nationals

[bruisedshin]

A Norcal team is definitely not making a run @ nationals unless they have several tournaments scheduled for Southern Cal and a Colorado tourney to boot. They also aren`t making a serious run @ performing well in nationals unless they are the Sorcerers or All American. There`s a huge difference between going to nationals & actually doing some damage while you`re there. And i`m not referring to Don Mashburn damage!!

SJ Sting won 14U Nationals in 2010, I think Lady Magic won 16U Nationals in 2008 or 2009. Grapettes finished 3rd in 12U in 2008. I don't remember Sorcerer winning recently (although they finished 3rd in 2010 at 14U), and I don't remember All American doing damage at all. What team was that?

I don't see any reason for a team to play in SoCal if they can't win tournaments here, but that doesn't mean they aren't serious about nationals.

This was the first year that Roseville Heat-Edgar made it to nationals, but that doesn't mean they weren't trying the other years.

[turn n burn]

I believe the Sorcerer's were the 2009 ASA 18-U Gold National Champs.

[CheckWriter]

X team says they are gonna make a run at Nationals

From the rear view mirror (youngest a freshman in college), to me that means be ready to travel, have a non-trivial number of practices and tourneys / "show cases". Because of the travel and more games, it means a bigger check to write, both to the team and to pay your credit card because of the extra gas, airfare and hotels.

In contrast to teams that are trying to do it on a shoe string, play within driving distance and just play less with the goal of playing for the sake of playing.

[coachEd]

A Norcal team is definitely not making a run @ nationals unless they have several tournaments scheduled for Southern Cal and a Colorado tourney to boot. They also aren`t making a serious run @ performing well in nationals unless they are the Sorcerers or All American. There`s a huge difference between going to nationals & actually doing some damage while you`re there. And i`m not referring to Don Mashburn damage!!

2011 12u USA/ASA Nationals in Alabama

Tri-County Smash 98 --- tied for 5th place (with OC Batbusters 98)

Cal Breeze 98 --- tied for 17th place

Nice job by both teams. I believe Breeze played in a couple So Cal tourneys during the summer, but I dont think Smash played in any.

Also of note, Sorcerer 98, 12u Triple Crown World Series Champions

[bruisedshin]

You also may want to communicate to parents whether your ultimate goal is PGF or ASA Nationals these days.