Baseball's New Trend

At least two baseball players who played last season at Orange Lutheran won't be playing high school ball this season, instead choosing to play travel ball, Coach Eric Borba said. One still attends Orange Lutheran and the other has transferred to another school. Several players in the Inland Empire are already following that path.

Parents have the right to choose what's best for their sons and daughters, but don't trust some private coach who doesn't have the education or experience and insists he'll get your child ready for the next level. There is a great deal of money to be made by private clubs, coaches and training centers, so know what you are being drawn into.

UCLA Coach John Savage had this to say about the decision not to play high school baseball. "I don't like it," he said. "I think it sends a poor message. It's about your team and developing on and off the field with your teammates."