Nor Cal Gold for 2010

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I dont know who your staff is.

Yes, I think I know all the staffs. If you want to offer a defense of Magic's staff, defend their lack of aggression. With a runner on first and third, they let the runner on steal second(Gold is not rec ball)and that catcher they have has a rifle arm. When she was with Breeze, she mowed them down left and right and in midland at nats and before when qualifying. You tell me why they have her just return the ball to the circle. I'd like to know because these things irritate me.

By the way, I was not putting Sting's staff down. Their primary head coach is not coaching Gold right now. He is in an advisory status. He has earned that because his daughter is working her way up, but that hurts the organization. That's not putting them down, thats fact.

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Woah!! I just finished what you said!! Bob P the best coach in Norcal? Now I know your half off your rocker!! Have a good night! Wholy S???!!!

Ha Ha,

Its just my opinion! If you think other wise, post yours!

Who is the best coach?

Phil+Kim are the best coaching team out there. SHe is a defensive specialist with no par.

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or the Grapes staff? We all have similar staffs in my opinion.

DG's biggest problem is his inability to attract/keep top level talent. The second he gets close to a great one, they are soon wearing blue and black.

With everyone in the other thread jumping on the Grappettes, I didnt want to seem to be piling on, as I'm not. I think the Grapettes have the best overall organizational system in the area, despite a few flaws.

[Goldball4]

That's better!! You sound a little more realistic! I do think that the Magics staff gets away with primarily players ability. So, I agree with you on that. As far as staffs go, Kim and Phil, yes probably the best. But the Grapette staff of DG, and Pete Aguayo along with the Sting Staff Frank Fano, and Joe Gron are probably not that far behind them. As far as teachers of the game, you can't go wrong with any of them!!

[TopHat]

To be frank, I havent quite wrapped my head around Pete+DG yet. Maybe Pete will bring a strong level headedness that could take DG's Grapettes to the next level. That is a quite strong coaching crew. I've never seen them on the field in the same dugout, so I'll wait and see on that. How could it be bad? Pete is a great coach.

[luv2catch]

My take on the top Nor Cal Teams for 2010

Unfortunately, Gold in NorCal will not be a national factor this year. The lack of pitching in the area dooms the Nor Cal gold to mediocrity. Unless someone really steps up, the immediate future is bleak, even if some of the top teams do decide to compete for a title; as it stands they chose to showcase only.

1. Sorcerers go into 2010 resigned to national irrelevance. The defending champs cut their losses by designating this year a showcase year; as well they should. It will save embarrassment as I doubt they could place above 25th at Nats in 2010. I'm sure that was a factor in PMs decision. Their success 2009 is summed up in two words:
RICK ETTS
Probably the best pitcher to come out of cal since Abbott, but she is not there any more.

Without the pitcher they rode like a stallion every inning in OKC, they cannot do it. Add they wont. Nonetheless, Phil always has the strongest Nor Cal program and that will continue. WIth KF assisting, this is by far the best coached team there is in norcal and they will bring it. Their aggressive small ball supplemented by huge bats and aggressive defense puts them head and shoulders above the #2 and the only team at least competitive in So Cal events. Where are they going? Who knows, but they will bring it somewhere.

I find it very hard to believe that the Sorcerer has resigned to a "showcase year" that is just rediculous! The pitching staff this year will be just fine. Although it does not have the flame thrower that everyone believes it takes to win, the girls will compete against any team with no fear or intimidation. They held down the best of So.Cal this fall which should be the same teams they face in the summer. I am proud to say there is no quit in this staff and I would not trade these girls for any others! You will be pleasantly suprised when you watch these girls in June.

[ssarge]

6-10 I will lump Shockers, lady sharks, Strike Zone (DF is a one trick pony and will likely not qualifiy (for what, 3rd year in a row??) even in this weak field), Roseville Heat here. Shockers had a chance when using returning college pitcher, but an injury derailed that - maybe they should play 18A and give up the gold and make a run for that title. Gold means so little lately anyway.


