Top North Texas teams to watch in '08

[3Bsnag]

10U
97 Texas Elite
97 Texas Glory
Sweet 97

12U
95 Ft Worth Batbusters (Rhine)
95 Texas Glory
95 Texas Travelers
96 Diamonds
Ft Worth Batbusters 96 (Rhouton)
Dallas Monarchs ‘95- so much for that one
Sneaky Cleats '95

14U
94 Ft Worth Batbusters (Montoya)
94 Texas Elite (Floyd)
94 Texas Glory (Elliott)
American Freedom
Anderson Express ‘93
Texas Fusion (Sidwell)
Texas Glory 94
Texas Peppers 14U - South TX
Texas Shabang

16U
’92 Texas Xtreme
AXE (Gallimore)
Texas Elite (YG)
Texas Glory (Ed Naudins team)
Texas Sting

18U
Ft Worth Batbusters (Edwards)
Paris Thunder
Texas Elite (Bancroft)


18G
Ft Worth Batbusters Gold (Card)
Houston Power
Impact Gold - South TX
Sudden Impact Gold - South TX
Texas Glory Gold
Texas Glory Schutt Gold
Texas Peppers Gold- South TX
Texas Peppers Tanel Gold - South TX
Texas Travelers Gold (Marks)

We don't play with our south TX neighbors (except 18G), so I can't help very much there.

[heybucket]

thank you 3Bsnug. heybucket.com

[dallasfungo]

Not a bad list.

10U - 97 Glory is solid, great athletes. They will show well at nationals.

12U - Not a lot of solid teams in this age group. 95 Glory is the top 95 team in Texas, won the 10U ASA-A title two years ago. Could do it again in Alabama this year; great speed and sticks, need more pitching depth. Travelers is alone in 2nd place; good core of 9 players, needs more pitching and depth to go far in championship play. Quality drops off a lot after that. 96 Diamonds is young, but strong, finished as runner up at ASA-A nationals in 2006. Monarchs is a start-up, with mostly players from a very average Glory team that folded. Batbusters (Rhouton) is classified as a B team and probably shouldn't be on this list. Batbusters (Rhine) has placed but not won in 12U-A tournaments and really struggled in 14U tournaments.

14U - Good balance in this age group. I'd put 94 Batbusters in the lead by a narrow margin. The two 94 Gory teams are close, along with American Freedom and Anderson Express. Peppers, from Houston, is a solid team also but not seen much in Dallas tournaments.

All subject to roster turbulence, of course. I haven't seen enough of the 16u-18u groups to offer an opinion. I hear Naudin's Glory team is very strong.

[Flash4]

I've seen some other 12U "A" teams in Texas....Round Rock Blaze, Deer Park TPS - two good teams with strong pitching and strong bats. Both teams won several tournaments this fall (would definately be seen at Nationals). Sneaky Cleats out of Tyler is a good little team with great attitudes, coaches, and talent. As far as Texas Glory..... the best team in Texas. I have seen them win several tournaments this fall in 12U,14U, and 16U against some great teams. Great all around in pitching, fielding, and batting. Texas Travelers are good and getting better as the season goes on but they need more pitching help. 96 Diamonds are good but need to face the better/older 12U "A" teams to improve. Monarchs are a good team but need more work but definatley improving fast. Several other teams are starting to stand out and this spring will bring out some new faces.

[aka7]

I would agree good list. Although I believe a few teams may have been left off.

10U
Sweet Gold- probably the all around best 10U team in North Texas
All 3 of the following teams are pretty solid and can compete on any given day.
97 Anderson Express
97 Sweet
97 Texas Glory

12U
95 Texas Glory- I would agree hands down the best
95 Texas Travelers- good team should compete well
Dallas Monarchs 95- should make a push in the spring, looks to be a competitive
96 Texas Glory and 96 Diamonds- will be interested to see how they compete with the older teams

14U
Very competitive division, should be interesting. Top 5 teams should be able to compete with anybody. I am sure I left some quality teams off the list, but seems to be the most competitive age division heading into the Spring.
94 Fort Worth Batbusters (Montoya)
Texas Fusion (Sidwell)
93 Texas Travelers (Splash)
Texas Peppers-South Texas
94 Texas Glory (Elliott)
94 Texas Glory
94 Flower Mound Rage
93 Anderson Express
American Freedom
94 Texas Elite (Floyd)

[3Bsnag]

Dallas, I've even heard Naudin's 16U Glory team named the "Dream Team".

AKA, no way I'd put American Freedom (14U) down that far. IMO, they would be top 3. 14U should definitely be interesting with several great teams and the talent pool. How can this age be so great with very little in 12U? Don't these girls have little sisters? lol

Flash, you are absolutely right about Sneaky Cleats and RR Blaze. I've always heard alot about them, but have never seen them play.

I can't wait to see how the spring plays out. Batbusters losing their luster, especially with multiple new B teams, a new '95 Glory team, a new 14U Texas Fusion team, and the 16U Dream Team.

[Lori]

I agree, batbusters are losing their charm. They used to be an organization to be reckoned with, but now are so watered down with B teams it is sad what they have become. I used to have a daughter on batbusters 6 yrs ago, when it really meant something...now, doesn't mean a lot and that is sad.

[Flash4]

3Bsnag... I agree with the 12U not being as strong at 14U; I think it is because there are so many teams and they are all watered down. To many coaches still playing "B" and to scared to face the "A" teams. The top "A" teams in Dallas play against the top 14U"A" teams and some even play 16U"A". There will be some surprises this spring as always. It will be interesting to see the new Glory addition...95 Glory (Gray) and maybe the new addition to Elite..95 Elite. maybe they will step up and increase the talent in this age group.

14U - the batbusters are a great team with tons of talent but need to learn to get along together on and off the field. 94 Glory and 94 Glory Elliott are strong and keep getting stronger by adding new players. 94 Fusion is a new team this fall/spring and boy have they pulled together some of the top talent in Texas. I saw two of their pitchers, both '94's, and they are the cream of the crop.(I know one came from 94 Glory). I think they will be the 14U team to beat. Texas Peppers as always will be a force to be reckoned with!!!!

16U - Elite, Fusion, and yes Glory will be the top teams- haven't heard much about the Batbusters.

I'm just glad that the season is getting started again so we can see where the talent will be.

[aka7]

3BSnag, not sure about the little sister part, but you would think. Texas Fusion is also adding a new 12U and 14U teams. If they are half as good as the 1st 14U team they will have to be reckoned with. Didn't mean to offend anyone with the list of teams. JMO, as to the top teams I have seen around. I believe that most of the teams on that list could beat the others on any given day.

One thing that is for sure with the competitive level of these teams North Texas should be represented well at Nationals this year in Midland.

[3Bsnag]

I don't think you offended anyone. I hope I didn't either. I'm sure I left some teams off, especially in the younger age groups and/or different regions here.

It will be fun to see who comes out on top of the Bomber tournament for 12's and 14's. It stinks that the 14U is only accepting 32 teams and there are 57 registered, but he who pays- plays.

Here's my predictions for 14's:
1st- Texas Fusion (if they get their $ in)
2nd- American Freedom
3rd- Glory 94
4th- TX Rapid Fire
5th- S.T. Elite- Alice (again, if $ is in)

Upsets- BB Montoya & TT Splash don't place.
I don't understand the '95 teams being in this one because it's such a huge and talented field, but more power to them. Again, I didn't place any eastern or southern teams just because I don't know them.