Potential Team Implosion and Next Steps

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Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
So, our team (first year 14U team) lost a pitcher right before Christmas. HC has been advertising and has tried out a few girls, but no word on a replacement yet. That left us with two pitchers. Last night, we got word that another pitcher is leaving. That leaves us with one. Given the roughly 1001 ads I see on the local board for pitchers, I'm not optimistic that we can find two A-level pitchers by the time we're supposed to get started in the Spring. I mean, I guess it's possible, but...

So, what now? I'm thinking other girls will start to bail unless HC is able to replace these pitchers immediately. Do we stick around hoping for the best or bail too? DD is a catcher. I see one and only one ad for a catcher right now and it's for the coach she's tried out for twice already who doesn't believe in lefty catchers and blew her off in a big way.

I guess I should just start emailing and texting coaches for whom she tried out last summer? I know DD is not going to be amenable to dropping to a B-team for spring, but what if no one else wants a catcher?

Ugh, this is not what I'd hoped for this year.

On another note, the second pitcher's Dad texted us to say that he felt that the HC's goals didn't line up with theirs. He feels they should be focusing on showcases vs. trying to qualify for nationals in Kansas City. Thoughts about that?
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
A few thoughts for my fellow Atlantan :)

We lost our #2 pitcher after fall. I think it's not unreasonable to be a little patient, because a lot of families are only just starting to think about this stuff again after the holidays. We got pretty much no response over Nov and Dec to our pitcher wanted ads. We have it filled now though, even as a no-name mostly-B team. It is possible that now that the holidays are over the ads looking for a pitcher will start to pay off some, esp if your team has a name (I can't remember who you said she plays for...was it AP?).

Second thought - I don't think finding a home for an A level catcher will be difficult. You see almost as many teams needing catchers as pitchers. I think if you give it another week or two (assuming you like the team enough to bother), you'd still be able to find her a spot before tournaments start back up.

But if you think the team really is going to implode without the pitchers it might be good to go ahead & put out feelers. Our spring team from last year lost pitchers - my DD, then the pitcher who replaced her left the #1/2 spot to go be like #5 on a bigger name, which I find baffling but whatever floats their boat, then their #1 left, and after that the team just folded. It's hard to play A without good pitching. I'd put our little B team's defense up against any A team in the state, and our hitting is good too. But we only have one A level pitcher so we're straddling the A/B line. If we had to play all A we'd be mostly losing I think. It's a tough place to be in as an A team.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
First of all don't panic.... If DD is a good player; catchers are in high demand. She will have no problem finding a home. A big part of your decision should be based on your DD's goals. A 14U B team is not a bad thing.. But if your DD is a legit possible D1 prospect you may need to search out a team for her. For me the biggest concern would be a pitchers parent who wants his first year 14U DD pitcher in all showcases. That seems to much.. at 13 years old girls need to still compete in tournaments. Second year mix a few high level showcases in.
At age 15 all showcases are good..
IMO the issue here is less about the coach and more about the parents who are trying to get their kids in showcases to soon.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
First of all don't panic.... If DD is a good player; catchers are in high demand. She will have no problem finding a home. A big part of your decision should be based on your DD's goals. A 14U B team is not a bad thing.. But if your DD is a legit possible D1 prospect you may need to search out a team for her. For me the biggest concern would be a pitchers parent who wants his first year 14U DD pitcher in all showcases. That seems to much.. at 13 years old girls need to still compete in tournaments. Second year mix a few high level showcases in.
At age 15 all showcases are good..
IMO the issue here is less about the coach and more about the parents who are trying to get their kids in showcases to soon.

Yes, I tend to agree. Our team is mostly 2021's with 3 2022's mixed in (my DD is one). At batting practice today, HC said that he's planning 3 showcases for June/July, but doesn't have it all finalized yet. This pitcher's father thought she should be doing them earlier. I mean, I get it. We don't want to do the tryout circuit again if this team has a chance of surviving. But we don't want to stay if he just picks up any old pitcher out of rec ball. He promises he's got some possibilities he's working with, but said he needed to keep it confidential (which I understand, but the old skeptic inside is, well, skeptical). I don't know how long we should wait to see if anyone materializes before we put out feelers.
 
