Another tournament not played out????

[hotwheels]

All this talk about finishing and the girls. It is many of you who are living vicariously through your DDs. So you can say your DD won it all.

One of my DDs was on a 16U ASA National Championship team. Mom was able to go along, I was not. She hasn't talked about it or brought it up once since the debriefing I gave her when she got home. All the "life lessons" and the character building, etc - not from the place of finish or if "that game" was played - from the process of application and self discipline.

The friendships, smiles and hugs with past team mates - that would be there with or without those final games played or not. The schools that softball got them into because they were valedictorians AND good ball players, that will last a life time.

JMO

Great post! Softball is a tool to help kids attain a scholarship for college and hopefully the opportunity to continue playing a sport that so many love while they are there...You think they give a crap if some College Coach is disappointed that the Cruisers "SHIP" wasn't played out this year?...When they are a 30 year old parent do you think they will remember that this 1 game wasn't played or will they have fond memories of their whole career in general? BS, they will remember that during the Cruisers tourney a kid broke her arm and all the people who were involved in helping that kid...That is what they will remember...Life lessons, not $7 medals!

But the Dad's are disappointed! Really too bad!

[newbie2sb]

Look back at the final brackets. Both Firecracker teams sent home a lot of very good teams Sunday. It's the journey getting to the Championship game. Congrats to both teams. Great Tournament hosted by the Cal Cruisers.

[sofbal1234]

All this talk about finishing and the girls. It is many of you who are living vicariously through your DDs. So you can say your DD won it all.

One of my DDs was on a 16U ASA National Championship team. Mom was able to go along, I was not. She hasn't talked about it or brought it up once since the debriefing I gave her when she got home. All the "life lessons" and the character building, etc - not from the place of finish or if "that game" was played - from the process of application and self discipline.

The friendships, smiles and hugs with past team mates - that would be there with or without those final games played or not. The schools that softball got them into because they were valedictorians AND good ball players, that will last a life time.

JMO

Great post! Softball is a tool to help kids attain a scholarship for college and hopefully the opportunity to continue playing a sport that so many love while they are there...You think they give a crap if some College Coach is disappointed that the Cruisers "SHIP" wasn't played out this year?...When they are a 30 year old parent do you think they will remember that this 1 game wasn't played or will they have fond memories of their whole career in general? BS, they will remember that during the Cruisers tourney a kid broke her arm and all the people who were involved in helping that kid...That is what they will remember...Life lessons, not $7 medals!

But the Dad's are disappointed! Really too bad!

From the beginning of this thread i've been waiting PATIENTLY for someone with enough common sense to approach this subject with this mindset!!!

The only other factors I would add would have been...; Let's say these 2 teams do try to get the "ship" in and darkness creates a tragic line drive ball to a forehead or temple!!!??????? Will "Spazsdad" have said then, "Well at least those girls had enough "character" to try to become champions of that cal cruisers tourney!"??????????????


Ya, that's. JMHFO.... Like it or not!!!! PEACE!!!!

[dodgerblue]

Spaz, I get your point that your making and agree with you 100% and nobody wants to accept that because we're living our dream through our DD. Would you walk away from a CIF championship game and say we got there but didnt want anyone to get hurt. I hate to see when somebody gets hurt including my girl but that's the risks in playing sports so if you're going to live in fear that one day your kid takes a comebaker then dont let her play. That's just like saying I'm not going to let my DD drive because she might crash. I'm glad my DD was always on a team that played out the ship when they made it and CW for your DD not to talk about winning the 16U championship and never talking about seems odd to me because my DD was in the same deal and still talks about it from time to time maybe cause she made an impact in that game and gave it her all. Everybody is different.

[Jamada]

Sofbal1234,

I am also a very PATIENT person waiting patiently for common sense. But I want to hurry through this because I have to get to other things. I can tell that you like sofball and I can also tell that you are very organized, but that is beside the point.

I like your scenario about the tragic line drive in the darkness. It was very detailed, vague, to the point, yet semi-unrealistic. I'm not sure about what Spazdad thinks, but to answer your question, the character of the girl would be determined on how she handled the pain from getting hit by the line drive. Does she cry or does she just wince a little, take a deep breath, get watery eyed but nothing drips down her face? In my country we have a saying “si te duele la cabeza, frote duro”. It means, “Be headstrong, fight hard.” Or like you Americans say, its a matter of “sink and swim”. Man up, woman!

I want to quote a very wise friend of mine dodgerblue. Even though I don’t know him, never talked to him, or nothing with him, I consider him my brother. He says “Play the freakin game, don't come on here and state safety reasons and a comebaker and all that crap.” The brotherhood we share is the passion for the game. He has “el corazón lleno de la sangre humana”. I do to. Do you? Look in the mirror. This is a cup check my friend. A punch in the stomach to test your toughness.

In my country, there is no excuses. Finish the game you sof Americans!

Con las bolas del tamaño de nueces,

Jack Madavilla

[HIT & RUN]

It appears from their website that the Cruiser tournament declared "co-champions".
I think this is a disappointing trend gaining steam in the younger age groups. I know, I have heard all the excuses, sorry reasons, for not finishing a tournament but they are all bull. Do you think that all of a sudden games are being played late on Sunday, girls are tired, they have homework, meaningless tournament, etc, and these are all new occurrences that teams have never had to deal with before?
These players have plenty of years ahead of them dealing with the monotony of the showcase format where nobody wins. Now is the time that they should be able to play a tournament to completion and experience the satisfaction of a job well done with a win or the " kick in the belly" of coming up short and having something to work towards for future improvement.
Character is made on the field and contrary to what the parents and coaches say the girls want to have a shot at being champion, even if it is just in the XYZ tournament..
Why have parents and coaches decided to take this away from these young athletes?

