Both of the local high-school teams play in a fall league. Combined with the summer programs such as Amateur Athletic Union teams and American Legion baseball, this provides local kids with an opportunity to play virtually all year long. Kids almost have to take advantage of these opportunities to compete successfully in high school these days because their competitors from around the state are doing it. And you can only get so good by practicing. The best thing you can do is play.
Pitchers get a lot more innings.
Hitters get a lot more at-bats. Defensive players get a lot more ground balls, fly balls. And that's how you get better. It's going to do nothing but make us stronger in the long run. Children get started earlier in sports than ever before.