by Ga_Old_School » Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:58 pm
LV,
Georgia is a State fully committed to ASA Softball.
The top three Organizations are:
Atlanta Vipers
Georgia Impact
E.C. Bullets
We are a State that is pulled in many directions by competing Associations. As Florida is overly committed to USFA, many Georgia teams see USFA as the pinnacle of Softball. World Series in paradise (Florida Panhandle) often draw teams away from ASA Nationals.
The King of the Mountain tournament is held early in the year and generally draws from the Southern States. When the tournament offered ASA Berths, it was a must attend. It has now been relegated to a "Bragging Rights" tournament for the 10, 12 & 14's. You wont find many A level 16's, 18 and 18 Gold teams. As Georgia High School ball is played in the fall, the spring and summer are filled with Qualifiers.
Georgia now has six berths in every age group. Behind CA, OH & TX, I think GA now has the largest ASA registration. We used to be split into two ASA Associations. One was Metro Atlanta ASA and the other was Georgia ASA. Prior to the roll up, The Atlanta Vipers and EC Bullets held a hammerlock on Organizational softball. With the roll up, The Georgia Impact has emerged as a viable option for teams not located within the old Metro ASA.
As Georgia has three identifiable Geographical regions, Mountain, Central and Wetlands, Georgia has three distinct areas of player concentration. The bigger teams are located within Metro ASA (Central). The teams located in North Georgia (Mountain) generally play within the Tennesse Fury Organization in Chattanooga. Teams in South Georgia (Wetlands) play within Ty Reitkovich Organization known as the SE Angels.
One of the most exciting things in Georgia softball is the partnership between The Atlanta Vipers and The Georgia Impact in starting "The Atlanta Legacy" showcase in 2009. With Atlanta being one of the most accessible travel markets, this is becoming a must attend for 16, 18 and 18 Gold teams. In addition to the Showcase aspect, it is also a great warmup for Nationals.
In 2009, Georgia sent a record 57 teams to ASA Nationals. With the success of the SEC at the Women's College World Series, we are seeing more players stay in state.