14U poll

[Tenshun]

Right, thanks for the correction. Still representing the Breeze in 14s.

[watchtonsofsoftball]

Breeze should do well this year. Sorcerers and KG hitters in the east bay will always put together good teams. LM has the bulk of their team minus a couple of players. Corey is spending more time with his younger kids so you know the Monarchs will be competative. Overall I dont see any Norcal team being there at the end but for local talk I think the field is a lot more even than people think. I dont really see a clear cut front runner at this point. I realize its preseason and time for predictions. The whole PGF and ASA finishes are nice but one thing I dont like in a small field is its about winning your first game. For instance, TEAM A wins first game but finishes 2-2 , places 13th. Team B loses 1st game and finishes 2-2 and they finish somewhere around 25th. When the seeding is random, that doesnt really make Team A necessarily better but it looks a ton better on your website
In a nutshell unless you finish top 10, 11-30th place doesnt matter to me

[bringtheheat]

Congratulations to Tri County Smash 98 for receiving a invite to play in PGF Nationals . Looks like all the hard work that these young ladies and coaching staff have put in the last couple of years has been worth it .

[lv2earat8]

Congratulations to Tri County Smash 98 for receiving a invite to play in PGF Nationals . Looks like all the hard work that these young ladies and coahing staff have put in the last couple of years has been worth it .

I was under the impression that you had to play for one the "big guys" to get recognized for your accomplishes? Congratulations!

[watchtonsofsoftball]

I know this wont be a popular post but I cant stand these invites. Teams change from year to year, kids move around and frankly teams aren't the same as they get older. So its like congratulations, you have done NOTHING this year but here is an invite while other teams scratch and claw their way to a berth. In the end its probably best for the teams who do have to work hard for it as I believe playing tough,competative, regional tournaments is good prior to championship time. I love everyone posting on their website. Look at us we finished terribly last year at PGF and were highly overrated, but we got an invite this year based upon a team that we had nothing to do with. Or based on a 18G team that is gone. Or these organization presidents begging for their younger teams to get an invite. What a joke! Of course I realize from PGF perspective its great to get the top names at your tournament especially over ASA. The best part is teams feeling like they deserved the automatic invite. If you didnt finish top 10 , you dont deserve an invite. Period! If you did, great for you, and you definately deserve the berth and this post isnt for you.

[Tenshun]

I know this wont be a popular post but I cant stand these invites. Teams change from year to year, kids move around and frankly teams aren't the same as they get older. So its like congratulations, you have done NOTHING this year but here is an invite while other teams scratch and claw their way to a berth. In the end its probably best for the teams who do have to work hard for it as I believe playing tough,competative, regional tournaments is good prior to championship time. I love everyone posting on the Or these organization presidents begging for their younger teams to get an invite. What a joke! Of course I realize from PGF perspective its great to get the top names at your tournament especially over ASA. The best part is teams feeling like they deserved the automatic invite. If you didnt finish top 10 , you dont deserve an invite. Period! If you did, great for you, and you definately deserve the berth and this post isnt for you.

My exact sentiments and could not have said it better myself.

[fastpitchdad05]

I know this wont be a popular post but I cant stand these invites. Teams change from year to year, kids move around and frankly teams aren't the same as they get older. So its like congratulations, you have done NOTHING this year but here is an invite while other teams scratch and claw their way to a berth. In the end its probably best for the teams who do have to work hard for it as I believe playing tough,competative, regional tournaments is good prior to championship time. I love everyone posting on the Or these organization presidents begging for their younger teams to get an invite. What a joke! Of course I realize from PGF perspective its great to get the top names at your tournament especially over ASA. The best part is teams feeling like they deserved the automatic invite. If you didnt finish top 10 , you dont deserve an invite. Period! If you did, great for you, and you definately deserve the berth and this post isnt for you.

My exact sentiments and could not have said it better myself.

I understand your concerns. My comment (as a father of a DD whose team may not even try to get to PGF because they probably aren't good enough) is that I believe that PGF has weighed the Pros and Cons of the invitations they are giving out and decided that it's in the best interest of what is needed to grow PGF (especially outside of SoCal).

Are they right? Maybe...Maybe not. Time will tell. But I don't believe that this decision is intended to sleight anyone or give anyone an intentional advantage, only to grow PGF in what they believe is the best and fastest way.

[TooOldToCare]

This is copied directly from the PGF website for the HS division:

[i]Note: As a result of the 2011 18HS PGF National Championship, we will have 34 invited and/or qualified teams. The total number of teams for 2012 will be no more than 66 and no fewer than 64.[/i]

So they are having a total maximum number of teamsd set at 64 or 66. Of that they have 34 that are invited. So across the country they are having all of these qualifiers for 30-32 spots in the tournament. I tunderstand originally, for getting off of the ground that they needed to have a good number of invites. IMHO they are past the point of needing them now. I have no problem whatsoever in rewarding a certain number of berths to the top finisdhers from the prior year. That is reasonable. Even down as far as they go now. But the additional invites just give the appearance of perpetuating the good 'ol boys club. If those special invitees did not finish high enough to earn a return spot, and they are worthy, let them earn their way in like everyone else. If they are good enough to deserve a "special invite" they should be able to qualify.

[say what]

TooOldToCare...Well said

[fastpitchdad05]

This is copied directly from the PGF website for the HS division:

[i]Note: As a result of the 2011 18HS PGF National Championship, we will have 34 invited and/or qualified teams. The total number of teams for 2012 will be no more than 66 and no fewer than 64.[/i]

So they are having a total maximum number of teamsd set at 64 or 66. Of that they have 34 that are invited. So across the country they are having all of these qualifiers for 30-32 spots in the tournament. I tunderstand originally, for getting off of the ground that they needed to have a good number of invites. IMHO they are past the point of needing them now. I have no problem whatsoever in rewarding a certain number of berths to the top finisdhers from the prior year. That is reasonable. Even down as far as they go now. But the additional invites just give the appearance of perpetuating the good 'ol boys club. If those special invitees did not finish high enough to earn a return spot, and they are worthy, let them earn their way in like everyone else. If they are good enough to deserve a "special invite" they should be able to qualify.

Not saying I disagree. Just pointing out that it's possible you and I might have a different perspective if we were the ones with the responsibility of running the show.