PGF...........is it taking over??

[CULater]

I am not sure what Midland has to do with what I said. I agreed with dude that the infrastructure of the qualifiers is not providing the growth around the country that PGF was hoping for or needing to grow. I also agreed with the fact that there are too many invites.

I disagreed that the games being carried on ESPN influenced participation in the event. By stating that the Little League softball world series is on ESPN every year, but 12U and 14U teams aren't signing up to play league ball so they can have the chance to be on ESPN.

[CULater]

Name the strong programs from FL, GA, WA, OR, AZ, TX, OK, IL, NJ? They are all on the PGF list. Name a strong team that is not on the list?

Impact Gold from Texas, probably the most notable team in the state is going to TCS and ASA. They were on the invited list for PGF but are no longer. And in Florida, Gold Coast Hurricanes, also at one time were on the invited list but are not any longer.

Gold Coast Hurricanes sponsor the Rising Stars tournament. Rising Stars is now a TCS event. That is likely why they have a focus on TCS.

Not real sure why Texas Impact Gold did not choose to come to PGF. It would be interesting to hear why.

Two teams not making it, does not mean it is a SoCal only tournament. The list of non SoCal teams is long, and competitive teams. Like: Beverly Bandits IL, EC Bullets GA, Georgia Elite GA, Illinios Chill IL, Indian Magic IN, Jersey Intensity NJ, NW Bullets OR, Southern Force GA, Team North Florida FL, Tulsa Eagles OK, Washington Ladyhawks WA, Wichata Mustangs KS. Nice spread of very competitive teams. With more to come.

You said to name one team from the list of states that wasn't attending PGF, I gave you two, and not just two but probably 2 of the top 10 programs in the nation. I am sure there are other top teams, like Team FLA, Miami Stingrays, Lady Gators in Florida, Houston Power, Sudden Impact in Texas.

So you are saying that this list of teams: Beverly Bandits IL, EC Bullets GA, Georgia Elite GA, Illinios Chill IL, Indian Magic IN, Jersey Intensity NJ, NW Bullets OR, Southern Force GA, Team North Florida FL, Tulsa Eagles OK, Washington Ladyhawks WA, Wichata Mustangs KS. Still represents only SoCal? That is the question.

Nope, I am saying that you claimed all of the top teams from that list of states was playing in PGF. Not true.


Invited teams total 32 -
18 California teams - So Cal Athletics, Worth Firecrackers, OC Batbusters, Explosion, Strike Zone, So Cal Choppers, Lady Magic, Corona Angels, So Cal 3D, Cal Grapettes, Sorcerers, Minors Gold, Victory USA, So Cal Pumas, So Cal Breakers, California Cruisers, Irvine Sting, TNL

14 Non California teams - Wichita Mustangs, NW Bullets, Jersey Intensity, East Cobb Bullets, Team North Florida, Tulsa Eagles, Georgia Elite, Southern Force, Indiana Magic, Illinois Chill, TC Stars, Beverly Bandits, Washington Ladyhawks,Texas Glory.

12 Berths from pervious year - which was what was presented (and is still on the website) as the way the berths will be awarded for 2012. However there were 20 teams added to the invitation list, roughly half 9 of those teams are from California.

As far as qualifiers go, 8, or 1/4 of the remaining 32 berths that will be earned will come from California as well. So at a minimum, 26 of the teams will be from California. That leaves 24 berths up for grabs for the rest of the country. Roughly 40% of the teams will be California teams without teams having to travel out of the state. Count the NW, CO and AZ qualifiers and you could easily have 50% of the teams at PGF be California teams. Again this is at the HS level.

[Battle]

Now a question for you guys. Do you think that ASA listens to their teams?

No, not always but it really doesn't matter to me. We qualify, we play. We don't, we do something else.
In all honesty, I think 160+ teams are too many but I also feel that 64 is not enough for the younger ages. Just my opinion and you can't buy much with that so what does it matter? It's all about the experience and when it's all done and I am sitting in my rocking chair (if I make it that far...LOL) I will have a hell of a lot for me to chit chat with myself because by that time I will be legally crazy and nobody else will listen to me.

Why not participate in an organization that has built a 64 team competitive tournament, designed by listening to coaches, in an easy to travel location, nice weather, open attendance, crowds, TV?

I have big plans for yelling at myself and drooling once in turn about 65, but between here and there, PGF offers some nice tournaments.

...And so does ASA. Personally, I like traveling and playing different locations. I wouldn't like being tied down to only playing in Cali for nationals. I feel that, for the younger ages, if you are only playing PGF then you are missing out on some great stuff. Especially if I was from Cali. Again, just my opinion.

[jonriv]

Now a question for you guys. Do you think that ASA listens to their teams?

