***NEW TOURNAMENT OPTION FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND***

[watchtonsofsoftball]

I think its been discussed that its one of 2 16u teams entered in the 18G division in sacramento along with AASA-JH. LM-Heyward is a 16u team that played 14u in the summer yes. I dont think it makes you a smart as* for asking. I think both teams will do fine and I "get" why they are doing it, although I think most people want to see them play their own division. Either way, both good teams that will do well next summer.
On a side note .....there is now 63 teams total entered into the tournament. I have to believe its a success already as it seems a team is entering just about every day.
12s,14s, and 18G is already at successful numbers IMO for a first year tourney. I have to believe that for the first time in a while we are seeing people going for that "alternative".
I hope it continues and is a big success.
I also see one Sting team entered. Hopefully the others will follow suit. If Sting comes as well, it will really draw in the rest of the teams from that region IMO

[Cheeto]

Yeah, looks fairly successfull at this point (middle of January). One of the main concerns of the older teams will be same with this tourney, Field Location!! Everyone knows how this will eventually work, the better and older teams will all play each other on main field (just as in RR) and everyone else will be on outskirts, b_tching! How long do you think the better 18G Teams are going to stay if they play "average" at best teams. Nice concept, different venue. It is good that there is an alternative, but things are not going to change. Same 'ol, same 'ol. The money just switched hands is all. One, just for "profit" org to another just for "profit" org.

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Cheeto,
I have to disagree about fields as most of the fields are in better shape then RR. Lincoln , roseville, rocklin area all have some better fields when maintained. Gary has said he is making sure all fields are prepped before games, etc. That is a huge improvement over RR when they would play 5 and 6 games before even touching the field. Also, there are suppose to be fences added to some of the field locations. I dont think the field situation will be a problem especially if they are kept up and the blues are even REMOTELY competent. If you saw last years umps at RR then you know what I'm talking about. Absolutely the worst I have ever seen in ANY year since my involvement in girls fastpitch. So if games are run smoothly and decent umpires along with free gate fees and all the ice chests you want, I think it will feel more like a memorial day, then getting hammered at the gates, on food, etc. Then it just becomes another expensive weekend. This way, everyone can have a good time and not worry about the money
Last year I had a few friends with kids in the tournament and they seemed to be pretty pis*ed about the gate fees, lack of umps, terrible fields, high entry fee, and not being able to bring their food in. Seems all areas have been addressed with this tourney (on paper atleast).
12s is doing the best right now with teams, but WOW is the 12u division getting bigger every year with new teams.

[triplecrown]

If anything I hope some good comes out of this, and maybe the TD will do what needs to be done to make some improvements, as the conditions alone are not safe. The gate fee is a joke. Most importantly, fix the fields, maintain the fields, prep the fields between games, get some decent umpires, mix in some temp fencing for a couple G's, throw in some new balls on Sunday and Monday, and the teams will return.

Here's a question, what happens when guys like Rico decide if nothing changes, enough is enough, it will be a mass exodus from Socal. I mean why would you drive 6 hours to play in a armpit, its beyond me.

[downthepipe]

I also have heard that one RR Gold Memorial Day tournament organizer has told at least one Norcal Gold coach that if he enters the new Sacramento tournament on that date he will be banned from the RR Gold fall exposure. Some of the best teams slowly have been dropping out of the Memorial Day and fall exposures put on by R&R Gold because of poor field conditions, poor officiating, scheduling snafus, few scouts on hand and more. Wouldn't it be better to address those deficiencies, rather than perhaps attempting to intimidate coaches who choose not to enter because they want better conditions for their players? Good luck to the Sacramento organizers on their new Memorial Day event. IMHO the competition has been long over due.

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Completely agree. The last couple of fall exposure tournaments have really been a big let down. Look around, and I guarantee we aren't the only ones who have noticed the lack of scouts. Yah you will get some community colleges and local colleges but other than that, its a joke. Realistically it's just another weekend to play some games. If your looking to get 'seen' at this particular tournament, good luck with that. If he really is trying to intimidate coaches (which I doubt) he is the one that will lose. Yes RR puts on a lot of tourneys but they have a good thing going over there and there will still be plenty of teams, so I dont think he would jeopardize that. TD's have to know , its not personal, every coach just wants the best for their team. And as a former coach, I tried to balance competition of teams with price of tourney along with GG (game guarantee) and also where we would be playing when deciding which tournament to enter . Its that simple. Thats one thing that never changes throughout the years.

[downthepipe]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the Memorial Day weekend is when NCAA super regionals take place. Coaches playing there, or ones whose teams were eliminated the previous weekend in regionals, will not be out on the recruiting trail in Stockton. Every coach who signs players into big programs knows that, so "exposure" at the R&R Gold event is by and large a myth, and has been for awhile. Don't look for college softball scouts there - Sea Scouts, Indian Scouts or Girl Scouts, perhaps, but it's not likely that any of those groups will offer your daughter a softball grant-in-aid.

[Wilson Bats]

I also have heard that one RR Gold Memorial Day tournament organizer has told at least one Norcal Gold coach that if he enters the new Sacramento tournament on that date he will be banned from the RR Gold fall exposure. Some of the best teams slowly have been dropping out of the Memorial Day and fall exposures put on by R&R Gold because of poor field conditions, poor officiating, scheduling snafus, few scouts on hand and more. Wouldn't it be better to address those deficiencies, rather than perhaps attempting to intimidate coaches who choose not to enter because they want better conditions for their players? Good luck to the Sacramento organizers on their new Memorial Day event. IMHO the competition has been long over due.

And the other stockton organization told their teams that they couldn't play in any tournaments in Sacramento. Remember these are adults that are acting like kids, "I will take my ball and go home"

[downthepipe]

I'm guessing the attitude that leads to not putting on quality events is why you see the very best NorCal Gold teams increasingly playing in SoCal. Seems a shame. When was the last time a Sorcerer Gold team even played up here? I don't think I saw them this fall or in the summer either. And the Magic seems to go down there quite a bit, too. I'm sure one reason they do that is that SoCal tournaments are much more heavily scouted.

[triplecrown]

I'm guessing the attitude that leads to not putting on quality events is why you see the very best NorCal Gold teams increasingly playing in SoCal. Seems a shame. When was the last time a Sorcerer Gold team even played up here? I don't think I saw them this fall or in the summer either. And the Magic seems to go down there quite a bit, too. I'm sure one reason they do that is that SoCal tournaments are much more heavily scouted.

You will probably never see the Sorcerers play up here again, they have nothing to gain by doing so. They hand pick the best SoCal Showcases, get invited to best SoCal Invitationals that have the best teams around in them, why would you play in anything up here if you had that on your plate. Just look at their roster and see where the kids are going, that ought to give you an idea as to if its working or not.