Who is actually going to the Frenso Force Classic?

[arunner2]

O.K. I'll bite..."The San Jose String 12U "are planning on going so far.

[Old Darter]

Lady Magic will be there

[Uncle Rico]

If it was so "must do", teams would ignore So Cal Finest and still go to The Force Classic.

I am not saying to ignore So Cal's Finest, I said it is too bad they are the same weekend. Teams can play the St Paddy's day tournament and then also play the Force Classic. So Cal teams play against each other every weekend, the Force tourney brings together Northern Cal vs Southern Cal better than any other tournament.

[UnderDawg]

Cal Thunder 96 is going to Fresno. Tired of playing the same teams week in and week out.

Coach Jerry

[Bucket Mom]

Well it's good to know that there will be at least 2 teams in the 12s and at least 1 in the 14s. Hopefully more teams will add their names in here.

[jonnypar]

We drove all the way out there last year to play the same teams we play week in and week out.

[Instig8or]

Instig8or finds it interesting that there have been more than a few comments and sudden changes in opinion as to the Fresno Force tournament this year. Early on, one poster commented on the unfortunate scheduling of the Southern Ca tournament on the same weekend, knowing that it would compete for teams and hurt what has historically been a well-supported tournament. Others responded by reminding the poster that fields are only available for limited times and that particular weekeend was one apparently one of the few open. Another poster commented that a few cars were broken in to last year in Fresno. Others commented on the high costs...

What Instig8or also sees at this point is that many in the Southern CA area have suddenly taken on the mindset that they will only travel if "the best" teams are playing there. In prior years, Fresno was not about "the best" as much as it was about the rivalry of Northern vs. Southern and about the tradition of what has historically been a very fun tournament. You very same people started talking and planning months in advance on this very board, yet the teams you were playing were always the very same ones you played in your own backyards. This was not an issue then for some reason... In addition to "the best" mindset, it also appears that the Southern Ca softball community is adopting the policy of just expecting the world to come to them and everyone else be damned.

If Fresno is such a terrible place to play ball, Instig8or would like to know why the comments were generally positive following last year's tournament and even if there were some break-in's, they were no different than many other parks around the country on a given weekend. Even at Nationals we read of break-ins and thefts. Also recalling a Texas issue not too long ago... This is not a problem that is unique to Fresno, yet by the comments and actions, the Southern California softball community has effectively put the stamp of disapproval on this very large and very successful tournament that catered to many of your own comments and requests over the years. Apparently that was just not good enough for you.

Way to go Southern Ca...

[hotwheels]

Instig8or finds it interesting that there have been more than a few comments and sudden changes in opinion as to the Fresno Force tournament this year. Early on, one poster commented on the unfortunate scheduling of the Southern Ca tournament on the same weekend, knowing that it would compete for teams and hurt what has historically been a well-supported tournament. Others responded by reminding the poster that fields are only available for limited times and that particular weekeend was one apparently one of the few open. Another poster commented that a few cars were broken in to last year in Fresno. Others commented on the high costs...

What Instig8or also sees at this point is that many in the Southern CA area have suddenly taken on the mindset that they will only travel if "the best" teams are playing there. In prior years, Fresno was not about "the best" as much as it was about the rivalry of Northern vs. Southern and about the tradition of what has historically been a very fun tournament. You very same people started talking and planning months in advance on this very board, yet the teams you were playing were always the very same ones you played in your own backyards. This was not an issue then for some reason... In addition to "the best" mindset, it also appears that the Southern Ca softball community is adopting the policy of just expecting the world to come to them and everyone else be damned.

If Fresno is such a terrible place to play ball, Instig8or would like to know why the comments were generally positive following last year's tournament and even if there were some break-in's, they were no different than many other parks around the country on a given weekend. Even at Nationals we read of break-ins and thefts. Also recalling a Texas issue not too long ago... This is not a problem that is unique to Fresno, yet by the comments and actions, the Southern California softball community has effectively put the stamp of disapproval on this very large and very successful tournament that catered to many of your own comments and requests over the years. Apparently that was just not good enough for you.

Way to go Southern Ca...

Ok, very nice post with some valid points....BUT, let's come back to reality and stop pretending Fresno doesn't suck.....Hemet sucks too.....Those are the two locations of the two tournaments in question.....So Cal teams should save their money and play in sucky Hemet this year instead of paying more money and playing in sucky Fresno....

In case you've forgotten we are in a recession here!

[mnyeck]

What's wrong with competition? Fresno Force will need to find ways to make their tournament the go-to tournament. Competition improves the final product.

[Under the Radar]

The top 3 finishers at Fresno have gone on to win, place or show at ASA Nationals like 6 or 7 years in a row? What happens this year????