Is SoCal dominance in 12u over?

[SouthPaw_Dad]

JustPlayTheGame I love your confidence - my DD is SoCal born and raised and loves to play ball. I can't speak for every "Check Writer" on the "Bucket" but I love watching these girls compete. If you think your team can win the ship - bring it!!

As for the Best of The West Tourney I hardly consider 8 SoCal teams heavily attended. Most teams change strategy and approach to non-sanctioned events. Not to mention its summer and those not playing "GOLD" are most likely taking vacations prior to PGF.

I think it's pretty safe to say OCWildCatMom's Coaches Poll with undisclosed respondents, lacking statistical methods is hardly considered "Bucket" Official.

See you in Irvine and Best of Luck

[CheckWriter]

I can't speak for every "Check Writer" on the "Bucket"

Not sure how I got in this thread, but FWIW, we moved from So Cal to Nor Cal when older DD was in 14s and younger DD in 12s. In So Cal there was another good team based at the next freeway exit. In Nor Cal you have to DRIVE to play for the good teams. Fortunately, DDs played for good teams. By good I mean Grapes, Magic (including the ASA 16U national championship team - BP*) and Sorcerer.

Bottom line is that I think So Cal will always be at the top of the heap.

*BP = Before PGF

[jonriv]

It's hard to see an end to Socal dominance- too many things in their favor:

1) Large population
2) perfect soctball weather
3) long-standing softball tradition
4) great softball infrastructure and culture(fields, teams, coaches)
5) Great feeder program on strong rec programs -strong travel-strong gold/elite
All leads to an environment that produces a very large number of high quality softball players

Other areas can produce quality players too, but tough to match the volume that socal does.

[JustPlayTheGame]

It's hard to see an end to Socal dominance- too many things in their favor:

1) Large population
2) perfect soctball weather
3) long-standing softball tradition
4) great softball infrastructure and culture(fields, teams, coaches)
5) Great feeder program on strong rec programs -strong travel-strong gold/elite
All leads to an environment that produces a very large number of high quality softball players

Other areas can produce quality players too, but tough to match the volume that socal does.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Dominance = SoCal teams always winning the 12u Titles, not whether SoCal has more top tier 12u teams. In other words, the point is not whether another area of the Country is able to match SoCal's "volume" of top 12u teams. They can't, mainly for the factors above. Rather, after being around 12u ball since '08, I firmly believe that other areas are now able to consistently field AT LEAST ONE TEAM, IF NOT MORE, that can compete with top SoCal teams for the ASA and PGF championships. (Exhibit A - Arizona Suncats at Best of the West.) Who cares that SoCal has a higher percentage of teams in the winner's bracket, if it is an Arizona, Texas or Georgia team that wins the Titles. "There are no points for second place."

Simply put - those top SoCal teams that rest on the past may find themselves in the Loser's Bracket or may allow a non SoCal team to steal the Title. Don't be one of them: "6P" - "Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance."

Good hunting to all 12u SoCal teams at Nationals.

[ontheblack]

No one rests on their laurels. Its not the nature of 12u or 14u given the turnover.

Many of last year's 12s are this year's 14s. Teams change constantly. The difference here is that SoCal teams have a greater ability to reload year after year with the next round of good ballplayers. Examples of that in 14u would be McNee, Campbell and Gino Marinacci. Year after year, different kids, same top 10 results. Once out of state teams can do that a few years in a row, then you can talk.

[Diesels_dad]

There are no points for second--- True dat.... But a coach is naive if they do not plan-prepare to play n beat at least one, if not multiple California teams while playing a major tourney (ASA or PGF). Facts r Facts n Cali has proven to be dominant in all age brackets. One definition of dominance is “controlling influence” of which Cali leads the pack (PGF vs. ASA true competition debate). This does not mean all Cali teams are the best or cannot be beaten but rather a force to reckon with and more importantly a driving force of Softball future as a whole.

I look forward to seeing all competition in Sunnyvale 16u, regardless (as noted on HB) of the “true” best Cali teams playing PGF.

