ASA 18U-A Nationals in Normal, IL

[JimB]

ASA allows first year college players (19 years old on 12/31/2011) to play in the ASA/USA 18u National Tourney. Facing current D1 college pitching and position players makes this tournament very competitive.

Perhaps the final 8 teams from each competing tournament may meet to ultimately determine competitive strength. But that may require the west coast teams to travel out of SoCal.

[tcannizzo]

ASA allows first year college players (19 years old on 12/31/2011) to play in the ASA/USA 18u National Tourney. Facing current D1 college pitching and position players makes this tournament very competitive.

Perhaps the final 8 teams from each competing tournament may meet to ultimately determine competitive strength. But that may require the west coast teams to travel out of SoCal.

Oh that's right, SoCal teams have never left the confines of their own back yards.
What a classic for your first post

You have back yards in SoCal?

[Underdog]

[coolstuff]

This will be my last post on this thread as too much has been made about it already. Anything further I have to say to you will be done thru PM so that we can spare the rest of the HB community the repetitive and boring nature of this argument.

That's true, you are boring me to tears.

[90066DAD]

ASA allows first year college players (19 years old on 12/31/2011) to play in the ASA/USA 18u National Tourney. Facing current D1 college pitching and position players makes this tournament very competitive.

Perhaps the final 8 teams from each competing tournament may meet to ultimately determine competitive strength.

So you're saying that with a few college players on their rosters, the final 8 in 18A can compete with the final 8 at PGF HS Division?

But that may require the west coast teams to travel out of SoCal.

Look through the ASA website under "Prior Championships" and you'll see how many ASA 18G Championships were won by California teams while playing outside of California.

[Blind Squirrel]

ASA allows first year college players (19 years old on 12/31/2011) to play in the ASA/USA 18u National Tourney. Facing current D1 college pitching and position players makes this tournament very competitive.

Perhaps the final 8 teams from each competing tournament may meet to ultimately determine competitive strength. But that may require the west coast teams to travel out of SoCal.

I'm assuming by "very competitive" you're actually saying the level of play is increased. Otherwise, I don't see how including college players evens the playing field, it distorts it in favor of previously highly successful teams.

Just because a kid plays D1 ball doesn't guarantee that kid is any better than a given HS kid. I think people often assume that a "D1 player" has a certain level of talent. Many kids simply do not improve much over the course of their freshman year in college. Now, if the D1 kid starts on a PAC10, SEC, top 20 team, etc. then yes they are very likely to be better than most of the HS kids. But, given the number of D1 softball programs, I suspect that the majority of D1 players would not make a significant impact. I'm completely ignorant when it comes to this particular tournament so I may well be 100% wrong. And I'm very curious who some of the college players that just made a difference were?

John

[jag1]

I can't believe the arrogance, or is it just ignorance, of some of you guys. Yes, some of the top finishing teams at 18U ASA Nationals can and have competed very well against the almighty "premier" and "gold" teams from Cali, Texas, Arizona, and everywhere else in the country. Yes, there were players and recruits in Normal from top 25 programs, and no, you don't have to spend thousands attending tournaments on the west coast to play competitive softball.