Is Norcal getting to many teams?

[softballmom65]

I will say this. It is way to early to rank anyone. There will be some real good 12u teams. But remember a lot of girls did jump ship from teams or moved up to 14U. I also disagree that a young 12U cant be just as good if not better than some of those "2nd year girls". Just because you are a 140 Lbs doesnt mean you will smack the ball and if you played down south in 10U then you did face pitchers that can throw 55-58. So lets not knock any of these young 12U's. You might just regret it later.

[Iluvblue]

Just because you are a 140 Lbs doesnt mean you will smack the ball and if you played down south in 10U then you did face pitchers that can throw 55-58. So lets not knock any of these young 12U's. You might just regret it later.



Softball mom, i am speaking from experience, you are probably speaking as the parent of a young player who just moved up from 10u.

And I dont thinking I was knocking anyone.
There was a discussion during last Summer about the "Top 14u teams, and many people were talking up this team or that team. problem was, this was PRIOR to the HS season ending. i said when the HS season ended, the entire division would change and those 2nd year 14u teams would be the top teams.

Well guess what happened, when the HS season ended, those teams people were talking up stopped winning tournaments, just like I said.

trust me, 2nd year 12u players are better as a whole than 1st year.. that is a fact, not a guess.
And I am not knocking a young player for being young. fact is as you get older, you get stronger, faster, BETTER.

And i wont regret anything.

[triplecrown]

OH GREAT! We have 8/9 yr olds throwing 58mph again, but just down south

show me just one plz!

[Missinit]

You might get a first year 12 team that will win some good games and even get people talking about what a tough team they will be to beat next year IF they stay together but...
the only people that might call them top 3 or even top 5 will be their parents. Not because they don't have talent but because at best they will have a couple key players that can compete against 2nd year 12s (due to strength) and a couple players that can compete is not enough. You need 4 or 5 core players that can compete against the top 2nd year teams.

Wouldn't surprise me to see a first year 10 break in to top ten though.
I think with so many 12s out there now coaching is going to be more important than ever. The good teams will be the ones that can turn mediocre players in to studs and I'm not sure there are that many coach's at twelves that can do that.

[lookingIN]

the only people that might call them top 3 or even top 5 will be their parents. .

that is too funny but true....

[lookingIN]

I will say this. It is way to early to rank anyone. There will be some real good 12u teams. But remember a lot of girls did jump ship from teams or moved up to 14U. I also disagree that a young 12U cant be just as good if not better than some of those "2nd year girls". Just because you are a 140 Lbs doesnt mean you will smack the ball and if you played down south in 10U then you did face pitchers that can throw 55-58. So lets not knock any of these young 12U's. You might just regret it later.

Not this again..........

[Bad dog]

OK - considering the 12u talent pool is watered down throughout NorCal, who are going to be the top 5 teams in NorCal? I know that nobody knows squat at this moment, but let's hear your predictions just for fun.

I know you said this is just for fun, but... what exactly are we supposed to base our predictions on?? No one even knows exactly who is on what team, which 98s opted to move up, which ones stayed down, etc...

Like I said, just for fun. Just trying to stir the pot and get some conversation going. Getting excited to watch some good quality 12u ball in NorCal this fall and I know Norcal will send a strong contender to Nationals next year.

[SoftballSoccerDad]

Just because you are a 140 Lbs doesnt mean you will smack the ball and if you played down south in 10U then you did face pitchers that can throw 55-58. So lets not knock any of these young 12U's. You might just regret it later.

[fatcat]

there's no doubt there are some very good 10u teams out there and they can probably beat an ok 12u team. BUT, they still play like good 10 yr olds and will be no match for a really good older 12u team.

put another way, as good as your 10 yr old is, don't you think she'll be even better as a bigger stronger 11 yr old player next year?

also, there is a big difference in pitching the 11 inch ball from 35ft at 10u compared to pitching 40ft with the 12 inch ball at 12u. a 10u pitcher that makes the transition to 12u and starts throwing from 40ft will likely get crushed by an older 12u hitter. suddenly, the 10u girl that was throwing 58mph will magically slow down to about 45mph if she's lucky

[watchtonsofsoftball]

There is no 10 year old throwing 55-58 anywhere. PERIOD. Ive been around the 12-16 year old division for quite a while and rarely in these divisions do you see 58 or better, EVEN down south. Look at Sorcerers at 14s, girl was at 57-58 on the GUN by ME. You know how many parents of pitchers Ive heard over the years tell me their daughter threw 60mph? Uh to many. Case in point this year, I just happened to bring my Gun out with me to a tourney, and a parent was gabbing how her daughter was throwing 58-59 now. I immediately told my wife no way, and grabbed the gun, only to clock her at 52-54 consistantly. And it doesnt sound like much but at this level 54 and 58 is a big difference. Difference of being a pitcher to contact and a strikeout pitcher. Anyhow, 10s, if you throw 48-50 your pretty dominant.