SpazDad: So who are you directing this comment to? The tournament host? The coaches? Both?

I think we need to question if or why you are even coming on here stirring up the pot for no reason? This was a well run tournament the Cruisers put on. Having just hosted a tournament ourselves, I can assure you that you cannot predict the length of time for some games, that's obvious, let alone the chance a few games run long. I know for a fact the schedule looked good on paper. As far as not having lights, like I said before, it look right on paper with no need for lights, I can attest to that. And isn't it obvious that we almost got it in? But what do you do when you almost get it in? What would you do? Let me guess, "they should have found a field with lights...blah... blah... blah...." I don't think it calls for you to through them under the bus for something that they had no control over... We've all had those days. Or have you? Anyway, do you really wanna know who would have won that bad? I can guarantee you one thing: your winner was going to have a Firecracker jersey on.

If you are questioning the coaches accountability, I can tell you this for 100% certain: Everything single thing that our coaching staff does and all the decisions we make for our team is for the benefit of every single one of our players including and most importantly teaching them what good character is. It shows in how the girls perform for us. Add to that, both teams FC97Sota and FC96Susan have had the opportunity to be in the championship before... you should know that. I hoping I'm not over stepping my boundaries for seeming a bit insulted by your comments for any of the coaches in question. Coming to the decision we as coaches made, in combination with what transpired with the tournament running long, I can assure you this: We didn't even consider "What would freakin SpazDad do?" I can only speak for myself when I say I'm pretty sure your name didn't even come up.

I don't know SpazDad, maybe you shouldn't have said anything until you got everyone's story? Because now, you have everyone thinking that the tournament was poorly ran and planned etc which is far from the truth. At the same time, your also saying us coaches aren't teaching our girls character by not playing a "Championship" game? Our integrity as coaches? Really?

Give us a break from your almightyness sometimes dude... You're like "that guy"... Turn that frown upside down.

Congrats FC97Sota & FC96Susan... You both rock.

Joey Quarles
FC97Sota

http://www.eteamz.com/FC97Sota
joeyquarles@gmail.com

I thought Sota was with Anderson?? Man I have been out of the loop for sometime now....Whatever happened to Valley Tribe, Franchise and Crunch?

[Dongers Army]

First of all, Jamada - you make me laugh. Thanks for adding literary wit to Hey Bucket.

Let me sprinkle a little math into this conversation.

In order to play a 24 team tournament, you must play 23 elimination games. If you have 12 fields in a single location, you can accomplish this with 8am, 10am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm games. If you have less than 12 fields in a single location you are going to require more time, shorter games, lights, and/or leave very little margin for error. The alternative is to host fewer teams.

So, in this instance, it appears the Cruisers put together a well organized, tight tournament and hoped for the best. They almost got it in; however, a 4 ITB game along with a lengthy injury delay created a situation where the best solution was to award a co-champions.

I suggest this was the ideal solution. Only 2 teams were impacted by the co-champion title and they sound satisfied by their weekend efforts. While they did not play the final championship game, Sota played Firecrackers Javier, Corona Angels Lockman and Batbusters Stith; Rodriguez played Batbusters McNee, SD Aztecs, Cruisers and Lady Magic to get to the final game. 22 other teams had the opportunity to play in a tournament that was filled with top teams and were eliminated in the same close manner (multiple ITB games, as well as numerous walk off wins just before ITB were to begin).

I completely understand Spaz's original post, that there is a trend toward tournaments ending without a final game.

"Now is the time that they should be able to play a tournament to completion and experience the satisfaction of a job well done with a win or the " kick in the belly" of coming up short and having something to work towards for future improvement.
Character is made on the field and contrary to what the parents and coaches say the girls want to have a shot at being champion, even if it is just in the XYZ tournament..
Why have parents and coaches decided to take this away from these young athletes?"

I disagree that parents and coaches have taken this away. While it would be interesting to read whether Team A or Team B won the Championship, all of the games were so competitive, it seems everybody got their shot at being champion. 22 teams had the opportunity to feel the all important "kick in the belly" of coming up short.

Kudos to the Cruisers for bringing in so many top ranked teams and creating this problem.

[sofbal1234]

@ Dodgerblue... Come on bro! OBVIOUSLY if it were a CIF "ship" game they would find a time slot and venue to complete a game if darkness was to interfere with the final result.
But you go ahead and stick to your guns bro, I think Spazsdad will appreciate you trying to see how far your willing to go to get your head up there.
Done your you

@ Jamada... Save it with all your fellow countrymen CRAP/GARBAGE/NONSENSE/B.S./UTTERLY RIDICULOUS paraphrases ... I'm embarrassed to admit i'm of the same country as you with what you've divulged on this matter!!!

A few years back a good friend of mine had a rec ball team that was so good that he and a coach from travel team decided to scrimmage to see the comparable talent of his team.
All went good until they decided to play one last inning due to the fact that dawn was approaching fast. Needless to say the inning went a little too long and when a line drive was crushed down 3rd base the girl playing the position couldn't see it well enough to react. As she turned to avoid the ball, unfortunately she wasn't fast enough and it did strike her in the temple and to this day suffers from severe brain damage!!! I can't even imagine how long the list of "What if's" extends in the parents and coaches minds!!!?

But I guess that's okay in your guys books...



P.S. My friend has such bad guilt he has never coached again and probably never will...

[fastpitchdad05]

Does anyone else read 1234's posts and wish there were an ignore button?

I know there are a few (ok maybe more than a few) out there that wish there was one for me.

[sofbal1234]

Does anyone else read 1234's posts and wish there were an ignore button?

I know there are a few (ok maybe more than a few) out there that wish there was one for me.

I do