So it's not like they can commit to a different school and avoid the game. It's also how travel ball works, so they grew up in a similar system from age of about 9. All you can do is attach yourself to a good, honest coach who will be honest with you about what's going to happen. But it is a free for all. The prevailing wisdom is - unless you are a can't miss sure thing freshman starter - go to a lower division school, and if you excel you can transfer up to a starting role at a higher division/conference school. Also I've been told almost all scholarship offers are given with expectation of accept/decline on the spot. So if you get a scholarship offer, even if it's a lower division than you should be prepared to accept it. Even if it costs you something better down the line.