12u Season Rankings UPDATED 6/12

[Chango15]

LDL is the same person as Sftball Junkie. He coaches 14u and has friends on the 12u Hype. He is obviously very pro-Hype.

[jbl1465]

I dont care who LDL is, keep up the good work.

[Ovr Weight N Bald]

Well Glad you cleared that one up for Chango Just one question why or better yet how would a 14u coach spend as much time as he does watching teams in 12u??? I think Onlooker might be on to something with the Eagles fan!! Being that I am kinda over the search for Louie and agree it is more fun not knowing, I too will move on.

what's become clear to me this season is there is no true elite, first tier, team in NorCal 12u. By elite, I mean a roster of 10-12 solid players, with two legitimate top-tier pitchers, solid defense, and a batting order without holes in it that can play both small ball and power ball, as the need arises. Our teams seem to fall into groups below that elite level.

Tier #2 teams. Closest to elite status. Only currently missing one piece of the puzzle needed to make them elite (e.g., a true #1.b pitcher, top-end speed, etc.): IMO Grapettes-K, Hype, Storm, KG-French, LM.

Tier #3 teams. Currently missing 2-3 pieces preventing them from moving any higher. Typically will have holes in the lineup (offensively, defensively, or both) that teams can exploit. Can still hang with teams above them in any one game. IMO Clovis Rockets-Millar, Rapids, Foothill Gold-00, TC.

Tier #3 teams: Younger teams still adjusting to 12u. Will be the ones to watch when 12u is being discussed next season. IMO: LTG Lions, Foothill Gold-01, OBS Monarchs-Cat

Give me a 12-team 2-day tournament with these teams, and I'd want to watch every game!

JC I couldn't agree with what you are saying but I would not put LM in that first group. I feel they have a strong line up but defensively and in the circle they have more than a few holes.

There is a ton of parity in 12u this year. I guess with all of the movement over tryouts we just didn't land a real dominant team like last year with RR Miller and Mizuno Garcia. I do like the parity though it kinda makes it anyone's game at any given time.

That said, I wonder what will happen moving to 14s in fall with FC coming in. Will 2 existing teams really move like is rumored or will we just add to the ever so thinning 00 pool.

[Stealing Home]

Yep - father on the Bombers - I know one of their P's played for a KJ team coached by the Team CA coach, played for the Hype, and now plays for Hanks'. Anyone want to throw the name out there.......

Interesting info in my inbox that I never really thought about..... which could mean Columbo is off in his research?

My problem (for the first time ever with LDL) is that he is attacking a rotation of nice kids and families, WHOEVER HE or SHE IS....

I am going to need some time to look at bombers, as there are a couple things there that add up as well...Kid is a P, played in KJ org, doesnt have kidS so that throws me a curve (maybe a setup to deflect heat), and maybe most importantly has some tie to the hype..... I'll have to look closer to the liberty bell to figure this one out.

[skoufax]

So far Matt has been the only person willing to put it all out there on the bucket which gives him a substantial lead in the credibility department. ALL of the other detectives, critics and armchair evaluators of talent have yet to establish anything other than a knack for creating controversy out of thin air. I for one appreciate the general rankings for one reason and one reason only - if my daughter happens to play one of the top ranked teams it provides me with a good yardstick for how her team is playing.

Way back when my older daughter was playing this age group the bucket was a great forum for getting accurate updates and news. Today it has become a forum for middle aged men (and women) to publicly state some serious BS. Why anyone would want an organization, team or coach to fail is beyond me. A season is very short and if your daughter doesn't like a team - move on! The very fact that we have the opportunity to provide our kids with this awesome sport is incredible.

I have found that the loudest, whiny, bitter parents here never speak up or share their thoughts in person to others who really matter like the head coach of their daughters team - I would bet for example, Chango has never stepped up and put on his big boy pants when it comes to that........

[Stealing Home]

Well, since LDL has been identified by two people - he's gone into hiding. No need too - confirm it - it was fun like you mentioned - now get back to doing what you do so well and what we all enjoy - providing great insight on the 12u softball scene for all teams.

[onlooker]

I would like to point this out. Even though I rec'd a tip and went down the road of trying to tie the tip to Matt, it does appear that the shoe fits the other "mentioned" to a "T". That being said, here is what I learned:

IF (Im confident it's not an IF anymore), but had it been Matt, it would have been as I said "attacking" the rotation of the Hype, simply because a teammember "can't" say those words.

BUT, If LDL says it (non team-member), it's treated as "opinion only" because he's "not" on Hype. And his credibility in the past has been not "attacking". I believe that to be the true intent, and maybe Hype can learn from it.

So that being said, my frustration came from what I perceived as an attack on a great group of families by someone on the inside. But it looks clearly now like it was an objective opinion by LDL (someone on the outside) which we are all, and I believe, asking he continues. It doesnt matter who you are now, you haven't attacked your own team or anyone ever in what I have seen. You are still giving your opinion which we all enjoy. Hope that came across correctly.

Good Luck to Matt and his girls and his Hype team, I owe him an apology. (i have no problem loooking for my big boy pants, sure wish I was perfect)
Good luck to the Bombers, I don't think LDL should stop anything. it's been the most unbiased reports we have seen in a long time.

[newASAparent]

How did all the Metro's finish up? My DD's team showed a lot of heart. They got eliminated first game Sunday by LTG Lions but her team played really well all weekend. Her teams very improved. It was run great and I'm proud of them. Congrats to foothill and team california.

[linedrivelouie]

Not in hiding just busy with work and nope still guessing. She is not on the Bombers.

Congrats to those who played well in Metros this weekend. Below is the list of teams who earned ASA Berths this weekend. Now the question is who plans on going back to Tennessee???

Nor Cal
Salinas Storm
Nor Cal Elite
San Jose Sting
KG Hitters French

Greater Sac
Foothill Gold
Team California

Greater San Jaoquin
Grapettes K

Cen Cal
Clovis Rockets Millar
Fresno Force 01

[cinmar]

Don't understand exactly how brackets are selected but great loser bracket championship game in Nor Cal Metro..San Jose Sting was losing 10-7 top of the 7th..with 2 outs..nobody on base and a 2 out rally started..Sting got 4 runs on 2 outs and beat KG Hitter French 11-10..great comeback moment in softball