I'm gonna lay it all out:
I was in 7th grade and I had never played baseball more than a day in my life (outside of T-Ball). It was my birthday and I was getting more and more interested in the sport. My dad bought me my first real glove.
We would go to the closest local Jr. High school and play catch, and do some drills. I had a really, really strong arm. For the most part, I didn't know anything about what my body was doing, I was just making plays.
I started my 8th grade year and decided to go out for the team. By the way, I am an awful hitter. It looked as if I was primed to make the team before the last day in which we started hitting and I sucked.
I got cut from my Jr. High baseball team.
I then entered a LL to gain more experience, and I was getting better at astronomical rates. I was throwing hard and accurately, and yet, I still couldn't touch a baseball with the bat. I ended up making all-stars.
I started high school and was immediately interested in playing baseball. I thought, I knew I had to get better and I went to talk to the coach. My high school was brand new and nobody knew who the coach was... let's just say he can be a little intimidating. So I though no biggie, and signed up for the fall program.
When I first started practicing with them, I lost confidence, ability to throw a baseball altogether, and I'm sure I gave the impression that I was an idiot.
Really talented players from other major high school transferred to our school and really changed the dynamic of the team.
When it came time for the regular season, I got cut.
OK so far, two tiems tried out for a school team, and twice cut.
During the summer, I decided I wasn't going to give up and signed up for the summer program. I didn't get much playing time at first base and one of the coaches said that I should think about pitching (due to how weird I threw). My confidence problems continued to plummet as teammates would continue to comment on my throwing mechanics (I knew I threw A LOT different then before, but it just lowered my self-esteem).
After the summer program, my father sat down with the head coach and pretty much asked what I needed to do to make the team.
I took those things after the summer program, and I goet better in incriments. I had developed some nice off-speed pitches.
When I started the fall program for a second straight year, I tried to start off with a new swagger. I tried to feel like I was fitting in (even though I knew I wasn't).
The coach threw me out on the mound during one of the fall games and I completely stunk it up. One of my fastballs actually bounced to the plate and the next couple of school days some of the JV teammates told varsity "He actually bounced a FASTBALL". My self esteem issues continued to plummet.
During the school year, my weight training class became such a burden and I found myself just wanting to give up.
I did.
I gained weight, and did not try out for the team.
I entered a recreational league just to have some fun and stuff. During this re-vitilization experience I regained my proper throwing technique and became a dominating force on the mound.
My ultimate goal was and is to play high school baseball.
Recap: I was really progressing as a player when I first started out, got cut twice (during in which my baseball confidence was non-existent)(once Jr High and the other was High School), cut MYSELF and regained everything I once lost.
Here are my questions:
I feel like I have the tools to play high school ball, but is it even worth trying for?
To even have a shot, I'm going to have to lose all of the weight I gained and be able to have confidence when I walk on that field again.
The competition is going to be numerous, but the LHP talent isn't spectacular.
What do I say to the coach? He cut me my freshman year and I cut myseld my sophomore year, and now I want back in? That's his perspective.
I was in 7th grade and I had never played baseball more than a day in my life (outside of T-Ball). It was my birthday and I was getting more and more interested in the sport. My dad bought me my first real glove.
We would go to the closest local Jr. High school and play catch, and do some drills. I had a really, really strong arm. For the most part, I didn't know anything about what my body was doing, I was just making plays.
I started my 8th grade year and decided to go out for the team. By the way, I am an awful hitter. It looked as if I was primed to make the team before the last day in which we started hitting and I sucked.
I got cut from my Jr. High baseball team.
I then entered a LL to gain more experience, and I was getting better at astronomical rates. I was throwing hard and accurately, and yet, I still couldn't touch a baseball with the bat. I ended up making all-stars.
I started high school and was immediately interested in playing baseball. I thought, I knew I had to get better and I went to talk to the coach. My high school was brand new and nobody knew who the coach was... let's just say he can be a little intimidating. So I though no biggie, and signed up for the fall program.
When I first started practicing with them, I lost confidence, ability to throw a baseball altogether, and I'm sure I gave the impression that I was an idiot.
Really talented players from other major high school transferred to our school and really changed the dynamic of the team.
When it came time for the regular season, I got cut.
OK so far, two tiems tried out for a school team, and twice cut.
During the summer, I decided I wasn't going to give up and signed up for the summer program. I didn't get much playing time at first base and one of the coaches said that I should think about pitching (due to how weird I threw). My confidence problems continued to plummet as teammates would continue to comment on my throwing mechanics (I knew I threw A LOT different then before, but it just lowered my self-esteem).
After the summer program, my father sat down with the head coach and pretty much asked what I needed to do to make the team.
I took those things after the summer program, and I goet better in incriments. I had developed some nice off-speed pitches.
When I started the fall program for a second straight year, I tried to start off with a new swagger. I tried to feel like I was fitting in (even though I knew I wasn't).
The coach threw me out on the mound during one of the fall games and I completely stunk it up. One of my fastballs actually bounced to the plate and the next couple of school days some of the JV teammates told varsity "He actually bounced a FASTBALL". My self esteem issues continued to plummet.
During the school year, my weight training class became such a burden and I found myself just wanting to give up.
I did.
I gained weight, and did not try out for the team.
I entered a recreational league just to have some fun and stuff. During this re-vitilization experience I regained my proper throwing technique and became a dominating force on the mound.
My ultimate goal was and is to play high school baseball.
Recap: I was really progressing as a player when I first started out, got cut twice (during in which my baseball confidence was non-existent)(once Jr High and the other was High School), cut MYSELF and regained everything I once lost.
Here are my questions:
I feel like I have the tools to play high school ball, but is it even worth trying for?
To even have a shot, I'm going to have to lose all of the weight I gained and be able to have confidence when I walk on that field again.
The competition is going to be numerous, but the LHP talent isn't spectacular.
What do I say to the coach? He cut me my freshman year and I cut myseld my sophomore year, and now I want back in? That's his perspective.