jr high softball

[Orange and Brown]

There is something to be said about being humble and winning and losing with class. Would we like our kids to be on a public forum saying some of the things that have been said on here (about junior high sports of all things)? As adults we are the first ones to say a child is acting this way or that but where is that behavior learned. If your teams and players are that good you wont have to talk them up or especially talk others down. If they are that good others will do the talking for you. How about we all sit back and enjoy the short moments we have to watch our children play, (its over in the blink of an eye)

This has been the most positive thread on the forum the entire season. Everyone has talked up the kids and coaches. Their hasn't been any real barbs thrown around the thread. I wish all the other topics on seops were so positive and upbeat.

[Noodle319]

This forum has been a blast this year. The talent In the area is amazing and it comes back to one thing, hard work. I made it several Oak Hill games (Ironton, Minford, Burg, ND) and the knowledge of the game with all the teams is unreal. You can tell that parents and coaches have taken the time to teach them right. I will give you this advice, my daughter is just finishing up her first high school season, it's a different world.

[ManitouDan2]

I caught a few games and saw some great ball. Tons of great players . Oak hill has several , SS And 3b are great , good young 7th grade P , Obviously Ironton has several, Burg has a special 7th grader , NW was solid .

[ManitouDan2]

Ran into a gentleman from Rock Hill last night that said Rock Hill beat the Ironton team that won the Jr high tourney something like 22-0 . Not wanting to argue with him because I don't know anything about Rock Hill but they has to be an explanation . The Ironton team that won the Jr high tourney down here wouldn't lose 22-0 to HS teams .

[Storm02]

Rock Hill has a solid Jr High team. Their younger girls were State Runners up in Little League last year too.

He's probably mistaken though. Irontons 8th Grade team played in this League. Irontons 7th Grade team played in the Lawrence County League where Rock Hill played and from what I heard wasn't that good.

[ManitouDan2]

Just me but superb Little league results while great for the hometowns and players , are not very great indicator of how good a team is outside of South Eastern Ohio. Little league is recreational ball in which 80-90% of ohio's best players do not participate. Lot of people dont like to accept that but its true . And NO , I'm not anti Little League , and I don't wish for its demise . But sometimes results in these LL events set expectations for young players that are not fair to the kids playing the game.

[triplethreat]

with all of the talent why hasn't someone put together a good travel team here in se ohio?

[ManitouDan2]

Not enough like minded parents willing to travel and stay together thru the 10--12-14u years to get to where it will pay off at 16-18u ( scholarship $$) . If you happen to project as a possible d1 player, who wants to roll the dice by staying at home and playing for a team/coach/organization that has never sent a single kid to a d1 college before . The Wild Thangs were close , but does Taran Alvelo and Michael Cunningham end up at Wash and LSU if they somehow stay together thru 16u -- No way , No chance. Even the coaches from the MAC don't want see " insert your local travel team here" on a resume for a potential recruit . Heck the good d2's and Naia's dont want to see it either. Who you play for means a ton. Just the way it is .

[rocket20]

The way it is kinda sucks too though. Cause they're are some kids who have some or a whole lot of potential and could benefit from some of the good travel ball coaches but their parents just can't afford the "big name" travel teams so they have to stay kinda local just beacause they love to play the game.

[Gopher]

Not enough like minded parents willing to travel and stay together thru the 10--12-14u years to get to where it will pay off at 16-18u ( scholarship $$) . If you happen to project as a possible d1 player, who wants to roll the dice by staying at home and playing for a team/coach/organization that has never sent a single kid to a d1 college before . The Wild Thangs were close , but does Taran Alvelo and Michael Cunningham end up at Wash and LSU if they somehow stay together thru 16u -- No way , No chance. Even the coaches from the MAC don't want see " insert your local travel team here" on a resume for a potential recruit . Heck the good d2's and Naia's dont want to see it either. Who you play for means a ton. Just the way it is .

100% accurate. I was at an Ohio Hawks camp a few years back and the guest coach, Florida's Tim Walton, was asked by one of the campers "Would you ever recruit a player from Ohio?" He answered with "Yes, but I will not be at an Ohio tournament to recruit them. I will see them in California, New Jersey, or down south." D1 coaches will not come to you, you have to market the players to them. To do that you have to be connected with an organization that has their ear and has shown a history of producing players that have the skillset they are looking for. That takes years to establish and most local teams develop too much drama and split before ever reaching that milestone. Unfortunately there are many great HS players that "could" play at the D1, D2 level that never get noticed because of this.

[Thehype]

I hear you Browns30. I'll leave it at that. Don't want to get into disagreement over the computer. GET YOUR POPCORN READY!!!!!!

[Thehype]

There is something to be said about being humble and winning and losing with class. Would we like our kids to be on a public forum saying some of the things that have been said on here (about junior high sports of all things)? As adults we are the first ones to say a child is acting this way or that but where is that behavior learned. If your teams and players are that good you wont have to talk them up or especially talk others down. If they are that good others will do the talking for you. How about we all sit back and enjoy the short moments we have to watch our children play, (its over in the blink of an eye)

Unfortunately, your comment is almost exactly five months too late. You should have posted this back in December not now. Oak Hill lost that game with class, their heads held high. Ironton won that game with class, congratulating the Oak Hill players for their efforts. Both teams were class acts throughout the season! So as far as I’m concerned, the parents have done a pretty good job of raising their kids.

You mentioned talking players up. This thread is filled with people talking players up. It’s what coaches and parents do. This is the equivalent of standing around the water cooler at work and bragging about your kid/team. Nobody talked anybody down.

GREAT COMMENT!!!!!

[Thehype]

ALL IN FUN!!!!!! UNTIL NXT YR???