39
"Wood is a much better barometer for scouts evaluating batters who are using the same tools they would use at the next level and pitchers who are throwing against batters using the same tools they would be pitching against at the next level," he said. "It's a much truer projection."
Mr. Kelly adds, "I'm surprised other conferences haven’t moved to the wood bat – especially with the success we have had for over 20 years using them"
You can count on one hand the number of other conferences using wooden bats. The NWAC has been using them the longest.
OTHER NOTABLES
Other notables for the NWAC is that they were the first league to ban tobacco (include chewing & snuff).
They also play nine innings and have a crew of four umpires for each game.
WHY THE NWAC
An NWAC program can recruit outside their region but cannot offer any athletic scholarships but if an individual qualifies, they can get some academic money to help.
Obviously going to a two year school has its advantages such as the ability to be drafted your freshman year and a better opportunity to play right away. Four year school like two year players because they have experience and can replace their seniors who have left and have a degree after only two years.
The biggest driver for Mr. McCain is that "You will have a player that might be borderline that you really think is going to be projectable or was drafted but didn’t think it was enough of a package and he wants to be available for the draft the following year. That type of player will probably go out to a community college and try and go out the following year. The community college also meets a very big need regarding a young man’s maturity – emotionally, academically, athletically and assist in their life’s direction."
The community college can really help the student athlete who might not have the grades to get into a four year program but through the development in the two years at a community college they have the opportunity to get their grades up to get into a four year program.
Mr. McCain finishes, "The thing it probably helps the most is the student athlete that is a little bit of a borderline student that still really wants to play and if we can keep them in the academic system for two years you see a lot of the kids having more success continuing on another two years at a four year school. You also see them much more prepared to go to work vs. when he came out of high school."
28 schools with baseball a program
4 Divisions (North, South , East, West)