Volunteering is for the LL clinic fundraiser, concessions and scoreboard. Money for booster club, baseball sponsorship at fundraiser, baseball uniforms (twice), away game meals and we kept an hour weekly coaching session for pitching. So far, the HS pitching consists of facing four batters in the bull pen once a week and games. The HS coaches want to know your outside pitching coach for feedback.

Note: I knew kids that had outside pitching coaches on select. This let them pitch more because whe you take lessons from your select coaches, they limit your innings pitched. I think this is always a bad idea. We didn't start outside coaching until it was okayed by the HS coach.

nm

Good thread so far, and I'm glad it's not just me giving mundane updates on stuff. My son is scrimmaging at Dayton tonight. He goes to Huffman Hargrave which is a solid 4A program. Huffman was knocked out of the playoffs 2 years ago by College Station High's state championship team, and that series went to 3 games. Last year they were knocked out by West Orange-Stark in the regional final - again in 3 games. WO-S lost the state championship game to Argyle.

There's definitely not the pressure and competition here that he'd face for a roster spot at a 5A or 6A, but I'm proud of him regardless. I'd say that every freshman kid out there has played some level of tournament ball, and the vast majority have played for years.

He's playing tonight on the "top" JV team, and they are scrimmaging Dayton's varsity - a 5A team. It'll probably be a mismatch, but I hope our kids compete and I'm anxious to see my son against a varsity squad.

So far, the only volunteering that has been asked of parents was for fundraising purposes. My wife and I worked a golf tournament a month ago which serves as probably the biggest fundraiser for the program. The varsity kids are selling Astros' game vouchers as a fundraiser as well. Beyond that, I don't know what else we will be asked to do moving forward.

Lastly, someone earlier in the thread mentioned 7U/8U ball as being one of the most fun phases of baseball. I completely agree, and I'm getting to relive it through my youngest son who's on a 7U team. It's amazing how less stressed out I am the second time around, which makes it much more fun. Like I saw on another thread, I wish I could go back in time and kick my own 8U-dad ass because I was an idiot.

Quick update: So it wasn't a mismatch. Dayton's varsity "won" 6-5, but our kids competed every step of the way. There was one inning that Dayton was batting that was ended early due to our pitcher hitting his pitch count.

Son did very well. He started the game at catcher and caught 4 innings, and then moved to 2nd. I've never seen him play second. I don't even think he played second in tee ball, but hey, we can add that position to his resume now. Ha! He went 1-1 at the plate with 3 walks and a single, and he ran the bases well. All-in-all it was a good, fun night for all of the boys and a night for them to be proud of themselves.

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Quick update: So it wasn't a mismatch. Dayton's varsity "won" 6-5, but our kids competed every step of the way. There was one inning that Dayton was batting that was ended early due to our pitcher hitting his pitch count.

Son did very well. He started the game at catcher and caught 4 innings, and then moved to 2nd. I've never seen him play second. I don't even think he played second in tee ball, but hey, we can add that position to his resume now. Ha! He went 1-1 at the plate with 3 walks and a single, and he ran the bases well. All-in-all it was a good, fun night for all of the boys and a night for them to be proud of themselves.

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Awesome to hear!

Plus you had nice weather. High school baseball is typically the coldest darn sport there is. I always have a fleece, a wind jacket and a beanie in my truck at all times.

I'll chime in... #2 son is starting HS baseball this yr as a freshman. What a good time this is gonna be. Son #1 had a stellar HS career and I was worried that son #2 would have added pressure to measure up to his older brother... But great timing... The entire coaching staff turned over this yr so he has a clean slate to make his own resume.... Like some of you that are watching position changes.. #2 held down CF for 4 innings tonite.. I think probably 1st time ever in CF.

Hey Alvarado I played for Joshua back in 1980-83; remember Andy Pitts?

Just got the second bat since little league, a 33" Combat. I have no idea why I enjoy getting a new bat for the kid, but I do. He's recovering from a pulled muscle in his back, almost no batting in the last six weeks, so it seemed like a good time to upgrade. He test drove it this morning, it's got some serious pop!

If your kid pulls a muscle, chiropractors are awesome. I had no idea. We could have recovered at least a couple weeks earlier if I had known.

First practice for my son's 13U team today! Great weather, and can't wait to get started with his new team!

If your son is playing select prior to HS baseball I would ask that you familiarize yourself with the difference between National Federation of HS baseball rules.

The boy got two innings, pitched great and had a blast. Every curveball went for a strike and I don't think a single batter even made contact with a curveball. This was against the best hitting team we've seen. The fastball looked good, with great location. Unfortunately, they only let him throw two pitches.

FUN! Stinks to only get two innings though.

HECUBUS - I think what your describing is pretty standard from a pitching perspective. My son pitched on Monday against Pasadena JV, and he only pitched 2 innings - 28 pitches. Excuse my brag, but he pitched better than I've ever seen him. His velocity was good, he threw 19 strikes so his control was excellent. He gave up 1 hit on a half-swing blooper to right, which scored 1 unearned run. He struck out 3 and didn't walk anyone. He threw 9 pitches in his first inning, and 19 in the second after an error and the base hit.

