NOR CAL GOLD TEAMS

[maxedout007]

Ya Jacksonville State I watched them play last weekend against Alabama.

[DHBHitting]

Do you think that Sorcerer's hitting will be able to carry them to nationals? Because I saw all three pitchers get hit pretty hard so scoring allot of runs will have to carry them to success.

Response: Remains to be seen, that is a big question, and a good one by the way. I will say this, they can hit and being able to score is a big plus in Gold ball. The thing is, and I'm pretty sure about this one, I don’t think you can allow the other team to score more than you do if you want to win, so if Sorcerer pitching can’t hold up, then it will obviously be a problem for them. Overall, I believe they will eventually qualify, and I believe that their pitching staff has the ability to lead them to a decent showing at Nationals.

You know all this talk about college pitchers and who is bringing back who is sort of irrelevant if the pitcher you are talking about is not that good or better than what is already there. Look, all these kids on the top Gold programs are all going to D-1 programs in their own right, so you bring back a pitcher from college, does that mean that just because she pitched in college she will be able to get these Gold hitters out? Not hardly, a team like the Sting has darn near their whole starting lineup going big time D-1, so these kids are of the caliber of the very kids these college pitchers have been facing. My point is this, bringing back college players is an advantage for a team only if the kids you are bringing back can play better than what you already have, furthermore it is only an advantage on getting you to nationals if they are better than what the other guy has. So the mere fact that a club is bringing back a college pitcher does not guarantee them anything because the kids she will be facing are basically future D-1 players in their own right and depending on who they are facing future top D-1 players.

[MIH]

TOP 10 GOLD TEAMS IN NOR CAL- 5/31/08

1. Sting- Perales
2. Sorcerers- Mumma
3. RR Gold- Regpala
4. All American Softball Academy
5. Grapettes
6. Sorcerers- Pete
7. Sting- Fano
8. Strike Zone
9. Nor Cal Shockers
10.Lady Sharks- TB

[Flash]

There is a big gap between your top 5 and 6 thru 10.

[DBLUE]

MIH,

I think your missing a couple of teams, and really need to take at least 2 of your top ten out. Strikezone, and the Shockers do not belong in the top ten at all. Strikezone had another long weekend out at Arnaiz! And until the Shockers see their college kids, they will struggle also.

[DHBHitting]

I love and hate all this talk about rankings so early in the summer season because they are so useless and meaningless but fun to do at the same time.

Look, and not to defend Strikezone or the Shockers, because I dont have any real love for either one but these are back yard exposure games and while yes you can tell a certain something about a team from these games I think we have to be very carefull not to read to much into them.

Don Ford has qualified something like I dont know 10 years in a row for Gold Nationals and I expect he will find a way to do it again, sure his team does not look as strong now but they will pick it up when it counts they always do.

However, I guess if you are ranking teams at this current point and time then your assessment is correct, during these backyarders they are not a top ten team, but my point is does it really matter that they are not one of top teams at the Grappettes showcase in May?

Strikezone will more than likely be a tough draw for anyone that draws them during the qaulifiers and knowing a Ford coached team will play tough when it really matters. Hell I seen allot of the top teams have long weekends this past weekend, still does not change my mind about who the top teams are though. Because I know who these clubs will put out there when it matters and believe me the Strikezone, Shockers, Sorcerer, and all the rest that stuggled this past weekend will come to play down in Lancaster, they always do.

[MIH]

DHB

I know Strike Zone is just ok right now but he will load up with
his former elligible college players and they will make an impact.
Shockers, are in a worse case scenario since they are not
playing well and DO have their college players except Chin but
I dont think she will make that much of a difference.
Sorcerers stunk it up this past weeknd at Arnaiz. Mumma was like
2-2-1. I can hear the college players marching in next weekend for
Mumma.

[DHBHitting]

I know Strike Zone is just ok right now but he will load up with
his former eligible college players and they will make an impact.

Response: Agreed, Ford finds a way to do it every year and I do not see this year being any different, hate him, or love him, the guy knows what he is doing and will more than likely be in Oklahoma in August, he always is. Now here is a program that is not shy about bringing back college players by the droves, more so than any other program I have seen.

Shockers, are in a worse case scenario since they are not
playing well and DO have their college players except Chin but
I don’t think she will make that much of a difference.

Response: I love Chinny, she is a competitor and she will bring some edge to that ball club. However MIH I agree with you again, if they can not find a way to generate some offense for her then she will not be able to do much for them, you can’t beat people 0-0. She is plenty good enough to hold teams down but you have to be able to score to win and she can’t hold them for ever.

Sorcerers stunk it up this past weekend at Arnaiz. Mumma was like
2-2-1. I can hear the college players marching in next weekend for
Mumma.

