UPDATED! 12u Top Team Ranking – Pre ASA Nationals Poll!

[Under the Radar]

Why is so much being put into this 1 tournament that was not even a qualifier & there was only 16 teams in it. Would'nt a major tournament be a qualifier with 20 plus teams?

[bracketologist]

Bracket, I need some help understanding something. Batbusters (Marquez) beat the currently ranked #1 & #2 teams, on the same day, in a Major tournament, and they remain at #6. Rebels, who didn't even play, move from #4 to #3?????? Huh.

I watched the Batbusters, Firecrackers game and BB owned that team during that game. I know the score was 1-0 but BB seemed to always have girls in scoring position 'crackers would get out of it, whereas the Firecrackers were lucky to get girls on base. I thought BB played pretty strong ball Friday & Saturday. I didn't see the game vs Jynx, but I did watch Jynx play (I think) Grapettes and the Jynx pitcher is pretty awesome, I could see how Jynx could have beat BB in one head to head game, but could Jynx beat PS and Firecrackers back to back in the same day????? Could the Rebels????? Just curious.

Good questions. The OC Batbusters Marquez had the most impressive wins against the Firecrackers and PS96, in pool play... but they did lose to a higher rank team Jynx in bracket play and those are really the only games that count. I am not sure the Jynx can beat both the teams that the OC Batbusters beat, but they did win the head to head battle - so there is no way to move the BB ahead of Jynx this week. The two teams will likely meet again in the Jynx Tourney this week and the ranking will change if OC BB win. Note: I was also very impressed with the Jynx pitcher, but I am not sure where they fit in the ranking when she is not pitching?

The Rebels are really the last hope for a super team 12u 96 team imo. They moved from #4 to #3 more on the fact that the CA96 did not look like a top ten team in Chino. In the end I think the CA96 will be a factor at Nationals - imo what made them special last year is they had alot of heart ...... I guess we're giving them one more week to regain that heart (i.e., this week at the AA toy tourney).

The one thing that I did learn at Chino, is that this is not 2008 with CA95/OC Impact or 2007 Victory Campbell/Lakewood Ladies with super teams. The field is very close and the ranking are likely to change week to week. I truly believe that there are at least 10 teams that have the potential to win State, including both 97 teams. Second, if any other state has the level of teams that Texas had at nationals last year or like the 3 Ohio teams at nationals in 2007…. We are in trouble.

I think the 12u division is deeper with more solid teams then last year, but the talent is very diluted in So. CAL and the “top 6” teams talent is not far superior to the teams ranked 13-18! It’s anybody game in 2009.

[bracketologist]

Why is so much being put into this 1 tournament that was not even a qualifier & there was only 16 teams in it. Would'nt a major tournament be a qualifier with 20 plus teams?

The qualifiers are all at the end of the year and it's too hard to wait until then to start ranking them .. and there are few tourneys with 20 plus solid teams maybe only Fresno and State. The Chino tourney is always a big deal but not the end of the world! Still alot of softball to be played!

[hotwheels]

What does anyone know about the Desert Blaze 12u? I've seen them play a few times, and they look pretty good, but inconsistent at times.

I disagree completely! I have watched them play 3 or 4 games over the past month and they don't even deserve mention in this conversation.......Especially if Hitmen22 is a coach on this team......Call TOPDOG!

My apologies, I was confusing this 12U team with their 14U team......that had played someone I know.....My bad!

[Popsof4]

I was only impressed with BB-snow. Did very well as a young team; very scrappy. Clutch hitting kept them in games. The only 96 team that impressed me in the Fall were the Rebels.

[redzone]

Can'tbelievemyeyes ...

Did you say the Batbusters "owned" the Firecrackers in a 1-0 game? I would agree if the word "owned" meant "squeaked by" or "was slightly better on that day." I've got the scorebook in front of me, and it appears that the Batbusters had two runners reach third base (one was stranded and one scored), while the Firecrackers had two (one was stranded and one was thrown out at the plate). The hits were even at three apiece until the top of the sixth, which lasted five pitches (the Batbusters had two on with one out when time expired). At the plate, the Batbusters struck out five times, the Firecrackers struck out once. The Batbusters walked once and had one hit batter, while the Firecrackers walked once.

All that being said, the Batbusters center fielder made a great throw to the plate to cut down the tying run in the fifth. The Batbusters deserved to win.

But "owned" is a bit rosy, don't you think? ... Considering one team won the championship and the other got knocked out in the quarterfinals.

[Iron Ballls]

Can someone help me on the teams who carry a few 95's for 12U? We played SFS rebels at TC this weekend and were told they had at least 3-4 players who were moving up in Jan. Is this common? I have also heard CA96 and Firecrackers have a few that have to move up as well. How does this help or what advantages does this have for winter???

[Popsof4]

Can someone help me on the teams who carry a few 95's for 12U? We played SFS rebels at TC this weekend and were told they had at least 3-4 players who were moving up in Jan. Is this common? I have also heard CA96 and Firecrackers have a few that have to move up as well. How does this help or what advantages does this have for winter???

I would hope that CA-96 and Firecrackers-96 were all 96's. Having 95's that start in the Fall would be an embarrassment.

[cantbelievemyeyes]

redzone:

From an outsiders perspective (not affiliated with either team), it appeared to me, IMO, that BB controlled that game. Whatever the score reflects, or whatever your book may say, BB had the upperhand in THAT game. BIG Kudos to FC for regaining their composure and winning it all, that is what great teams are made of. But again, IMO, as a non partisan fan of the game, that was BB's game to win or lose, they were in control of that game the entire time.

By the way, you may want to recheck your book, because that lefty slapper knocked that ball into leftfield and it was the leftfielder, from shallow, shallow leftfield, that threw your runner out at the plate trying to score from second.

[Luv_SC]

CA- 96 has all 96 girls with the exception of our 97 birthdate, we do have one younger girl. So we are not playing with any 95 players and the Firecrackers are the same why would either team waste their time on players they couldnt use in the Spring. As for these ranking its all speculation and who cares even with a weak performance at AA things will change so much between now and states dont go putting any money on a thing. Why is Power Surge still #1 injuries are part of the game we all have them and they shouldnt be an excuse why you stay on top. Also the blonde I think the #1 struggled at Nationals and at every big tourney I have seen her on. Maybe you have a kid on Power Surge. PS used all they had to beat CA considering couldnt beat Crackers and jynx used it all for BB Marquez. Good games but only one team had a complete day and they are the Crackers.

I believe the rankings to be close to true but the Crackers deserve to be #1 they beat the teams including the so called #1 on the day that mattered. Pool play who really cares. No true dominant team and so much can change in the next months. I have been around awhile so not holding my breath about who will stay where. As for BB Snow they have been together a while at least the core I rememeber them in 8u as Chino hills all stars they were good then. Dont think they can beat all 4 top teams though may be able to by April but not now. I am not on the Crackers but they deserve respect they played good Sunday and this field is wide open nice to know not one dominant team but that there are at least 5 of us that can win states. Should be a fun season