12U Spring/Summer Ranking

[Tenshun]

Tenshuns Daddy-Ball-Free Ranking -UPDATED 7/14 - Means just like a roster spot and playing time, you’ve got to earn your ranking. No ranking privileges given just because you're wearing a certain team's jersey.

The TDBFR gives little credit for beating weak teams. To be the best, you have to beat the best.

(Please send me a PM if I have omitted any big wins or there are any inaccuracies.)

*You’ll notice a few “ties” – In these cases, I think the teams are so close that the teams have a 50/50 chance of beating each other on any given weekend. *

1)Smash - The biggest bats in Norcal and considering they also have great small ball capabilities, they are an offensive force to be reckoned with. A roster loaded with talent helps these guys find a way to win even when the odds are against them.

Top Teams Beaten: Grapes RV (2x), Hotshots, Breeze 98, Dirt Dogs 98, Sorcerers 98 (2x), Foothill Gold (2x), AASA (2x), Rocklin Hype, Mizuno-Garcia, Breeze 99, Sting, Grapes SN (2x)

2)Grapes RV –Great pitching, best in class defense and their girls can bang too. Good luck finding a weakness in this line-up because they’re one of the toughest teams in Norcal. These guys started the season in the middle of the pack and have earned their way to the top the TDBFR way. Sweat and determination. Well done.

Top Teams Beaten: Dirt Dogs, Foothill Gold (3x), Valley Stompers, RR Gold (2x), Rocklin Hype, Sting (4x), Breeze 98, AASA, Lady Sharks (2x)

3)Breeze 98 – Top-notch coaching keeps these guys dialed-in and competitive in every situation. One of the strongest hitting teams in Norcal, that keeps all teams on their toes and the fans on the edges of their seats. Solid all around defense and deep pitching bench with styles ranging from straight up heat to master of the spin.

Top Teams Beaten: Smash, Breeze 99, Foothill Gold (2x), Hotshots, Stompers, Sorcerers

4-Tie )Dirt Dogs – These guys are one of the most well-rounded teams in Norcal. They’ve got great hitters, awesome defense, good speed and a solid pitching bench. Team is fundamentally sound and the coaches have a great handle on the game and the team. You know they mean business when you hear the crack as they swing their metal cannons.

Top teams beaten: Sorcerers, Sting, Breeze 99, Storm

4-Tie)Sorcerers 98 – These guys have one of the best defenses in Norcal from top to bottom. Hitting a ball through their infield is a pipe-dream for most. Exceptional speed on this team helps them execute a solid small ball strategy and finish it off with a few bangers. Solid showing for a relatively young team.

Top Teams Beaten -Grapes RV, Valley Stompers, Sting, Storm

5)Hotshots –This team is stacked with kids that can really bang. Solid pitching with girls that paint the corners. These girls are amongst the most fundamentally sound teams in Norcal from their infield to their outfield.

Top Teams Beaten: Breeze 98, Grapes Vasquez (2x), Foothill Gold, Stompers, Rocklin Hype (2x), Mizuno-Garcia(2x), Storm, OBS, Sting, Lady Sharks

6)RR Gold – Here’s a little secret about these guys…they’re really a ’99 team! Ok not really a secret, but you wouldn’t know it by the way these gals play. Very strong hitters will surprise the unsuspecting and may even surprise the expecting. Never underestimate these guys or it could be an early Sunday. Be patient RR, your time is coming.

Top Teams Beaten: Stompers (2x), AASA, Storm, Rocklin Hype (2x), Mizuno Garcia, Lady Sharks, OBS Monarchs, Breeze 98

7)Foothill Gold – Great pitching that shaves bat handles headlines this team. These girls can hit with the best too and they also have a couple small ball surprises up their sleeves. Better bring your A game when playing these gals because they’re always ready to play. A fundamentally sound team with excellent coaching.

Top Teams Beaten: Smash, Hotshots, Dirt Dogs, RR Gold, Rocklin Hype (3x), Breeze 99 (2x), Sting, Storm, Mizuno Garcia, Grapes RV

8) Lady Sharks – Very good pitcher with lots of movement. Good overall hitting and defense. These guys have been in the top ten a few times this season, but were gone for a bit. After some solid improvements, a couple big wins and winning their metro, these gals are back on Tenshuns top Ten and working their way up.

Top Team Beaten: Grapes RV, Storm (3x), FH Gold, RR Gold, Mizuno Garcia, Grapes SN

9)Stompers - Great pitching helps these guys compete in every game. A few big hitters and good defense help keep these guys in the game. The team has made lots of progress throughout the season and have once again earned a spot on the TDBFR.

Top Teams Beaten: Rocklin Hype (2x), Sting, Grapes SN, AASA (2x)

10-Tie)AASA– One of the most improved teams of the season. Very good pitchers that hit the corners. Solid hitters that are sure to keep good pitchers on their toes. Overall a fundamentally sound team with lots of heart. Solid showing for a relatively young team.

