It's pretty amazing that UCLA Coach John Savage already has much of his pitching rotation lined up for 2013 with commitments from junior pitchers Hunter Virant (Camarillo), Max Fried (Montclair Prep) and Lucas Giolito (Harvard-Westlake), among others.
Of course, there's still time for late developers, but it's clear that recruiters are identifying prospects younger and younger, accelerating the recruiting process.
This is a tough call. Parents get upset when students don't make varsity as a freshman or sophomore, fearing it's going to hurt their college scholarship chances. But sometimes playing junior varsity or freshman ball is best for a player's development.
There's discussion in the NCAA about delaying when scholarships can be offered, which might lead to a last-minute stampede of decisions.
The key is parents and athletes need to educate themselves on the rules, get their academics in order and perform. Recruiters will find you.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Baseball, Softball History Celebrated
Long Beach will continue to honor its robust baseball and softball past by inducting 12 new members to the Long Beach Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame this Saturday at Blair Field in Long Beach. Some of the inductees include:
Major League Baseball super-utility player Jack Rothrock. He played for four teams and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also recorded an appearance at all nine positions over the course of the 1928 season.Jerry Gardner, who played and managed many years in minor league baseball before becoming a scout. He helped sign Barry Bonds to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dodgers beat writer George Lederer of the Press-Telegram. George also worked public relations for the Angels later in his career. Damion Easley who was an All-Star and Silver Slugger shortstop in 1998 will be on hand along with Ray McKinstry and Don Anderson who will be honored for community involvement. Dan Peters former Millikan, LBCC and CSF player will be recognized as well.
The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. at Blair Field, 4700 Deukmejian Dr.
Major League Baseball super-utility player Jack Rothrock. He played for four teams and won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He also recorded an appearance at all nine positions over the course of the 1928 season.Jerry Gardner, who played and managed many years in minor league baseball before becoming a scout. He helped sign Barry Bonds to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dodgers beat writer George Lederer of the Press-Telegram. George also worked public relations for the Angels later in his career. Damion Easley who was an All-Star and Silver Slugger shortstop in 1998 will be on hand along with Ray McKinstry and Don Anderson who will be honored for community involvement. Dan Peters former Millikan, LBCC and CSF player will be recognized as well.
The ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. at Blair Field, 4700 Deukmejian Dr.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friendship Series
The Urban Youth Academy in Compton will be the site for the USA-Japan Friendship Series set to take place this weekend. The first game is Saturday at noon, followed by Sunday at 1 p.m. and Monday at 1 p.m.
Former Dodger great Steve Garvey will throw out the first pitch on Saturday.
Among the U.S. players is Garvey's son, Ryan, who plays for Palm Desert.
Also on the team are infielders Daniel Arellano (Compton Centennial), Ron Miller (Gardena Serra), Mark Silva (Paramount), Thomas Walker (Long Beach Poly), outfielders J.P. Crawford (Lakewood), Travis Harrison (Tustin), Desmond Henry (Compton Centennial), Austin Wilson (Stanford), catchers Darrell Miller (Servite) and R.J. Ybarra (Riverside Poly) and pitchers Ryan Keller (West Ranch), Kerry Kelly (Palmdale), Marcos Lara (Compton CC), Mike Martin (L.A. Cathedral), Kyle Twomey (El Dorado) and Aki Yamamoto (South Torrance).
Side Note:
Brett Kay has been given a five-year contract extension as baseball coach at San Juan Capistrano JSerra. That's pretty good job security for a private school, but Kay deserves it.
He guided the Lions to their first Trinity League title in 2009 and has steadily built the program into an elite one since taking over in 2006. And he also has attracted the attention of college coaches.
Former Dodger great Steve Garvey will throw out the first pitch on Saturday.
Among the U.S. players is Garvey's son, Ryan, who plays for Palm Desert.
Also on the team are infielders Daniel Arellano (Compton Centennial), Ron Miller (Gardena Serra), Mark Silva (Paramount), Thomas Walker (Long Beach Poly), outfielders J.P. Crawford (Lakewood), Travis Harrison (Tustin), Desmond Henry (Compton Centennial), Austin Wilson (Stanford), catchers Darrell Miller (Servite) and R.J. Ybarra (Riverside Poly) and pitchers Ryan Keller (West Ranch), Kerry Kelly (Palmdale), Marcos Lara (Compton CC), Mike Martin (L.A. Cathedral), Kyle Twomey (El Dorado) and Aki Yamamoto (South Torrance).