The coaches are being very strict on pitch counts in these scrimmages - shutting it down after a kid throws 20-30 pitches. If that means ending the half-inning early because the pitcher is struggling, they do it. Most of the pitchers are only getting one inning because they are approaching their pitch count in that one inning.

Out here they've pretty much limited the pitchers to fastballs and changeups so far. I think they'll work in other secondary pitches as the kids' arms get in better shape.

We have one more scrimmage Friday night, and the regular season starts next Monday. My fingers are crossed that my son will be on the top JV team, but they still haven't announced the teams. We have a few more kids on varsity basketball who will come over when their playoffs end so that will cause some shifting of rosters.

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If your son is playing select prior to HS baseball I would ask that you familiarize yourself with the difference between National Federation of HS baseball rules.

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Would you mind explaining further?

I saw you post this same thing on another thread and I'm curious to know what the major differences are because right now, I couldn't tell you.

Hey, bragging here also. Yes, it was a ten inning scrimmage, three kids got two and four got one inning pitching.

He worked over the last batter; one of those three pitch embarrassing K's. The batter knew he had to swing because everything was going for strikes. Fastball outside, 10/4 curve, 2/8 curve, three swings, never close. I know he wanted a fist pump, but he did refrain. I've seen him pitch with great success for a long time, but I could tell it was a big deal for him this time. His select coach was there and gave him the head shaking "filthy". He has great coaches and has played year round since he was ten. Kid loves baseball, it's going to be tough when it ends.

Nothing is better than seeing them have that kind of fun. All the kids from his select team have been doing well, so that's big too.

Cool. Mine had RC work with him pitching and got a bases loaded triple his first at bat on Olsen.

Nice photo! I got to take mine to the last game at old Olsen. Wacha pitched and beat Arizona 3 - 1, I think.

I know I have an old video clip of the eighth inning of that game...


Good times

The wife and I made every home game of '89. That last game at Olsen got rid of a lot of old ghosts for me.

Jersey number 12. Awesome.

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If your son is playing select prior to HS baseball I would ask that you familiarize yourself with the difference between National Federation of HS baseball rules.

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Would you mind explaining further?

I saw you post this same thing on another thread and I'm curious to know what the major differences are because right now, I couldn't tell you.

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These are the ones that are points of emphasis in HS baseball:

No jewelry allowed during a HS game

keep your helmet on until you're back in the dugout

no tobacco products to be used during the game

Pitchers sleeve, below the elbow, is to be single color with no camo/white/gray pattern

Pitchers are allowed the third to first move

Pitcher in the windup BOTH feet are to be on the rubber. Select pitchers are being taught to move their non pivot foot ahead of the pivot foot, and in HS that is an illegal pitch

Thank you for the explanation.

On the last point, are you saying that both feet must start on the rubber before the pitcher starts the windup? I've never heard of that and will watch out for it tonight at our scrimmage.

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Thank you for the explanation.

On the last point, are you saying that both feet must start on the rubber before the pitcher starts the windup? I've never heard of that and will watch out for it tonight at our scrimmage.

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Not on the rubber, but within the width of the rubber.

That is the rule, it is NEVER enforced however.

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Thank you for the explanation.

On the last point, are you saying that both feet must start on the rubber before the pitcher starts the windup? I've never heard of that and will watch out for it tonight at our scrimmage.

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Not on the rubber, but within the width of the rubber.

That is the rule, it is NEVER enforced however.

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Both feet Have to be in contact with the rubber while in the windup. It is a point of emphasis this year.

Another point is the on deck batter must stay on their on deck area during pitcher warm up throws.

The "inside the dimensions" was supposed to be a point of emphasis last year too and it never got called. We shall see!

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The "inside the dimensions" was supposed to be a point of emphasis last year too and it never got called. We shall see!

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So do you umpire hs baseball?

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The "inside the dimensions" was supposed to be a point of emphasis last year too and it never got called. We shall see!

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So do you umpire hs baseball?

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Nope.

However, got several good friends who umpire and coach high school ball. Plus I spend WAY too much time watching!

Current Cinci pitcher is a great example of one who would be out of compliance of this rule.

Thanks for the clarification.

I saw two points of emphasis enforced tonight in the scrimmage: no jewelry and the batter staying in the on deck area during pitcher warm up throws.

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The "inside the dimensions" was supposed to be a point of emphasis last year too and it never got called. We shall see!

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So do you umpire hs baseball?

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I do. What area are you in?

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The "inside the dimensions" was supposed to be a point of emphasis last year too and it never got called. We shall see!

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So do you umpire hs baseball?

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I do. What area are you in?

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Centex chapter. I live in marble falls

Staying in the on-deck area during warm ups- I assume that applies to both warm ups of a pitcher who has been in the game between innings and when a new pitcher comes into a game.

That is a good point. I have seen a pitcher knock down a hitter who was too close when the pitcher came into the game and was warming up. The umpire refused to move the hitter farther from the batter's box. The pitcher was ejected before throwing a pitch in the game.