I think the '93 Storm answered our question!

[Campos]

I do not see how anyone can argue that they are the best 14u team in Texas. Winning the Fireworks and then a great finish (5th) at ASA Nationals.

Congratulations!!!!!

Now the next question I have is WHY IS SOCAL SO DOMINANT???? What do they do differently than the rest of the country? Ideas?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[3Bsnag]

I had not even heard of this team until the past couple of months. Congratulation to Texas Storm!

And to answer your question- practice, and what's being covered at practice.
They practice more and harder than we do. Take LL schedule every week- 2 hr conditioning on Tues, 3 hr practices on Thurs, 4 hr practice on Saturday, and friendlies on Sundays. One team I talked to practices for 6 1/2 hours on Saturday, and scrimmages on Sunday.

We practice for a couple of hours a week (cages, grounders, and fly balls) for bragging rights over the latest weekend tournament. Big difference.

[weekend4trvl]

I do not see how anyone can argue that they are the best 14u team in Texas. Winning the Fireworks and then a great finish (5th) at ASA Nationals.

Congratualtions.

Now the next question I have is WHY IS SOCAL SO DOMINANT???? What do they do differently than the rest of the country? Ideas?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Skarp had a good response to this question a couple months ago. It begins with 100,000 to 125,000 girls that play rec ball in So Cal alone, than go from there.

[txfastpitch]

Congrats, to Tx Storm your team plays with alot of heart. I will agree according to results this is the best team in Texas. I think there may be more talented teams out there, but talent only gets you so far. (Texas Peppers and Fusion Mork) come to mind, those are the 2 teams that were suppose to beat everyone.

I watched plenty of games in Midland this past week, and the one thing I saw is that the Top CA teams had amazing defense, the average CA teams defense were better than most. Nothing got by those girls. Then the LL blk/white, both Victory teams, and Corona Angels could just flat out hit the ball. Pitching was above average/average. The LL Blk girls was one of the better pitchers in the complex all week. Not exactly sure how hard she was throwing, I would guess 58-61. With a good change up, and screwball. They are confident, and have the attitude they can't and won't be beat.

What can Tx do about it? Set up more friendlies were the goal is to improve the teams by playing the best around, not chasing a piece of plastic that most of us don't have room for anymore. CA teams play the best teams all the time, our girls may play 7-8 games a weekend, with 1 or 2 being competitive.

I agree CA has a lot more girls to pick from to fill those teams with, but I am sure if parents would put the ego's aside then Texas would be able to put atleast 3-4 quality teams together in each age group that could compete at their level. jmho

[leftyt26]

Congrats, to Tx Storm your team plays with alot of heart. I will agree according to results this is the best team in Texas. I think there may be more talented teams out there, but talent only gets you so far. (Texas Peppers and Fusion Mork) come to mind, those are the 2 teams that were suppose to beat everyone.

I watched plenty of games in Midland this past week, and the one thing I saw is that the Top CA teams had amazing defense, the average CA teams defense were better than most. Nothing got by those girls. Then the LL blk/white, both Victory teams, and Corona Angels could just flat out hit the ball. Pitching was above average/average. The LL Blk girls was one of the better pitchers in the complex all week. Not exactly sure how hard she was throwing, I would guess 58-61. With a good change up, and screwball. They are confident, and have the attitude they can't and won't be beat.

What can Tx do about it? Set up more friendlies were the goal is to improve the teams by playing the best around, not chasing a piece of plastic that most of us don't have room for anymore. CA teams play the best teams all the time, our girls may play 7-8 games a weekend, with 1 or 2 being competitive.

I agree CA has a lot more girls to pick from to fill those teams with, but I am sure if parents would put the ego's aside then Texas would be able to put atleast 3-4 quality teams together in each age group that could compete at their level. jmho

txfastpitch,

You are correct, if a couple of teams would combine their top talent and then continue to develop that talent we could probably do more than just compete with So Cal teams.

Although, as an AF dad I felt like we did compete with and beat the Case Batbusters, So Cal Hurricanes and the TT put a pretty good beating on the SJ Lady Sharks. Those were the only teams that I really kept up with(not short changing the others) and I obviously Texas Storm did really well.

I do feel like the Texas teams are closing the gap with So Cal teams, we just have to keep working harder.

[honcho55]

I agree as well. While talking to Cali teams parents and coaches during the week in midland, I was also struck by the committment to outside practice, live pitching for the hitters, and NO HIGH SCHOOL sports. Obviously there are exceptions, but by and large these girls play year-round softball Travel Level ONLY. No cheer, volleyball, basketball, track, etc. I saw a lot of Potential in Texas teams, just the commitment and amount of practice time is much different. My 2 cents.

[play4fun]

Heard alot of good things from the Texas teams about nationals and the competition. All I can say now is that Texas is closing the gap each year and needs to continue to learn from California.

Coaches need to step up and start setting up friendlys. (I don't think the metro commisioners will be to happy. Ex. friendlys can't be posted on the VTD)

Who cares about the trophies except the "B" teams. Learn to face the best of the best in Texas every week and the teams will get even better and have an even better showing next year.

[Blind Squirrel]

I agree as well. While talking to Cali teams parents and coaches during the week in midland, I was also struck by the committment to outside practice, live pitching for the hitters, and NO HIGH SCHOOL sports. Obviously there are exceptions, but by and large these girls play year-round softball Travel Level ONLY. No cheer, volleyball, basketball, track, etc. I saw a lot of Potential in Texas teams, just the commitment and amount of practice time is much different. My 2 cents.

In SoCal, high school kids can't play travel during the HS softball season. They can practice with their travel teams but I don't think they can play in games. The majority of kids I've known do play HS softball.

John

[DonnieS]

>> In SoCal, high school kids can't play travel during the HS softball season. <<

John, as you can imagine, most high school coaches ask the girls not to play or practice with their travel teams during the high school season. The coaches that talk to me tell that they practice so much with high school teams during the high school season, they want the girls to rest on their days off - typically saturday afternoon and sunday.

[honcho55]

Sorry, what I meant was in the younger than high school level. For example, my DD has played at the select or somewhat select level with summer track, and soccer. I also know that both my daughters play school sponsored sports incl. volleyball. I know of a few instances where the H.S. coaches told their players that if they wanted to play on their H.S. team, there would be NO TB at all practices included. I will say that the committment to SB in Cali has more to do with the organizational structure and culture than athletic ability IMHO