Side Note:
Brett Kay has been given a five-year contract extension as baseball coach at San Juan Capistrano JSerra. That's pretty good job security for a private school, but Kay deserves it.
He guided the Lions to their first Trinity League title in 2009 and has steadily built the program into an elite one since taking over in 2006. And he also has attracted the attention of college coaches.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
UCLA Requits
Pitchers Adam Plutko from Glendora and Zach Weiss from Irvine Northwood have rejected professional baseball offers and will enroll as scheduled at UCLA this fall.
Plutko, a sixth-round draft choice of the Astros, was offered a signing bonus of more than $1 million. Weiss was taken in the 10th round by the Pirates.
It's great news for UCLA Coach John Savage, who returns his two top pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer but needs to find a No. 3 and No. 4 starter. Plutko and Weiss will be contenders for both spots. Also turning down a pro contract to join the Bruins was Cerritos Gahr outfielder Brenton Allen, a ninth-round pick of the Phillies.
USC lost Palo Alto High outfielder Joc Pederson, an 11th-round pick of the Dodgers who received a $600,000 bonus.
Cal State Fullerton lost Dana Hills pitcher Peter Tago, taken No. 47 overall by the Rockies. Titans outfielder Gary Brown, a first-round pick of the Giants, signed for $1.45 million.
Westlake Village Westlake first baseman Christian Yelich, taken No. 23 by the Marlins, signed for $1.7 million instead of going to Miami, according to Baseball America.
Plutko, a sixth-round draft choice of the Astros, was offered a signing bonus of more than $1 million. Weiss was taken in the 10th round by the Pirates.
It's great news for UCLA Coach John Savage, who returns his two top pitchers in Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer but needs to find a No. 3 and No. 4 starter. Plutko and Weiss will be contenders for both spots. Also turning down a pro contract to join the Bruins was Cerritos Gahr outfielder Brenton Allen, a ninth-round pick of the Phillies.
USC lost Palo Alto High outfielder Joc Pederson, an 11th-round pick of the Dodgers who received a $600,000 bonus.
Cal State Fullerton lost Dana Hills pitcher Peter Tago, taken No. 47 overall by the Rockies. Titans outfielder Gary Brown, a first-round pick of the Giants, signed for $1.45 million.
Westlake Village Westlake first baseman Christian Yelich, taken No. 23 by the Marlins, signed for $1.7 million instead of going to Miami, according to Baseball America.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Assemblyman Withdraws Bill on Metal Bats
Assemblyman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) confirmed Wednesday morning at a news conference in Sacramento that he was withdrawing his bill, AB 7, that would have imposed a one-year moratorium on non-wood bats for the 2011 season after reaching agreement with the CIF on new safety standards for metal bats.
Update: Marie Ishida, executive director of the CIF, said it will be up to the sections to vote on whether to require mandatory headgear for infielders in 2012. She said manufacturers first must develop gear that's less cumbersome.
Update: Marie Ishida, executive director of the CIF, said it will be up to the sections to vote on whether to require mandatory headgear for infielders in 2012. She said manufacturers first must develop gear that's less cumbersome.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
CIF Executive Committee Rule Changes
The executive committee of the California Interscholastic Federation approved last week a motion that would require aluminum baseball bats to be used for the 2011 season to meet the new BBCOR performance standards.
It also passed a motion that would mandate the CIF to encourage member schools to voluntarily require protective headgear for baseball and softball infielders and pitchers for the 2011 season, while also proposing to the National Federation of State High School Assn. Baseball and Softball rules committees to develop standards for protective headgear in 2012.
The motions come in response to a pending bill in the State Legislature, AB 7, that would prohibit non-wood bats for the 2011 season. The bill's author, Jared Huffman, had been negotiating with the CIF, so he's expected to withdraw the bill. College baseball teams are switching to the new BBCOR performance standard next season.
Requiring infielders to wear protective headgear in baseball will not be popular. "As an infielder, I wouldn't want to wear one," Mission Hills Alemany Coach Randy Thompson said. "I could see pitchers wearing a skull cap under the hat."
The actions come after lots of lobbying and publicity in the wake of several injuries suffered last season after balls hit from metal bats struck high school players in the head.
What do you think?
It also passed a motion that would mandate the CIF to encourage member schools to voluntarily require protective headgear for baseball and softball infielders and pitchers for the 2011 season, while also proposing to the National Federation of State High School Assn. Baseball and Softball rules committees to develop standards for protective headgear in 2012.
