Top 4 Legion

[say_oww]

Interesting proposal. Apparently you don't realize that the old Turnpike league died because of the same problems. Bedford, Claysburg, and Somerset were too big and the other teams withered away due to the imbalance. In 2001, the Cambria League was forced to absorb Bedford, Somerset, and Stoystown. Claysburg and Meyersdale then returned in 2004. (Claysburg then subsequently added to their zone as Tussey mountain kids used to play for Bedford, too.)

So, if what you are suggesting is to split the league apart I do think all of Cambria folks would be for that since they have only had a few regional berths since the merger (St. Michael, Westmont). However, I don't think anyone from Cambria county would be interested in being included in the Turnpike league, and most likely for the same reasons Claysburg didn't want to join the Central Penn league back in '04 - bigger teams (Phillipsburg, State College) and more travel. So in essence, what you have is status quo. IMO it is what it is, and it is not going to revert back to what it was 12 years ago.

In the meantime, Claysburg, Bedford, and Somerset will continue to dominate. As long as Cambria teams get enough kids I am sure they will continue to play ball because they have guys who have been at it for a long time and show no signs of getting out. The only problem I have is when I see fans of the bigger teams make excuses when they don't win at regionals. The one point that Bedford and Claysburg fail to concede is that they possess a huge "recruiting" advantage. I think all of this would sit a lot easier with other fans if we didn't have to read the whining on here when you get knocked out in the first weekend. By the way, when was the last time that anyone from Claysburg or Bedford made it to states? Again, until someone does, I will not be impressed. I will say the same thing again next year.

[TheAnalyst]

How does the state determine the zones for each team? Is it based on population, school district, or some other criteria?
I think I would rather see the other teams be able to draw from a larger area than to limit what Somerset, Bedford, and Claysburg can draw from. If the complaint is that these teams (Bed, Som, Clay)aren't strong enough to win come playoff time, and you weaken them to the level of the other teams in the league, the representative that wins the Cambria league will do even worse in the state playoffs.

[baseballchamp22]

I think I would rather see the other teams be able to draw from a larger area than to limit what Somerset, Bedford, and Claysburg can draw from.

Well I'm really lost on how anyone can think that Somerset has a big drawing zone, they are now one of if not the only legion team that only takes kids from 1 high school.
Claysburg - 4
Bedford - 4+
Meyersdale - 3+
Stoystown - 3
Ebensburg - 2+
Lilly - 2
Patton - 2
Richland - 2
Cernics - 2
Somerset - 1
Portage - ?
Nanty Glo - ?

That list is the amount of high schools those teams picked from this year, I am not 100% positive about it, but its just to show that Somerset should not be included into the "big drawing zone" group.

[sydfinch]

This was posted several months ago in another thread. It's still accurate.

Legion teams from largest to smallest zones, based on population:
Bedford
Conemaugh
Claysburg
Stoystown
Patton/Spangler jointure (if it continues, if not Patton goes behind Lilly and Spangler goes behind St. Michael)
Richland
Meyersdale
Somerset
Westmont (they go to fourth if they pull kids from United)
Lilly
Ebensburg
St. Michael
Portage
Nanty Glo

[say_oww]

Now that the season is over is there any possibility that some of the teams will merge together so that theey can compete with the Bedford's and Claysburg's of the world? I heard there were some forfeits and some teams were running with only 9 kids the entire season. What is the chance that some of these teams might merge. Specifically, what about Cernic's? Any news on what they are going to do?

[CRBL Baseball]

I heard recently that Central is starting their own Legion Baseball Team in 2012 - this was told to me directly from parents in the Central school district with children playing for Central High School - can anybody confirm this? If true that will have a big impact on Claysburg's Legion Baseball Team and would the players wanting to play for Central need to be released to do so?

[thepalerider]

The only way that they could start a legion team is if Claysburg would stop, Claysburg covers that area and its not like summer leagues where you can be like I want to start a team. As far as I know Spangler has not had a team in two years but they still pay admission to the Cambria County league so that they hold their spot. I think one thing that you guys are kinda forgetting is Bedford and Claysburg draw from small schools maybe put two of them together to get the size of a Forest Hills. Bedford draws from Ridge, Bedford, NBC, and Everett. Claysburg draws from Williamsburg, Claysburg, and Central. They had Joe Glass from Hollidaysburg for the past two seasons and he shouldnt have been playing with them this year because Hollidaysburg had a Legion team.

[D5@6fan]

You are right and wrong palerider...the only way Central starts a team is if and only if Claysburg is willing to release the territory and secondly the league would have to approve them after looking into what it would do to there zones. Dont think either of these will happen based on the fact that Berlin was interested in getting a team this year and neither was allowed also. Claysburg has had Joe Glass the last 2 years based on the fact that Hollidaysburg has not had a legion team in either year. They did not have a team this year either, butif they were to start one next year he would have to go back to them.

[biffpocoroba]

I think one thing that you guys are kinda forgetting is Bedford and Claysburg draw from small schools maybe put two of them together to get the size of a Forest Hills. Bedford draws from Ridge, Bedford, NBC, and Everett.

Also inaccurate. Bedford's zone is FOUR TIMES (based on population) larger than St. Michael's. Claysburg's zone is THREE TIMES larger.

[thepalerider]

This info is from the PDE website...Forest Hills enrollment in grades 10-12 is 299 Boys. St. Michael can have others on their team if they would try to recruit a little harder, I dont see people throwing fits because Patton had players from Heights, Northern Cambria, Glendale, and Bishop Carroll. Its just based on where you live. If Willamsburg or NBC had a legion team do you think they would be any good probally not but maybe some of the teams in the league only care about getting their varsity teams better ie Portage they could care less about a win or a loss they just want their kids to face better pitching hence improving their varsity team. Why dont you tell your boy Denny to get on the horn and start trying to get people to play for him, I guess he couldnt get Gdula to play for him thats why he went to Delweld! D5 D6 fan I heard that Hollidaysburg had a legion team this year and their skipper released him to play with Claysburg, dont know if their is any truth in that

I dont know where you get 3 and 4 times larger
Claysburg 105 Boys
Williamsburg 71 Boys (Which they didn't have a player from this year) so I didn't figure them into this
Central 238 Boys
Tussey 131
Total 474 (Difference of 175)

Bedford 243
NBC 139
Everett 167
Ridge 191
Total 740 (Difference of 441)