2014 legion baseball

[say_oww]

Well if claysburg and bedford didn't combine districts then many of those players would have no place to play in the summer (outside of paying to play on a travel team). So there would be two less teams in an already dwindling league. I agree its not the fairest thing to some of the Cambria county teams that are solely community based. But its about getting the players more time on the field against better competition.

Ask the Windber, Berlin, Jerome, Meyersdale, Rockwood and Windber franchises what happened to the Turnpike League between 1992 and 2000. I'll tell you - Bedford, Claysburg, and to an extent Somerset ruined the league due to their competitive advantage. Then, Bedford reps set new records for complaining in 2001 and demanded to be placed in the Cambria League rather than the much closer Central Penn League of which Altoona was a member. Now, the same teams are ruining the Cambria League. Congrats guys!!!! You beat up the little guys and still have never made it out of the regional and gone to states!!!!

Meanwhile, the Westmoreland League has a much more equitable zone and a better league - and they go to states nearly every year.

[say_oww]

As an umpire in the league who will remain unnamed. I have a few reasons why the past few ywars have been watered down
1. Lack of committment. Kids don't care unless it's for there high school team
2. Summer basketball leagues. Coaches have made basketball (and football) year round and I know for a fact some coaches diacourage them missing lifting and summer league games.
3. Leadership. The league pres is a spiteful person who holds grudges. Coaches in turn don't care/are bitter and it is a snowball effect.
HS coaches don't push for them to play.

4. The umpires are beyond horrible. (This applies to every league).

[pas2326100]

you are missing the real problem here... Bedford, claysburg, somerset, and Patton are on par with the rest of legion baseball as far as size and player availability. It is not our fault that some of the other teams in our league with similar size and school availabilities are not able to draw the kids they need to be competitive... they certainly have the school districts and area to do so. As far as portage, st. michaels and lilly, yes they have a very unfair advantage but it would be the same no matter which league in the state they are in. They have 2 choices... live with it or take the initiative and look at consolidation in order to bring them up to the level of the rest of the state... not just the teams in our league. Look at Bellefonte which has them and penns valley.... that would be the same as central and Hollidaysburg joining. Beech creek has central mountain and bucktail... Clarence has bald eagle and Bellefonte kids, Blairsville has Blairsville, lig. valley, kiski and united. and the list goes on and on. Speaking on behalf of claysburg, I have never once gone to any cambria meeting with the intent on screwing over other teams and have done things and proposed things within our league which actually have taken a little of our advantage away at times but were better for the league. I will always represent our team and league with the utmost integrity. I also will not apologize for our team. It is not our fault that a lot of people have been doing things right in the central school district and have an exceptional group of athletes that have excelled in all sports ... not only baseball. Also, claysburg had an outstanding team that made the district finals last year. Tussey has had some pretty outstanding ball players over the last few years and getting the Mcmonagle boy from Williamsburg... yes as someone quoted "the rich get richer" .... if you want to fault me for putting in the time and going to watch all of those teams and scouting there players and forming relationships not only in baseball but that last long after there baseball careers are over, then FIRE AWAY ... but I/we will continue to do things right, and to the best of our abilities. As far as making the state tournament you are 100% correct on that one and I take that personally ... that is and always will be our goal and we will NEVER quit trying to accomplish that goal. We have underachieved at the regional tournament through the years and I shoulder that responsibility for out short comings and we will always work to improve on that. I experienced the worst thing a parent could ever over 4 years ago when I lost my daughter in a car accident (and I am not here looking for anyones sympathy or pity) but with that being said... as much as we want to win a league , regional and state title in legion baseball... they come a very very distant 2nd to the positive influence that I can have on a young players life and the bonds that I can form that last a lifetime. I have helped get ballplayers into colleges, have given references to help a former ballplayer try and get into the state police academy and others try and get jobs. On the field, we are going to give our very best, but at the end of the day, those are the things that really matter.

