UPDATED! 12u Top Team Ranking – Pre ASA Nationals Poll!

[NoNothin]

They may not have depth, but their #1 is pretty good and can throw two or three without breakin a sweat. Not sure if they would be top ten though??

NoNo

[bracketologist]

CTS 96 is a good team with a top 5 team pitcher.. last year the team clearly had the talent to be a C+ team, but they played the "triple crown circuit" and didn't face tough competition until ASA State. In the end the team goes to Utah Triple Crown and plays in the B bracket.

The problem is traditionally CTS plays a weak schedule and ducks the major teams until ASA State. To be a monster player and top ten contender you must face the best. We all know that most of the top ten teams #1 pitchers can throw 2-3 games in a row... if the competition is not at the B and above level. If she can throw solid back to back games against the top 12u hitting teams this year.... look out for CTS!

[spazmom]

bracketologist, you seem to know your stuff. If the CTS pitcher is top 5, what teams do the other top 4 pitchers play for?

[YellowBalls]

bracketologist, you seem to know your stuff. If the CTS pitcher is top 5, what teams do the other top 4 pitchers play for?

I'm not bracketologist, but I've seen some of the best 12U pitchers I think but I don't know their names. Not in any particular order:

CA Rebels - red
CA 96 - blonde, #12 I think
Jynx - #2
Firecrackers - #2 I think she is from Arizona

There are a few more I've seen, but these I think are the best so far....

[Clean_up]

We played a team in a 14u friendly that was strong. I believe they are a 96 team.

CTS out of Temecula. top 10?

I hear pitching depth may be a problem.

CTS is a 14U team with 4 or 5 '96 players. Their pitcher was great and she is a '96 playing up.

[spazmom]

Clean_up, Are you sure CTS 12u is a 95/96 combo? I thought it was an all 96 team (according to the guy in charge)

[Clean_up]

Clean_up, Are you sure CTS 12u is a 95/96 combo? I thought it was an all 96 team (according to the guy in charge)

We played them at the PowerSurge 95 friendly on October 5th, everyone was saying they were 96's, so I asked one of their coaches and he said they had 4 or 5 96's, but the rest of the team was 95's and they were all moving up to 14u together. So, unless that team splits they have to play 14u. So, unless something changes or has changed since then, they are 14's.

[bracketologist]

bracketologist, you seem to know your stuff. If the CTS pitcher is top 5, what teams do the other top 4 pitchers play for?

I think all of the below teams have one top pitcher that is in the top 10 12u pitchers in So.Cal. Not to say that they are "the best" 12u pitchers (i.e., if the pitcher for California Grapettes that pitched at ASA Nationals last year was truly a 96' - she would head this list)!

Firecrackers
Corona Angels Knighten
CA Rebels
So Cal Jynx
CTS

There are very good pitchers who play for poor defensive teams or are paired with a coach whose pitch calling does not suit their style. Example: PowerSurge 96, had a very good pitcher who never seemed to "fit" with the coaches style - I think she pitches in 14u now. I expect to see some good pitchers on bad or so-so teams in the Fall, and in Spring some of the smarter 12u B & C+ teams or C level 14u teams will pick them up.

[Clean_up]

bracketologist, you seem to know your stuff. If the CTS pitcher is top 5, what teams do the other top 4 pitchers play for?

I think all of the below teams have one top pitcher that is in the top 10 12u pitchers in So.Cal. Not to say that they are "the best" 12u pitchers (i.e., if the pitcher for California Grapettes that pitched at ASA Nationals last year was truly a 96' - she would head this list)!

Firecrackers
Corona Angels Knighten
CA Rebels
So Cal Jynx
CTS

There are very good pitchers who play for poor defensive teams or are paired with a coach whose pitch calling does not suit their style. Example: PowerSurge 96, had a very good pitcher who never seemed to "fit" with the coaches style - I think she pitches in 14u now. I expect to see some good pitchers on bad or so-so teams in the Fall, and in Spring some of the smarter 12u B & C+ teams or C level 14u teams will pick them up.

Any "very" good pitcher playing for a poor defensive team will leave quickly IMO - even though errors on the field don't effect ERA on paper, it does do a job on the pitchers mentally - frustrations will force them to move to better teams. Coaches whose very good pitchers are getting hit too much because of poor pitch-calling better also make an adjustment or they'll leave too -- it's a learning experience for everyone at this level, but the better pitchers look for better teams to play for.. I think you'll see good teams get better and okay teams get worse in Spring, there will be a definate break in talent level, meaning the top 10 teams will be way ahead of the pack because of this, with a few exceptions of course..

And the Grapettes pitcher at Nationals is a '96... Best, consistent rise-ball pitcher I've seen so far at that age...

[YellowBalls]

So, now that we know there are quite a few very good pitchers out there, are there some teams that have more than one top 10 pitcher rostered ? I can think of one or two that might.

Moving on to catchers. Where are all the good catchers in 12U? I haven't seen many that stand out, what have all of you seen so far? Anyone that merits a mention?

What about infield or outfield? Anyone noteworthy you have seen?

I'll start it... CA Rebels have a good catcher, Jynx has a great third baseman #99...

What about the '97s out there, any young top talent worth a mention?