Those defending local high school baseball's relevance based on the national popularity of professional baseball remind me of those who argue that soccer is more relevant than NFL football because soccer is more popular abroad. No one disputes the popularity of these sports in other areas - but how does that matter to those living in this area? In the DMV private high schools, baseball is a second tier (at best) where you have to go to the ridiculous extent of arguing that Severna Park is part of the DMV to find even one elite player from this area. There really shouldn't be any dispute that LAX is king in the DMV.

Anonymous wrote:Actually for girls, lacrosse has leveled out and softball is back on the rise. My daughter loves both and it sucks they are the same season. The mental aspect of baseball/softball is intense but the flow of a lacrosse game is better. That said, after college what do lacrosse players do? I would think a true athlete would prefer a MLB chance.

I was a middle-of-the pack IAC lacrosse player and I'll admit the best athletes at my school played baseball. But our team was/is one of the top programs in the country with many going on to play college even though few of them were a factor in other season's high school sports (e.g., football and basketball) compared to the baseball players. I also acknowledge that lacrosse, despite continued growth, is indeed niche and doesn't carry the degree of social currency outside our region (even among the privileged) as many lax players, coaches, and parents like to think. But it's a rare skill at a national level that can help significantly in college admissions. Even as a middling player, I was recruited by several colleges my junior and senior year. And it wasn't that I was a superstar as much as there simply weren't/aren't that many of us. At the same time, the stronger athletes who played baseball were recruited less heavily because the baseball (and football and basketball) talent pool is so much larger. The end game with lax is college; nobody I knew was ever seriously gunning for a professional career.

Actually for girls, lacrosse has leveled out and softball is back on the rise. My daughter loves both and it sucks they are the same season. The mental aspect of baseball/softball is intense but the flow of a lacrosse game is better. That said, after college what do lacrosse players do? I would think a true athlete would prefer a MLB chance.

Lacrosse is for the pretentious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those touting the supposed benefits of lax over baseball, you sound ridiculous. For one, most superb athletes can play any number of sports, and two, baseball is the major leagues. It is the "great American pass time".

But if you want to play lax too, why not? Why argue one over the other? You sound like a Landon boy or maybe Landon mom.

Deep down, lacrosse players/parents understand that lacrosse is a niche sport that nobody outside the mid atlantic region cares about. With the first generation of kids who've grown up with a major league baseball team in DC coming of age, the level of interest is far surpassing lacrosse.

Not sure why you think this. Baseball saw a 7.2% drop in participation. Lacrosse saw a +158% increase. I can tell you my kids have no interest in baseball because of the Nationals.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303519404579350892629229918

Anonymous wrote:For those touting the supposed benefits of lax over baseball, you sound ridiculous. For one, most superb athletes can play any number of sports, and two, baseball is the major leagues. It is the "great American pass time".

But if you want to play lax too, why not? Why argue one over the other? You sound like a Landon boy or maybe Landon mom.

Deep down, lacrosse players/parents understand that lacrosse is a niche sport that nobody outside the mid atlantic region cares about. With the first generation of kids who've grown up with a major league baseball team in DC coming of age, the level of interest is far surpassing lacrosse.

Lacrosse is fun to watch and I love baseball. There is something old school about it that appeals to me, and the mental game aspect is also appealing. I don't understand why people view it as one or the other. My dad and my brothers played football in the fall; basketball in the winter; and baseball in the spring and summer. That's just how it was. Varsity in all three for all of them, and college they each played one sport (my dad basketball; my brothers football; my nephew football; my other nephew baseball). I guess I am revealing that we did not grow up in a private school environment or East Coast LAX.

We are aware of SJC for a variety of reasons, likely not the right place for our son. We would look at Landon, St. Albans (I think a stretch for him to get in there) and Prep, though we are not Catholic.

He's a good player, plays travel baseball but not likely to be a huge stand out when high school comes around (middle school now).

I dont understand the fuss about baseball vs lacrosse.

I love watching both sports.

My son's HS has solid baseball and lacrosse program for this region and the kids on both teams seem to get along fine.

For those touting the supposed benefits of lax over baseball, you sound ridiculous. For one, most superb athletes can play any number of sports, and two, baseball is the major leagues. It is the "great American pass time".

But if you want to play lax too, why not? Why argue one over the other? You sound like a Landon boy or maybe Landon mom.

SJC has the strongest baseball program in the area and really nice facilities, but make sure your DC is going to be able to make the team. The freshmen teams are no-cut (unless more than 40 freshmen show up which is doubtful), but then the program drops to about 20 sophomores. There are no juniors on JV, and Varsity is comprised of about 10 juniors and 10 seniors. So, unless your DC is in the top 10 in his class, he will be out of the program after his sophomore year.

On the bright side, almost every senior in the program has an opportunity to play college ball, including at some good baseball schools like Ole Miss, UVA, etc.

I have personal knowledge of a MoCo lax player going to Boys Latin and wrestler from Bowie going to McDonogh, both as day students. And, upon information and belief, there are other examples. So the statement is not incorrect.

I don't think Frederick, Howard and Anne Arundel Counties are considered part of the DC area. Most of the students in those counties as well as their parents are more aligned with the Baltimore Metro area, so to say DC area kids go to Baltimore schools is incorrect, unless they board. I am certain nobody commutes daily from NOVA to a school in Baltimore.

The obnoxious comments by LAX parents about baseball is typical behavior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SJC and DeMatha have had guys in the show recently. If you count Balt, Yankees' Mark Texeira from Mt St Joe's.

Mark Texira is an elite player and he is from Baltimore - never played for a DMV private school (unless Baltimore is now in the DMV).

Some DC area kids go to Baltimore area schools (e.g., Gilman, McDonogh, and Boys Latin) for sports.