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

[AM Softball]

I agree that there are a lot of 12U parents that talk but disagree that is stops once you get on a good 14u team. Travel ball softball gossip, rankings, hey bucket postings, etc. will NEVER leave...no matter what year, what season, what team, what age group, what time, etc.

LOL

You know better than that I hope.

[Hitmen22]

What does anyone know about the Desert Blaze 12u? I've seen them play a few times, and they look pretty good, but inconsistent at times.

[Buttermaker]

Hitmen 22 what team are you with????? I thoughtyou were one of the Coaches for the Blaze

[bracketologist]

As a follow up to my last post...I am familiar with 1994 teams...So to review the most recent 12u teams, here goes...

the top teams for the last 3 years have been Victory USA, Corona Angels and Lakewood Ladies '94...

Their accomplishments are as follows...
Victory USA
-2005...finish 9th at 12u nationals as young 12u team
-2006...finish 1st at 12u nationals
-2007...finish 2nd at 14u nationals as a young team

Corona Angels
-2006...finish 3rd at 12u nationals
-2007...finish 3rd at 14u nationals as a young team

Lakewood Ladies
2006...finish 2nd at 12u nationals
2007...finish 1st at 14u nationals as a young team

Notice I dont mention Fresno, USSSA, AFA, Chino, T4T...etc... the proof is in the pudding at NATIONALS... its all fun and stuff to speculate, but the rankings don't mean a thing until youve competed and succeeded at the highest level...which is ASA Nationals

IMHO...Those were/and still are "A' teams...If you want to be an "A" team... then accomplish something legitimate first... otherwise... you're a "B" team at best...

Having just exited that age group, I used to see teams "ranked high" but then choke at Nationals... so were they still "A" teams? of course not...it's cause they never were an "A" team to begin with except in the feel good world of rankings

Again... IMHO =o)

RaeRae56 - having watched the 1994 teams since 10u and having watched the 1996 12u Teams at Chino Hills... I agree and have removed the Grade A ranking. You are correct in non of the current top teams have proven themself like the 1994 "Big 3".

And frankly I do not remember seeing the CA95 team lose two pool play games (going 1-2 in pool play) and winning a tournment. Parents of the CA95 please tell me I'm wrong!!! so there is hope for this years "top team"


The good news from Chino was the OC Batbuster - Show 97 team ( ... the 10U ASA National champion) does remind me of Campbell's 12u in 2005... but they may do better then 9th at Nationals this year!

[hotwheels]

What does anyone know about the Desert Blaze 12u? I've seen them play a few times, and they look pretty good, but inconsistent at times.

I disagree completely! I have watched them play 3 or 4 games over the past month and they don't even deserve mention in this conversation.......Especially if Hitmen22 is a coach on this team......Call TOPDOG!

[Demonboy]

No... neither LL or CA finished in the top 10 as young 12's... and i would doubt very seriously, they would say they were an "A" team that year...

I said on several occassions during my posts it was my opinion...really nothing more...

Don't get me wrong... the rankings are fun... it's excitement about our kids activities, which is a good thing...

Again though, IMHO... the true "A" teams accomplish things when it counts on the field against the best competition, under the greatest pressure at ASA Nationals....not on the message boards of Heybucket...

I just found it odd to call a team an "A" team without much of a resume to back it up against the very best at ASA nationals... thats all...

I agree with Rae56. This stuff's amusing and likely accurate when you track the results of friendlies, but other than that the proof is in the pudding. Your accomplishments in the past stand for a lot more than what you've done during a fall season.

What we have to remember is most people in this post are 12u parents. This stuff stops once you play for a legitimate 14u team.

The ranking are for the entertainment value of the 12u community. I do have rankings for 14u also, but it is only provided to coaches – as 14u parents would be mad to know that there are only 5 “legitimate” 14u teams in So. Cal”!

If legitimate = will be competitive at ASA Nationals. IMO the 14u community should get together and ban the top three teams… so we can have more fun on Heybucket!

No offense, but what is a “legitimate” team? A month ago I watched a number of legitimate 18U Gold ‘real gold teams – made and placed in top 30% at nationals lose to a bunch of 13 & 14s! The interesting part was the 14u team won around 50% of the 8-12 games they played!

Softball is a sport and on any given day anything can happen!

People that place any credence on the results of exposure tournament games crack me up.

[bracketologist]

And frankly I do not remember seeing the CA95 team lose two pool play games (going 1-2 in pool play) and winning a tournament. Parents of the CA95 please tell me I'm wrong!!! so there is hope for this years "top team"

Don't understand your question. If you are referring to this weekend CA '95 did not go 1-2 in pool play and they made the final but did not win.

And it is Batbusters-Snow

Not referring to this weekend. Last year in 12u were there any tournments that the CA95 in 12u last year...lost 2 pool play games and still played in the finals. I don't remember the team losing two pool play games at the same tourney... just asking for confirmation!

[Clean_up]

Oh, OK

They only lost two tournament games in total last year(both finals unfortunately). One to AH and one to Impact.

And they kicked some serious booty this weekend too... Go Angels!

[bracketologist]

I agree with Rae56. This stuff's amusing and likely accurate when you track the results of friendlies, but other than that the proof is in the pudding. Your accomplishments in the past stand for a lot more than what you've done during a fall season.

What we have to remember is most people in this post are 12u parents. This stuff stops once you play for a legitimate 14u team.

The ranking are for the entertainment value of the 12u community. I do have rankings for 14u also, but it is only provided to coaches – as 14u parents would be mad to know that there are only 5 “legitimate” 14u teams in So. Cal”!

If legitimate = will be competitive at ASA Nationals. IMO the 14u community should get together and ban the top three teams… so we can have more fun on Heybucket!

No offense, but what is a “legitimate” team? A month ago I watched a number of legitimate 18U Gold ‘real gold teams – made and placed in top 30% at nationals lose to a bunch of 13 & 14s! The interesting part was the 14u team won around 50% of the 8-12 games they played!

Softball is a sport and on any given day anything can happen!

People that place any credence on the results of exposure tournament games crack me up.

Demon,

Your right exposure tournament game results (i.e., scores) are meaningless (18u vs 18/16u)…. So what’s the point in playing hard and who cares if a bunch of 8th graders (whose only care is what to wear in HS) beat a bunch of 11th and 12th graders who desperately want to continue their career at College!


But hey I guess am old school with this personal pride stuff……

[cantbelievemyeyes]

Bracket, I need some help understanding something. Batbusters (Marquez) beat the currently ranked #1 & #2 teams, on the same day, in a Major tournament, and they remain at #6. Rebels, who didn't even play, move from #4 to #3?????? Huh.

I watched the Batbusters, Firecrackers game and BB owned that team during that game. I know the score was 1-0 but BB seemed to always have girls in scoring position 'crackers would get out of it, whereas the Firecrackers were lucky to get girls on base. I thought BB played pretty strong ball Friday & Saturday. I didn't see the game vs Jynx, but I did watch Jynx play (I think) Grapettes and the Jynx pitcher is pretty awesome, I could see how Jynx could have beat BB in one head to head game, but could Jynx beat PS and Firecrackers back to back in the same day????? Could the Rebels????? Just curious.