12u 00/01 Winter Watchlist by Louie UPDATED

[RockThePark]

Well I will say this, even though my daughter does have "fun" playing the game, she is a pitcher so is already facing lots of pressure. She works hard and wants to win, but at the end of the day, she realizes, as do I, the importance of what she is learning and how she is progressing in her skills. We both know she will have to step it up a notch when playing 14U...she is working hard to get there and I for one am very proud of her.

[GameTime23]

Hey Blue...she did 1-0 to logan...but she was only in the 10th grade....Straight BEAST tho!!!

[Iluvblue]

I was just talking to a certain person on this board yesterday about this very thing.Im coaching our 12u team now through May. Ive coached some really good teams, had some great success in the past and at this point, dont care about a win today(in 12u). So a few weeks ago at a friendly, our 12u team is trying to get lead runners at 2nd base on bunts, running back door picks at 2nd base(with a runner at 3rd), and basically doing things that has a HIGH probability of FAILURE TODAY. Which is likely to (GASP) cause us to lose the game.

But that is after only 2 practices, so even though we BARELY missed a lead runner at 2nd base on a bunt, that is a GREAT learning experience for the third baseman. She needs to learn when she has time and when she doesnt have time to get that runner. Our catcher MUST be able to run back door picks in pressure situations(not only when you are up by 6 runs), so by messing it up in a 12u friendly, what has she lost? But if you dont run it in game situations, when will she learn?

So I am listening to our opponents coach as we have runners at 1st and 2nd(no outs) and the instruction to the defense is to forget about the runners and just get an out at 1st base. HUH???? so when the hell is a third baseman supposed to charge a bunt and turn and fire to third? When is she supposed to learn how to execute this play that WILL WIN YOU GAMES as they get older? But, that 12u coach is too worried about winning a meaningless friendly 12u game to teach the kids to play the game the right way.

The kids bodies will catch up to their brains, but if their brains are empty of softball knowledge, what is there to catch up to? I want our 12u team to learn how to play the game and play the game aggressively on defense. They can not do that is they are worried about messing up and making a wrong decision. They MUST MAKE MISTAKES in order to learn. Hard to make a mistake by playing it safe and going to first base all day long.

[Iluvblue]

Hey Blue...she did 1-0 to logan...but she was in only in the 10th grade....Straight BEAST tho!!!

It happens... I remember a Pleasant Grove pitcher striking out 17 and losing 1-0 in HS elimination game a few years back... Im sure RBI remembers it also:)

[rbi]

Hey Blue...she did 1-0 to logan...but she was in only in the 10th grade....Straight BEAST tho!!!

It happens... I remember a Pleasant Grove pitcher striking out 17 and losing 1-0 in HS elimination game a few years back... Im sure RBI remembers it also:)

Very vivid memory, of a kid throwing throwing 66/67mph from 40' with scary movement, looked like 75+mph by todays 43', have not seen that since, nor do i . I saw her throwing in previous game knowing that is what we were up against, i was like OH SHIT you have got to be kidding me. For my little rug rat at 14 to even step in the box, I was proud, when she got the games only hit I even let her eat dinner:)

[Iluvblue]

The first time I ever saw Anjelica Seldon throwing, she was in the 66-67 range and knew we would be seeing her also. Standing in that 3rd base box, i was like.. hell no, we cant even get the damn bunt down. After losing 2 10 inning 1-0 games I learned a lesson. No matter how good that other pitcher is, if you dont give up any runs, you can win.

6 years later I got to see it up close in personal, watching a 17k pitcher lose to a 57 mph pitcher that didnt allow a run while being FAR less dominant.

Another good lesson for you young parents, dont ever let some fool say HS doesnt matter... trust me, the kids lucky enough to have that special game, special season, special team..... ask them if it mattered.

[Sbstuby]

I would love for people to back to the topic. How about someone upgrade the rankings

[GameTime23]

Sbstuby....12's getting love and knowledge by the old school bucket heads and this how u treat em....

Just busting your balls....12's is a great age for softball and bucket rankings...I get it!!!

[linedrivelouie]

I've been watching this thread from the outside and I have to interject. I saw a number of games in Antelope this weekend and I have to say, I was not impressed at all with the Magic team nor the Hype. I thought they were going to be by far the strongest teams out there. I agree it is early but still, the Lady M team is weak at pitching. I saw the Hype game and they tied a '01 team? My first thought was that maybe these teams have not been practicing or arent holding quality practices. I was just not impressed and shocked quite frankly.

Go easy on Chango15. He has a point.

My exact reason for not doing rankings until we are into the season a month or so. How do you get in a quality practice when it is dark at 5:30pm. Even if you have an indoor facility to work out of your not doing much other than fielding fundamentals and some machine hitting. From what I have been told talking with parents and coaches most of the teams who finished in the top 4 have 20+ games in at this point. Some teams have 3 or 4 practices with maybe a friendly or two in and some only a few practices. Any team who has been going non stop since December should have an advantage right now. Any team who has the majority of their roster still intact from fall should have an advantage right now. These parents who get all excited about winning friendlies in Feb and winning a tourney in March crack me up... It's March people!!! Give these teams some time to play before you get you suck your panties up your cheeks with worry or negativity...

A side note to anyone bumping their lips about who won who lost an who dissapointed. Why are we talking so much about things like Magic losing in ITB to KG on the first weekend of the season. Who gives a crap if Rapids lost game one on Sunday? I love hearing, OMG!!! so and so didn't make gold!!!! When you have teams like Grapettes RE make Gold with 1 win 2 losses does it really matter? I also love the ignorant statement they tied or lost to an 01 team. Really??? They are 12, they are going to have good days, bad days, good games and bad games. I haven't seen a tryout add for Magic, Rapids or Grapes so my bet is their parents and coaches have moved on, why don't you?? The season is not started and finished in one weekend. Let them Play!!!

[THE SWAMI]

There have been plenty of good comments and some well..... I agree with several of these post. It's way to early to tell who's going to be on top. A lot of these teams are still working the bugs out. I think what you need to look at it is who get's on top and stays there most of the season. I dont see just one team doing this. I think there will be 4 or 5 teams that will be fighting for first place come Sunday and any of them can take it. Depending on several factors, one of which is who is hot at the time.....

Bottom line is if your daughter is improving in the game (physically, mentally, technically) and the team also get's better what as a parent are you concerned with....Bragging rights???