I'm kinda at a crossroads with my 6th grader....he's a very solid pitcher that plays in our local city league (our version of little league), and on a "super league" team (which is a travel team). He dedicates all his time from early spring to mid July to baseball...after that, he's 100% football, then 100% basketball until the spring.
Right now, he's at a point where there are certain coaches want him to be 100% baseball, all the time. They say to me/us that he's got to start right now, or forget any chance of him pitching in HS, or beyond. One of the coaches is very high on him and says that he's a lock to pitch in HS and maybe even beyond based on his mechanics and his ability to throw strikes (only has about a half dozen walks in last 20 innings pitched), and because he already has a good curveball, and is one of the only kids in either league we play in that doesn't drastically tip his pitches with different mechanics.
I don't know about all this "lock" stuff...obviously there's a million things that could happen between now and then....BUT, my question is, how much would you recommend a kid plays, at this age? Currently, he plays twice a week in the city league, and double-headers on Saturdays. The most he'll pitch 10 innings a week (usually pitches 4-6 during the week, and then 4 on Saturday).
My stance has always been, if he's good enough, regardless of playing multiple sports, he'll play. Reality is, at least at our HS, that doesn't happen (at least not very often). Meaning, we rarely have kids play baseball and say football or basketball.
Anyway, you both seem like you're baseball people that deal with this stuff, so your thoughts are valuable.
Right now, he's at a point where there are certain coaches want him to be 100% baseball, all the time. They say to me/us that he's got to start right now, or forget any chance of him pitching in HS, or beyond. One of the coaches is very high on him and says that he's a lock to pitch in HS and maybe even beyond based on his mechanics and his ability to throw strikes (only has about a half dozen walks in last 20 innings pitched), and because he already has a good curveball, and is one of the only kids in either league we play in that doesn't drastically tip his pitches with different mechanics.
I don't know about all this "lock" stuff...obviously there's a million things that could happen between now and then....BUT, my question is, how much would you recommend a kid plays, at this age? Currently, he plays twice a week in the city league, and double-headers on Saturdays. The most he'll pitch 10 innings a week (usually pitches 4-6 during the week, and then 4 on Saturday).
My stance has always been, if he's good enough, regardless of playing multiple sports, he'll play. Reality is, at least at our HS, that doesn't happen (at least not very often). Meaning, we rarely have kids play baseball and say football or basketball.
Anyway, you both seem like you're baseball people that deal with this stuff, so your thoughts are valuable.
