If teams keep droppin out....

[JM15]

Will the State change to just 3 Area's compared to how it is right now with 4?

I got an e-mail from a sports writer down east who told me he has heard many Area II teams are on the verge of dropping their legion programs. Several Area I teams have dropped out the last couple of summers as well.

What would happen?

[SuperJon]

I think more and more teams are going to be dropped as more and more high school teams play together in the summertime.

[JM15]

Right, what will NC Legion Baseball do?

[SuperJon]

Right, what will Legion Baseball do?

Fixed that for ya.

It's happening everywhere. As great as Legion baseball is, it's in a big-time decline.

[RaleighDevil]

Area I East has not had a drop in membership andin fact added a team or two recently.

The problem in the Raleigh area is getting people to do the spadework to run a program. The Legion members are not that interested.

But the same can be said for our program, which has been one of the more successful ones. I am sure many are teetering.

[LegionVet]

This is the time of year when these rumors always start surfacing. Since Legion went to the 19 year old age limit High school players except graduating seniors are not filling key positions. I do believe Legion ball needs some minor adjustments to keep up with the times. High School coaches need to realize that their best returning players can become better with the greater competition in Legion ball. Area I seems to be solid, expecting everyone back and have positive inquires from two more teams looking to enter next year.

We will be back.

[SuperJon]

In a perfect world, this is how it'd work (reposting from the baseball forum):

I would have my kids try out for Legion ball or Showcase teams. I want them playing the highest level of competition as possible. The kids who either a) can't afford showcase/Legion (some Legions charge) or b) don't make the other teams could play with the school team in the summer. It'd give the younger kids a chance to play and learn to get better, along with the better players playing high competition and getting better at the same time. Legion ball stays at a high level, and the NABF stuff stays at a varsity-esque level.

I remember when I was in middle school (late 90's, turn of the century, yea, I'm young, get over it) Legion games were like DIII games. Our team was pulling the best players from four really good 4A schools. Now coaches are wanting their high school teams to play together in the summer and you're only getting a couple players from a couple schools.

[homeplate]

Name the teams that are dropping out.

[EastOfRaleigh]

what was the highest years of participation for legion ball in NC? how many teams?