** Indiana Raiders 12u Black ** (100% FOCUSED in our Goal!!)

[fastec27]

Get that girl from Mishawaka Shaun and You'll show'em.

[McConnell]

Hello: fastec27
I have been talking with her dad for a little while. It would be a huge asset to get such a great kid and player. If you can help or have any ideas to make this happen, please let me know. You could work on the dad for me. Lol Take care and thanks for the idea.

[McConnell]

The 2012 Indiana Raiders 12U Black (99's)

The Indiana Raiders are still looking to add to there roster of 10. Please call if you have any questions. We have our spring & summer schedule 90% complete. So dates and all information will be available. Thanks

Shaun McConnell
219-689-6966

[insoftballnut]

i might have a few girls to send your way--no promises--they might want private tryouts,there might be some issues getting there parents to flip.i'll try though.i have 3 girls in mind,one is a 2nd base-lady,one is a infield utility player,the other is just a diva no matter where she plays,two have a batting average of very close to 600,the diva is at 650's.the parents are cool-but they are hard to convince at times,2 play now on the same team and the diva is on a seperate team.they are all from illinois,two from chicago and the other from suburbs,i will try because i heard it from them directly there a little unhappy,the utilty-infielder can play 1st,2nd,3rd without missing a lick,the 2nd base girl has played short before-and the diva has magical abilitys due to her golden glove and speed and heavy stick and actualy loves to play all over when weakness needs her there-i will try but no promisses,good luck raiders

[softballrealist]

Just seen the Indiana Raiders 12u black play. They play pretty well, but let me ask this question. I have been reading all the Hey Bucket comments on here about them and then the post from Shuan McConnell saying that they will be playing a STRONG!!!! A Schedule. How can that be when you are playing all B teams and only one A team in this weekends tournament in Lafayette. Seems to me if you want to get better you would be playing ASA A Tournaments like you said. So where is the challenge. Just Saying!!!!!

[BigDog6610]

Just seen the Indiana Raiders 12u black play. They play pretty well, but let me ask this question. I have been reading all the Hey Bucket comments on here about them and then the post from Shuan McConnell saying that they will be playing a STRONG!!!! A Schedule. How can that be when you are playing all B teams and only one A team in this weekends tournament in Lafayette. Seems to me if you want to get better you would be playing ASA A Tournaments like you said. So where is the challenge. Just Saying!!!!!

Softballrealist, the problem with your logic is that this is mid-January and class A only tournaments are not available although this tournament was open to class A teams. We played a challenging fall schedule and our outdoor schedule is definitely everything that has been advertised. Winter/indoor tournaments by nature are not true softball tests when you have pinball-like ground rules, would-be extra base hits become singles or even outs depending on the rebound, and routine outs can become hits. All these things are expected, but these tournaments give the kids a reward for their hard work by allowing them to play some games and get out of the regular routine of a practice in a gym, and it's fun for the kids (maybe not the grownups!) to be playing games after midnight. Some teams choose not to play in any indoor tournaments, and I respect their decisions not to for the aforementioned reasons. The Raiders do not have to apologize to anyone for playing in this tournament. And for the same reasons, I would say that the coaches from the class A team that came to scout the Raiders probably didn't gain a lot of info that will help them out.

[fastpitch fool]

Realist,

Just a quick note to let you know how the Raiders ended up in LaFayette this weekend.

I spoke with Shaun about a nice trip Troy Werner was able to book when my daughters played for his Shockwaves 93 team. Instead of scheduling all indoor tournaments, Troy decided to play a tune up indoor tournament, then treat the girls to a trip down to Georgia in late February to play outdoors against some very solid competition. I mentioned to Shaun how much the players and parents enjoyed playing outside during the winter months instead of playing in the indoor tournaments, and he looked into it doing something along the same lines.

Long story short is the Raiders are traveling to Alabama in March to play in a very solid tournament called Turf War. And YES, they are playing in the 'A' portion of that tournament, which is filled with many good teams from many different states. When Shaun got the details for playing down south completely ironed out, the indoor tournaments around here were full. So they took what was available at that point. His priority was getting his girls outside playing in warm weather on regulation fields during our winter months. What a great priority.

His team has been practicing pretty hard this winter and was deserving of the opportunity to play somewhere instead of just practicing. I don't think the Raiders have to apologize for getting some live AB's as a tune up and a reward for hard work. Was it the ideal tournament for them? Definitely not. But this is Indiana in January, and the options aren't endless.

Given the options of what most teams are doing this winter, I definitely support Shaun’s decision to get his team playing on regulation fields in warm weather, against strong competition.

Realist - Is your team heading South for a tournament this winter?

Didn’t think so!

Eric Johnson

[hittersdad]

These "B" teams have to look at the main advantage to playing a team like the Raiders. Though you may get your tails kicked in, it only benefits these girls in the end. The girls are facing much bettter pitching and hitting then they are used to. So when (I should say if) these "B" teams do decide to play a more competetive team in the future (which is highly doubtful ususally because of the coach's comfort level), the girls will have already faced the good pitching; and they were forced to play defense because the ball was put into play a lot more often (I'm sure with girls on the bases multiple times). No practice beats game time experience! So stop complaining and look at the good things that come from playing better competition.

[artomatic]

i might have a few girls to send your way--no promises--they might want private tryouts,there might be some issues getting there parents to flip.i'll try though.i have 3 girls in mind,one is a 2nd base-lady,one is a infield utility player,the other is just a diva no matter where she plays,two have a batting average of very close to 600,the diva is at 650's.the parents are cool-but they are hard to convince at times,2 play now on the same team and the diva is on a seperate team.they are all from illinois,two from chicago and the other from suburbs,i will try because i heard it from them directly there a little unhappy,the utilty-infielder can play 1st,2nd,3rd without missing a lick,the 2nd base girl has played short before-and the diva has magical abilitys due to her golden glove and speed and heavy stick and actualy loves to play all over when weakness needs her there-i will try but no promisses,good luck raiders

ugh...package deals, divas, and unhappy, meddling parents aka sideline assassins...
3 important ingredients of a recipe for disaster, and a sure way to have problems down the the road...
JMHO of course...

[Biggest fan bar none]

i seen the raiders play many times before,if they get a few other players,that will be fine also.they have been ddoing just fine ,they got some big girl i seen pitching befor at an illinois tourny and boy can she throw some heat.they were dropping like lil fly's.1-2-3 and your out.there whole team is just as good.they got some big sticks like tree trunks for the most part.they play strong,i'm not here pumping no-body up,but the truth is da truth,i would have to say that they are the best 12u team in indiana,they remind me of the crown point 98 bulldogs-[now playing 14u] of last year and if u seen them ever play last year u would say the same,problem is there is no compitition even from the other 12u [a]teams,in all of northwest indiana,they probly havent played them all yet-but dont bet even a pop against the 99 raiders unless you already had to many,cause odds are against you