[thepalerider]

I think the major underlying issue is the fact that kids do not have the same desire to play summer baseball like they once did. I can remember going to legion tryouts when I was in school and being one of 18 kids for 6 roster spots. Those days are gone and with declining enrollments they are not coming back. If you go and ask the coaches of the teams what their goals are going into the season, I would say that Claysburg, Bedford, Patton, and I will put Somerset in the argument that their goals are to go to regionals. The other teams use the league as basically a summer league to make their varsity teams better, maybe that is why Portage varsity baseball team is pretty strong year in and year out by playing against good competition in the league.

Also, I feel that Legion baseball in this area is coming to an end, because of traveling teams, AAABA, kids specializing in one sport, and summer basketball/football workouts, there will be not enough kids to field teams.

[unknownumpire]

Saw oww. Why dont you become an umpire?

[say_oww]

Saw oww. Why dont you become an umpire?

Sorry, but we have been down this path before. Directing inquiries as to my desire to teach, scout, and coach rather than umpire doesn't change the fact that 60% of umpires are terrible. The remaining 40% are just plain awful.

[dadw/2sons]

yes we have been down this path before. and we all know that you are the type of person who would rather criticize people for the job that they are doing instead of you trying it out and see how difficult it is yourself. say ow is the perfect expert who will run his mouth about other people doing something that he/she can't do it either. I've said it before, how can you or anybody else criticize somebody for doing a job that you can't do yourself??

[say_oww]

yes we have been down this path before. and we all know that you are the type of person who would rather criticize people for the job that they are doing instead of you trying it out and see how difficult it is yourself. say ow is the perfect expert who will run his mouth about other people doing something that he/she can't do it either. I've said it before, how can you or anybody else criticize somebody for doing a job that you can't do yourself??

Look who invited themselves to this discussion. Let's make sure everyone knows what Daddy's position is - instead of doing something to improve the terrible job that umpires like himself do, he asks anyone who criticizes to try and do a better job! What a great way to solve the world's problems - when you screw up, don't get better just chastise the critics and tell them to try and do it. Try this one on for size, why don't you play professionally, and then manage a high school, college, or professional team and deal with the kind of incompetence that passes for umpires? Let me know when you have a position that compares, and maybe I'll take my certification test.

[say_oww]

Better yet, why don't you guys who umpire let everyone know who you are, and then the masses can let us know what kind of umpires you really are????

[say_oww]

you are missing the real problem here... Bedford, claysburg, somerset, and Patton are on par with the rest of legion baseball as far as size and player availability. It is not our fault that some of the other teams in our league with similar size and school availabilities are not able to draw the kids they need to be competitive...

...as much as we want to win a league , regional and state title in legion baseball... they come a very very distant 2nd to the positive influence that I can have on a young players life and the bonds that I can form that last a lifetime. I have helped get ballplayers into colleges, have given references to help a former ballplayer try and get into the state police academy and others try and get jobs. On the field, we are going to give our very best, but at the end of the day, those are the things that really matter.

If those things are more important, then why not give up part of your zone and let Central start their own team like they wanted to a few years back? It would give more kids a chance to play. And why can't Bedford give up Everett so they could have their own team, too?

We know the answer to all of these questions... its the same reason why CVJ, Richland, and Westmont all fielded separate teams and when they try to merge the league says NO! Its why Portage and Lilly and St. Michael will never merge either, because some guys in charge will say NO! Its also why the Federation and AAABA Leagues are recruit only and not tryout/draft leagues... because those with the power and connections want to keep them. Nobody wants to share no matter how much they say they are in it for the positive influence they have in kids' lives. The coach of the powerhouse team in the Johnstown pony league is on record stating that he loves to coach Pony kids because there is so much to teach. Try teaching it to someone other than the kids who have already fully matured by 13 and are giants compared to the rest of the kids in the area, and then people might believe you. Actions speak louder than words my man!