- May 26, 2013
- 23
- 3
Here is a huge dilemma giving me terrible stress and I need some outside opinions. My daughter plays with a group of hometown girls who's she's played with since she began at 7yrs old. They are all now 13-15yrs old and play on their HS travel team together. They love each other like sisters; the team is truly like small family. They are young 13-15yr olds playing 18U and are doing exceptionally well. A few weeks ago at a tournament, the Umpire behind the plate noticed my daughter and was apparently impressed with her pitching and hitting. This umpire called the tournament director to watch, who then called state director of this national organization. The state director called me stating that we need to really consider placing her on their state rated showcase tournament club team and now is the time to do it. I had done some researching, and this team is the very best in our area. Ten of the showcase teams' current players have signed or verballed to D1, and the others are D2 and below. Every single player on their highest level team is committed! They have an extensive record of over 10yrs. All the area stud players play on this showcase club team as well. This director definitely has the connections we need. Cost, travel, and time are not the dilemma. The problem is the loyalty we feel to the HS travel team. We live in a very small town. If we take their 1 and only pitcher away, they have nothing. The team would most likely disintegrate. This team’s goal is to win a state high school title together. We feel we have a great sense of obligation to the community. Is it enough if we stay with the HS travel team and do “On Deck”, “Scout”, and other showcase camps, or do we really need to get on a high profile showcase team? Our goal for our daughter is to have an array of options for playing college ball. (She was recently asked twice to verbal by the local NAIA and at the junior college which we are not ready to commit to). Daughter plans to play HS, where she is expected to start varsity as 8th grader this spring, and go to college camps she has interest in. The sacrifice she would have to make is giving up her HS travel team & letting her community/friends/family down or sacrificing the chance of the proven showcase team and possibly her future offers. Which sacrifice would you chose?