Best 12U Texas teams - updated list 5-26-08

[EVR585]

From the north - I would agree that the Glory is the team to beat. (probably in the state) They are loaded. Have not ever seen the Travelers, but from the postings. I assume they are very good. Sneaky Cleats are very tough.

From central Texas - RR Blaze has a great team and they have to be respected. I understand the Groove is getting it back up and running. They were tough in 10u, I suspect that they will get things going again. Flamethrowers - solid pitching. Bombers - solid team.

From the South - The Spring Sting has to be looked at! They play 14's and routinely bring home the hardware. Velocity - great team. Some first year teams making noise are the Aces, Peppers and Phantomz. TPS - Time will tell if they can right the ship. Lost some key players. Impact needs to be mentioned - good talent there.

I think most of these teams will be in Fort Worth. It will be a blast to watch those games. It ought to be a knock down - drag out at the 'ole stockyards.

[play4fun]

After watching Travelers in the Allen tournament and 95 Glory this past weekend in McKinney I can say that I feel Glory is a better all around team.

Pitching:
Travelers have three good pitchers..#1 pitches pretty fast and should do well against 12U but not so sure against 14U since the older you get the more you LOVE the speed...#2 brings it pretty fast/good and has more movement....#3 seems much slower than the other two and keeps it low.

Glory - I saw three pitchers this weekend... #1 great pitcher;she can bring some heat and movement with it. Honestly, might be the best '95 pitcher in the state. She shut down some tough teams this weekend..including the game I watched against Fusion(Sidwell)...#2 lefty pitcher who keeps it low and the ball moves great...#3 their S.S. pitches but did not get to see her this weekend. She can bring some heat and has an awesome change-up. Did not see their Oklahoma pitcher; they said that she stayed home with other committments.

Hitting and defense is where I feel that Glory stands out even more. Glory looked smoother on defense and they worked well together. Lots of Speed!! (Man I wish we had half their speed) Hitting..they have the right combination. The girls can do it all; I even saw many of their players jumping back and forth from the left to the right side. Not many 12U can do that.

Travelers are catching up and fast but, from what was heard about Glory after the Allen tournament and from what I actually saw at the McKinney tournament, Glory is growing and working out their kinks even faster.

Although, even the strong can lose at times!!!!! Look at Batbusters(montoya) and Fusion(sidwell).

Its sad that these teams will not face each other until the HOF; they could really help each other improve to make a bigger statement at nationals against the California teams.

[daddyball1]

N/T

[slapper]

I must say 12Udad has a pretty good handle on the TX 12U scene from I have witnessed. The Glory is still the team to beat until someone knocks them off but as mentioned on several previous post the gap is not as wide as it once was. I have seen many of these teams at the 14U level and have watched a few 12U games this season and there are many teams that can get together for a big game and knock off one f the top teams. I have personally been impressed with the Travelers, Blaze red, TX Elite, Bombers, Velocity, Sting and Sneaky Cleats and their ability to compete and beat many good 14U teams but they do not have the depth the Glory has. There are many girls who play for these teams who would leave if they had a chance to play for the Glory. When you have the best team in the state people come to you. The Glory turns away players every year who would start on most teams. Can the Glory stay on top? Time will tell. The HOF will be very interesting.

[play4fun]

I added Spring Sting based on everyones comments. I did not add Velocity since I am kind of leaning towards ASA and the HOF tournaments. Good Luck to Velocity though and hopefully they will start to play ASA

HOF is going to be interesting. Is anyone staying away from the HOF and going to the Texas National Qualifier instead? Hope not and maybe if we all boycott it they will get smart and move the date so as to not lose a bid for a good team. Although more than likely the bid will go to a weaker team from their area.

[12UDad]

I added Spring Sting based on everyones comments. I did not add Velocity since I am kind of leaning towards ASA and the HOF tournaments. Good Luck to Velocity though and hopefully they will start to play ASA

HOF is going to be interesting. Is anyone staying away from the HOF and going to the Texas National Qualifier instead? Hope not and maybe if we all boycott it they will get smart and move the date so as to not lose a bid for a good team. Although more than likely the bid will go to a weaker team from their area.

