by Fredegar » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:46 pm
If my math is right, she's a first-year 12U player. I recommend you investigate the local Rec league depending on where she moves. Before you completely disregard any notion of Rec (like too many people seem to do here), keep a few things in mind:
o Many Rec Leagues in SoCal are far more competitive than other parts of the country. Coming from Maui, she may be pleasantly surprised. In SoCal, many serious softball players play in their Rec leagues through first-year 12s.
o In Rec, she'd meet lots of kids from her Middle School (or Elementary School depending on if she's in 5th or 6th grade). Especially if she's moving here in the middle of the school year, it could be the best way for her to make local friends who share her interest in softball.
o While playing her 1st year 12U season in Rec, it'll give the family time to explore the different TB teams in SD. As Spasz said, TNL is a fine org but it may not be convenient depending on where they live. There are lots of good TB orgs in SD: Batbusters, Breakers, Power Surge, Renegades, and others. All have teams in several age divisions. Find out which orgs most of the local kids play for and find out which ones practice relatively close. It's 12U -- no need to make traveling to TB practices such a chore.
o If they know exactly where they're moving to in SD, they can contact the Rec League for that area, and can probably even get her signed up ahead of time. One less thing to worry about, rather than travel all over SD attending TB tryouts.