Top North Texas teams to watch in '08

[Lori]

It's about time ASA made the state teams play fairly. I afor one am glad to see that state teams will have to classify as 'A' if they are that good. Too too long have state teams taken advantage of the system and been allowed to play 'B' ball as long as they wanted...it is and never was fair to the true 'B' teams in metro tournaments....case in point---The Wichita Falls Blasters and the Red River Rebels.

Being state teams allowed these teams to pick up whoever they wanted, whenever they wanted, and play in 'B' tourneys, with no way to prove legality of a roster like those on VTD. They always have a handwritten roster and approval on a separate peice of paper stating they are approved, but never a roster signed by an ASA official.

I hope ALL state districts make it mandatory to keep track of points and reclassify when they get enough points....hell, maybe I am just dreaming, because not even all the metro organization JO's abide by these rules...especially in the past by Mansfield teams.

Again--just my thoughts!!

[Texasasa25]

Ms Lori

I agree 100% that the state and metro JO's should know more about their teams in their district. However, it will still be up the district commissioners and JO's to make sure their teams are classified properly. I just returned from the ASA state meeting last weekend and the JO's are trying to get on the same page. Now that vtd and ASA have partnered in 2008 the state teams will hopefully utilize the tools that are available on vtd. Before this, state teams used it for registering for tournaments only.

I think this a good step in the right direction.

[Fastpitch360]

I went to several College looks this fall and including Elite Showcase, Ronald Mcdonald etc... Here is the list I feel are the top 5 Gold teams in Texas. (my opinon)

Sudden Impact---Always seems to bring in the best Girls all over Texas
Texas Power----Slipping a little but is still good
Texas Fusion Gold----Up and comer looked real strong at Ronald Mcdonald
Texas Glory---We'll see if Coach Kevin Shelton can hold it togather without Coach Adkins
Texas Storm---Hope they still have some players left from last years team.
Texas Aces--Has to be a favorite for return visit to Gold Nationals

[Fastpitch360]

Must be that south Texas education or I'm getting old, I guess i have 6 teams to watch

[3Bsnag]

Hey 360, it sounds like you're familiar with S.TX and the older level. What about Impact Gold? They seem to have some sizeable signings, with only one '09 not committed yet. Your thoughts?

[Lori]

Texas Fusion Gold--You are kidding, right?!

[Fastpitch360]

I don't know alot about Sudden Impacts Roster just their history of finding good D1 players and all the success they have had with their current girls. They always seem to bring in the best pitchers in the state, they have alot of 08 so they should be ready to roll.

Lori I am just going off what I saw at the Ronald McDonald and if their current roster stays the same I would be very surprised if Texas Fusion don't make it deep into tournaments. Didn't that team win 18U Dallas metros last year?

I hope I am not offending you about my opinon your opinon didn't offend me.

[Lori]

No offense taken, don't worry. If you look at the teams in Dallas Metro, you will see the top teams weren't there, they had already qualified for Nationals and didn't have to play metro. The metro field was very weak in comparison to what it could have been. Kudos to them winning, but too much cannot be read into it.

[tugaol]

I am looking forward to the Gold season this year. I like the top 6 listed above and adding Impact in there is a good choice as well, and that definitely includes the Fusion team. There is a big difference in rosters from last years Fusion metro team and the team that played in the Fall. They added at least 4 starters to that squad and they scored a lot of runs this past Fall.

Look out for that Fusion 14U team.. For a team that only has played one Fall season together they went out and proved they will be a force to deal with this Spring. I can't wait to see both of the Fusion 14U pitchers in the next couple of years. They are , IMHO, the best 8th grade duo in the state. The Fusion Gold program has a bright future and will put a lot of pressure on the top Gold teams if they can keep both of those two young ladies and a majority of that 14U team together.

[Fastpitch360]

Alright Lori I did some research like your famous for.

Texas Teams at 18U ASA College station

Ragdolls--not in Dallas ASA
High Voltage--not in Dallas ASA
Texas Fusion-- in Dallas ASA
TX MC Elite-Was at Dallas ASA (have no idea why they where there)
FW Batbuster--Not in Dallas ASA
Texas Rage--Not in Dallas ASA
Texas Magic--Not In Dallas ASA
Bad Attitude--Not in Dallas ASA
CY Fair Blaze--Not in Dallas ASA
Magic--Not In Dallas ASA
Ringor--Dallas ASA
Texas Impact-Don't know

So Lori,with this being all the teams that went to the ASA Championship which great metro teams out of Dallas already qualified before Texas Fusion???? I have friends that was on the Texas Hawks and they were the ones that pointed out how good Texas Fusion looked at Ronald McDonald and after watching them I came up with the same conclusion. Only my opinon but I liked what I saw.