system.

 

Something to think about...

Prepster, are you suggesting that we allow kids to transfer to another school if the kid's home school doesn't take his/her sport seriously? Doesn't Char/Meck have this already with School Choice? Maybe I'm not understanding you clearly.

I'm sorry if little Johnny is a very good baseball player and his school coach/team don't practice,,, and yes they will be bad as a result. But I'm not sure if allowing kids to transfer in this situation is the solution. Remember I'm coming from a small-town background, but I would rather see some adults get with the coach, or "get a coach" and elevate the program to promote pride among the students,,,, which in turn will make the students WANT to play and excel in that program. Here in Kannapolis, little boys start playing football when they are in elementary school and they all have one thing in mind--- to grow up and play football for the A.L.Brown Wonders. They've all heard about Brumley, Horton, Smith, Johnson, Lott, Maddox, Morton, etc. These young elementary-age boys go to football games in Kann on Friday nights and see these enormous crowds. Guess what? These "SAME" young boys then all grow up and they want to be a part of that. As they get older, they lift the weights and do their running to get there.

Same can be done for other sports at other schools. Sounds like you're talking about a tough situation in which theres a long way to go. But somebody's got to step in and get some pride and credibility into the program...

 

School sports are really self-sustaining financially except for the initial investment in building & grounds. The gate & concessions cover the cost of playing sports at most every high school.

Most schools can cover the costs for their entire school year in athletics from the gate of the football season. If that doesn't do it, basketball will put it over the top.

Financially, I don't believe that it is an issue.

 

Kids with a "passion" for the game.

With school choice, this is a diminishing concern. Most High Schools don't realize it yet, but they are competing, in every sport for the best middle school players. The kids in the 7-8th grade KNOW who has good programs, they talk to their older brothers, sisters and other ball players at the fields.

Over the next few years, I am afraid you are going to see more and more "specialty sport" schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg as the best programs attract the best talent. Since rising 9th graders can specify the school that they wish to attend, the situation will sort itself out as far as players are concerned.

 

school choice...

NCBBALLFAN, thats what I'm afraid of,,,, what you said,,,, that in a few years in Char/Meck you will have a select few schools who will clearly dominate everyone else, because all the good players will "choose" to go to the select few good schools. I'm not sure School Choice was designed for athletics, but its certainly going to be used.

Unfortunately for the middle-road schools in Char/Meck,,, they will lose their better players who are transferring to the elite programs. If Char/Meck wants to improve "ALL" their school programs, "SOMEHOW" this must be fixed or the strong will keep getting stronger and the weak will keep getting weaker...

 

It will never get "that" severe Wuf, because the number of quality players in the area. Everyone wants playing time in their sport. If two schools happen to be close together, you may find that the sports will "separate" between those two schools. System-wide, it will be impossible.

For example: In the north end of Meck county, the school choice allows you to choose from between: West Meck, North Meck, Vance & Hopewell. Between those 4 schools, they may become somewhat "sport specific", but there are too many players to congregate at just one school.

 

school choice...

NCBBALLFAN, I see what you're saying and further understand that it may never get totally one-sided where every single decent baseball player in Meck.Co. goes to the same school. But with School Choice, my fear is that schools with average programs or maybe weaker programs will always have their better athletes transferring OUT to other schools. With myself living in a small-town, I would RATHER see coaches and/or parents work hard and bring UP the weaker programs (i.e.better facilities, uniforms, better coaching, whatever is needed). I just don't like the idea of allowing students to transfer from one school to another, unless its a true legitimate transportation problem. Maybe that shows you how "little" I know about Char/Meck schools...

 

Why develop a football program so everyone can play for Independence??????

I see your concern, but school spirit and "where your friends go to school" will never let it get TOO much out of hand. Unless maybe the entire middle school baseball team all decides to go to the same school, to be with their "friends"......

I'm beginning to confuse myself.....