Post 87 HiToms respond to being kicked out of American Legion Baseball State Tournament:Two key letters now available from the American Legion National Office to all coaches on behalf of ‘The Baseball Factory’

The Post 87 High Point HiToms were kicked out of this weekend’s American Legion Baseball State Tournament, due to what has been deemed as using an ineligible player and Post 87 has responded to this action taken, by the National American Legion association…..

Coach Rob Shore(Trinity High School) and the Post 87 High Point HiToms have taken action and one of their first steps was to send this letter/E-mail to the Baseball Factory….

There has not been much success in reaching the National American Legion association in Indianapolis, Indiana and the National American Legion has not been clear at all on their ruling. Post 87 felt the need for the CEO of the Baseball Factory to know what is going on here. This letter best explains why Post 87 was kicked out of the American Legion Baseball State Tournament, in Lexington, North Carolina….

Here is that letter to the Baseball Factory concerning the Post 87 HiToms being ruled ineligible for the State Tournament……

Mr. Rob Naddelman(Baseball Factory):

I am writing this email to you to alert you of a situation involving American Legion Post 87 HiToms in High Point-Thomasville, NC, Baseball Factory and the North Carolina American Legion Baseball State Tournament. I would appreciate it if you would please call me, ASAP, to discuss the issue discussed below.

I know that Baseball Factory and American Legion have strategical partnered together since 2009 and it is my clear understanding that Baseball Factory and American Legion have partnered together for 5 years, beginning 2014, and Baseball Factory will pay American Legion $30,000/year for 5 years…(see Link below)

http://archive.legion.org/bitstream/handle/123456789/3238/2014S010.pdf?sequence=1

Your partnership with American Legion Baseball is clearly advertised on the American Legion web-site as well as the American Legion Rule Book…(see Link below)

http://www.legion.org/documents/baseball/baseball_rules.pdf

It is also stated in the American Legion rule book, that “Once American Legion Baseball tournaments begin (District play through World Series play) no player can participate in another baseball event, UNLESS that program has been sanctioned by The American Legion. Currently only Baseball Factory and USA baseball events have been sanctioned.”

SO, the Issue is…Post 87 HiToms have been “kicked out” of the American Legion State Tournament because one of the Post 87 HiToms players attended one of your events on July 11-12. After Post 87 HiToms defeated Wayne County in game one, Post 87 advanced to play Shelby, Post 82, and defeated them 12-5 on Saturday, July 26. At approx. 10pm Saturday night, July 26, our Coach received word that Shelby was protesting our win because one of our players participated in your event. But, as stated above, players can participate in “sanctioned” events and Baseball Factory is a “sanctioned” event, so we are unclear as to why Post 87 HiToms have been “Kicked” out. (“kicked out” was the term that the commissioner used.)

If Baseball Factory is going to pay American Legion $30,000/year to “help augment the American Legion baseball experience by serving as both a player development and college recruiting resource for these young players and parents,” then why is my player being punished for participating in your program, resulting in Post 87 being “disqualified” from the American Legion Tournament. If participating in your program, which is clearly advertised “BASEBALL FACTORY IS PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL BASEBALL RESOURCE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION” and you even go as far to give a promo code LEGION 2014 for a 10% discount, is going to hinder a players eligibility with his Legion Team, then why the partnership? Why are you paying American Legion $30,000 for use of American Legion Rosters when in turn, American Legion is going to punish the player, and their team, for participating??

HiToms President Greg Suire started the American Legion program in High Point-Thomasville 9 years ago when there was NO American Legion Baseball in the area. He and I personally funded the start of the program and have since grown the program to over 100 participants, who quite honestly, are shining stars. The young men on Post 87 HiToms exceed the American Legion Code of Sportsmanship and are a true representation of The American Legion Purpose and Scope.

I feel that this issue needs to be addressed immediately. I would like clarification on the discrepancy between the partnership of American Legion and Baseball Factory and its punishment on Legion Players and Legion Teams. “Kicking” Post 87 HiToms out of a well deserved spot in the State Tournament is not the ethical thing to teach these young men and I am sure is not what you want Baseball Factory to represent.

Kindest Regards,

Heather Holland Suire, VP
HiToms Baseball Franchise
7003 Ballpark Rd.
Thomasville, NC 27360
www.HiToms.com
336-601-0740

Courtesy of Coach Rob Shore Post 87 HiToms Baseball….

These letters came in from earlier in the season from the American Legion Offices in Indianapolis, Indiana to all of the American Legion baseball coaches on behalf of the ‘Baseball Factory’…….
Letter/E-mail #1

Coaches
As we continue leading, teaching and mentoring nearly 90,000 baseball players this season, I want to take a moment to remind you of the relationship we have with Baseball Factory and how this can positively impact your players’ academic and baseball future.

Baseball Factory is a premier organization with a mission to help players achieve their goal of reaching the next level. Through 20 years of service, Baseball Factory has produced over 50,000 college success stories, 3,500 drafted players and over 370 MLB players. Several former American Legion players went through the Baseball Factory program before achieving success at the highest level, including major league stars Josh Hamilton, Mark Teixeria and Justin Verlander.

