Do the elite 9th graders still play 14u in CA?

[TD ROCK]

Here in Texas it seems the best 2nd year 14u players (9th graders) are playing 16u and or 18u ball.

Because of this the best 14u teams seems to be the first year 14u teams.

Is this also happening in CA.

[Killer Rabbit]

From what I've seen, a few of the "elite" do move up. The majority stay with their second year 14U team and play 16's all year around. The only time they play in a 14U tourney is if they need to qualify for nationals or for nationals itself.

[All-American SB]

Most of the top 14's do not play in 14u. If you look at many of the gold team rosters they have at least a couple of players who are 2012 graduates. The same for 16u teams that are going to Nationals. An example would be the Batbusters "freshman gold team". Most of the players are 14 eligible but not playing in 14's.

[DonnieS]

Most of the top 14's do not play in 14u. If you look at many of the gold team rosters they have at least a couple of players who are 2012 graduates. The same for 16u teams that are going to Nationals. An example would be the Batbusters "freshman gold team". Most of the players are 14 eligible but not playing in 14's.

My kids have done this but a consideration for anyone thinking about this is from what I hear about most college coaches that are in 'recruiting' mode, seem to be going to 16u qualifiers, etc., while coaches going in 'checking up' mode are going to 18gold (they are checking up on how their recruits are playing. Regarding youngsters playing 18gold, the positive I have heard is that they like to see that the youngsters can hang with the 18gold crowd but it means that you have to pour more attention in to emailing and writing the coaches to tell them where you are.

The reason that we did this - playing up - was so both my dds could play on the same team in their later years and not further break us or drive us insane going back and forth. Probably not successful in either case, however.

[Demonboy]

Most of the top 14's do not play in 14u. If you look at many of the gold team rosters they have at least a couple of players who are 2012 graduates. The same for 16u teams that are going to Nationals. An example would be the Batbusters "freshman gold team". Most of the players are 14 eligible but not playing in 14's.

This is a recent trend....maybe the last three years. The recently accelerated recruiting process is the best explanation. Texas has been skipping that 2nd year for a longer time.

[NORCALGOLD]

Also the freshman batbuster team is not a Gold team,
If you are an elite 9th grader or 8th you should play one year of 14 and one of 16.The 16u asa nationals is the best recruiting tournament bar none for younger players 15 & 16yr old.If your 16 team canot make asa nationals don't waste your time. Just play 14 or 18.

[Blind Squirrel]

Also the freshman batbuster team is not a Gold team,
If you are an elite 9th grader or 8th you should play one year of 14 and one of 16.The 16u asa nationals is the best recruiting tournament bar none for younger players 15 & 16yr old.If your 16 team canot make asa nationals don't waste your time. Just play 14 or 18.

If recruiting is your concern and the kid is an elite 8th/9th grader, I would say it probably matters little whether you play a year in 16s or go straight to 18 Gold, even if the 18 Gold team doesn't qualify for Nationals. At least that was the case a few years ago.

John

[NORCALGOLD]

"If recruiting is your concern and the kid is an elite 8th/9th grader, I would say it probably matters little whether you play a year in 16s or go straight to 18 Gold, even if the 18 Gold team doesn't qualify for Nationals. At least that was the case a few years ago."
" Blind Sqirrel Said"


I totaly disagree that it matters little. You can play for a good but not top 16 team at nationals and be seen by most of the top college softball coaches in the nation.Where as you get on an average or worse Gold team you will be lucky to be seen by any of the top programs or any programs period. When your at the showcases you will be at the worst fields against the lowest level of Gold teams, which are not very interesting to college recruiters.
!6u is agreat place to be seen by colleges and by gold teams when they are recruiting at the end of the year.

[Blind Squirrel]

"If recruiting is your concern and the kid is an elite 8th/9th grader, I would say it probably matters little whether you play a year in 16s or go straight to 18 Gold, even if the 18 Gold team doesn't qualify for Nationals. At least that was the case a few years ago."
" Blind Sqirrel Said"


I totaly disagree that it matters little. You can play for a good but not top 16 team at nationals and be seen by most of the top college softball coaches in the nation.Where as you get on an average or worse Gold team you will be lucky to be seen by any of the top programs or any programs period. When your at the showcases you will be at the worst fields against the lowest level of Gold teams, which are not very interesting to college recruiters.
!6u is agreat place to be seen by colleges and by gold teams when they are recruiting at the end of the year.

I watched the following play out right in front of me 3 or 4 years ago:

18 Gold team that did not come close to Nationals. Went 2 and BBQ in Oregon in their last attempt to qualify. Under the current system, no way the team would have qualified 18 Gold. Rarely played the big boys even at friendlies. Fourteen year old kid (non-pitcher/catcher/SS) was watched by a top 5/10 (at that time) college softball team coach at an exposure tournament in Florida. Called the travel coaches a few days later to express their interest. In exposure tournaments in Colorado where they played exclusively on distant satellite fields, the kid (by that time 15) was watched by multiple PAC10, BIG10, SEC as well as dozens of other D1 coaches. The kid had never been to Nationals at that time. Previous year she played first year 14U.

I'll PM you the kid's name (with the assumption that you will keep it confidential) and you can verify things I have stated.

John

[NORCALGOLD]

Reply to Squirrel,

Of course there are kids found all over the nation,they are far and few between.
I still stand by 16u is a great place to be seen and I think it is over looked and under rated by players every year.