15U Ruffnecks 2024

15U Ruffnecks to Build Experience

TEAM ROSTER | TEAM SCHEDULE

Defining our 15u Program

The 15U Ruffnecks experience is among the most challenging in our five year program.  The 15U year takes player development and tournament activity to a level comparable to Ruffnecks teams at 16U and 17U.  Summer is an “every day” baseball experience in which endurance, teamwork, pitching, travel, and overall commitment to baseball define the season. The 15U Ruffnecks play an intensive, two-month schedule from June through the first week in August, primarily against older competition.

Most of our 15u rosters are comprised of a mix of rising freshmen and sophomores. Historically, about one-half to two-thirds of the roster will enter the season with some varsity high school experience.  The travel and competion are designed to teach the players how to prepare, play, train, and recover for baseball at the highest level.  In 2024 the 15’s traveled to Nashville, TN and Ohio, where they were challenged by 16u and even 17u opponents.  We traditionally compete well, though winning is often difficult.  Most importantly, our 15u program does NOT play 15u baseball.  Indeed we traditionally play 16u and 17u events, including some of the same events as our Senior (17u) team.  Our belief is that serious players at this age, especially those who have played a year of high school baseball, want to prepare and be coached to compete at the “varsity” HS level.  There is little to be gained by playing age-specific competition.

Summer begins with “Pre-Season” workouts that start on Monday, June 3rd at the NEBC.  Pre-Season workouts create an opportunity for players who have finished their spring seasons to recalibrate and get preparatory work done with instructive supervision.  The primary objectives are to recharge after a high school season and to prepare for the rigors of a condensed two months of almost every-day baseball.  Workouts include batting practice, skill work, and pitcher side sessions with pitching coordinator Ace Adams.  SCOUT DAY is  Wednesday, June 12 at the NEBC.  This is the first opportunity for most players on the 15U roster to experience evaluation from Professional Scouts and college recruiters in a true, Scout Day format.  Position players take full rounds of BP.

2024 Schedule Update

The 15U team plays its only 15U event in mid-June at the NEBC.  In late June the 15’s will travel to Nashville for the Music City Classic.  This signals a return to Nashville for the 15’s after a hiatus of 4 years!  It will be a fun trip with challenging baseball.  The middle portion of the schedule includes competition in the 16u Perfect Game New England Championships, The Boston Open, and in the 16/17u Firecracker July 4th Classic. The Ruffnecks also participate in several local events, including a Northeastern Team Camp.  The 15U schedule is in keeping with our goal to set the tempo and the pace of play at (or above) the level of high school or prep varsity baseball experience.  The 15U team joins the 16’s and 17’s at the Tournament of Champions in Cincinnati, Ohio July 31-August 4.  This is a highly competitive event.  It brings all three of the Ruffnecks classes to one location for the final tournament of the 2024 summer season.