Travel ball hampering American Legion baseball as postseason opens
SIDMAN — The Cambria County American Legion baseball semifinals opened on Thursday. No. 3 seed Somerset fell to St. Michael 11-6.
Somerset was missing four integral pieces on Thursday, including what likely would have been its starting pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and catcher.
Instead, those four athletes are all in Georgia playing in a tournament for two separate travel ball clubs. But it's not just Somerset dealing with players choosing travel ball over American Legion. Perennial power, Claysburg, which would have been the No. 2 seed, dropped out of the playoffs due to a lack of available players. Richland did the same thing.
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"Travel ball is killing amateur baseball," said Somerset manager Bart Close.
More athletes continue to go the travel ball route rather than playing with their high school teammates or nearby programs. But it begs the question as to why they would want to do so.
"I don't know if it's so much the kids or if it's the parents trying to relive their youth through their kids," Close said. "Statistics show, 7% of high school athletes play at the next level whether it is D-I, D-II or D-III. Two percent go D-I, 2.5% to D-II and 2.5% to D-III. If you are not one of those 7% in these tournaments or tryouts, you're wasting your money."
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Somerset has been loaded with talent throughout its existence in the league. When Close took over as manager nine seasons ago, the club began taking more players from other Somerset County schools to fill its roster. Too many kids started playing travel ball and competing in other leagues. It was not feasible to have an 18-man roster with just Somerset Area High School players.
St. Michael is in the same boat. Several players starting for the Saints are from Portage Area High School.
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The goal for Somerset has always been a team-first mentality. Close nor any of the managers who came before him, including his father, Randy, who revitalized the Somerset Legion baseball program, has ever put an athlete on a pedestal. It has always been instilled to win and lose as a team and build a bond with those putting on the Somerset American Legion jersey.
"Our goal as a program is to take 80% of the high school kids that played in the spring, play another 30 or 40 games in the summer together, and that way, you have played almost a Minor League season, game-wise with the same guys. That's how you build a team. It's not about building individuals. In the past, we have been successful at that."
Times have certainly changed, but there is still something to be said for American Legion baseball.
"Each program in this league — Bedford, Claysburg, Somerset and St. Michael — we can roll out a list of kids that went on to play college ball who went through this league, and they didn't spend a dime to do it," said Close. "It is probably a combination of both, but it is probably more the parents."
Filling out a lineup
Close had several players out of their traditional positions in the opener against St. Michael. That is to be expected with travel ball players on the roster and kids going on vacation during the season.
But with only 18 players on a roster, it becomes an even bigger challenge for a manager to fill out his lineup card each night.
"We've fought with the state and national programs," Close said of the 18-man rosters. "We do everything by Major League rules. We have Major League rules in the field and Major League bats. The only thing we don't do by Major League rules is roster size. Major League has 25 guys, we get 18. With a limited season, there are vacations that happen. We will probably roll into Game 2 with 12 guys."
Every man for himself
Travel ball rosters are filled out by players willing to pay a ton of money for a potential chance to gain exposure at a tournament. There's no guarantee some of those players will even have an opportunity to swing a bat or throw a pitch at these so-called "elite" tournaments.
"The other thing with travel ball ... they are going out there and playing baseball. There is no baseball players," Close said. "The routine plays at the plate in baseball, they don't, because they don't play as a team. They meet up once every two weeks or once every weekend and there's no team mentality to it. That is why you are seeing the product at the high school level and the product at the Legion level."
Game notes
Somerset managed only three hits against three St. Michael pitchers on Thursday. Ethan Hemminger, who had one of Somerset's hits, reached base four times and scored three runs. Zane Hagans also reached three times and had two RBIs via two fielder's choice plays.
"We were definitely economical," Close said. "We had three hits, two were infield hits. We had to take advantage of what they gave us. In the end, we didn't secure the ball in the late part of the game."
St. Michael tallied five runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 6-6 tie.
Kirk Bearjar tallied four hits and three RBIs to pace the Saints. Dylan Kundrod had a pair of 2-run singles.
Somerset had plenty of golden opportunities go by the wayside throughout the game. The club stranded far too many on the bases, leaving 11 on, including seven in scoring position.
"You can't do that in playoff baseball, especially when you're playing the No. 2 seed," Close said. "You just have to come back ready to play."
Adam Ripple is the Daily American sports editor. He can be reached at 814-444-5926. Follow him on Twitter @ARipple_DAsport. Follow Daily American Sports on Facebook and @dailyamericanmedia on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset Baseball Club drops playoff opener missing 4 starters
