Is this the new norm for high school recreational baseball or just a random occurrence?
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Last night, I caught a game of high school rec ball that left me feeling a bit bemused. The team, made up of 15-18-year-olds, was donning a variety of white shirts, including tank tops, as their uniforms. Some of the players were sporting hats, while others went hatless. The starter was casually chewing on a straw while he pitched, and the third baseman, a lefty, flaunted a sleeve of tattoos down his right arm. The whole scene seemed to have been pulled straight out of Eastbound and Down.
Part of me found it pathetic, while another part of me couldn't tear my eyes away. There were some entertaining moments, like the pitcher intentionally getting into a pickle between first and second base for a laugh and diving headfirst into second, all while wearing a tank top.
I've played in my fair share of summer leagues, and I've definitely encountered my share of characters who probably spent time behind bars after our playing days. But they at least wore jersey shirts. Were these guys nuts, or did they still have a modicum of respect for the game?
Have you seen anything like this before, or is this a sign of the further degeneration of society? Let me know your thoughts by emailing me at [email protected] or using my personal Gmail.
Fans of Wright State baseball weigh in
- Mike from Centerville declares Wright State the best college baseball program in Ohio and he might have a point. After all, they just beat Vanderbilt in the regionals. Can any other Ohio college team manage the same feat?
This note comes from a Wright State alumnus and big baseball fan. Growing up in Southwest Ohio during the Days of the Big Red Machine, it's no surprise anyone would become a baseball fan. I can still recite the great eight starting lineup from memory, but I can only name about five current Reds players and I'm not sure of their batting order. Of course, the Big Red Machine is a thing of the past, and not many games were on TV back then, so I listened to Marty and Joe on the radio (more on Joe below).
I had the opportunity to walk-on at Wright State in the 80s when the school was still DII. The team played on a grass field in front of the University off of Colonel Glenn Highway. Not the best field, but better than the field I played on in high school with a fence.
I chose not to walk-on since I figured I wouldn't get much playing time, and my energy would be better spent hitting on coeds and getting laid. If I had walked-on, I may have had more action, as the 1987 team lost in the semifinals of the DII College World Series to Troy State, now Troy, of D1 status.
Hands down, Wright State is the best college baseball program in Ohio. There's no room for argument. For a quarter of a century, it's been the crown jewel of collegiate baseball in Ohio. Since 2000, Wright State has been to more NCAA tournaments (10) than any other program in the state. Ohio State is just one appearance shy, but they haven't made it to the dance this decade. Wright State has been to three Regional Finals since 2016.
Wright State has an all-time winning record vs all the other Ohio programs except for Bowling Green State, Kent, and Ohio State (21-27-1), but many of those losses occurred when Wright State was still DII. In fact, I remember in 1987 when some buddies from Columbus called me and said they were coming to town to watch Ohio State play Wright State. I was surprised! Ohio State is coming to Fairborn to play a DII school on "not the best of field!" Wright State swept the doubleheader.
The Old Left-Hander rounding third and heading for home, Joe Nuxhall, has an annual collegiate tournament named after him...the Joe Nuxhall Classic. It's the same four teams every year (Wright State, Xavier, UC, Miami). Wright State has won it more times than any other school. Including this year.
And that brings me to the 2025 tournament. I was surprised UC made the tournament. I guess being in a P4 has its advantages. I watched the WSU game on Friday evening, and the missus wasn't too happy with me. I was yelling at the TV. Who takes out a starting pitcher who's throwing a no-hitter?!! A no-hitter against the #1 seed! I get sick and tired of managers/coaches citing "the analytics told me..." It's a topic for another day, but what else are these people hearing in their heads if they say "the analytics told me?"
Sunday's elimination game was nerve-racking as well. There was some yelling at the TV in the 9th inning when the first WSU relief pitcher couldn't get the ball close to the strike zone. The missus had to go upstairs. I was surprised the coach stayed as long with the starting pitcher as he did, so I guess he learned his lesson from Friday night. Stay with the hot hand.
So, Wright State made headlines in a positive way by taking out the overall #1 seed.
I feel good about the Raiders going 2-2 this past weekend and making national news. Going forward, we've got to figure out a way to make it to a super regional.
- Wright State superfan Jason finally checked in:
Ouch, being called out in Screencaps feels a bit like being called into the principal's office. My apologies. I had every intention of emailing you at some point about MY Wright State Raiders knocking Vanderbilt out of the tournament. I was hoping to do so after they advanced to the super regional so I had a little more to brag about. Still, it's a heck of an accomplishment to send the #1 national seed home, and something those guys will always remember.
The basketball program catching a stray was hurtful. We made it to the tournament twice in the last 8 seasons! Not great by any means, but not awful.
Keep up the great work!
Your reader contributions have risen to a level that surpasses my writing abilities but I'm still a daily reader.
- Brandon C. in Pinckney, MI knows Wright State baseball:
Read your Screencaps note on Wright State baseball. Hell of a thing they did. I remember when I first moved down to the Dayton area in the early 2000s, I was fresh off continuing to play high-level semipro ball from my time at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor adult leagues and played in the Dayton area adult leagues as a mid-20s-something.
At that time, all the Wright St guys that didn't go play Cape Cod wood bat in the summer played in that Dayton area league, and it was great quality baseball. Guys that frequently threw in the upper 80s/low 90s, and excellent hitters. Drew in players from Indy area, Cincinnati area, Columbus area.
Still a crazy good baseball area in general. Surprised they knocked off Vanderbilt, but that Dayton area produced an inordinate number of high-end mid-major class players, so guess not surprised?
In any case, huge deal, and they'll celebrate it on Col Glenn Hwy, either at Tutys or Kings Table or Marion's.
- The high school baseball game left some spectators questioning if this is the new norm for recreational baseball or a rare occasion, especially with players sporting unconventional uniforms and skylines of tattoos.
- Fans of Wright State baseball shared their thoughts on the team's recent victory against Vanderbilt, with some seeing it as a sign of the program's dominance in Ohio's collegiate baseball scene.
- The enthusiasm for Wright State's performance on social media reveals a strong sense of pride and camaraderie among fans, with discussions about the team's possible advancement to super regionals.
- Meanwhile, the entertainment value of the high school game transcended sports, stirring up a debate on the changing norms in baseball and society, reminiscent of pop-culture and celebrity-led discourses on sports.
- The weather conditions during Wright State's games at the Joe Nuxhall Classic, combined with the pressure of high-stakes matchups and the unpredictable antics from both college and high school players, created an atmosphere worthy of any sports tournament, amidst concerns about pitchers being taken out during no-hitters and Cooperstown-caliber performances from young athletes.
