Nor-Am High School League
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The North American High School League (alternatively, Nor-Am High School league, or NAHS) is a high school baseball league operating in North America and the Caribbean. It is made up of the "varsity" baseball teams from these schools, which are an association of fictional independent private schools, some of which are specialist sports curriculum schools. The league played its first season in 2017.
The league is composed of 32 teams from 9 countries, including the United States (12), Mexico (9), Canada (5), Anguilla (1), Bermuda (1), Dominican Republic (1), Jamaica (1), Panama (1) and Sint Eustatius (1). A league champion is determined at the end of every season. The first league champions, in 2017, were the Guadalupe HS Slashers of Guadalupe, Mexico.
Players must be aged 15 to 18 to be eligible to play. They become eligible for the draft into the Bull League in their final year at age 18. If they are not drafted, they may move on to one of the college leagues, or become a free agent.
Contents
History[edit]
The Nor-Am high school league was created in 2016, but would not play any games until the following spring, in March of 2017. The league formed from a need to bring sports, and particularly baseball, oriented high schools into a developmental program to support the Bull League's annual amateur draft.
In its inaugural season, the Nor-Am schedule was 42 games long, and the league used the designated hitter rule. After the 2017 season, the league removed the designated hitter rule, and shortened the season from 42 games to 38.
Structure and season[edit]
The Nor-Am High School League is divided into two conferences, the Independent Schools (or Indy) and the International Schools (or Inter) conferences. Each conference consists of two divisions, numbered 1 and 2. Division 1 is considered the senior division, while Division 2 the junior. Teams play a 30-game schedule (starting in 2018) which commences on March 1 and concludes in early-April.
Promotion and Relegation[edit]
At the end of the season, the worst two Division 1 teams (by order in the end of regular season standings) in both conferences are demoted to Division 2, and the best two Division 2 teams are promoted to Division 1. The promotions and relegations take effect in the following season.
Championship[edit]
The Nor-Am playoffs consist of two rounds, the first being the division leaders facing off for a single-game elimination conference championship. The winners of each of the "Indy" and "Inter" conference championships then move on to a best-of-three High School World Series, from which an overall Nor-Am high school winner is chosen.
Current teams[edit]
Champions[edit]
| Wins | Team | Championship years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Chicago Prep Bankers  |
2018 |
| 1 | Guadalupe HS Slashers  |
2017 |
Awards[edit]
The Nor-Am High School league recognizes the most outstanding players from both the Independent Schools and International Conferences each season.
Most Valuable Player[edit]
The Nor-Am Most Valuable Player Award is given to the top position player in both conferences in recognition of their contribution to their team.
| Year | Conference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDY | INTER | |||
| Player | Team | Player | Team | |
| 2017 | Ben Price |
Dallas Sports Academy | Vince Braine  |
Anguilla Prep |
| 2018 | Braydon Gosse |
Niagara Academy | Daniel Dunsmore |
Naucalpan HS |
Pitcher of the Year[edit]
The Nor-Am Pitcher of the Year Award is awarded to the top pitcher in the INDY and INTER conferences. Relievers are not eligible for this award.
| Year | Conference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INDY | INTER | |||
| Player | Team | Player | Team | |
| 2017 | Harland Adronyk |
Niagara Academy | Jean-François Rougier |
Guadalupe HS |
| 2018 | Antonio Cueneca |
Great Lakes HS | Loïc Giraud |
Mexico City HS |
Draft eligibility[edit]
As a high school and junior preparatory college league, players only become eligible in their final year at age 18.