Top Teams Beaten: Breeze 98, Foothill Gold, Stompers, OBS

10)Grapes SN - Had some big roster changes , but great coaching and dedicated girls still make these guys a threat. Very solid contact hitting help them get on base and then best in class base running helps them take that extra base. Their recent performance shows that softball truly is a team sport. Grapes SN are back in business.

Top Teams Beaten: RR Gold, OBS (2x), Breeze 99, Hotshots (2x), Foothill Gold


Tenshuns Challengers

11) Sting

Top Teams Beaten: Mizuno Garcia (2x), Sorcerer (2x)

12) Rocklin Hype
Top Teams Beaten: Foothill Gold (2x), RR Gold, Mizuno Garcia (2x)

13) OBS Monarchs
Top Teams Beaten: Stompers, Grapes SN, RR Gold (2x), Mizuno Garcia

14) Storm
Top Teams Beaten: Stompers (2x), Sorcerer, Foothill Gold

15) Mizuno- Garcia
Top Teams Beaten: RR Gold, Breeze 99 (2x)

16) Breeze 99
Top Teams Beaten: AASA, Lady Sharks



Think Tenshun's wrong? Then state your case!

[Missinit]

I think a points system is really the only unbiased way to rank.
An opinion can be questioned, numbers not so much.
Just a thought.

[lv2earat8]

All polls are opinion bases. Look at the college softball rankings, 2 polls, hardly ever the same. Coaches(NFCA) have a opinion and ESPN/USA have theirs. What does it really mater anyway?
PLAY THE GAMES!

[lookingIN]

Good job Tenshun. I like what I see. Smash deserves the Top spot for now. Let see who steps up to bump them out. Congrats to Smash on taking the last Grapette tourny.

[Cool Breeze]

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[Iluvblue]

She will dominate 12u hitters in this area. Would like to see them play 12u in a big 25+ team tourney. Hard for them to play a 5 game schedule on a Sunday and rely on number 1 to win all tough games.

That team is good. I enjoyed watching them.

[GameTime23]

Ok....Tenshun about this order?????

1). Grapes SN- hands down top pitcher,base running and coaching. Playing Down South & 14's. Someone in 12's will eed to beat them first.
2). Smash- Mosted improved team. Great Hitting, pitching and top coaching. Will make run for #1 spot.
3). Breeze98- Mashburn is the man with great kids that will always produce and play hard. Breeze98 flat out hit and fundamental sound kids and great program.
4). Sorcerer98- Team filled with studs. Great small ball with a handful of bangers. Also playing 14's and doing well. Just need to finish the big games.Solid def and good base runners.
5).CC D.Doggs98- Solid coaching and hard nose kids always ready to play. Seem to play down to lower lever teams , but show up for sunday games.
6).Hotshots98- Much improved team. Loaded with talent and trying to find themselves. Team will only get better during the year with all the new talent.
7). Foothill Gold- Well balance team with good players and coaches. Little too much up and down and could be lower when others team continue to develope. Peaking too early in the season?????
8).Storm- Well coached small ball with 3 bangers. Only time will tell if team figure out how to play them. They also could move lower as season goes????
9).Grapes RV- Good coached team with solid kids. They seem to play up and down at times, but good team and will move up as season goes.
10). AASA- Surprise team so far. Kids can flat out play the game with 99's starting and producing. Good coaching and great program. They will move up as new talent settles in.

[Tenshun]

Ok....Tenshun about this order?????

Well, since this is the Tenshun Daddy Ball-Free ranking where teams are rewarded for playing and beating the best 12u teams in Norcal THIS season, I got to stick with my original ranking.

I think kids that are playing the best in the area and doing well deserve to move up and those that aren't have to move down.

Why would anyone have to beat the Grapettes to get the number 1 seed when the Grapettes haven't played or beaten any of the top Norcal 12u teams this season? And if you are going off of last season, they were indeed soundly beaten by at least one top Norcal 12u team.

Take a look at the results from this season's tourneys and events... you'll see who showed up, the level of competition and how they did....

Expect the rankings to change as the season progresses and hungry teams compete to beat the best.

Also, your ranking is within the "2 ranking spot" margin of error, so there's little to argue over.

[justwin2k10]

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[2nd2none]

Wow, that's a shocker!!! Heard NW lost another player as well & others are in limbo as well. That's too bad cuz that team was a national caliber team & would have done well in Alabama. That's too bad for the girls that's still with the team. For a team that had a bright future only to see it fall apart mid-season is a terrible way to go. But I'm sure NW will try her best to keep her team competitive.

I wonder why said #1 left. I heard she was given key to that team & to leave a team mid-season is kind of suspect. You are top 12u pitcher in NorCal, getting plenty of recognition (especially here in HB), & leading arguably top 12u team in NorCal...Why leave now? Seems like a great spot to be in.

Well if info is right, AASA will be a force to be reckoned with. If #1 already had key to NW, wonder what she was promised to play for new team.