Last edited:
Jun 27, 2011
5,089
0
North Carolina
If this pitcher is a 8th-grader who is a D-I prospect, then she might be better served doing showcase events than trying to qualify for some sort of nationals. That's open for debate. Without more info, I can't criticize this pitcher/family for making that move. I might ask when they came to this conclusion, as I assume they knew this team's philosophy/schedule when they joined, but OK.

I think you're wise to look around, but as long as you're not seeing drama and you're happy with the coaches, then I'd be patient. Especially if it's an established organization.

I was trying to remember when my DD was between 8th/9th grade, and she actually played on a very good team that tried to qualify for a national (not a major one, but the NSA nationals in S.C.) Meanwhile, one of our arch-rival teams did showcase instead. The two teams (players) got into a twitter skirmish one time when one of the players tweets, 'I saw y'all won some plastic this weekend while we were out playing in front of college coaches!' In reality, they weren't playing in front of many coaches at that stage, but on the other hand, they were playing better teams while we were collecting plastic. I don't think it mattered one way or the other in the end. Our team split after that summer because half wanted to play in college, the rest didn't. My DD ironically joined that 'showcase' team that fall.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
If this pitcher is a 8th-grader who is a D-I prospect, then she might be better served doing showcase events than trying to qualify for some sort of nationals. That's open for debate. Without more info, I can't criticize this pitcher/family for making that move. I might ask when they came to this conclusion, as I assume they knew this team's philosophy/schedule when they joined, but OK.

I think you're wise to look around, but as long as you're not seeing drama and you're happy with the coaches, then I'd be patient. Especially if it's an established organization.

I was trying to remember when my DD was between 8th/9th grade, and she actually played on a very good team that tried to qualify for a national (not a major one, but the NSA nationals in S.C.) Meanwhile, one of our arch-rival teams did showcase instead. The two teams (players) got into a twitter skirmish one time when one of the players tweets, 'I saw y'all won some plastic this weekend while we were out playing in front of college coaches!' In reality, they weren't playing in front of many coaches at that stage, but on the other hand, they were playing better teams while we were collecting plastic. I don't think it mattered one way or the other in the end. Our team split after that summer because half wanted to play in college, the rest didn't. My DD ironically joined that 'showcase' team that fall.

It is an established organization, but these coaches' first year with the org. I cannot completely disagree with pitcher's Dad that I think the schedule was built up a bit more than has what has actually happened thus far. I think there are various reasons for that, including our stud SS being out all fall with a broken wrist (and, therefore, not a foreseeable circumstance). I guess my main question is how long to wait before making inquiries. Keeping in mind that the community is very small and any inquiries that go out will not be confidential for long and we don't want to burn bridges if the team is able to survive. Our first preference by far would be to stay with this team, assuming two pitchers come on board. We've been on a team with only two pitchers, and it is just not a good situation.
 
Apr 28, 2014
2,316
113
The other factor is.... who are you playing in the tournaments? In our area Pony is the best of the best.. If your team is playing the best of the best that's one thing if your coach is trying to trophy collect against weak teams that's another.
 
Aug 19, 2015
1,118
113
Atlanta, GA
The other factor is.... who are you playing in the tournaments? In our area Pony is the best of the best.. If your team is playing the best of the best that's one thing if your coach is trying to trophy collect against weak teams that's another.

No trophy collecting. We've been playing all A tournaments and the best we've done is second place. Injuries were a problem and I mentioned above we were without our SS the whole fall due to a broken wrist. She literally played the first inning of the first game and broke the wrist. Can't wait to see what she can do; I've heard great things.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
IMO, neither a showcase or nationals focused schedule is necessary as long as you are playing in the region where your kid is looking to go to school (and you are contacting coaches, playing decent competition, and your kid is getting good coaching and getting better).
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
It sounds like your pitcher's daddies need a dose of reality. Unless the pitchers are 2 steps above the other pitchers in the area the college coaches are not going to pay much attention to them. If they were THAT good they would have been moved to 16U teams. 1st year 14's have a LOT to learn about playing with the bigger, faster girls. The extra 3' doesn't sound like much, but it's a big difference for young pitchers.

Does the schedule reflect what the coach told parents at tryouts? If not then the coach is at fault. Did the coach say we'll see where we're at after the fall?
 

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