who are the big dogs at 14 and 16 U ?

[slugger]

Sidd, you're probably right. We really should be playing B ball this summer but decided to get in over our heads. I can say that much of what you are saying about our 16U team is what was said about our 18U team a few years ago when we went on a 4 year run at the ASA Nationals of 5th, 2nd, 1st, 5th.

In terms of what our team did yesterday, we beat a team out of Ohio (assuming the 18U Classics) 6-2. As did most of the other teams there, we substituted every 2 innings and batted the entire lineup of 13 kids. I'm not intelligent enough to decipher all of that stuff the way you can, so I'll just take your word that we're in a lower league. No matter which team you're with, best of luck with your team...I've got to do some internet research now to find out where the NSA B's are located this year!

[bucketboy]

Bucketboy,

How is the hitting area of the Combat LFFP vs. the Easton Stealth Speed? That is one area where Easton really had the advantage vs. the rest of the bats. When you place that long barrel on that handle, the hitting area and flex are tough to compete against.

Combat bats have historically had good pop, but have historically had a smaller hitting area. Have they made improvements with the LFFP?

To answer I had to ask DD, but since she never swung a previous model would be tough to answer. I will say that she says the sweet spot is huge so the answer would be yes I guess, but we all know bats are a personal preference to kids. As mentioned she will swing it in college so she might as well get used to it.

Snoop you have my garage code still don't you? Help yourself who knows what hand me downs are out there. I think there is a 34/24 Nike Athena laying around and maybe a couple of old Root Beer Worth Quads that have the paint chipped off so stop on by and of course there is a cold one or two in the fridge for you as well...................

[looking in]

slugger,
You only beat that Ohio team 6-2? Ohio got beat by Virginia yesterday and Virginia got beat by Dreams/reese 18-0! That was without there #1 or 2 pitcher and #1 catcher!

[SiddFinch]

slugger,
You only beat that Ohio team 6-2? Ohio got beat by Virginia yesterday and Virginia got beat by Dreams/reese 18-0! That was without there #1 or 2 pitcher and #1 catcher!

Whoa - now come on. Did you see the Dreams-Virginia game. That might have been the worst
umpire in the history of sports. Would the Dreams beat the virgiana team, yes, 10 out of 10 times. But they aren't 22-0 better. (actual score). It was a joke. With that said, I stand by my intial evaluation of the Sluggers, good team, but not ready for the big time.

[softballrebels]

Dreams 95 (Montgomery) went 4-0 for the weekend.

[slapperdad]

OK, this thread has taught me two things:
1. I need to stick to eteamz.
2. My DD needs to stick to the Podunk County All-Stars.

[ManitouDan]

saw some 18u teams last fall in goshen ohio-- our 14u team got a W over a team mentioned here --ohio classics 18u. I think we actually played Dreams 18u but I'm a little foggy on that. Think they beat us maybe 6-2 ? 7-1 ? 6-0 ? can't remember . We did'nt play L-suggers 18u but them and the dreams were the class of the tourney. MD

[thedoanezone]

Fastpitch Fool...I would love to get the SW 93, Dreams Reece, and Homer Hawks to come to Louisville and play us (16U Lady Sluggers). If you have contact info for those teams, please let me know. We can get access to Ulmer Stadium at UofL. We had originally planned to play in a NQ in state the weekend of June 25-27 but it appears to not have a 16U division. We leave for the Colorado Fireworks that Sunday and want to get some quality games in before we head out there. I'd say if all 4 teams got together it would be a good day of softball and Coach Pearsall at UofL would definitely be there to watch and show any prospective athletes around campus. PM me if you think this might be a possibility. I can get in touch with Coach Pearsall to get dates reserved.

Not to break anyone's heart. But the Sluggers 16u nor the Hawks 16u are not in the same league as SW93 or Dreams-reese. Heck, they hang and beat Gold teams. Now the Sluggers 18u, that is a different story. That would be a good game.
Thinking out loud - while I dont know all the teams in the midwest, there are very few that are in that class. I might even go out on a limb and say that Indiana's top 5 16's are very competitive with any other midwest states 16's. Haven't the Magic Gold 16's already beat the sluggers a couple times (at Ball State and IU). I might be thinking of another.

I don't remember past games as well as others, so I had to do some asking, and I think my sources say we played SW93 in Elgin in the Fall. He recalls the final score being 3-1. Again I know, just an exposure game, but still not "out-classed"! As far as talent goes, this "bunch of 2nd year 14's and a couple of high school players (as another poster characterized us) can hang with anybody and yet we don't have the attitude of "we're better than everyone else......by far" that you seem to ascribe to your top two Indiana teams, as dictated by you. Whoeveer we play, they will know they were in a battle, and if you win, it will be because you earned it, not because we saw your name and just gave up. We have two girls (2012 and 2013) that can bring it and a catcher (another 2013) that has earned her nickname of Bullet. (Heck, we even got a couple of 8th graders, but they are two of the best eight graders you've ever seen). Again, nowhere am I claiming our team to be superior, in a higher "class" or league, better than most Gold teams or the couple of other ways that you've described SW93 and Dreams. Good luck this year and thanks for giving us something to shoot for.

[snoop]

Slugger and doane,
I am with the Dreams organization, Dreams/Reese. We would love to have the chance to play you guys! It only helps us to play the better teams around! It helps Softball in the midwest, the better the team, the better the result for all involved! i know i could set up a friendly in the fall for the 3 of us and the Shockwaves! The Dreams have done many things at Uof L with the sluggers, and could make something happen here in Indy to meet in the middle! We would travel to make it happen! Let every body else talk, lets have some fun and let the girls get together and play! Cook some dogs and burgers and make a day of it! No pressure, no fuss, just a day of good softball and team bonding! I can cook, ask bucketboy and Killer! What we should be doing is making all of us better, not putting everybody down! By now we should all have the same goal for our DD's! You can pm me or contact Reese! Slugger, all you have to do is ask a certain mom and she will get you with me!! Her name just happened in your area!! good luck! see ya on the field!
Indy Dreams!!

[thedoanezone]

Bucketboy,

How is the hitting area of the Combat LFFP vs. the Easton Stealth Speed? That is one area where Easton really had the advantage vs. the rest of the bats. When you place that long barrel on that handle, the hitting area and flex are tough to compete against.

Combat bats have historically had good pop, but have historically had a smaller hitting area. Have they made improvements with the LFFP?

To answer I had to ask DD, but since she never swung a previous model would be tough to answer. I will say that she says the sweet spot is huge so the answer would be yes I guess, but we all know bats are a personal preference to kids. As mentioned she will swing it in college so she might as well get used to it.

Snoop you have my garage code still don't you? Help yourself who knows what hand me downs are out there. I think there is a 34/24 Nike Athena laying around and maybe a couple of old Root Beer Worth Quads that have the paint chipped off so stop on by and of course there is a cold one or two in the fridge for you as well...................

Our (sponsored) team has about 6 girls swinging various combat bats. As I see it, most of our girls could hit pretty well with almost any quality bat. Personal preference, of course, plays a huge role in determining if that's the "right" bat for DD. A dealer in our area who may or may not be able to answer questions (his DD swings it) can be found at http://www.totalcontrolsports.com My DD prefers the "softer' feel of her CF3.