As the Official Baseball Resource of The American Legion, we entrust Baseball Factory with the responsibility of developing and assisting Legion players through the college recruiting process. Support of our players comes naturally to Baseball Factory, as their leaders Steve Sclafani, CEO & Founder; Rob Naddelman, President; and Steve Bernhardt, Executive VP, all played American Legion baseball. Through the years, Baseball Factory has been a major contributor to our baseball scholarship fund, further testament of their commitment to American Legion.

Since 1994, over 150,000 total players have been nominated to the Baseball Factory program by their coaches. As a result of these nominations, the Factory has helped obtain over $1 Billion in college scholarships for prospective student-athletes. My challenge to each of you is to utilize Baseball Factory and seriously consider nominating your top players for their program; their proven system can help your players achieve their dream of playing at the next level. To help your players get ahead in the college recruiting process, contact Baseball Factory today at moreinfo@baseballfactory.com.

Best of luck to you and your teams for the remainder of the 2014 season!
Sincerely yours in sport,

MICHAEL D. BUSS
Program Director
American Legion Baseball

P.S. Your player’s opportunity to get started is at the upcoming Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program on August 2 at Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, UT!

Letter/E-mail #2….

With the summer season now in full swing, I want to take a moment to remind you of the relationship we have with Baseball Factory and how this can positively impact your academic and baseball future.

Baseball Factory is a premier organization with a mission to help players like you achieve the goal of reaching the next level. Through 20 years of service, Baseball Factory has produced over 50,000 college success stories, assisted in obtaining $1 Billion in scholarships, and developed 3,500 drafted players and over 370 MLB players. Several former American Legion players went through the Baseball Factory program before achieving success at the highest level, including major league stars Josh Hamilton, Mark Teixeria and Justin Verlander.

As the Official Baseball Resource of The American Legion, we entrust Baseball Factory with the responsibility of developing and assisting Legion players through the college recruiting process. Support of our players comes naturally to Baseball Factory, as their leaders Steve Sclafani, CEO & Founder; Rob Naddelman, President; and Steve Bernhardt, Executive VP, all played American Legion baseball. Through the years, Baseball Factory has been a major contributor to our baseball scholarship fund, further testament of their commitment to American Legion.

Baseball Factory’s unique program provides student-athletes with world-class instruction, life-changing experiences and new college recruiting opportunities. One of their most notable platforms includes the Under Armour National Tryout & Premium Video Program, held at over 100 sites nationwide. Our partnership affords Legions players the opportunity to gain added exposure through Baseball Factory’s program and a necessary advantage in the college recruiting process. We believe strongly in their program’s success; 99% of Division I programs have at least one Baseball Factory alumnus on the roster, and encourage you to visit www.BaseballFactory.com to get started today!

Best of luck to you and your team for the remainder of the 2014 season!
Sincerely yours in sport,
MICHAEL D. BUSS
Program Director
American Legion Baseball

P.S. YOUR opportunity to get ahead in the college recruiting process begins at the Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout & Premium Video Program on August 2 at Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City, UT!

7 thoughts on “Post 87 HiToms respond to being kicked out of American Legion Baseball State Tournament:Two key letters now available from the American Legion National Office to all coaches on behalf of ‘The Baseball Factory’

  1. I think the lack of response from The American Legion Office in Indiana is basically confirmation to us parents that they made a rash and unjustified decision. I as a parent of a Post 87 HiTom have emailed for clarification. Have yet to get a response. I believe they have the opportunity to show these young men a life lesson when you make rash decisions without all the facts you should put in play the steps to right your wrong.I really hope an organization that claims to be in it for the betterment of the athlete would actually put their words in action.

  2. Because of the rash decision and lack of response from Indianapolis.AND because Post 87 had won their first 2 games, I firmly believe the decision should be upturned by the American Legion, and Post 87 should be given a play in game into the Regional tournament.
    This is more than just life lesson, as I firmly agree it is, this could be important to the future college dreams of some of these players.

  3. Exposed is all I can say. He has invited legion players out to Utah during an ineligible time if they are still playing. Is that event sanctioned? Mr. Buss needs to own up to their mistakes. The CEO of the Baseball Factory played American Legion baseball and is furious at the National American Legion for declaring a Cesar Trejo ineligible for attending one of their camps. What is the point of the partnership if it effects eligibility. They are currently preparing a statement.

  4. Coach, if you will, please send that statement our way when they get it prepared…

    Thanks,

    Andy Durham

  5. And yet another viewpoint on this topic coming in today from MS:

    In response to the news regarding Post 87 being kicked out of the NC State Tournament, how can you solicit American Legion Coaches and players and then tell me my player becomes ineligible to play Legion Baseball because he participated in a sponsored event that he was encouraged to attend??

  6. Also need to look into what Shelby has done or given to the American Legion to secure W.S.. Heard they spent $7 million on Stadium including a $1 million scoreboard to secure tournament and hopes to secure the W.S. permanently…….if that’s the case do you think that an unbiased judgement could be rendered by the American Legion in this case?

  7. Learning that Shelby is the field and organization that permanently hosts the World Series for American Legion also raises eyebrows. Screams favorite

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