> you don't get to play for the high school varsity team unless you're getting the coaching from the top-tier youth leagues This is pretty much the case. By ag

> you don't get to play for the high school varsity team unless you're getting the coaching from the top-tier youth leagues This is pretty much the case. By age 12 or so, the local kids who have skill and interest have been identified. They are shunted out of the parks and rec leagues into travel teams and they play together up to high school. Of course there are still tryouts but if you're a freshman and unknown to the coaches, you have to be either a move-in who has been playing travel ball elsewhere, or one of the rare naturals at pitching or hitting to really get noticed at that point.