18U Gold Nat's

[joemcq51]

So no live feed from OKC? Or am I just missing it?

[UmpSteve]

http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/Eve ... am/July-18

[fastpitchdad05]

Only 53 teams?

[joemcq51]

TY

[Lace]

Just looked at the field and brackets. What happened to ASA Nationals? where are all the good teams?.

[arkansassoftball]

ASA Gold has become the "A/B" Nationals. Gold doesn't even fill up anymore and to try to fill spots even gives out berths to any team who played in qualifiers, even if they didn't win any games. The best 18s & 16s all play PGF or ASA JO Cup instead and the recent USA Elite Select would be a close 3rd as far as level of teams at nationals. The top 10 finishers at ASA Gold will be quality teams, most the rest are teams that couldn't qualify for any other nationals, some didn't even qualify for gold but got an spot out of desperation by ASA.

[Tyler Durden]

BATTLE going to bring the Pain.

[Pale Rider]

...know a team that went 0-4 at a 16U Gold ASA qualifier in LA...and got a berth

[PDad]

Second year in a row that Gold Nats hasn't filled their spots and proves it wasn't the location last year. JO Cup has cannibalized Gold Nats with little impact on PGF.

USSSA Elite Select is mainly in competition with Triple Crown USA Nats since neither conflicts with PGF or JO Cup.

[as the world turns]

Never mind the subpar level of play, but, how was the parade of umpires at opening ceremonies? Always the biggest highlight of the tournament. Anyone have pictures to share?