Talent Gap between rec & Travel at 8U
Hoping for some insight here. My son is new 8U and is a solid baseball player. He made All Stars at 6U and 7U and most of that team turned into a travel ball team for fall at 8U that is run ruling every single opponent except two. We aren't even making it to the last inning because the talent is so lopsided at this age. This is a wonderful group of parents on travel ball. My son bats in top of lineup and is usually placed at pitcher and this is coach pitch. Objectively I feel he is a solid part of the team but probably 4th or 5th in talent in the field.
My issue is that our Rec league has 7&8 year olds together in coach pitch. In years past, the talented 8 year olds have left to just do travel which makes the league full of 7 year olds and low on talent. Our 7 year olds far exceeded any 8 yr old last spring because of this.
Now travel ball is putting ultimatum on parents asking us to choose: Rec or travel. I am very torn. I feel if we all leave, we're repeating the bad trend of pulling 8 yr old talented kids out of Rec and foregoing all stars. But is it worth being on a superior travel team that is run ruling everyone in the region? Wouldn't this talent even out by kid pitch next year and be more worth it? I also have choice to play my kid up in Rec League at 9u kid pitch. I'm just so frustrated that parents are giving up on Rec so fast. These kids are only 8 years old! Most parents plan to dip out on rec but I see value in my son getting to play diff positions and being the leader and all star again. Also, I don't like this amount of specializing so young; my child plays multiple sports and would love to play soccer this spring. I would appreciate insight into the lopsided talent at 8u travel ball, rec vs travel for talented children, and what can be done to level playing field. Thank you