Top Indiana 12U for '09

[Stubs]

My DD's team (Twist Indiana) will be playing at the Dome in Fort Wayne March 13-15. At one time the NSA website listed about 24 teams signed up for this tournament. For some reason it now only lists two teams from Michigan. NSA says it has something to do with archiving. Anyway, I was looking forward to this tournament because with many teams involved we would probably get a chance to play some new opponents.

So I was wondering who the top 12U teams in Indiana are for '09? Indy Diamond Chix and Indiana Thunder '96 would probably be on the list.

[Canocorn]

Didnt the Thunder win the USA/ASA nationals last year or the year before. I would think it that they are pretty good. I have heard the Chix are also pretty good. There was a post a while go about I think Brad Lewis's 10u or 12u Dream Team. It was a whos who of stud players. The key is to keep these teams together. But more often than not, they split.

[Stubs]

Yes, the Thunder '96 won the ASA A Northern Nationals in South Bend last summer after getting clobbered in their opening pool game. And the year before they won the '07 ASA A 10U National Championship. We played the Diamond Chix last year and saw how a top team plays. That's why those two come to mind. The Dream (if it's the same one we played in the 10U Monster Mash two years ago) has a little lady that is an amazing ball player. Hits, fields and runs like the wind. Our head coach wanted to take her home with us but she declined.

[Mick]

This conversation begins and ends with Indiana Thunder 96. They don't play in the fall and winter so the March Dome tourney will be their first.

From what we have seen, the next level would be (in no particular order):

Indy Blast
Indiana Ice
Red Chix

Indy Dreams are a 97 team and the Diamond Chix are also young. They are both very good teams and will do well this year.

I believe all of these teams will be at The Dome in March in addition to a number of other good teams from Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

[bucketboy]

Give credit where credit is due.

It's Tony Montgomery's Dreams not mine. He has built the team into what they are and I will be looking forward to watching them to continue to grow as athletes in the years ahead.

Does the Thunder team that was mentioned still have that left handed flame thrower for a pitcher?

[Hatchet]

The Thunder is and should be the team that everyone is shooting for, especially with their "top notch" performances the last couple of years!

I have watched a lot of 12U teams, tournaments and games in the fall and winter of this year. The Indy Blast is a team that will give the Thunder a run for their money! The Blast has hitters, very good hitters with power, throughout the entire line-up. Defense is excellent, with solid players at every position. During the fall and early winter their pitching was good, having a solid two pitcher rotation. In the last couple of weeks the team has picked up a "dominant" 12 year old pitcher to go with already solid pitching.

I am really looking forward to seeing the outcome of the Dome tournament, it should give all the teams a good idea of the competition they will be playing against this year.

[Stubs]

I just looked at the NSA website again to see if the team listing for the march tournament has been reset. It hasn't. Does anyone have a current list of the teams that have signed up?

[Mavrick67]

The Indiana Thunder is a very good team and I expect they will be the team until someone beats them. That team this year should be the Indy Blast. I have seen this team play several times and they have no weeknesses. Already good pitching made even better with the new addition of a very good pitcher that should be their number one, a very solid defense, and hitters from top to bottom. I know the Thunder has some good players, and the lefty is great, but I don't see think they have the depth the Blast brings to the diamond. BUT who knows, that is why they play the game...

[Mick]

I just looked at the NSA website again to see if the team listing for the march tournament has been reset. It hasn't. Does anyone have a current list of the teams that have signed up?

I printed this off in December before NSA rolled over the tournament lists to 2009. I would imagine this is close.

Crown Point Bulldogs
Indy Dreams 97
Hamilton Heights Huskies
Hoosier Crush
Indiana Magic 96
Indiana Thunder 96
Indy Blast 96
Indy Diamond Chix
Indy Smoke
Indy Voltage
Indy Xcel 96
Red Chix
Riverfield Angels
Twist Indiana
Kalamazoo Klash Blue 97
Lookouts (MI)
Michigan Bulldogs
Michigan Mustangs
Oakland Sidewinders
Portage Hurricanes
Stingrays (OH)
Cincy Doom 96
Riptides (OH)

[Stubs]

Thanks Mick! Great lineup of teams. Should be a good tournament.