Opinions on Best Central Texas Select Teams (High School Age

[93players]

With all of the tryouts scheduled on BYD, I would like some opinions from current players/parents on the best centex 16/18 select teams. Austin Storm looked competitive a few years ago, but their teams just do not win on the state and national level. Also, the recruiting seems to have taken a downturn. Stix seemed pretty strong with a few of their older teams. But the Stix seem to focus on McNeil prospects. Comets seemed pretty quiet this year. Love to hear your opinions.

[fastpitchguru]

To me that is a pretty easy question to answer....It used to be that the Austin Storm and the Hearts of Texas dominated Central Texas. That has now changed to be the Texas Blaze from Round Rock and the Texas Bombers out of New Braunfels. Look at their teams in this age bracket and they are the ones that qualified for the 16U ASA Class A Nationals and the Blaze also now qualified in the Gold division as well!

[BestSportEver]

I agree with above post except I think you have to add the Texas Stix to the list, their Gold team was very good this season and they seem to do things pretty well within the organization. They also have done a great job with providing good coaching.

However, in looking at clubs, here is an interesting point. The Blaze organization put three teams in top National tournaments, and to me even more wild is the 18u group qualified for Gold Nationals with only three seniors on roster on no returning college freshman. I assume they will be the youngest team in Oklahoma or at least one of. The Bombers seem to be building a strong organization as well, there have really good athletes and Im sure will do well in 18u next year.

Good news...now is a good time to be involved in Central Texas Softball...things are looking up!

[Ezalb93]

I pretty much agree with the previous posts, except that they seem to ignore the Waco-Temple-Killeen area. I think those folks might consider themselves CenTex, too. I don't know enough about those teams to comment, but maybe someone else does and might care to weigh in.

Sticking to the southern aspect of the CenTex region, I'd have to agree that the Texas Bombers (formerly the New Braunfels Bombers) and the Texas Blaze (formerly the Round Rock Blaze) are the up and coming teams, although the Blaze appears to have more depth (1 Gold team and 2 16U teams last year). I expect the Blaze to be even better in the coming seasons, as they have lots of young talent, from 12U all the way through 16U, with many youngsters (14U) playing up.

The Austin Storm appears to be in decline. The Storm Gold team apparently is still competitive, but their 16U (Sladek) team was very weak in comparison to years past. There appears to have been a talent shift away from the Storm; they may've overpriced themselves. The Hearts are really no more, with the departure of their club director and head coach.

The Stix remain solid and consistent---a good club. They, too, apparently have more depth than the Bombers and several good young prospects.

[BestSportEver]

Your right Ezalb93 about Waco area, we shouldn't forget the Elite YG Team, they are a really good 16u team, however, I think they have peaked and will begin a steady decline. They don't seem as strong as a year ago...just my opinion...who knows, maybe they will kick everybody's butt in 18u!

I don't know of any other really good Waco area teams?

16u ASA UPDATE:
Im not positive, but I believe YG and Bombers got knocked out of Nationals today, looks like Blaze is last one standing from CT area at least.

[Fasterpitch]

YG won at 8pm. They play at 8am tomorrow.

I think there are 7 Texas teams still in 16U nationals. They rain delay was long and boring