Deer Park Money Tournment -- Predictions

[liveintex]

That is a great write-up because IMO he's spot on about Fusion. They are a very good team but with them, it's really all or nothing because their hitters definately don't get cheated in their swings. I can't speak for STX but for NTX we have some very good teams but I think that with the influx of select teams, in very rare instances you see a team with 1-9 top notch hitters. I hear nothing but great things about the TPS team and it sounds, stress sounds, like they are the cream of the crop for all of Texas.

All of the top so-called "big 5" in NTX do share one attribute and that is their top 4-5 hitters are very good.

Glory Allen, Fusion, and Fireballs top 5 hitters are all excellent. Fusion has the best power, Allen has the best pure hitters, and Fireballs may have the best defense, at least at the corners.

As someone who has a 10 year old ready to move up, we both look forward to Dallas in 2 weeks so we can both see what it'll take for her to represent ALL of TX in the 2013 Nationals.

[2good]

Fusion and Glory played well at times but then disappeared. Issue at hand is the teams from STX play tough tournaments every week. In NTX we have way to many watered down teams and our top teams are not being challenged at the 98 level.

[Newbe]

If the 12's are watered down in NTX the thing to do is play up in the fall and spring in the 14u? That is what the good 98 teams do in STX?

[Newbe]

Great to see the teams from NTX come play in the money tour ! That alone says enough about what those coaches are trying to do with those teams! It seemed to me that they were two good teams with power hitters through the top three or four hitters that struggled once they faced the better pitchers. Rise and curve on the outside of the plate seemed to keep these teams off balance. Pitchers did not seem to be use to getting hit and defense did not handle small ball well. Both teams had plenty of talent and would do well if they played in STX all the time. Bothe teams would be better if they would add speed to there line ups and work on there bunt defense. But all in all quality teams and coaches and parents. It was a pleasure to have them down south and look forward to seeing them up north soon!

[liveintex]

I guess the beauty of being an anonymous writer is that you can level silly accusations with no real basis for doing so. You mentioning 98 Breeze in another forum coupled with your rant above tells me you have a much deeper going on. My daughter should be so lucky to play for any of the top-5 12U's that are always mentioned but she's just a '00 so we grind it out in 10U. The assessments I make are based solely on tournaments I see in Southlake or Grapevine since I'm just a mile from Bob Jones Park. Opinions vary so it is what it is.
I wish that I was this man you seek because we could talk it out but I am not he. As stated above though it appears you may have crossed paths (daughter cut?) with the team you have such a ha**on for. Life is short so you don't need to flex your 'net muscles because you're barking up the wrong tree. Good luck on your search for truth though sir.

[Heartwell]

Newbe,

Good assesment. I know you guys don't need to travel up North to play great competition as there was at least 15 top quality teams in the Money tournament. TPS definitely is tops right now. Travelling for 4 1/2 hrs is tough to do though.

If only there could be a half way point where you can hold maybe one big tournament per 3 or 4 months throughout the year so we can play top competition more often. A 2 hr drive is a lot easier than having to make that 4 1/2 hour drive.

You guys are looking great down South, we need to step it up here in North Texas. Trust us we are trying to find speed but it's a little hard to come by in this '98 age group. I'm sure the coaches are trying to work with what they have.

Definitely opened Fusion and Glory's eyes as far what needs to be worked on. That was the main reason I'm sure they went down South. And yes they have been playing 14U for a few months now which needs to happen some more. Yes I would thinkg they would benefit from playing that type of competition from tournament to tournament.

Great tournament, great competition.

See you guys up in Dallas in a few weeks. Good luck to all of you on your run to Nationals! Texas needs a good showing in ASA Nationals this year!

[justawatcher]

Newbe,
And yes they have been playing 14U for a few months now which needs to happen some more. Yes I would thinkg they would benefit from playing that type of competition from tournament to tournament.

Yes, it would benefit all 98 teams to play tough competition instead of playing pretend 14U tournaments.

[Newbe]

Heartwell,
It is tough to travel that far very often with the gas prices going through the roof, and yes it would be cool to have a halfway spot with a big tour but the reality is the Houston teams are spoiled to the fact that every weekend they can play good comp without burning much petro right at home? They tend to save the big trips for qualifiers and Nat's ? Great effort from the two teams that came down to play in Houston this weekend. It is tough to compete in the field they played in this weekend! I thought it was a good showing for them but the top teams in H-town are no joke for sure. Most are skilled and deep! I know the #9 hole hitter for the Power went yard on Sunday and several in that line up can and will with the wrong pitch thrown! TPS is the measuring stick for most programs in the south but could be beat any given weekend from any of the top 3 or 4 teams in H-town! We will see how the NTX teams do up north real soon at the HOF qualifier ? See ya soon and again good job representing NTX this past weekend!