What is the weakest 12U...

[NumeroUno]

As a 10U team, the Texas Glory won ASA Nationals in Moline. I think it's safe to say Texas teams can compete with the best, even in California.

Top Texas team are as good as any teams in the country. I think the difference is that California talent may be a little deeper. Example: Texas might have 2 or 3 great teams in every division and California might have 5 or 6. Those numbers are just an example Texas could have 5 or 6 and Cal might have 8 or 10.
Texas Glory won 10U Nationals and 2nd and 3rd went to Cal teams not sure what happened after that. Last year 12U 1st and 2nd were Cal teams.

I have to go my work phone is ringing and really bothering me. Can someone send me a boat load on money so I can do this full time.

[3Bsnag]

I don't care who the best team is. I just want to know if there are teams in California (and if so, which ones) who aren't able to go deep into California tournaments week in and week out, but who would figure to do so if they were based elsewhere (specifically Texas).

Since it's morning, I'm understanding your question better. Sorry for the stupid comment even though I'm sure there's some underlying, sarcastic reason.

I'm not big on naming names, and couldn't rate all your teams by name anyway. However, I think the honest answer is yes and I agree with Uno. Your talent is much deeper (# of teams) than ours and I think that number increases with age. I can't speak intelligently on the younger ages, but here's a summary of our talent pool

12U- very few elite teams- maybe 6 or 7- @ 3 extremely talented from North Texas. There's one in particular that places well here (not included in those 6 or 7) that I highly doubt would ever place in socal.

14U- biggest pool of talent IMO, not just because DD is in this age group. @12-15 teams with half of those in N TX

16-18G- I think other states blow TX away in this age group and to take that a step further, South TX definitely beats North TX in this category.

I think we're going to see some 2nd year 14's go to 18G really fast, even maybe skip 16U, because they're under the false pretense that they are that good. Placing 1st-3rd as a 14U in a 16 or 18U tourament in North Texas is great, but put them 18G at RM, Surf City, Rising Stars, or Nationals, and I think everyone will know they were playing 14's last season. Hope I'm wrong.

[Skarp]

We Texans hold our own just fine, Thank you! I don't quite understand what you are asking here... The "elite" teams in Texas can compete with anybody, I don't care where they're from!

As a 10U team, the Texas Glory won ASA Nationals in Moline. I think it's safe to say Texas teams can compete with the best, even in California.

Is there an echo in here?

[Gone in 2.6]

First I'd like to start by saying that's a stupid question. Unless you're extremely familiar with that age group in both states, there is no intelligent response. Although from the angry posts I'm reading on the TX boards, you just may be able to evoke your preferred, irate responses.

If I had to GUESS, I'd put money on a 5:1 ratio, CA vs the rest of the U.S.

Are you becoming one of those people that were at eteamz who thought their CA poo didn't smell?

So you guess at an answer to a stupid question...I could run with that, but I'll refrain.

It has nothing to do with fragrant poo...I'm legitimately curious about the relative regional talent levels. I think it's beyond debate that the best California teams are generally better than teams from elsewhere, and that the talent in California also runs much deeper. But I personally am not sure what that means--because I've never seen the best teams from Texas (for example) play. Others on here have, and presumably can therefore make an educated estimation about where those teams stack up compared to California teams that I have seen. When you guys are talking about Glory, I'm thinking super-elite...but that's Texas super-elite, which may or may not be on par or nearly on par with California super-elite. Hence my "stupid" question.

You're not one of those people from eteamz who has an inferiority complex with respect to California softball are you? It is always interesting learning what particular buttons raise folks' blood pressure on here.

Being "proud" of (or, might I say, defensive about) one's region's softball prowess is about the stupidest thing I can imagine...and I've got a pretty good imagination when it comes to stupidity. So no, I'm not a California poo touter.

(But it is true that our poo, in actual fact, does not stink )

Skarp. I don't know the current crop of 12's but have been to quite a few ASA Nationals including two 12U's and a 12U HOF.

In 12U, DD's team was the So Cal State champs and was considered one of the two best teams from So Cal. They finished 7th at nats. Among those ahead of them were two Texas teams and one Georgia team.

Last season she again played for the So Cal State champ (co champs actually) and was probably again one of two "favorites". They finished 3rd. Their two losses were to Tennessee and Illinois.

So Cal may or may not win this thing but I would advise all So Cal 12's that qualify to pack a lunch. You're going to need it.

[TXfastpitchsoftball]

I don't care who the best team is. I just want to know if there are teams in California (and if so, which ones) who aren't able to go deep into California tournaments week in and week out, but who would figure to do so if they were based elsewhere (specifically Texas).

I think we're going to see some 2nd year 14's go to 18G really fast, even maybe skip 16U, because they're under the false pretense that they are that good. Placing 1st-3rd as a 14U in a 16 or 18U tourament in North Texas is great, but put them 18G at RM, Surf City, Rising Stars, or Nationals, and I think everyone will know they were playing 14's last season. Hope I'm wrong.

