04/19/2024
* Players must not turn 14 before May 1st 2025.
* This initial post is lengthy in order to thoroughly address the interests, concerns, and potential questions of prospective players and parents.
The Griffin Baseball Club is gearing up to begin our inaugural summer season. We are a developmental travel ball organization whose primary focus is developing, fine tuning, and implementing the fundamentals and advanced mechanics of the game of baseball. This is the team for 13u players and parents who understand and embrace the amount of time and work that is required to truly hone their skills. Our mission is not to just prepare our players for high school ball, but to ensure that they are able to thrive and stand out before they get there.
This is a practice intensive team. Players who are a little rough around the edges but possess raw talent, demonstrate ability, and are willing to put in work at least 3-6 days a week are given more consideration than polished and talented players who aren't willing to work consistently. We know first-hand that practice eventually beats talent every time, and a lot of practice beats talent in very short order. The Griffin Baseball Club is not a showcase team that only convenes on game days. If a player has some talent, proven ability, and is able and willing to consistently attend 2-3 practices and a day or 2 of cage work every week, we want that player. Players who are 11 but have talent are encouraged to play up. Adversity is the great player builder. Challenge yourself. No one ever got better at their craft by being a big fish in a small pond.
Our field and cage practices are not slow-paced. We utilize our training aids and our coaching staff to rotate through stations, because there's nothing more boring and unproductive than waiting for your turn. We get the most we can out of every session.
Winning is most definitely a priority, but it is not our top priority. Our priorities are
1) Healthy Player Development
2) Demonstrating Commitment
3) High Intensity, Meaningful Practices
4) Gaining Experience
If these priorities are given the attention they're due, winning is the inevitable result. Winning is the effect - not the cause. The final result of a given game or tournament has little significance in the grand scheme of things. No player in 12-14U is made or broken if their team wins or loses. The tournaments serve to familiarize our players with the realities of competitive baseball, and that is important. However, the games themselves are not what make them better. Meaningful, frequent practices are where development takes place.
Players for this organization will be encouraged to implement some type of significant baseball-oriented strength and agility training program into their weekly routines. If your player has genuine intentions of playing high school and college ball, this is one of those things that just has to be done. Players who want to truly compete must do the things that their opponents aren't doing. For those who find this aspect of the game difficult to navigate, we do have an off-season and in-season strength and agility program for your player that can be done at home.
Politics and "daddy ball" have no place in The Griffin Baseball Club. Players are positioned in the field and batting order according to their performance, ability, and team need. Competition amongst our team is healthy. If you are the 4-hole hitter and ace of the staff, prove it. While the coaching staff will inevitably be comprised of parents, your player's position is determined by their performance. If your player performs better than a coach's son, it will reflect in the line-up.
Everyone hits in every game. We will carry a 12 player roster and use a continuous batting order. The strongest fielders at each position will receive the most time on the field. Every player will receive time in the field. Pitchers and catchers should be prepared to sit the next game after strenuous games or long days. We are in the business of building knees and arms - not destroying them. Pitch counts and innings accrued behind the dish will be given the consideration they're due.
We intend to participate in 13u weekend tournaments twice per month June- July. In August, we will transition to 14u for the late summer and early fall in preparation for the 2026 spring season. We want to keep the travel to a minimum, so we will not be participating in many usssa tournaments, as the majority of them are located 2 or more hours away from home. The tournament organizations that frequently hold tournaments in surrounding counties are RBI, Grandslam, and 17Tournaments, so we will enlist in their events, primarily.
We are looking to field a team of 12 functional players who have a passion for the game and are in it for the long haul. Players from surrounding counties are welcome to make their baseball home here. Teams form over the course of several seasons. We are dedicated to the team. Guest players and new players may be added as needed, but our roster players are who we are committed to. Once the roster is set, we are not on an endless mission to obtain more talented players from 2 counties away in order to chase rings and trophies to the detriment of our established teammates. We expect our players to be committed to the team. The players should expect the team to be committed to them.
We are also in need of a few other capable coaches. Reach out if you feel you are a good fit.
The price for the summer season will be $135 plus uniform costs for 4 tournaments. The tournaments' average costs hover around the low to mid $400 dollar range. This is not a for-profit organization, and the head coach will absorb as much of the cost to play as is feasible. The cost of practice field rentals will be absorbed by the head coach. Players need only pay their share of the tournament fees (33.33 per tournament) and the cost of their uniforms. Transaction receipts will be made available and accessible, and proportionate refunds will be issued should the team not participate in all 4 tournaments. With the team, uniforms, and schedule to be determined, this price point is an estimate, and will become more concrete as the details are fleshed out. Parents should expect a final price to be around the $135 dollar range for the summer season plus uniform costs ($50-$180 depending on how sharp we want to look). At the end of the day, we are motivated to make this happen and will supplement costs if needed. New tournament fees will be due before we transition to 13U in August.
Tryouts will be held Saturday, May 18th @ Ambucs Park Field 4 in Griffin, Georgia. If you are not able to make it to the open tryout, contact Coach Alex Bruce @ 678 967 9501 to schedule a private or for general inquiries. Please RSVP, if you're planning on having your player attend.
To a great summer season and the beginning of something special.
