Best 14U Teams in NTX

[justawatcher]

Ok so with all of the tryouts out of the way, realignments complete, and several tournaments complete-Who are the top 14U teams in NTX?

[pitcherzpop]

Adkins Allen
Elite Strawn
Batbusters Spuria
Bombers Futures

Everybody else

[TX MAVERICK]

Adkins Allen
Elite Strawn
Batbusters Spuria
Bombers Futures

Everybody else

I know the Bombers are the popular pick in certain circles and they may end up being a great team but can we please wait until they beat SOMEBODY before we crown them. They have played in 1 tournament in the weak side of their bracket (no fault of their own) and beat up on weaker teams and then played 3 pool games against weaker teams and beat them as well. I will be interested to see how they do in this weekend's friendly. As I said they may turn out to be the powerhouse everyone thinks they are but I need to see it on the field first before I put them in my top 5.

I like Spuria in the top as they are always solid and then I will go with the 3 teams that represented North Texas in ASA Nationals this year. Glory Allen, Fireballs and lets not forget about them team that placed 9th in Nationals the Firecrackers. I would have put the Cyclones on my list but I believe they have lost their pitching. For my vote until someone proves they are better than those 4 on the field they are the top 4. (For North Texas ONLY)

[pitcherzpop]

I dont think a friendly in the fall is going to tell you much of anything about any team. I see your point though. From my standpoint, I know a lot of those kids. The coaching is suspect though so they may never be that "powerhouse"
You are right though they are the "sexy" pick right now. Maybe thats all. THere is one of those every fall mind you. Time will tell.

[justawatcher]

You are right though they are the "sexy" pick right now. Maybe thats all. THere is one of those every fall mind you. Time will tell.

Yes it will.

[lotsofmilesforball]

There are a lot of good teams in NTX and I wish all of them well. IMO, here is how it appears that the fall is ending for the 12U's that recently moved up.

1) Pride - Always find a way to win.
2) Rhine - Most improved team from Spring?
3) Fireballs* - Perennial top-6 with not a whole bunch of kids.
4) Firecrackers* - Loads of talent but not playing as such.
5) Elite 98 - Needs to move up and play in the bigger tournaments.
6) ETX Bombers - Good talent but needs more time together.
7) Rip98* - Good talent but don't play enough to get good read on them.

*Went to Alabama for 12U Nationals.

Glory 98? Glory Adkins/Allen? - Are they still together? Regrouping?

[justawatcher]

There are a lot of good teams in NTX and I wish all of them well. IMO, here is how it appears that the fall is ending for the 12U's that recently moved up.

1) Pride - Always find a way to win.
2) Rhine - Most improved team from Spring?
3) Fireballs* - Perennial top-6 with not a whole bunch of kids.
4) Firecrackers* - Loads of talent but not playing as such.
5) Elite 98 - Needs to move up and play in the bigger tournaments.
6) ETX Bombers - Good talent but needs more time together.
7) Rip98* - Good talent but don't play enough to get good read on them.

*Went to Alabama for 12U Nationals.

Glory 98? Glory Adkins/Allen? - Are they still together? Regrouping?

Had several big time colleges looking at them at Ronald McDonald. I don't think the rest of your teams on the list even made the trip.

[lotsofmilesforball]

There are a lot of good teams in NTX and I wish all of them well. IMO, here is how it appears that the fall is ending for the 12U's that recently moved up.

1) Pride - Always find a way to win.
2) Rhine - Most improved team from Spring?
3) Fireballs* - Perennial top-6 with not a whole bunch of kids.
4) Firecrackers* - Loads of talent but not playing as such.
5) Elite 98 - Needs to move up and play in the bigger tournaments.
6) ETX Bombers - Good talent but needs more time together.
7) Rip98* - Good talent but don't play enough to get good read on them.

*Went to Alabama for 12U Nationals.

Glory 98? Glory Adkins/Allen? - Are they still together? Regrouping?

Had several big time colleges looking at them at Ronald McDonald. I don't think the rest of your teams on the list even made the trip.

That's what is so interesting about the teams up here. On paper, and I stress ON PAPER, you could argue that Bombers & Firecrackers have more college prospects than all the other mentioned teams but it's not translating into the week in/week out tournament victories like you see from the same few teams down South.

[dallasFP]

There are a lot of good teams in NTX and I wish all of them well. IMO, here is how it appears that the fall is ending for the 12U's that recently moved up.

1) Pride - Always find a way to win.
2) Rhine - Most improved team from Spring?
3) Fireballs* - Perennial top-6 with not a whole bunch of kids.
4) Firecrackers* - Loads of talent but not playing as such.
5) Elite 98 - Needs to move up and play in the bigger tournaments.
6) ETX Bombers - Good talent but needs more time together.
7) Rip98* - Good talent but don't play enough to get good read on them.

*Went to Alabama for 12U Nationals.

Glory 98? Glory Adkins/Allen? - Are they still together? Regrouping?

Had several big time colleges looking at them at Ronald McDonald. I don't think the rest of your teams on the list even made the trip.

That's what is so interesting about the teams up here. On paper, and I stress ON PAPER, you could argue that Bombers & Firecrackers have more college prospects than all the other mentioned teams but it's not translating into the week in/week out tournament victories like you see from the same few teams down South.

I doubt those three highlighted teams care at all about winning week in/week out tournaments.

[justawatcher]

I doubt those three highlighted teams care at all about winning week in/week out tournaments.

Exactly. I know I'm the first to give heartwell and his crew a hard time, but he's said many times on here in the past that it's about getting these kids ready to play at the highest level. I imagine the goal of those 3 teams is to get kids looked at and qualify for HOF and A nats/Premier. Everything else is just practice.