Sorcerers go into 2010 resigned to national irrelevance. The defending champs cut their losses by designating this year a showcase year; as well they should. It will save embarrassment as I doubt they could place above 25th at Nats in 2010. I'm sure that was a factor in PMs decision. Their success 2009 is summed up in two words:

Because I am no longer coaching for the Shockers, I am going to respond to this. I never would have done so when coaching for them (because it is an unwinnable discussion, and really, who cares?), and my response now is mainly going to be limited to correcting misinformation. And because your bold assessments annoy the crap out of me.

Your data about the Shockers is either incredibly old, or just flat out erroneous. The Shockers qualified for Golds in 2007 (in their second full season as a Gold team), using NO college players. The Shockers added THREE college pitchers in 2008 (Stanford, San Francisco State, Jacksonville State), and did not qualify, as all three pitchers became injured. The team was not even able to attend the final qualifier because of not having any pitching. But they rallied 10-11 girls including their last remaining pitcher - a HS pitcher who pitched every inning to finish 9th at the 2008 Champions Cup - ultimately losing a close game to the Sting on Sunday morning. The Shockers qualified for Gold Nationals AGAIN in 2009, using high school pitchers, and a returning D-III pitcher who did not pitch more than a couple innings in the qualifier where they went 4-0 to qualify. A HS sophomore pitched virtually every inning in the qualifier. Two other college position players (one D-I, a starter, and one D-III, a sporadic starter) were also on the team, which finished T32 in OKC.


In Northern California, only three teams have qualified for Gold Nationals twice or more in the past three years. Sorcerer Phil, who qualified all three times (I think 7 years in a row now), the Sting, who qualified three years ago and two years ago (but not this year), and the Shockers. (I have no idea why people would want to marginalize this accomplishment by the Shockers, but it is what it is. Pretty darned good to qualify for Gold nationals in two of your first 4 years, though.) All other teams listed in this discussion have qualified once in the past three years, or not at all. I personally would add Lady Magic to this list, who obviously won 16U two years ago, and did very well at Gold Nationals this year. As far as I am concerned, those are the 4 best teams of record, until someone proves otherwise ON THE FIELD.

Another way to look at it would be to consider the 4 teams from NorCal that made it to Gold Nationals last year (Sorcerer Phil, Lady Magic, the Shockers, and Sorcerer Pete, now defunct). I don't know how anyone can not consider those the three strongest teams until it is proved otherwise on the field. Well, not anyone without an agenda, anyway.


I am sure the Shockers will play 18Gold again this year, and I think that they should. From what I saw this fall, they are very good. They play an aggressive schedule, mostly in Southern California, and they do fine. I would bet they will qualify for either Premier or Gold, or both. I think the organization is also planning on fielding a 23U team, and from what I have seen of the potential roster, it will be strong as well.


I think your assessment of the Sorcerers is ridiculous. I think with the roster they have NOW - and knowing Phil, I'd be willing to bet he isn't done - they are easily a Top10 team nationally. You ARE correct that the team is very well coached.

[ssarge]

5. Breeze - As Mashburn has stepped away other than occasionally scowling around the 10U fields growling at his DGD, the Breeze struggles. In a weaker field, they are still competitive; they will not qualify

I have a GREAT deal of respect for the historic achievements of the Breeze. And I hope that it goes well for them this summer. However, there are some other teams out there with more recent accomplishments which you have not accorded respect. I think you should rethink that.

[ssarge]

Unfortunately, Gold in NorCal will not be a national factor this year. The lack of pitching in the area dooms the Nor Cal gold to mediocrity. Unless someone really steps up, the immediate future is bleak, even if some of the top teams do decide to compete for a title; as it stands they chose to showcase only.

3. Sting is a perennial great org, but Bob P is still off doing the daddy coach thing in the lower divisions leaving 18G with a weak staff. I probably could easily switch Lady Magic to #3 and drop them, but we'll see how they do. Ability to attract great pitchers and a strong bat will make them relevent.

From where is Bob going to attract these great pitchers?

[ssarge]

2. Grappettes - The success of the Grappettes can be summed up with one word - Aggression. At all levels the Grapes bring it. They should not be #2, but the others are so weak at this point that that brings the Grappettes up by default. Their patented aggressive small ball and running makes them #2 this year.

Well, they have tryouts in a couple of weeks, and will probably post their roster soon after that. THEN might be an opportune time to make an early assessment of them.

A MORE opportune time would be after teams actually play in qualifiers.