Response: We are on the same page today MIH, the Sorcerer sure did stink it up last weekend, not sure what exactly that accounts for, pretty much nothing, but they did not play well that is for sure. However I don’t believe Sorcerer will bring back that many college players, I think he has done what he is going to do. He got his big pick up in Arioto, and from talking to folks very close to the situation he does not believe he needs help anywhere else, I could possibly see Fluery returning, but I doubt it as he is very high on Decker, and Wallace's bat is not going anywhere. Quite honestly in my opinion, he doesn’t need any college players, they would be no better than what he has; I mean who could he bring back? And where else would you plug a college kid into on that sqaud? So I think that is all you will see as far as college players from them, and quite frankly, all they really need.

[MIH]

DHB,

I can see Phil working to try and bring in Fluerry, Camuso and the Hawaii girl for Cal ,Kekuhena.
He might not have them now but if he stinks it up in Lancaster, He will get them or someone.
I did notice the sorcerer website admitting they struggled last weekend.

Strike Zone, I agree with you 100%.
Shockers, ditto

Whats your opinion on why Strike Zone has fallen after so many years of being a major player? whats their future look like?

Shockers were always a nice team. They brought in Bill from strikkers. Has he done anything for them? Was this team just a one year wonder?

Are Grapettes and AASA legit this year? lady sharks? they seem to be winning

I guess I will see how everyone plays at the RR Gold showcase this weekend in Stockton.

[DHBHitting]

DHB,

I can see Phil working to try and bring in Fluerry, Camuso and the Hawaii girl for Cal ,Kekuhena.
He might not have them now but if he stinks it up in Lancaster, He will get them or someone.
I did notice the sorcerer website admitting they struggled last weekend.

Response: Fluerry could make some sense, he does not really need an infielder and I don’t think Fluerry's bat is strong enough to displace Wallace, but she could replace Decker defensively, but Decker is a heck of a little slapper and is a tough out she gets on quite a bit which will be key if his big bats are gonna work for him. Camuso I don't think is a possibility, but I guess you never know, I believe you are talking about Sanoe from CAL and this again could be a possibility but where will she play? Again, I don’t think he will bring back many more college players but I have been wrong before. I noticed they had that up there too, some honest reporting for a change gotta love that, again I don’t think they are worried about it.

Strike Zone, I agree with you 100%.
Shockers, ditto

What’s your opinion on why Strike Zone has fallen after so many years of being a major player?

Response: Having dealt with Mr. Don Ford in years past very closely and knowing several friends that do currently Don is quite unique and can be shall we say, very difficult to deal with. He has been losing players because this reputation has gained steam and GOLD level players are just not giving him a chance based on that reputation. Now I will say this, Don knows his stuff, he knows this game, and he gets his kids recruited, he runs one of the most successful GOLD programs in Nor Cal. Now having said that his recent drop off in talent is allot of his own doing, and allot of bad press, both of which he brought on himself. One thing I will say about Ford, if you obey his rules, and don’t fall into his dog house, there is nothing he will not do for his girls to get them where they want to go. He is his own worst enemy though, and he can not continue to run good players off for silly reasons if he wants his program to continue to build pass its current stature.

What’s their future look like?

Response: Their younger divisions are competitive, now it all depends if these girls will stay with Don, which most believe it or not do, the girls in his program are generally loyal to him. His future is primarily hurt by his reputation which effects his ability to bring in new talent from other programs which if he can not repair will utimately seriously effect the programs future ability to sustain as a top GOLD program. Although he has many pros, he has his fair share of cons and it just seems like this new breed of parent/player are less willing to deal with the negatives.

Shockers were always a nice team. They brought in Bill from strikkers. Has he done anything for them?

Response: I don’t know if he has added anything to the program or not, he was an outfield coach for the Strikkers.

Was this team just a one year wonder?

Response: I don’t think so, I think that they have some talent, now will they be able to sustain for years to come, I think maybe, the question is will they be able to sustain as one of the few Nor Cal GOLD programs that qualify every year, now that is very debatable. They are competing with Sorcerer for players and right now they are not winning that battle.

Are Grapettes and AASA legit this year?

Response: Legit on what level, they are legitimate Nor Cal GOLD teams for sure, now will they qualify, maybe. I think the Grapettes will give it a run but pitching will be their down fall, if Johnson can come back and pitch for them that will help. As for AASA, they could get it done again, don’t see them doing it down in LA or Stockton, but they could do it like they did last year up in Washington or whatever, they can play and they do have talent. The one Lady Shark team is decent, all this will depend on draw, if one of these clubs can get a great draw then that can be the difference in being in Oklahoma or not. In my opinion there are only two Nor Cal GOLD programs that could play through a bad draw that is the Sting and the Sorcerer.


I guess I will see how everyone plays at the RR Gold showcase this weekend in Stockton.

Response: Yep, should be some good ball.