Nor - Cal 12U Spring Summer Rankings

[99NorCal]

Another point I'd like to make...getting to the Championship game of an ASA tourney when you dont play any of the top 10 teams Sunday to get to the championship game is NOT anything to measure a teams success by. In other words, someone from that bracket has to make the championship, this doesnt always deem you the 2nd best!! LMAO Please measure your success (when it comes to rankings) with Wins and Losses vs competition that can actually be graded against.

Exactly the point I was making although you said it a tad more bluntly. For any team wanting to claim it's better than another, blah, blah, they need to beat one of these 10 teams on a Sunday. That's what will move the rankings. Sunday wins matter against these teams. Developing teams get to Gold brackets based on playing another developing team in a fortunate draw or seeding. But if the win isn't against one of these 10, they're not a top 10 team.

Agreed that there's a huge gap after the top 2 in our region. But it's informative to track the other 8. Top 2 lists aren't as fun as top 10's.

[Momo's Dad]

Lincoln is fine. We may not be a hotbed of talent in terms of the numbers, but there are a few talented players and coaches in almost every year group. Our rec program is among the fastest-growing in the region and as we get through these growing pains, you're likely to see the quality of softball improving over the next 5 years. Looking at just a 1-year sample doesn't tell the story of what's going on in Lincoln and it doesn't make sense to say or imply that we don't produce the same number of great players as towns like Rocklin, Roseville, or Elk Grove who have larger, more established leagues. We don't have nearly the same demographics as those towns, so it isn't reasonable to expect that the best 20 players in each year group from Lincoln will be as good as those from the aforementioned communities.

We have to acknowledge and be comfortable with what we are and with what we are not so that we can continue to grow the program and improve the quality of the softball experience we're providing to players and their families, many of whom will go into TB after a few years of rec.

I am predicting that there probably will NOT be a 12u or 10u start-up coming out of Lincoln this fall. There are a few 2001 standouts and all 3 of them are staying for the fall. I coach the 2 best 2002s, and both the girls and their families are committed to finishing this calendar year representing Lincoln as well.

Could that story change by January 2013?? It's possible, but it won't be like you have seen the past 4+ years. Each coach that left and took his daughters had his reasons for doing so. Some may have left early, but others did leave when it was time and overall, for the most part, it's the same type of natural attrition seen in many parts of NorCal. The only difference is that it seems (and is probably true) we lose more of the decent players - and coaches - per capita than those other leagues. If Roseville loses 3 great 10u coaches and 10 great players, so what? They just reload. But if we lose just 1 coach and 5 players, the whole league feels it. I get that, but some of us thankfully had the opportunity to watch and learn from Josh Dardick during his time in LGSA and believe me when I say that ALL our girls stand to benefit from that.

[2muchparents]

Sorry onlooker, your alone in thinking Garcia is ahead of miller.
That being said, #1 doesn't have to go looking for #2, if Garcia feels the need to move up to #1 they have to go to them.

[Tenshun]

So only the #1 and #2 teams matter? That makes no sense. It's kind of like saying only the best 2 players on a team matter and all the other girls are just there for moral support.

I also disagree with the notion that certain wins don't count because a team's #1 wasn't pitching. Softball is a team sport and you can't use the same pitcher every game on Sunday and be successful in the championship. The best teams have depth and have a #2 that can get the job done as well. So if the #1 is already spent by the time you face a good team and you end up losing, that's just evidence of where the team really stands and reflects a lack of depth.

[99NorCal]

So only the #1 and #2 teams matter? That makes no sense. It's kind of like saying only the best 2 players on a team matter and all the other girls are just there for moral support.

Absolutely. It's the reason we have ranking systems in all sports at all levels. Is the college football pool a top 2? No. Rankings, whether top 10, top 20, top 25 or even top 100, exist so teams, coaches and fans can get an idea of the landscape. Can a number 20 beat a number 1? Sure, it happens, but usually that 1 will win. The point of the rankings is to give everyone a chance to see where their team stands against the others.

To Onlooker's point, of course the other teams will struggle beating RR Gold and Garcia. That's why they're 1 and 2. It doesn't mean no one else deserves ranking behind them. And by ranking a team a 3, 4, or 50, by definition it means they probably won't beat the 1 or 2. But if they do, they deserve credit, just like a team that's outside the rankings having a quality win or two against the top 10. That gets them listed. When did this become so difficult to understand?

[MommysPitcher]

Here's my current ranking.

1. RR Gold - Could stay #1 all year. Mizuno Garcia only contender.
2. Mizuno Garcia - Won two ASA tourneys. Best local showing in Vegas ASA.
3. Team Xtreme - Lost to Mizuno Stone but down #1 pitcher to short-term injury.
4. CC Dirt Dogs - Best showing of our region at Premier qualifier.
5. Grapettes-Norwood - Aggressive team but didn't show well at Premier.
6. San Jose Sting - Lost to Dirt Dogs at Premier.
7. KG Hitters Tracy - Best 00/99 mix team in the region. 1st place USSSA Luck of Irish.
8. Roseville Heat LaGabed - 2nd place in latest ASA.
9. Mizuno Stone - 3rd place in latest ASA, beat Team Xtreme (see above). 2nd place USSA to KG.
10. Grapettes-Kappmeyer - Stronger at the beginning of the year. Will come back.[/quote]


99NorCal I agree with your ranking. I feel that's pretty accurate for now, but knowing who should be number 1 between RR and Garcia is hard to tell because each of them have wins against each other. And I agree there should be a top 10 ranking, not just a top 2 ranking.

[onlooker]

.........

[2muchparents]

When did this get so hard to understand? I think your the one that doesn't get it! With the million 12u teams this year I would think it would be an honor for your team to make the top 10. But no, a couple of very angry loud mouths have to come up with their own polls and minimumize it. NorCal, u need to log back in with your other moniker and say something nice now. RR is #1 and dirt dogs are a very close 2nd. So with your logic Garcia doesn't matter. Hopefully your team gets to play either of them at the force!!! BTW, making it to the championship in any ASA tourney does Merritt some credit. It's not the teams fault that some of your so called top 10 didn't make it or weren't there. You earn your place in the bracket on saturday. Should teams try to lose or give up more runs so they get a bracket placement you 2 would approve?
p.s. The 12 year old girls are playing because they love the game and could care less about your so called expert opinion!!

[99NorCal]

2much,
What exactly are we disagreeing about? I'm advocating for an updated ranking and included 10 teams. It can be bigger if we'd like. Unlike Onlooker, I'm open to the fact that any team can be beat by another and that all teams matter. A ranking system is just that, a system. 1 should have a better chance of beating 2, who has a better chance of beating 3, who has a better chance of beating 4, and so on. Where the Mason Dixon line is for where the teams are who can truly compete with the ones above is different for all rankings. In our region, it could be after 2. But if Dirt Dogs is playing as a 2 like you say, then maybe they're 2 or 3 in a ranking and the line is below them for where a slight dropoff occurs.

Yes, tourney championships are a great thing for the girls and their parents. You can only play who is in front of you. But if you're playing in a tourney no matter what affiliation that doesn't include any of the ranked teams, it won't get you ranked.

[2muchparents]

I guess my point is don't lose prospective about what this site is really about. It's about the kids. Right???!! Keep it positive or go vent on some other website! If its just about the top 2 or 3 teams in a certain age group then they can have their own website. But it's not, it's about everybody, so let everyone speak their mind without immediate criticism. Although I tell my daughter to not read this stuff I know she does anyways, I'm just glad shes too old to be involved with the new wave of criticism that is sweeping through this year.