Danville would probably been without Witten and Cooper as pitchers. Their coach talked to all the players right after the game Sunday with Paducah and he knew that the majority of the team would not be able to play. So why would anyone go into a tournament of this caliber with all of his players. They had a great season and I think the players would have loved to palyed this week, but not having the best team to put on the field would have been nonsense. When you start the season out with 1 win and 6 losses and end the year with 41 wins and 13 losses, you would want to put the best team on the field that you have.

I spoke personally with coach Morse and with Wittens` dad and they said only four players could make the trip.

Does anyone think that it is the sportsmanlike thing to do, if the team is going to be limited by players not being able to play in the Regional tournament, and not able to field the same calibre team that got them to this point, respectfully decline the bid and let the #3 team play in the Region???

I'm told that immediately after the state tournament, Danville's representatives gave the impression that they were heading to the regional tournament. Later, Legion officials were informed otherwise.

 

Again, would Danville have played in the regional if they had won the state tournament?

I'm told that immediately after the state tournament, Danville's representatives gave the impression that they were heading to the regional tournament. Later, Legion officials were informed otherwise.

 

Again, would Danville have played in the regional if they had won the state tournament?

 

I was at the game and as soon as the game was over Coach Morse asked the players how many would be able make it to the entire regional tournament

and only four players said the could. Not close to the manditory 12 that are required.

The National American Legion needs to look at moving the National tournaments up. There is no way the Danville team would have turned down the oppurtunity to go to the regional if it would have had enough players. The Danville team had players from Mercer Co. that had been in school from Aug. 1 and had already missed school to play Dist. and State games. The players from Boyle Co. missed to be at the State and the Danville players would of had to miss to be at the Regionals. The Danville team also had lots of player going off to college. Some of those college players were going to schools out side of the state of Kentucky and there was just no way they were going to be able to make it to Paducha.

No college coach is going to be happy if their players show up late. No matter what the reason is.

Frankly, I don't know if it's right to ask American Legion baseball to accommodate the fact that Kentucky's schools start as early as anyone in the nation.

No college coach is going to be happy if their players show up late. No matter what the reason is.

College teams aren't playing official games in the fall. If a kid is a couple of days late for school because he's playing for his local Legion team and the college coach has a problem with it ... tough.

 

Kentucky, for example, was all too happy to let Clint Tilford pitch for Paducah in the regional tournament. Tilford was declared ineligible, however, because he pitched in a couple of college-league games after Legion teams had started their postseason.

College teams aren't playing official games in the fall. If a kid is a couple of days late for school because he's playing for his local Legion team and the college coach has a problem with it ... tough.

Kentucky, for example, was all too happy to let Clint Tilford pitch for Paducah in the regional tournament. Tilford was declared ineligible, however, because he pitched in a couple of college-league games after Legion teams had started their postseason.

Well now.....that has got to be one of the most thoughtless statements I have ever seen someone post on BGP. Goody, goody for Tilford that UK was going to let him play. Say perhaps Cohen would not be receptive to him missing classes and missing whatever else the baseball program was going to be doing this week. I can just see Tilford walking into Cohen's office and telling Cohen, I'm going , you can't stop me, and if you dont like it well then that's just tough. Yeah, that's really going to happen. Let's take this one step farther. I can just see you walking into your employers office and telling them hey, I'm going to the other side of the state to watch an American Legion baseball game and if you dont like it then that's just tough. It's the same difference. Get real here.

 

College coaches are only interested in their own programs (because that is what they are paid to worry about) and could really care less about what an American Legion team does or does not do. You reckon that Coastal Carolina really cares if Witten's team gets to play as a runner up in the regionals? I would venture to say that the most important thing for Witten or any other player is to get their tails to whatever school they are playing for and get with the program.

 

I really dont know what your agenda is in your discussion on this one. Perhaps you just dont have anything else to dump on someone else about this time....who knows. Your team is playing in it anyways, why would you care if the other team is Danville, Bowling Green, Ashland, or Possom Trot? It's no skin off your teeth either way. Who really cares if Danville wants to (or can) play in the thing anyways?