No, not always but it really doesn't matter to me. We qualify, we play. We don't, we do something else.
In all honesty, I think 160+ teams are too many but I also feel that 64 is not enough for the younger ages. Just my opinion and you can't buy much with that so what does it matter? It's all about the experience and when it's all done and I am sitting in my rocking chair (if I make it that far...LOL) I will have a hell of a lot for me to chit chat with myself because by that time I will be legally crazy and nobody else will listen to me.

Why not participate in an organization that has built a 64 team competitive tournament, designed by listening to coaches, in an easy to travel location, nice weather, open attendance, crowds, TV?

I have big plans for yelling at myself and drooling once in turn about 65, but between here and there, PGF offers some nice tournaments.

...And so does ASA. Personally, I like traveling and playing different locations. I wouldn't like being tied down to only playing in Cali for nationals. I feel that, for the younger ages, if you are only playing PGF then you are missing out on some great stuff. Especially if I was from Cali. Again, just my opinion.

I have to agree with battle- not sure I would want to play in the same place(presumably against the same teams) year after year. I like the idea of playing in different places- during our TB years played in Charlotte, NC, Cary, NC, Rock Hill,SC, Myrtle Beach, SC, Park City, UT, Devens, MA and Ft Lauderdale, FL. certainly nice to play outside of your own home area and play different teams.

I would have to say that organizations should make PGF one of their target tournaments- especially at the HS level

The nicest location that I have seen is Park City- Hands Down. If only TCS could find a way to draw Top teams to that

[AlwaysImprove]

Cool. I guess it is good we have choices.

You can attend 12 day, long stretched, 160 team dog show in Midland. I recommend staying in that hotel with crazy loud air conditioners that barely keep the room under 110 then going to down to the field and standing by the tournament bracket and watching the old men and women seize up and pass out from the heat.

Meanwhile I can go to my 64 team, more competition, shorter tournament, better weather, on TV and reasonable to travel to tournament in Southern California.

You are free to stumble about and free to stumble about and claim you won Nationals. I am free to remain confident that the real team that won Nationals beat the best, and that was at PGF.

Have fun.

[ontheblack]

Cool. I guess it is good we have choices.

You can attend 12 day, long stretched, 160 team dog show in Midland. I recommend staying in that hotel with crazy loud air conditioners that barely keep the room under 110 then going to down to the field and standing by the tournament bracket and watching the old men and women seize up and pass out from the heat.

Meanwhile I can go to my 64 team, more competition, shorter tournament, better weather, on TV and reasonable to travel to tournament in Southern California.

You are free to stumble about and free to stumble about and claim you won Nationals. I am free to remain confident that the real team that won Nationals beat the best, and that was at PGF.

Have fun.

Thats a bit arrogant. The truth is you dont know who would have won had the teams at PGF played in Midland. All you know for sure is that the venue for PGF was better.

[jonriv]

Am I missing something- or does the ASA Gold tourney(a good apple to apples comparison to PGF) have only 80 teams??? Did it not take place in San Diego last year and Oklahoma City this year?? What is the 164 teams and Midland stuff?
http://gold.asasoftball.com/tournamenti ... sheet.aspx

What part of the puzzle am I missing?

[Battle]

Am I missing something- or does the ASA Gold tourney(a good apple to apples comparison to PGF) have only 80 teams??? Did it not take place in San Diego last year and Oklahoma City this year?? What is the 164 teams and Midland stuff?
http://gold.asasoftball.com/tournamenti ... sheet.aspx

What part of the puzzle am I missing?

Other age groups. The younger age tournaments are much larger.

Currently watching Hatfields & McCoys. How appropriiate. ASA and PGF fight it out "on principle" and there will be no winner. We all get screwed as casualties of their pissing match.
I spent 7 years going to ASA Nationals and loved every trip. Is my pocketbook better off with PGF? Sure, but that should not be the point. The egos involved have ruined the last couple of years of TB.
Cant wait for it to be over.........

You know the thing that I miss the most out of all this PGF, ASA crap? Not being able to attend (or try to qualify for) a national where ALL the top teams in the country will be there. DD finally makes it to the last 4 years before college and now it's split. That just sucks.
Although personally, I'm not ready for it to be over just yet.

[crashsdaddy]

You know the thing that I miss the most out of all this PGF, ASA crap? Not being able to attend (or try to qualify for) a national where ALL the top teams in the country will be there. DD finally makes it to the last 4 years before college and now it's split. That just sucks.
Although personally, I'm not ready for it to be over just yet.

ding ding ding .... We have a winner.

[rdelawder12]

I'm truly hoping PGF reconsiders using the 47 core Diamond softball that is being used at qualifiers??? The ball comes out of the wrapper soft and gets even worse after the first inning and feels more like a softy as the game progresses. Should they be using what Colleges are using, since it's about having Colleges present at the National event to see who can play at the next level? Anyone else notice the deadening of the ball at the qulifiers?