YSSS is playing on a 16U team this fall in a town about 20 minutes from us. There are kids from a few towns but this is hardly a club team. I would call this a town-travel team. If I was starting a team, there are about 5 kids I'd let play for me (we have a 14 player roster). Some of these kids look like they've never played sometimes. Remember, it's 16U. YSSS is 15. And he is without a doubt better than everybody else by a longshot. That's not a brag, just so.
How we got here? Over the last year or so I've been seeing a kid that used to play with OSSS (he was a little younger but B-I-G) and his dad at the gym I go to. Small talk and at that time, he told me he wasn't playing baseball anymore, just wrestling for his HS. Cool. Then around May-June he told me he was playing for a team. And they needed players. At that time, YSSS wasn't too interested. He had a summer job and was playing on the local American Legion team (what an experience). But with autumn approaching and the need to find a team to play with in the fall, this seemed ok. HC is aguy I've seen at the gym. Nice guy. And on day 1 of practice I got roped into being an asst. coach. Which is good because watching these guys hit fungoes or explain the finer points is ponderous.
So we practice a bit. First game was last weekend, YSSS went 2-3 (also reached on an error) with a double, stolen base and 3 RBIs. He's batting cleanup. Started game in CF but played 1B for last 5 innings. Yesterday we had a DH. First game was a mercy killing on us, I SYN (shit you not) the score was like 23-2. We won the second game 7-6. YSSS was 3-5 with a triple, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. So far he's ripping the cover off the ball.
So I was asked (by a club team coach) why is YSSS playing with this team. They are a good bunch, so that's a plus. But the goal of fall baseball isn't to win some mythical championship, it's to get in the work. And I can't see paying hundreds or thousnads of dollars for what amounts to 10 weeks when the leaves turn. So if he wants we'l explore the club option for next summer so he can do the tourneys, etc. But right now he is working hard and succeeeding. All you could ask for.
PS: In OSSS at college news he squatted 405 over the weekend.
He's a beast.
