The sacrifices and work ethic demanded by the sport is what gets kids into college, if that's their goal. Those are non-negotiable, and a part of the hard knocks and Darwinism that life throws at each of us.

But more doesn't always mean better.

Let's say that you were the type of kid who woke up at 6 AM to get to all your games and practices back in the day. That's admirable, and I hope it has served you well.

But today's kids - at least those who are most committed - are also working in specialized hitting/pitching/defense work, weight training, and often PT. Those aren't hours that any of us had to deal with back in the 70s or 80s. We also didn't play the number of games that these kids do - often year-round.

Yes, many softball programs still have early morning lifts - but that's often dictated by when softball can get access to facilities, especially at mid-majors and below. The most progressive programs are using sleep monitors, aligning travel with circadian schedules, moving back practice times, incorporating massage sessions, etc. to give athletes every advantage possible.

Seems illogical to presume that driving 14 year olds into the ground is the best way to evaluate whether they're ready for being a college athlete. Sure, it separates some from the pack, but at what cost? Would 4 AM games be an ever better option?

Of course not... so why isn't the inverse (10 AM games) a possible improvement?