The motions come in response to a pending bill in the State Legislature, AB 7, that would prohibit non-wood bats for the 2011 season. The bill's author, Jared Huffman, had been negotiating with the CIF, so he's expected to withdraw the bill. College baseball teams are switching to the new BBCOR performance standard next season.
Requiring infielders to wear protective headgear in baseball will not be popular. "As an infielder, I wouldn't want to wear one," Mission Hills Alemany Coach Randy Thompson said. "I could see pitchers wearing a skull cap under the hat."
The actions come after lots of lobbying and publicity in the wake of several injuries suffered last season after balls hit from metal bats struck high school players in the head.
What do you think?
Saturday, July 31, 2010
LAUSD Superintendent Rescinds $24 Donation Request
Ramon Cortines, superintendent for the Los Angeles Unified School District, announced Thursday that he is rescinding a request for a voluntary $24 donation from each student athlete to help pay for a $650,000 cut in transportation funding for the City Section sports program.
"After further review of the voluntary $24 per student transportation donation for high school sporting events this year, I have ordered this decision for a request for this voluntary fee be rescinded and have asked staff to go back and review other alternatives," according to the statement.
"Although this district is in a financial crisis, I am asking for other financial options to cover the $650,000 needed for the district's athletics transportation budget."
The City Section Athletics office sent an email to schools and coaches informing them of the decision.
Robert Alaniz, the district spokesman, said Cortines had been unaware of the $24 donation request and was concerned that students who could not or did not contribute would face a stigma.
Is he kidding? Two key words here: Voluntary and Request. If $24 dollars could save an entire districts athletic transportation needs (or help relieve the cost), why not try it. Coaches would find a way for their athletes to raise the money, if they could not afford the $24 dollars a year - and other options could be implemented as well.
LA Unified is not the only district facing cuts and refusing to consider minor athletic fees to keep their programs alive. In an era where most kids have at least one or more of the following items; cell phone, IPod, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS video games - not to mention things like; skateboards, bikes, athletic shoes and equipment - a $24 dollar fee seems like a reasonable request. What do you think?
"After further review of the voluntary $24 per student transportation donation for high school sporting events this year, I have ordered this decision for a request for this voluntary fee be rescinded and have asked staff to go back and review other alternatives," according to the statement.
"Although this district is in a financial crisis, I am asking for other financial options to cover the $650,000 needed for the district's athletics transportation budget."
The City Section Athletics office sent an email to schools and coaches informing them of the decision.
Robert Alaniz, the district spokesman, said Cortines had been unaware of the $24 donation request and was concerned that students who could not or did not contribute would face a stigma.
Is he kidding? Two key words here: Voluntary and Request. If $24 dollars could save an entire districts athletic transportation needs (or help relieve the cost), why not try it. Coaches would find a way for their athletes to raise the money, if they could not afford the $24 dollars a year - and other options could be implemented as well.
LA Unified is not the only district facing cuts and refusing to consider minor athletic fees to keep their programs alive. In an era where most kids have at least one or more of the following items; cell phone, IPod, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS video games - not to mention things like; skateboards, bikes, athletic shoes and equipment - a $24 dollar fee seems like a reasonable request. What do you think?
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Brewers Rosters Released for Area Code Games
Huntington Beach Edison left-hander Henry Owens has been busy pitching for the U.S. 18U national team, but that didn't prevent him from making the Milwaukee Brewers roster for the Blue team for the Area Code Games Aug. 5-10 at Blair Field in Long Beach. Also on the Blue team are Owens' Edison teammates Christian Lopes, Timmy Lopes and Eric Snyder. Lucas Giolito from North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake is one of only four juniors on the team.
The Milwaukee Brewers White team has 25 players with two coming from the 2012 class: Max Fried and Zachary Green. The pitching staff will be solid and this team will be led by Joseph Ross and Robert Stephenson. Both righties were in the low 90s consistantly at the tryout in Northern California and at the final tryout last week in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Tyler Goeddel makes this team as a third baseman. He follows in the footstep of his brother Erik, who played in 2006 for the Milwaukee Brewers Gray. That 2006 team was loaded with notable players including Michael Moustakas, Matt Dominguez and Mike Stanton.
Should be an interesting tournament.
The Milwaukee Brewers White team has 25 players with two coming from the 2012 class: Max Fried and Zachary Green. The pitching staff will be solid and this team will be led by Joseph Ross and Robert Stephenson. Both righties were in the low 90s consistantly at the tryout in Northern California and at the final tryout last week in Santa Barbara, Calif.
