June Classic

[ICMTM]

If ASA et all would just make the age groups 9u, 11u, 13u, 15u, 18u it would put everyone on the same page. That would kill the funkiness around high school and 14U. I think it would keep those 1st year 16U players down a year before trying to go 18/18Gold.

Talent wise 2nd year 14s and 1st year 16s are closer than 1st and 2nd year 14s. That has been my experience

[jtat32]

Playing up seems to have become something of a Yogi-ism: everyone is doing it because everyone is doing it.

[rbi]

Sure was nice to be home in 30min, damn nice!

[Iluvblue]

Playing up seems to have become something of a Yogi-ism: everyone is doing it because everyone is doing it.

I agree with that statement 100%. This is why my 16u plays 16u... because I do what I think is best, not what others think is best. To each their own.... but does playing up and going ... I dont know 3-3 or 4-2 really help young players become confident and learn how to finish out games? Not in my experience. Now this doesnt mean there are not those truly exceptional players that should not just jump to Gold after their freshman seasons in HS, but those are the excpetional players, not the avg players.

[demash]

Corey

It was a pleasure to play your 16U team this weekend. They are a very good hitting team and your pitcher threw very good. Our team is a bit young for 16U but we give every team we play a battle and our players are learning to play this game they love at a faster pace.

Don Mashburn

[ICMTM]

There isn't a big difference between 2nd year 14s and 1st year 16s. It's the same age as kids who are eligible to play JV softball. If you just called it 15U nobody would be up in arms about it and it's more in line with what is actually happening.

[Iluvblue]

Hi Don,

Unfortunately, the game against your team was the one game I was not able to be at. And as I said that they have had 4 good games in 2 weeks, your team was one of them. I do not agree though that your team is not ready for 16u. I agree with the other poster that there is not much difference between 2nd year 14u and 1st year 16u... they are basically the same age group, and especially a 14u team that has quality pitching.(which your team has)

I think that is why I dont get caught up in the playing up stuff... really, they are the same age group, one team has Freshman, and the other has sophs.

Best teams we have played in 2 weeks, RR Miller, Breeze, Stompers and AASA..... and all are 14u teams.