Mason senior shortstop and 2012 GMC player of the year Connor McVey committed to UC
01/25/13 at 3:53pm by Mike Dyer

Mason senior shortstop Connor McVey committed to the UC baseball program today, according to Mason coach Ken Gray.

McVey, the GMC player of the year in 2012, was an Enquirer Division I all-area selection. He helped lead the Comets to a GMC title.

“I have been coaching for 40 years,” Gray said. “He’s as good of a position player that I have ever coached.”

McVey also had offers from NKU and Western Illinois. McVey hit .393 with 27 runs scored, 33 hits, six doubles, a home run, 16 RBI and 13 stolen bases last season for the Comets.

Mason is considered one of the area’s top teams entering this spring led by McVey and others including three standout pitchers TJ Zeuch (Pittsburgh), Andrew McDonald (Virginia Tech) and Seth Bowles (Ohio Dominican). The baseball season starts March 30 in Ohio with practice allowed to begin officially on Feb. 25.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/recruiting/2...ted-to-uc/

nice pick up for UC. But we continue to get kids that are in our back yard that want to play at UC. It's my guess he came to UC before they got to him. UC needs to recruit on more of a national basis in states like Texas and Florida. The bottom line is the team needs more money for scouting. We also need an upgrade at the head coaching position.

You are right about the money for scouting.

We are just fine with our head coach.

You can help the recruiting effort by joining the Diamond Club.

UC also has a transfer sitting out from Fairfield who played cf at Michigan as a frosh etc.

I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

They had 3 local pitchers sign last year.

They don't recruit out of state very much. They still target filling specific needs from out of state but only if they cannot cover the position from an in-state recruit.

Just like any kid looking for colleges, you look at what you can afford and where you can learn what you want to do. UC coaches reverse that. In-state tuition is much cheaper than out-of -state tuition. They have a pool of money (budget) that they spread over as many players as possible. If the cost of education is less, they have more money for more players.

As for transfers, it happens everywhere. Generally the player over-estimates his ability. When he doesn't get to play as much as he thinks he should, he transfers somewhere else. Or, just as in in business or environment that erquires working with others, sometimes you do not fit and look for a better fit.

(01-29-2013 10:15 AM)ThinkBigPine Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

They had 3 local pitchers sign last year.

Yea and another local stud pitcher this year. But it's the out-of-state players I'm referring to. Local talent can only carry you so far in most instances.

(01-29-2013 10:54 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:15 AM)ThinkBigPine Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

They had 3 local pitchers sign last year.

Yea and another local stud pitcher this year. But it's the out-of-state players I'm referring to. Local talent can only carry you so far in most instances.

Whoops, I missed the OUT part, I read IN. I see your point now. I think Otto made the best point regarding out of state recruiting.

We should have a stinking assistant coach in Florida and Texas most of the year. We can find ALL kinds of baseball talent there. You guys have to understand, UC is a school that had Sandy Koufax on campus playing BASKETBALL !!!!! He never threw one baseball on the Cincinnati campus for the Bearcats. Not to mention, the basketball coach Ed Jucker, was the main scout for the Reds at the time Koufax was on campus, another Cincinnati blunder.

Apparently you did not read the post above that explained why UC recruits so heavy in OH.

Money dictates much of the recruiting effort. You think we should have a coach in FL and TX all year.Where does the money come from to support that?

UC is already operating with a short budget.

(02-01-2013 09:26 AM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  Apparently you did not read the post above

Yea he is really good at that.

Most of the out-of-state guys end up at UC because they seek out UC as a potential school.

If anyone would like to help the recruiting cause you can join the Diamond Club. All donations go directly to further the baseball program. A $100 donation gets you two season tickets along with your donation.

They have their pre-season event next Friday at GABP with Phil Castellini as the featured guest speaker.

See you there.

(02-01-2013 06:17 AM)Vewb1 Wrote:  You guys have to understand, UC is a school that had Sandy Koufax on campus playing BASKETBALL !!!!! He never threw one baseball on the Cincinnati campus for the Bearcats.

Sandy Koufax played one year of baseball at UC. From the GoBEARCATS website:

"SANDY KOUFAX (National Baseball Hall of Fame member)
Koufax came to UC on a basketball scholarship in 1954, and posted a 3-1 mark and a 2.81 ERA in his only season with the Bearcat Baseball team. Koufax signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers..."

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

It is a money issue for many of them. They are on partial scholarships, or no scholarship and many of them realize after a year that they can't afford to stay, so they go to a state school closer to home.

Morris went home to Maryland, Bielek went home to a JUCO in Arizona. Sucks, but baseball only offers 11.7 scholarships per NCAA rules, and we can't afford to even give that many out.

(02-01-2013 10:37 AM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  If anyone would like to help the recruiting cause you can join the Diamond Club. All donations go directly to further the baseball program. A $100 donation gets you two season tickets along with your donation.

They have their pre-season event next Friday at GABP with Phil Castellini as the featured guest speaker.

See you there.

I will probably be there. It was a great event last year.

(02-04-2013 12:14 AM)subflea Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

It is a money issue for many of them. They are on partial scholarships, or no scholarship and many of them realize after a year that they can't afford to stay, so they go to a state school closer to home.

Morris went home to Maryland, Bielek went home to a JUCO in Arizona. Sucks, but baseball only offers 11.7 scholarships per NCAA rules, and we can't afford to even give that many out.

Yikes, didn't know Bielek was gone. That kid had a bright future.

(02-04-2013 12:16 AM)subflea Wrote:  

(02-01-2013 10:37 AM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  If anyone would like to help the recruiting cause you can join the Diamond Club. All donations go directly to further the baseball program. A $100 donation gets you two season tickets along with your donation.

They have their pre-season event next Friday at GABP with Phil Castellini as the featured guest speaker.

See you there.

I will probably be there. It was a great event last year.

I cannot make it this year. Poor planning on my part.

This is always a great event. Many players come back and the venue is excellent.

They have Phil Castelleni as a speaker this year.

(02-04-2013 08:48 AM)cinbinsportsfan Wrote:  

(02-04-2013 12:14 AM)subflea Wrote:  

(01-29-2013 10:03 AM)bearcatfan1211 Wrote:  I may be wrong on this..but I feel like they struggle to hold onto the out of state players a bit. Lost their most talented freshman from last year.

It is a money issue for many of them. They are on partial scholarships, or no scholarship and many of them realize after a year that they can't afford to stay, so they go to a state school closer to home.

Morris went home to Maryland, Bielek went home to a JUCO in Arizona. Sucks, but baseball only offers 11.7 scholarships per NCAA rules, and we can't afford to even give that many out.

Yikes, didn't know Bielek was gone. That kid had a bright future.

Yea...and more to it then just wanting to go home/money with him too.

However, they are doing a great job at landing the better pitching prospects out of the cincinnati area. Mike Conrad, who is a freshman this year, is going to be a great pitcher.