I don't completely disagree with your general proposition, but I believe any current 14u that gets blown out at 2009 ASA 18u Gold Nationals will be happy for everyone to know they were just playing 14u in 2008. I think some of these teams know exactly how they compare to the top 18u Gold teams in Texas. There are something like 96 18 Gold teams in the ASA Region VII Qualifier in Houston this summer, and I guarantee that a third or more of them would not win the 14u HOF Qualifier this year.

The handful of current 14u teams that move to 18 Gold next year will do so because that is where the college recruiting opportunities are at for freshmen and sophomores. Most of the top five or so 14u teams could have, and some argued should have, played 16u this season. Playing 16u events, however, will not get your kids seen with the exception of one tournament . . . ASA 16u Nationals. Otherwise, you are wasting your time playing 16u and might as well be playing 18 Gold.

Additionally, virtually every player on the current top 5 14u teams could make a good 18u Gold team now if they left their current team. The only diffierence you will see in the next two or three years is that these top 14u teams keep their kids together long term and return to dominance in a year or two. Under the old process, these top 14u teams lost players one at a time when they failed to move up at the same pace as their top players, creating a whole bunch of really average 18u Gold teams statewide. My observation is that the current crop of 14u coaches are more than ever thinking more about college recruting than their predecessors, and thinking a lot less about where their teams place in a weekend 16u North Texas tournament.

[TXfastpitchsoftball]

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[Gone in 2.6]

I don't care who the best team is. I just want to know if there are teams in California (and if so, which ones) who aren't able to go deep into California tournaments week in and week out, but who would figure to do so if they were based elsewhere (specifically Texas).

I think we're going to see some 2nd year 14's go to 18G really fast, even maybe skip 16U, because they're under the false pretense that they are that good. Placing 1st-3rd as a 14U in a 16 or 18U tourament in North Texas is great, but put them 18G at RM, Surf City, Rising Stars, or Nationals, and I think everyone will know they were playing 14's last season. Hope I'm wrong.

I don't completely disagree with your general proposition, but I believe any current 14u that gets blown out at 2009 ASA 18u Gold Nationals will be happy for everyone to know they were just playing 14u in 2008. Yeah but a team like that probably won't qualify. There are only 64 teams at Gold nationals. Berths are at a premium I think some of these teams know exactly how they compare to the top 18u Gold teams in Texas. There are something like 96 18 Gold teams in the ASA Region VII Qualifier in Houston this summer, and I guarantee that a third or more of them would not win the 14u HOF Qualifier this year.

The handful of current 14u teams that move to 18 Gold next year will do so because that is where the college recruiting opportunities are at for freshmen and sophomores. Most of the top five or so 14u teams could have, and some argued should have, played 16u this season. Playing 16u events, however, will not get your kids seen with the exception of one tournament . . . ASA 16u Nationals. Otherwise, you are wasting your time playing 16u and might as well be playing 18 Gold.

Additionally, virtually every player on the current top 5 14u teams could make a good 18u Gold team now if they left their current team. But will they get any play time at Gold Qualifiers and Nationals? My kid is a junior and it is HIGHLY questionble (in my mind) if she will be able to stay in the lineup when the college kids come back. The only diffierence you will see in the next two or three years is that these top 14u teams keep their kids together long term and return to dominance in a year or two. Under the old process, these top 14u teams lost players one at a time when they failed to move up at the same pace as their top players, creating a whole bunch of really average 18u Gold teams statewide. My observation is that the current crop of 14u coaches are more than ever thinking more about college recruting than their predecessors,totally agree with that and thinking a lot less about where their teams place in a weekend 16u North Texas tournament.

[texasfastpitch]

We Texans hold our own just fine, Thank you! I don't quite understand what you are asking here... The "elite" teams in Texas can compete with anybody, I don't care where they're from!

As a 10U team, the Texas Glory won ASA Nationals in Moline. I think it's safe to say Texas teams can compete with the best, even in California.

Is there an echo in here?

Yes, I guess there is

[3Bsnag]

Additionally, virtually every player on the current top 5 14u teams could make a good 18u Gold team now if they left their current team. But will they get any play time at Gold Qualifiers and Nationals? My kid is a junior and it is HIGHLY questionble (in my mind) if she will be able to stay in the lineup when the college kids come back.

Agree with both of you, good thoughts TXfastpitch. I hope you're right, but I think it's relative to where you are and the subject matter. If Gone in 2.6's kid is questionable on playing time on her team, I'd put money on her gold team vs our gold (14U team).

All that being said, kudo's to the coaches for studying and being proactive for what's good for their girls. I think the clinics, speakers, and even HB have been good in advancing the knowledge base of our coaches.

[Hitmechanic]

Definitely several here in the SE that'll whip up on any of the TOP FIVE Cal or TX 12U's

Then they'll even play some softball