High School playoffs

[watchtonsofsoftball]

I definately looked past whitney in D3. People take it so defensively. Predictions are just that. No disrespect intended, but any team I dont mention in favor of is disrespecting I suppose. Didn't get a chance to see any games yesterday but hope to make it out tues and wednesday for the 'ships. Spent some time in the bay area for regionals. Surprised to see Tenn and Texas out already. But definately some surprises on the brackets that I was expecting. Cant count out Johansen, they did the same thing last year! Long road ahead though. In D2 Del Oro should bounce back. D4 Sierra won it, although wasn't expecting Los Banos to be there. Congrats to those two teams!

[Old Darter]

DeMash, I believe that Watchtons is definitely aligned with the former fire&ice now ladymagic crowd and is either, or both, a Sheldon/St. Francis guy. !

First, congats on your #17 post! You've spewed a lot in the first month...

Let's see. Since Lady Magic has the Aces from PG, Sheldon, EG and St. Francis it could be any of their relatives. Or maybe someone related to the other 4 players on the Lady Magic/Sheldon roster? Or the other two players on the Lady Magic/PG roster? Or the three players on the Rodriquez roster? Wow, wait! Aren't those five of the top teams in the area? Two of which are certain to win the section (PG/EG, or Sheldon in D1 and Rodriquez in D3)????

Sounds like a decent "crowd" to hang with. How many Jr. National team members play in that organization? Oh, two.

[triplecrown]

What I find amazing is how we have people (#1fann) come out of the wood work that are not only talent evaluate'rs, but team evaluate'rs, nation wide HS league evaluate'rs, and even hitting guru's, wow must be nice to be so talented.

[NorCal96]

Now that's funny! Thanks Darter.

[Iluvblue]

That said, i totally agree with the Sheldon prognostication, they are gonna be tough to beat. Johansen was very overrated, stellar defense, below average pitching, and anemic bats, but then again, Carda makes alot of bats anemic.



The final four last season was Johansen, Pleasant Grove, Elk Grove and Sheldon. This year the final 4 is the same. Coincidence? I think not.

Are Elk Grove's bats anemic also? Cause they scored the same amount as EVERY team in the playoffs have against Carda. Your comments reek of softball ignorance as anytime a team faces a pitcher of her ability and she is on her game, the bats go silent. Instead of blasting a Johansen team and calling them basically weak (that is in final four for 2nd straight season), give the pitcher some credit. She is pretty good.... dont you think?


Tonight's Shelden/Pleasant Grove game should be a GREAT game. I would love to see it.

[bruisedshin]

Casa Roble taking down Del Oro and Roseville in D2 is also impressive. That team graduated the core of their section winning team from least year (6 seniors altogether), including their primary pitcher, catcher and 5 or their top 6 bats. They have only two seniors on the team this year.

Also, I was a little surprised that Whitney was not not more dominant during the regular season with fantastic sophomore LHP Taylor Cotton (SoCal Choppers, last I heard) on the mound. It looks like she's dominating now, giving up one run and five hits while striking out 20 in 14 innings.

Full Disclosure: While my dd is not yet in HS, and will not attend Casa (she's bound for Del Oro), the coach, Kristen Allen, is her pitching and batting coach. Also, I don't know jack about most of the HS programs (especially in the Elk Grove Area), except for the freshmen/sophomores we see/know from travel ball. That officially makes me neither impartial nor informed.

[dittoz]

Yes Shin, since coaching her several years back I've said all along that Whitney pitcher Taylor Cotton is the real deal. Couldn't ask for a sweeter kid but when she's in the circle, she's an animal and a true game changer. As to not more dominant, the team went undefeated this season and they're now in the Championship game. How much more dominant do you want???! Unfortunately she pitches for our cross-town rival but we're good friends with several of the girls over there so it's all good...

After losing to Rodriguez 4-1 yesterday afternoon, Whitney beat Pioneer last night 8-2 and advances to the finals to play Rodriguez again today in a must-win-two-to-win championship...

Taylor is still with the SoCal Choppers although personally that drive would kill me!

[bruisedshin]

They were undeafeated in league, but they did lose five games this year. My dd's ASA coach is at Granite Bay (which did much better this year with her at the helm, but still mediocre), and they rang up 6 runs (5 ER) in 7 innings over two games on her. That didn't sound like what I was expecting from Taylor. Granite Bay may have a slight advantage in taking BP every day from a left handed coach, but I was still surprised. Her ERA has been dropping throughout the season as well. She gave up 12 ER in her first 30 innings, and the team was 6-4.

Also, the online bracket says they lost to Rodriguez, but beat Pioneer, so they play in the Championship coming from the losers bracket.

Taylor is a great kid, and she's not coasting. Every time I go to extra innings in the evening, she and her dad are in there working, and they're still there when we leave.

[dittoz]

Agreed - the season started out rough for the team but don't blame the stats on Taylor. It was far more of a MaxPreps/Scorekeeper issue although I understand there were some "interesting" moments defensively...

I know her dad very well - they do work out quite a bit don't they?

Corrected my post to properly reflect last night. Taylor texted my DD to report they had won and were in the Championship. I presumed she meant THAT game...

[watchtonsofsoftball]

WOW Casa has done an amazing job in the playoffs. With last years graduating class I wouldn't have expected this run. Nice job ladies. Tough to knock off any team twice back to back.
Whitney has came on strong too. Have to agree with above posts on their pitching. Rod and Whitney in the finals.
Sheldon vs Elk Grove, should be another good one. I dont think sheldon has lost 2 in a row all season.
Got a chance to move around and see some games yesterday, and some very well played games. I thought Johansen played well although they ended up losing to EG. Lots of runners on base. Casa game was exciting. Del Oro beating my favorite Roseville to get into the finals and face Casa again. EG beating PG in another close game until they got some clutch hitting to break it open. Good games all around. Unfortunately cant make the finals tonight. Hope to hear some updates this evening.