Why would you not add the Velocity because they choose not to play ASA? I realize many good teams play ASA but I have also seen some so so teams there as well. I have also seen some very strong teams at USFA. Like I said before the Glory is the team to beat but you have to admit its not extreemly hard to qualify through metro. The same goes for metro in other cities. I am not trying to pick on DFW but there are teams who have a much harder time qualifying through the HOF or Regionals or State. This year some team will qualify through the Nationals Qualifier while most of the top teams are at the HOF. My point is don't dismiss a team that does not play or qualify for ASA.

Also I have no affiliation with the Velocity I just don't think ASA is the end all be all of Softball even though many will disagree with me.

[EVR585]

Hey about that HOF qualifier. Only the top two teams advance to Oklahoma correct? I have seen where the national qualifier is posted for the 06/06-06/08 in Nacogdoches. Is there anything that would prevent a team that missed out on Oklahoma from signing up in Nacogdoches and trying to qualify there for Alabama?

I know there has been some discussion about the date in Nacogdoches conflicting, but with only two teams going to Oklahoma (if I am correct). It looks like there will be some outstanding teams left to get after it at the national qualifier. Fort Worth (HOF Qualifier) is set for the weekend of 05/24. Looks like there is time to regroup for the teams that finish out of the money and get ready for the national qualifier. I think it will be another great weekend of softball. What are your thoughts?

[12UDad]

"I just don't think ASA is the end all be all of Softball "

Yes, it pretty much is

Bottom line it doesn't matter how well you play in other organizations "nationals" you will always be critiqued by how you did at ASA Nationals. If you don't play there your accomplishments will be downplayed.
Are there good teams at other nationals? Sure.
Are there bad teams at ASA Nationals, Of course.
Do the best of the best battle for the championship at ASA?
No Doubt

Do you think the best teams qualify every year for ASA? I do not. I know is some areas there are 6 or more equally talented teams trying for 1 spot and in others areas there are 2 teams who sign up for metro and both qualify. I just don't see how you can say ASA has the best battle the best in the championship if some team don't have the chamce to qualify.

Also while I am on the subject of the best playing the best. I know for a fact there are girls who travel to ASA Nationals with teams they did not play with all year but because their own team did not qualify they are picked up by a team that did. Does this really show the best "TEAM" or just who puts together the best tournament team?

[play4fun]

Sorry, did not mean to cause conflict but you can only add ten to the list and so I was trying to limit it to the HOF teams.

Texas sent 4 teams to HOF last year. They give some additional berths based on if other states do not participate. The Glory coaches told me that they received their berth about a week before the HOF tournament last year; they placed 4th in the qualifier. I asked because I was confused since last year they already had an automatic berth to nationals. Apparently you can go not matter what and then if you place in the top 8 at the qualifier and you already have a bid, they pass it down but you do not lose your bid.

[12UDad]

"I know is some areas there are 6 or more equally talented teams trying for 1 spot"
Never said it was easy. But that is why teams will travel to get a berth. Here in SoCal we get 3 spots to Nationals. Definitely more than 3 good teams around here. After that teams will do what it takes to get qualified, traveling across the country to earn a right to go compete with the top teams.

Regarding pick up players it would be interesting to see how many players actually fall into that category. i know it happens, just curious. But I think it again proves the best players will do whatever they can to get to ASA.

Spaz, The point I am trying to make is that you cant assume the best teams in any given age division will be at ASA just because its ASA. There are teams that cant afford to travel across the country like some of the Cali teams do in order to qualify in a different state. As hard is it may be to belive there are very competative high quality teams that don't qualify for ASA Nationals who would do very well if they did. It is an accomplishment for many teams to just qualify. Just look at their team web sites where they brag about their 33rd place finish. I find it hard to belive that College coach will look at 2 girls with the same skill level and choose one over the other because of a ASA Nationals finish. If ASA is that important then we all need to quit spending our time and money on Showcase tournaments and travel across the US to ASA qualifiers.

Are you telling me that the teams in S Cal that don't qualify would not be able to compete at ASA Nationals? Are these teams not good enough because they were not fortunate enough to get a berth?