NTX Preseason Power Rankings

[justawatcher]

Tryouts are upon us and the start of the fall season is right around the corner. After taking into consideration all movement, rumors, etc. who do you expect to be the top 5 teams to beat over the next year?

[TexasSoftball]

Justawatcher, who are your predictions and what age group are you talking about?

[Let's Play Two]

That brings me to my list of the top 98's from what I have seen in NTX....

1. FUSION: Best one, two punch with the pitchers they have. Great defense infield and outfield, top hitting team in the area. Two excellent catchers.

2. GLORY ADKINS: Most experienced right handed pitcher in the area, second pitcher is pretty good as well. Most experienced team. Great infield defense, outfield is suspect. Hitting is inconsistent. One excellent catcher and most experienced in the area.

3. BATBUSTERS: Top 3 pitcher in the area, needs another pitcher to back her up. Great defense infield and outfield. Hitting is good but can be over-matched, not a lot of power. They look stronger than RIP, Fireballs and Glory 98. When their number one pitcher is in the circle they look just as strong as the top two mentioned above without the strong hitting.

4. GLORY: Pitching is fair not dominant. Very good defense infield and outfield, catching is good. Hitting is nowhere to be found as slappers struggle, no power in the lineup. All the hitters look the same 1-9.

RIP, TFS can hang with BB and Glory but will struggle against Fusion and G Adkins. Fireballs have one very good left handed pitcher but defense and offense is suspect. They can hang with these top teams but it doesn't make them top 4.

Bottom line, top 98 teams in NTX are Fusion and Glory Adkins. They can swap 1 and 2 but if vtd records are correct Fusion has beaten Glory Adkins the last couple of time they have faced each other. These two teams are definitely worth the price of admission.

Good luck to all on your run to Nationals. I'm hoping my dd's team also qualifies

As my previous post concluded Fusion is still at the top here in NTX based on USA/ASA Nationals. It is obvious nobody wants to post anything because they become a target. Sorry if I am putting a target on you Fusion but it seems you have handled it well.

Rip and Glory Adkins 2 or 3 respectivley. Rip probably is 2nd out of these 98's.

Tryouts....

Fusion...If they pick up a few more impact players lookout! Playing 14U Ronald McDonald. Coach continues to push his team. See's the big picture!

Rip........Needs to play more. Coaching is good. No Ronald McDonald?

Glory Adkins...Needs to hit more. Needs one or two more impact players. I see in their vtd posting that they are playing at the Ronald McDonald but they are not on the 12U or 14U list?

Glory(Kyser) don't know what they are up to but it seems as though they will probably keep some '97's on their Kyser team to try to pump some life into that team. They are playing in the 12U Ronald McDonald??? Not 14U???

BB(Rhine) still has only one "A" level pitcher don't know if they are going to pick up another pitcher or not.

For the '98 teams these are probably the top tier teams but they are all still chasing Fusion.

As far as the 14U '97 teams.

Elite....Are they pure '97 or do they have '96's?

Glory '97...Most are moving up to play in the 16U teams. Some will stay down to play on Kyser's team.

Glory Adkins(Turkoly)...Solid squad needs a second A level pitcher.

BB Spuria...Quality team needs better coaching. Very good talent but the team has become stale.

Texas Trouble(Clay)...Very good team. Do they have any '96's?

Sweet....Do they have any '96's?

These are the 14U teams to look out for they are not in any particular order. Sorry if I missed one here or there, please post them and let Justawatcher do his magic. I'm sure he can rank them.

Thing is most of these good '97 14U teams will play 16U in the Fall and after High School softball is over so that will leave 14U open again. That's what my dd's team will be doing anyway

Again these are just my opinions from what I have seen so far. I'm sure there is others out there.

[justawatcher]

Justawatcher, who are your predictions and what age group are you talking about?

Any age group is fine. This is just an open discussion during the down time. I'll post some thoughts/predictions soon.

Justaburger…

What’s the deal with another one of your piss ant polls? I doubt any of these teams, players, or coaches asked for you to entertain yourself at their expense. Move on and let these girls play a game without you and a few of your dufus buddies scrutinizing their every move on the dirt.

You are correct in that no organizations asked for me to post on HeyBucket. I'm assuming none of them elected you to defend them either. If you can show me how this post is stopping girls from playing a game, I will gladly cease from starting any future similar discussions. I don't see how offering up a conversation topic is scrutinizing players every move either. Feel free to explain that as well.

[taking2]

My guess is that "ned" is spruria...since you basically said that he can't coach!

[ceelo9]

Fusion, who's Fusion? I know Firecrackers 98.

[TexasSoftball]

Justawatcher, still waiting for your predictions, as it is your thread and we know you have ideas. I agree with most of the posts above.

[justawatcher]

I guess I will continue on with the 14U direction this thread has gone.
For now, let's take out Sweet, Trouble, Glory Adkins (Turkoly), Glory 97 as they will all be 16U as far as I know. We can come back to those later.

I honestly don't feel Rip, BB Spuria/Rhine, 97 Elite are major players nationally. I think they will all do well in NTX and are likely to play VTD Nationals.

I have not heard the rumors about players from the 97 Glory team playing with Kyser. However, I did notice that the name on VTD is now Glory 14U. I'm not sure that means anything.
If it is the same roster returning, they will not be a factor nationally.

Of the 98s, I think Keith's Adkins bunch is actually the team to beat. I know everyone on HB is Fusion crazy. I suppose it could go either way for me.
I assume Fusion will go Premier and go 2 and out. Adkins will probably go ASA and do well for a first year team.
If Fusion wants to retain their roster for a second year of 14U, they are better off sticking with ASA.

No mention of the all mighty Fireballs? Non-factor nationally.

Others not mentioned are Lewisville Force who is moving to 16U or 18U from what I'm hearing, American Freedom? Not sure what the status is there. Batbusters Bryson I believe is also going 16U. 98 Texas Pride is another one. Well coached. Again, non-factor on a national scale.
Surely we are forgetting some teams.

Any thoughts on other age groups?

[Ned]

The only conclusion one can make from all of this is that Justaburger has way too much time on his hands...

[Ned]

The only conclusion one can make from all of this is that Justaburger has way too much time on his hands...

Ned, Jane, Joe 1-10, et al, meet kettle

Kettle, Ned, Jane and Joe are good friends and go way back...and neither of us make it a habit to call out teams, coaches and their players on a public website....for polls and any other unwanted pub...