Tyler Goeddel makes this team as a third baseman. He follows in the footstep of his brother Erik, who played in 2006 for the Milwaukee Brewers Gray. That 2006 team was loaded with notable players including Michael Moustakas, Matt Dominguez and Mike Stanton.
Should be an interesting tournament.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Where's the Area Code Talent?
A blog from Baseball America about the Area Code tryouts for the Milwaukee Brewers Southern California team voices concern about the talent pool being on the "narrow side."
Well, that's no surprise, considering the best pitching prospect, Henry Owens from Huntington Beach Edison, is playing for the U.S. U18 national team, and several other players didn't try out because of commitments to other tournaments.
Among the players singled out were pitcher-outfielder Nigel Nootbaar from El Segundo, outfielder Aaron Brown from Chatsworth and third baseman Taylor Sparks from Bellflower St. John Bosco. -- Eric Sondheimer
Side note:
Pitcher Henry Owens from Huntington Beach Edison allowed one run on two hits in five innings to help the U.S. 18U National team defeat the Minnetonka Millers, 9-1, in an exhibition game Monday night in Minnesota.
Michael Lorenzen, a Fullerton grad, had three hits.
The U.S. team is preparing for the World Championships in Canada.
Well, that's no surprise, considering the best pitching prospect, Henry Owens from Huntington Beach Edison, is playing for the U.S. U18 national team, and several other players didn't try out because of commitments to other tournaments.
Among the players singled out were pitcher-outfielder Nigel Nootbaar from El Segundo, outfielder Aaron Brown from Chatsworth and third baseman Taylor Sparks from Bellflower St. John Bosco. -- Eric Sondheimer
Side note:
Pitcher Henry Owens from Huntington Beach Edison allowed one run on two hits in five innings to help the U.S. 18U National team defeat the Minnetonka Millers, 9-1, in an exhibition game Monday night in Minnesota.
Michael Lorenzen, a Fullerton grad, had three hits.
The U.S. team is preparing for the World Championships in Canada.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Composite Bats Banned for 2011
One of six new rules changes by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee forbids the use of composite bats until they can meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard. The changes, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors, will take effect with the 2010-11 school year.
After thorough testing by the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee voted to outlaw composite bats until they can produce consistent results through the life of the bat, be made tamper-evident and be labeled as a composite product. Under the new rule, bats with composite handles and tapers would still be legal. The stricter language applies primarily to the barrel of the bat.
A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Baseball.”
Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level, according to the 2008-09 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, with 473,184 participants nationwide. The sport ranks third in school sponsorship with 15,699 schools sponsoring the sport.
After thorough testing by the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee voted to outlaw composite bats until they can produce consistent results through the life of the bat, be made tamper-evident and be labeled as a composite product. Under the new rule, bats with composite handles and tapers would still be legal. The stricter language applies primarily to the barrel of the bat.
A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Baseball.”
Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level, according to the 2008-09 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, with 473,184 participants nationwide. The sport ranks third in school sponsorship with 15,699 schools sponsoring the sport.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
UCLA Falls in College World Series Championship
UCLA's College World Series championship hopes were dashed after South Carolina won its first-ever NCAA baseball title with a 2-1, 11-inning victory in front of 24,390 fans at Rosenblatt Stadium. The win was South Carolina's second in the best-of-three series.
The Bruins finished the season 51-17, setting a school record in wins and making their first-ever appearance at the CWS Championship Series. South Carolina finished the year 54-16.
"I'm so proud of our players and our program and the strides we've made," sixth-year UCLA head coach John Savage said. "I told the players that they've reached the pinnacle in college baseball. They've experienced the rigors of the Regionals and Super Regionals and the bracket in playing for the national championship.
"Every player in our locker room now knows what it feels like. We can sit there and be very proud of our entire program. The bar has been raised, and we look to be back as soon as possible. This team can say they're the best team in UCLA history, which has a long and rich tradition. I'm proud of every single person who has been a part of this program."
GO BRUINS.
The Bruins finished the season 51-17, setting a school record in wins and making their first-ever appearance at the CWS Championship Series. South Carolina finished the year 54-16.
"I'm so proud of our players and our program and the strides we've made," sixth-year UCLA head coach John Savage said. "I told the players that they've reached the pinnacle in college baseball. They've experienced the rigors of the Regionals and Super Regionals and the bracket in playing for the national championship.
"Every player in our locker room now knows what it feels like. We can sit there and be very proud of our entire program. The bar has been raised, and we look to be back as soon as possible. This team can say they're the best team in UCLA history, which has a long and rich tradition. I'm proud of every single person who has been a part of this program."
GO BRUINS.
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