“The kid I’ve mentioned who was kept on JV as a junior would have been the ace of the varsity staff on over 90% of HS teams in the nation,”
Well the reason for this thread is I’m feeling like I’d like to break into some comfort zones…for example Pustulio and Kid Mullin…If we can identify an end goal…College, JUCO, CC, Club Team…and we can get the kid to assess openly and honestly where his skills stack…we can all work with them to develop a plan…check out Dusty, he’s obviously been to some of the quality tourneys, even if we simply publish a team listing link and let the kid do the rest we could be of great service. I’m just seeing us immerse in mechanics discussion and I’m not seeing kids determine a goal, make plans and move toward it. I like to point out Centerfield as a guy who at one point was willing to accept less than his dream…really just because he wasn’t provided just a little directed encouragement and made aware that he can change destiny…I look at the logs of him and Ibarber…and I want the young guys to get a little “uncomfortable” and confront just what it is they want out of our art…My eldest did it for socializing fun, thats great! My youngest wants to go for it and he is, we have a plan and a goal. I know that is the only way the kids who we deem to assist on their path will reach most of the lofty spots…97mph wonders are there but I’d say maybe 10 today in America at 18 or under…the others have this great huge competition to get the rest. It drops in echilon from skill and speed on down, but first you have to know how and where to go and jiggle the chain. Is this the only way? Why of course not you are a fine example…blessing and curse…What I saw at this tournament, that I haven’t seen in any other place in 40 years around the game, was World Series Rings, I’ve seen one other ring up close and in person, at this place every single guy seemed to be sporting one…that means professional team scouting, I don’t know where else a kid under 18 can get seen by this level and volume of scout. As for the already wrapped up scholarships, yes many have signed, that kid who throws 97 ought to get an insurance policy
, but my son for example would be seen at best by local schools or CC’s if we left it to his school program (They had not one scout attend their games last year…I assure you it will be much different this year). We (My son and I) felt sure that he could compete at the highest levels so we set about finding an opportunity to test his skills against the best of the best, by the grace of God and sheer determination he was able to prove his worth as a 17 yr old playing 18 and under tourney’s. I just want to be able to help guys who really want and believe they should get there with the reference material that could vault them a little closer to that if possible.