which states are making the most progress ...

[dallasfungo]

I think television is prompting interest across the country at younger ages and softball is slowly becoming more a national sport than regional (California). Looking to the younger divisions there were many strong teams not resident on the west coast:

10U-A Nationals 2007
1st Indiana Thunder Goshen, IN 6-0
2nd 96 Diamonds Seagoville, TX 7-2
3rd Georgia Impact Red McDonough, GA 5-2
4th Florida Elite Haines City, FL 5-2
5th South Texas Riptide Lake Jackson, TX 3-2
5th Huntsville Comets 96 Huntsville, AL 5-2
7th Birmingham Thunderbolts Birmingham, AL 3-2
7th Victory USA 96 Laguna Niguel, CA 3-2
9th Birmingham Vipers Birmingham, AL 2-2
9th Downey Nemesis Downey, CA 3-2
9th Atlanta Vipers Douglasville, GA 3-2
9th Scottsdale Fever Scottsdale, AZ 2-2
Note that only 2 California teams placed in the top 10.

Going back two years, results from 10U in 2005 were decidely California-weighted:
1st Corona Angels Corona, CA 6-0
2nd USA Athletics Cypress, CA 5-2
3rd Lakewood Ladies Downey, CA 5-2
4th American Athletics Las Flores, CA 4-2
5th TNT Mustang, OK 4-2
5th Frost Falcons Chattanooga, TN 4-2
7th Missouri City Magic Select Missouri City, TX 3-2
7th Elite Panthers Orange Lilburn, GA 7-2
9th Atlanta Vipers McDonough, GA 2-2
9th San Jose Sting Campbell, CA 3-2
9th O.C. Wildcats Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 3-2
9th Salinas Storm Monterey, CA 3-2

There was more impact from non-California teams in 2006
1st 95 Texas Glory Mesquite, TX 8-1
2nd Downey Nemesis Downey, CA 5-2
3rd American Athletics Orange County, CA 4-2
4th Bomb Squad Anaheim, CA 4-2
5th The Groove 95 Austin, TX 6-2
5th All American Sports Academy Tracy, CA 5-2
7th Oklahoma Force 95 Mustang, OK 4-2
7th Deer Park TPS Deer Park, TX 3-2
9th Salinas Storm 10U Salinas, CA 3-2
9th Corona Angels Corona, CA 2-2
9th West Cobb Lightning Acworth, GA 3-2
9th Chi-Town Express Burr Ridge, IL 3-2

Looks like there is a trend. If it's valid to assume that players from these teams will continue their development (and remain in softball) it seems logical to expect higher levels of play from across the country in the next 5-10 years.

[Lannie]

Looking at these teams I noticed that there are several that my DD's team has played in other sanctions. They played the Frost Falcons, TNT Mustangs, Atlanta Vipers. I went back and looked at the brackets of the USFA A Nationals and seen that some of these teams didnt fare to well.
http://www.usfastpitch.com/national/2007ws/aworld.htm

[cazzy]

Nebraska is turning it on and its only a matter of time before they dominate.

[artomatic]

Nebraska is turning it on and its only a matter of time before they dominate.

youre killing me cazzy...stick to your big red football team, they did a little better this season...

at 12U asa nationals last season, the teams we played that impressed me were:
frost falcons from tennessee
beaverton from oregon
94 tx batbusters (ft worth?)

the teams we didnt play but had people talking were:
slammers from ohio
TNT from ?
a couple teams from georgia, sorry their names escape me at the moment.

[cazzy]

that wasnt very friendly art. no keys for you.

[artomatic]

that wasnt very friendly art. no keys for you.

uh yeah, thanks for letting me know about that...kind of changed our practice plans last night...



please tell me that wasnt a result of "mr daisy dukes short shorts" up on the soapbox speech about "separating the league from travel teams"...

[cazzy]

im getting you keys. "daisy dukes short shorts" no it was just time to rekey. weve got you covered chief.

[artomatic]

im getting you keys. "daisy dukes short shorts" no it was just time to rekey. weve got you covered chief.

then i take back everything that was said last night
i was hoping that was the case...

so you know of whom i speak?
he did let the hem down just a bit on those shorts recently...they are only about 4 inches above the knee now...eeewww...

[GC HURRICANE]

AS for Florida Teams at ASA Nationals
18U Gold/ Gold Coast Hurricanes Davie Fl 3rd
16u Team Fla top 2nd I believe
14u West Pine Diamond Dusters 4th
14u 2 other teams in top 10 or 15
12u Florida Elite 4th

[artomatic]

AS for Florida Teams at ASA Nationals
18U Gold/ Gold Coast Hurricanes Davie Fl 3rd
16u Team Fla top 2nd I believe
14u West Pine Diamond Dusters 4th
14u 2 other teams in top 10 or 15
-->12u Florida Elite 4th

which asa nationals.
at the 2007 12u usa/asa nationals, in roseville, im pretty sure TNT was 4th, and no florida team ended up in the top 20 or even 30...