[jonriv]

There are no points for second--- True dat.... But a coach is naive if they do not plan-prepare to play n beat at least one, if not multiple California teams while playing a major tourney (ASA or PGF). Facts r Facts n Cali has proven to be dominant in all age brackets. One definition of dominance is “controlling influence” of which Cali leads the pack (PGF vs. ASA true competition debate). This does not mean all Cali teams are the best or cannot be beaten but rather a force to reckon with and more importantly a driving force of Softball future as a whole.

I look forward to seeing all competition in Sunnyvale 16u, regardless (as noted on HB) of the “true” best Cali teams playing PGF.

If I were a coach I would make the assumption(an prepare accordingly) that ANY socal team was very good

[Gone in 2.6]

It's hard to see an end to Socal dominance- too many things in their favor:

1) Large population
2) perfect soctball weather
3) long-standing softball tradition
4) great softball infrastructure and culture(fields, teams, coaches)
5) Great feeder program on strong rec programs -strong travel-strong gold/elite
All leads to an environment that produces a very large number of high quality softball players

Other areas can produce quality players too, but tough to match the volume that socal does.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Dominance = SoCal teams always winning the 12u Titles, not whether SoCal has more top tier 12u teams. In other words, the point is not whether another area of the Country is able to match SoCal's "volume" of top 12u teams. They can't, mainly for the factors above. Rather, after being around 12u ball since '08, I firmly believe that other areas are now able to consistently field AT LEAST ONE TEAM, IF NOT MORE, that can compete with top SoCal teams for the ASA and PGF championships. (Exhibit A - Arizona Suncats at Best of the West.) Who cares that SoCal has a higher percentage of teams in the winner's bracket, if it is an Arizona, Texas or Georgia team that wins the Titles. "There are no points for second place."

Simply put - those top SoCal teams that rest on the past may find themselves in the Loser's Bracket or may allow a non SoCal team to steal the Title. Don't be one of them: "6P" - "Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance."

Good hunting to all 12u SoCal teams at Nationals.

Good points. However, until one state can consistantly give California a run instead of this "So Cal vs the Field" scenario, then they really are still the dominant area. I guess one could argue that Florida is that quality. At least they seemed to be when we went through youth ball

P.S. Am I the only one that finds this "2nd place is just the first loser" mentality for 12 year olds a little unnerving?

[ontheblack]

It's hard to see an end to Socal dominance- too many things in their favor:

1) Large population
2) perfect soctball weather
3) long-standing softball tradition
4) great softball infrastructure and culture(fields, teams, coaches)
5) Great feeder program on strong rec programs -strong travel-strong gold/elite
All leads to an environment that produces a very large number of high quality softball players

Other areas can produce quality players too, but tough to match the volume that socal does.

_____________________________________________________________________________
Dominance = SoCal teams always winning the 12u Titles, not whether SoCal has more top tier 12u teams. In other words, the point is not whether another area of the Country is able to match SoCal's "volume" of top 12u teams. They can't, mainly for the factors above. Rather, after being around 12u ball since '08, I firmly believe that other areas are now able to consistently field AT LEAST ONE TEAM, IF NOT MORE, that can compete with top SoCal teams for the ASA and PGF championships. (Exhibit A - Arizona Suncats at Best of the West.) Who cares that SoCal has a higher percentage of teams in the winner's bracket, if it is an Arizona, Texas or Georgia team that wins the Titles. "There are no points for second place."

Simply put - those top SoCal teams that rest on the past may find themselves in the Loser's Bracket or may allow a non SoCal team to steal the Title. Don't be one of them: "6P" - "Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance."

Good hunting to all 12u SoCal teams at Nationals.

Good points. However, until one state can consistantly give California a run instead of this "So Cal vs the Field" scenario, then they really are still the dominant area. I guess one could argue that Florida is that quality. At least they seemed to be when we went through youth ball

P.S. Am I the only one that finds this "2nd place is just the first loser" mentality for 12 year olds a little unnerving?

Nope. At ASA 12u Nationals, we were thrilled to wake up Saturday morning and still be playing, knowing we were likely going to be home on Sunday.