Skipping a level

[Canocorn]

whatever.....it does payoff!

http://www.sacbee.com/214/story/1089053.html

That player falls in the 1% catagory and does not represent the typical chain of events. I doubt very seriously that the two dd's from the above posts are even in the same league with this player. I just question how good these 18u teams are that have a 14 y/o leading off and playing CF.

[coolstuff]

Coolstuff - how does your DD like playing up? Suprisingly, DD got grief from her peers/their parents about playing up and almost soured her on the whole deal. I believe made her feel a bit of an outcast as they wanted her on their teams. She's feeling better now that she is bonding w/her team.

She hasn't said anything about any negative reactions. And we don't go around bragging about it either. It's just the way things turned out. She has lots of friends in and out of softball.

She really likes playing up. She's been accepted by the older girls because she's very competitive and puts out 110% in everything.

[coolstuff]

That player falls in the 1% catagory and does not represent the typical chain of events. I doubt very seriously that the two dd's from the above posts are even in the same league with this player. I just question how good these 18u teams are that have a 14 y/o leading off and playing CF.

I agree with you in part, Canocorn. My DD is not in the same league as the girl in that article. (BTW, my DD is 15, not 14, I think you're getting the two girls mentioned in this forum mixed up.) But she could get close with hard work, the right coaching and the right exposure. In regards to her team, the showcase they were in last weekend, they stayed close with 18 Gold teams - were ahead in one game, in a position to win two others, and behind by a run or two in the rest at the drop-dead. And these were the first games these girls had played together. But most importantly, the coaches are experienced, well-organized, and familiar with the college recruiting process. I think were in the right place, maybe a little early, but the long run looks good.

Like I said, this is not something that we sought out, or planned on. It kind of fell together out of circumstance. I don't have any illusions about my DD's abilities.

[Sam]

I wonder what kinds of stuff she is learning from these older young ladies in the dugout.....sex, drugs, and rock n roll.

She is much better off playing on a 16U team that has a shot at going to ASA Nationals. Go to a Gold team after her first year of 16U.

18A's don't get exposure and most good 16A's are better than 18A teams.

[whatever]

Sam - in our world, they're already exposed to that in middle school

We kind of fell into it too. Asked to play up in 18U tourney over the summer and batted .600. Coach said I'd like to have her. We're giving it a whirl. Just softball, not life or death. But input here making me realize playing on a reputable 16U team next year might be more beneficial. Thanks.

[DonnieS]

I wonder what kinds of stuff she is learning from these older young ladies in the dugout.....sex, drugs, and rock n roll.

She is much better off playing on a 16U team that has a shot at going to ASA Nationals. Go to a Gold team after her first year of 16U.

18A's don't get exposure and most good 16A's are better than 18A teams.

I respect Sam's opinion but our experience was that the older girls watched over and protected our youngest. When a older kid was trying out for our group, several older girls came to me and informed me that this particular kid was inappropriate for our team and specially for the younger kids on the team, they didnt want her around the younger kids.

In Texas, there are few 16u teams, everyone is either 14u or 18G it seems to me.

[3Bsnag]

I agree with you on that Donnie.

I thought with some very strong 93's-95's this spring/summer, that we would have a great 16U division up here this year. Not so. We saw a huge scattering of players this fall in that age group to the older divisions. As a result, there are VERY few competitive 16U teams.

There is definitely a Gold rush here, sometimes warranted, sometimes not.

[coolstuff]

18A's don't get exposure and most good 16A's are better than 18A teams.

That's quite a generalization you make there, Sam. Can you elaborate?

[OCTravelCoach]

Sam: Exposure for 18As is about to change with the new ASA 'Gold' qualification rule. These high school players have to somewhere and they all can't fit in the 50 team Gold kingdom. Some will stay in 16s, but other will have to go 18A.

[Canocorn]

Coolstuff - there were only 6-10 "gold" teams in St. Louis. I would bet that you didnt play any of them. I wouldn't take the coaches opinion that you played gold teams. Just research the teams you played. There was only one team from Indiana that a gold team.