 

These kids all have scholarships riding on what they do with their college programs. I can just see any kid in their right mind telling their coaches .... that's just tough coach. If Tilford was OK'ed to play in this from Kentucky then hooray for Tilford. What about the classes he or any other player will miss? I kind of think that is the real objective of going to school anyways. I'll tell you what westsider. I have two sons that both play college baseball, one that actually went 3 for 4 against your Louisville bound pitcher in the Legion State tournament and my sayso as a parent in this whole deal is, your both going to school boys. I'm not going to let them miss one day of class. I love the experience that American Legion gave my one son, love the coaches, appreciate the effort and time they put in, and I am 100% behind the program, BUT priorities are priorities. I am sure that most parents agree with me on this issue.

 

 

The truth is American Legion does start this thing way to late in the year. I know Kentucky high schools start earlier than some other states, but not all of them. I am sure there are a lot of high schools nation wide that are starting school during the time frame of the American Legion post season. This is just the regionals. What about the next step. That even takes it later than what the regionals are. It could very well mean more than being a couple of days late. It could mean a couple of weeks.

 

You just need to think a little more about what you just said.

College teams aren't playing official games in the fall. If a kid is a couple of days late for school because he's playing for his local Legion team and the college coach has a problem with it ... tough.

 

Kentucky, for example, was all too happy to let Clint Tilford pitch for Paducah in the regional tournament. Tilford was declared ineligible, however, because he pitched in a couple of college-league games after Legion teams had started their postseason.

 

If you think college teams just mess around in the Fall, you have no clue about college baseball. They probably get more done in the Fall then they do any other time of the year. The Fall is when the colleges find out what they realy have. Especially in the incoming Freshman.

Because there are so many college players playing American Legion now that 19 year olds can play, you would think American Legion would go to finishing the season at the same time as the college leagues do. Most all college leagues finish up by the first of August. That gives those player a couple of weeks to rest and get ready for classes and Fall practice. Most colleges like their players/PITCHERS to have a little time off before Fall workouts start. They don't want them to come in with tired arms or be burnt out.

If you think college teams just mess around in the Fall, you have no clue about college baseball. They probably get more done in the Fall then they do any other time of the year. The Fall is when the colleges find out what they realy have. Especially in the incoming Freshman.

You are absolutely right. Fall determines your spring status.

Even college softball has a fall season......

Well now.....that has got to be one of the most thoughtless statements I have ever seen someone post on BGP.

You're entitled to your opinion.

I really dont know what your agenda is in your discussion on this one. Perhaps you just dont have anything else to dump on someone else about this time....who knows. Your team is playing in it anyways, why would you care if the other team is Danville, Bowling Green, Ashland, or Possom Trot? It's no skin off your teeth either way. Who really cares if Danville wants to (or can) play in the thing anyways?

I don't care if Danville played in it or not. I was just curious why they weren't playing in it.

 

And ... Paducah isn't my team and Gabriel Shaw isn't my pitcher ... you're taking this pretty personally.

If you think college teams just mess around in the Fall, you have no clue about college baseball.

Where did I say that?

They probably get more done in the Fall then they do any other time of the year. The Fall is when the colleges find out what they realy have. Especially in the incoming Freshman.

Missing a couple of meetings and/or workouts to play in a fairly high-level tournament isn't going to hurt a kid's chances to show his college coaches what he can do in the fall. College teams have what ... 30 days in the fall?

Let's not let the debate get personal....:thumb:

 

Most college programs I know or have known, have guidelines and procedures they follow. Some may excuse reporting late and others I know, do not.

 

Danville voted and elected not to attend, which I understand and education, should and is the priority.

 

The chain of command, in college athletics is coach to player and not player to coach....Some players may also be High School returning Seniors and most have already returned.