American Freedom

[Lori]

BTW---

Janet Smith is my evil twin brother posing as a girl on here, lol j/k.

[sting]

What can be said about AF is that their website, postings and the head coach implies that they are the best 14u team and players in the world – I don’t mean that literally. Now, does that mean they trash talk – no, does that mean that they are the best team around – no. What it does say is that the coach likes to “pump up” his team’s appearance of greatness. Do they really have the best 2 pitchers in the state – no. If they did they would be betting everyone. They do have two very good pitchers that some nights are very hard to hit. Congrats to them for winning this past weekend Allen tourney.

What it does say is that he hypes his team up so he can recruit? Remember he is a lawyer and a recruiter – that was as shot at being a lawyer. So the only negative thing to say about it all is that it may be irritating to read and hear at times but there is no trash talking or cutting down other teams.

Give AF and other similar non-mega organization teams and coaches credit. They are working hard to build teams, coach the girls the game, and be successful. The so called “mega org” teams lives on their history – whether recent or not. The name is not what is all about – Glory and BB and Elite have some average teams and coaches.

There are several teams that fall in the category of non mega teams – teams that have little turn over and do not do recruiting of other teams players – Travelers (splash), Rapid Fire (93 Rage), 93 Elite (TX Rage). I am sure I am missing few. They all were the so called “independents” but changed names to get some “college look” reconnection – at least which is what I heard.. And to be a little rude – the difference between them and AF is that they show up and play. You don’t here a bunch of BS on Heybucket, VTD or in the stands about their coaches, parents or organizations. They are all pretty successful, get the job done, and have the ability to beat any of the NT 14 teams on any given weekend.

Why I think this way? I will admit being limited on my knowledge this year but here it goes:

• I have not seen many Splash games but they were 3rd in the NQ and I heard they had several hurt players. They keep it close and always have a chance. They are scary to play on any weekend. – have been for years.

• I saw the Rapid Fire team in the winner’s bracket on Sunday at HOFQ a loose to DDuster by 1 or 2 after getting bases loaded in the last inning with not outs and not scoring – that must have sucked since they could have played in HOF this past weekend. DDuster scored their 2 runs in the second after RFs’ pitcher was pitching with her nose bleeding. DDuster did not have a girl past second before or after that inning. I did not see but RF lost to AF in 2 ITBS in the NQ. I heard a great game.

• Elite (Tx Rage) is getting better every year. They have won some big games this year and by large margins. They unlike RF and Splash appear to win and loose on their hitting.

I have not mentioned the Fusion teams because they are a mega org in hiding. The Sidwell team is very talented and a very good team. They have chanced down players from other teams and recruited them – even during the season. And that my friends is just wrong! They then give up on their current player. That is also just wrong!
So that puts them in the same grouping of many of the Glory teams and coaches.

Enough – time to get to work and sit back and see the replies.

[leftyt26]

I have been listening to all of the trash talk about American Freedom for the last month or so and I am wondering why most of those talking are hiding behind screen names. My dd has played on the Freedom since March of 2006 (right after the team was formed). We have not been in 14u for five years, just three seasons. Most of last fall and even leading up to Nationals last summer and the summer before that we played 16u and did very well. This last fall we even played some "college look" tourneys because our goal is not only to win every tournament but also to give our girls a shot at getting a scholarship to college somewhere, anywhere that they can get a free education and chance to play ball at the same time. As for "three-peating" to the national tournament this year, I only know of one team that has qualified and everybody else is dissappointed thus far because they haven't qualified either. Last year we did not qualify for nationals until the state tourney but we did qualify and other more well known teams did not. You may not like our coach because he is loud and mouthy, but what is wrong with a coach who loves his players, believes in his players, and wants nothing but the best for them. Maybe if your dd's coach would start talking about his team and how good they are you would stop trashing our team. As for our players, we do have two of the best pitchers in the area, and our defense is very salty, and we can absolutely pound the ball, but these girls are only 14 and 15 yrs. old (as is everyone else's) and sometimes they don't have "it" when we get on the field, not to mention we have had our share of injuries this year, but we haven't been blown out on the field. All I'm saying is wait until the cake is finished baking before you decide it's not any good.

See ya on the dirt,

Tommy Jenkins

[Skarp]

I have been listening to all of the trash talk about American Freedom for the last month or so and I am wondering why most of those talking are hiding behind screen names.

My dd has played on the Freedom since March of 2006 (right after the team was formed). We have not been in 14u for five years, just three seasons. Most of last fall and even leading up to Nationals last summer and the summer before that we played 16u and did very well. This last fall we even played some "college look" tourneys because our goal is not only to win every tournament but also to give our girls a shot at getting a scholarship to college somewhere, anywhere that they can get a free education and chance to play ball at the same time.

As for "three-peating" to the national tournament this year, I only know of one team that has qualified and everybody else is dissappointed thus far because they haven't qualified either. Last year we did not qualify for nationals until the state tourney but we did qualify and other more well known teams did not.

You may not like our coach because he is loud and mouthy, but what is wrong with a coach who loves his players, believes in his players, and wants nothing but the best for them. Maybe if your dd's coach would start talking about his team and how good they are you would stop trashing our team.

As for our players, we do have two of the best pitchers in the area, and our defense is very salty, and we can absolutely pound the ball, but these girls are only 14 and 15 yrs. old (as is everyone else's) and sometimes they don't have "it" when we get on the field, not to mention we have had our share of injuries this year, but we haven't been blown out on the field. All I'm saying is wait until the cake is finished baking before you decide it's not any good.

See ya on the dirt,

Tommy Jenkins

With paragraph breaks. You're welcome.

[leftyt26]

Thanks, Skarp wasn't aware there was a english grading system here LOL

[Skarp]

Thanks, Skarp wasn't aware there was a english grading system here LOL

There quite obviously isn't. But nobody's going to read past the third line if you don't break it up into manageable pieces. Just FYI.

[someonecares]

American Freedom is a good team and should not be down played just because their coaches are proud of them. Continue to brag about your players and stand strong on and off the field.

[anonlooker]

Thanks, Skarp wasn't aware there was a english grading system here LOL

There quite obviously isn't. But nobody's going to read past the third line if you don't break it up into manageable pieces. Just FYI.

All take heed, this is most often the case.

If you don't break up your posts into paragraphs, it looks like a venting of hot air, and frequently is just that, so most of us have learned to skip over the huge blocks.

But I do have to admit, even I have read some of them here on the TX boards... they are often very entertaining... just don't over do it! Thanks!

[Lori]

DID I CALL IT OR DID I CALL IT?!?!?

I LOVE BEING RIGHT!!!

AMERICAN "WINDBAG" FREEDOM TAKES 1ST PLACE-----IN A WEAK , WEAK, WEAK 16U TOURNEY!!

YOU GO AMERICAN FREEDOM--YOU ARE THE BESTEST!!LOL

[anonlooker]

Lori,

I'm from CA and I don't always read the TX boards, so I'm curious.. what team are you affiliated with, and what have they won?