No STARS deep in Heart of Texas this year (14U)

[Brooke's Dad]

$3.80 a gallon gas

I wish that was what I was paying per gallon!!!!!!

[soreshins]

Fasterpitch asks the question "what are we doing wrong?" The same question can be asked of the entire state. In my view Texas has too many 14U "A teams." Most of the teams we have played in the 14U classification are very average. Each team has 4 or 5 good players and 7 or 8 mediocre players. If you combine the best talent of 2 or 3 average teams you can make a team that can compete on a state and perhaps a national level. California has a depth of talent we do not have. Texas cannot afford to spread its talent so thin. But this is easier said than done.

DonnieS appears to have an 8th grade daughter playing 18U Gold. If she can hold her own on the gold level, she can dominate at 14U. We need our best 14U players to play 14U and go out to Midland and take the title. If a team "playing up" is 14U eligible, I would encourage them to play at 14U Nationals. While Midland is not the best venue in our state, we do have an opportunity to make a statement with a strong showing.

[YplayAwhenucanplayB]

Just wanted to know opinions of top defensive players in central texas. Here are my ideas.

RR Crush Shortstop
RR Crush Pitcher
Blaze (Sniggs) Shortstop
Austin Stars Third base
Austin Stars Catcher
South 8 Second Base
South 8 Center Field
Corps (Thompson) First

Where are the Stix and Wildfire kidos???

[slapper]

Fasterpitch asks the question "what are we doing wrong?" The same question can be asked of the entire state. In my view Texas has too many 14U "A teams." Most of the teams we have played in the 14U classification are very average. Each team has 4 or 5 good players and 7 or 8 mediocre players. If you combine the best talent of 2 or 3 average teams you can make a team that can compete on a state and perhaps a national level. California has a depth of talent we do not have. Texas cannot afford to spread its talent so thin. But this is easier said than done.

DonnieS appears to have an 8th grade daughter playing 18U Gold. If she can hold her own on the gold level, she can dominate at 14U. We need our best 14U players to play 14U and go out to Midland and take the title. If a team "playing up" is 14U eligible, I would encourage them to play at 14U Nationals. While Midland is not the best venue in our state, we do have an opportunity to make a statement with a strong showing.

I agree with this but, what can be done? There are so many ego's out there how can you get a full team of great players parents to understand little Suzzie won't be the star but a very important piece to a winning puzzle. Also who would you get to coach such a team? There are several coaches that come to mind but why have they not been able to put such a team together? You see more teams in 14u with 3-5 solid players and the rest average than any other division.