This weekend in DFW

[TX MAVERICK]

My condolences go out to the Firecracker Coaches, team and parents. Obviously I had no idea that they had a team tragedy when I posted asking what happened to their team this past weekend. I was not at the tournament and did not see them play so I had no idea of their situation but I did hear the results of the tournament and was shocked to hear that they had been beaten by the Firestix. I like others in the softball world watch them with interest because they are a high profile team. I have the utmost respect for the Firecrackers/Fusion and If you dont believe that I have no Axe to grind check my past posts and you will see nothing negative about that team. I like others have heard their was a lot of shuffling of players after they returned from Nationals and was anxious to see if they were still the same dominant team.

If you wear the star on your helmet everyone is going to watch your team with interest that is all that it was.

Again my deepest condolences to all who were effected. I meant no disrespect.

[Heartwell]

Texas Maverick,

As someone that is very close to the Firecrackers those kind words I'm sure will be welcomed.

As far as the team I am sure they will be fine. They parted ways with 2 good players but picked up some very good players as well including some very good pitchers. They just need some time to gel and I am sure with them not having their regular coaches or that special someone that sat right behind home plate for every game for the last year and a half affected their play. This special someone was very close to each girl on the team.

Or simply the Pride and Firestixx were the better team that day. It happens.

I can assure you the coaches will be back to make sure this team gets on track. The expectations are very high for this team but I am sure the girls, coaches and parents would not have it any other way. They will probably struggle a little this Fall but come Spring they will be ready to play some ball. Win or lose they will be playing hard.

[dallasFP]

Top 3, no order...

10U Garland: Jawbreakers, Twist, Wildcats
10U Southlake: 01 Shock, Batbusters, Glory Adkins

[TexasSoftball]

So, I see 98 TX RIP is now signing up for tournaments, thought I heard they folded.

[justawatcher]

So, I see 98 TX RIP is now signing up for tournaments, thought I heard they folded.

I heard that also. Guess we heard wrong. Not a first!

[Let's Play Two]

Dd is off this weekend but Bucketheads need something to read.

These are my picks in no particular order.

Allen:
D-Bat Lopez... Cherry picking tourneys?
Twist-Papes... Solid team
Thunderstix... Can they win big games?

GP:
BB(Rhine)... Clicking on all cylinders right now? Team to beat?
ETX Bombers... Easy bracket last tourney?
Fireballs/Firecrackers... FB consistent-FC something to prove?

Pbj, Justa your picks?

[ceelo9]

My picks no real order...

Hillsboro 12U: 2000 TX RIP, 99 ELITE, Cyclones 99
Allen 14U: Glory-Tolan, Glory-Moser, D-Bat Lopez
GP 14U: Firecrackers, ETX Bombers, BB Rhine

Hillsboro anyone of those teams could place 1st but I think Elite's got it. The Allen 14U is the weaker of the 2 - 14U local tourneys. Glory-Tolan who has decided to play mostly 16U to avoid playing other top 98/97 should win this one. No real comp, and even with his "new" team should be able to get the job done. In GP, its Firecrackers to win this. They have the talent and the coaching, that hasn't changed. Regardless of new members or losing to the Firestixx they are the team to beat in N. TX. Other poster mentioned something to prove, I think there record speaks for its self. ETX Bombers looks to have a solid squad and should continue to progress into a top team for spring. Although getting the weaker pool last week and winning, they should place top 3 in GP. BB Rhine is solid and could actually win it this weekend.

[pbj2000]

I don't pick outside of DFW...hence the topic of this thread DFW
12U Greenville: Paris Stealth 98 (really?), Sneaky Cleats, Texas Best
14U Grand Prairie: Bombers, Bandits, Fireballs (I am not buying what Firecrackers are selling just yet)
14U Allen: Pool A Thunderstix, Pool B Sliders, Pool C Firestixx, Pool D D-Bat (this is a toss up between Glory and D-Bat...so we shall see)
16U GGSA 6G Winters: Pool A Axe, Pride and Batbusters
Pool B Fireballs, TNT and Dallas tigers
16U GGSA 6G Carter: Pool A TFS, Rogue, Go figure
Pool B Zoom, Glory, Go figure

Grand Prairie looks like it's the place to be this weekend to see some good ball.

[justawatcher]

Pbj, Justa your picks?

I don't normally do this, but since I was asked-hard to say no to that especially since things are so quiet around here. Oh and PBJ, you're pushing it with Greenville being a DFW pick

16U Garland 1 Day A: TFS, Keller Storm, and Stealth B: Adkins Horn, Zoom, Titans
16U Garland A: Xplosion, Twist, and Batbusters B: Black Wisows, Stealth, TNT
14U GP: ETX Bombers, Glory Blue, NT Eagles
14U Allen: A: Glory Red B: Sliders C: Firestixx, D: Tolan

Dd is off this weekend but Bucketheads need something to read.

These are my picks in no particular order.

Allen:
D-Bat Lopez... Cherry picking tourneys?
Twist-Papes... Solid team
Thunderstix... Can they win big games?

GP:
BB(Rhine)... Clicking on all cylinders right now? Team to beat?
ETX Bombers... Easy bracket last tourney?
Fireballs/Firecrackers... FB consistent-FC something to prove?

Other than most of the teams being young, I don't see Lopez as "cherrypicking" here. I would say that team is playing right where they should be.

BB(Rhine) is the team to beat? No offense to them, they are a great gorup. If that's the case though, 14U in DFW is in big trouble.

Not sure what the FC have to prove. Everyone around here considers them to be the team to beat. If they had something to prove they would play more competitive tournaments.

[Let's Play Two]

Justa,

I think you might be right about FC not having to prove anything. I think they are playing 14U prepping for the Ronald McDonald. It is going to be hard for the hitters on teams that are playing 16U ball at '43 to adjust to '40 at the RM. I sure wish our coach would have done that. Sure hope see them at the RM.

I think all of these first year pure '98 teams are going to struggle at the RM. Although I hear some of these top '98's are carrying some '97's. Especially pitchers, that should help them some.