ASA/USA GOLD NATIONALS??

[rdelawder12]

Am I reading the team list correctly, or just missing it?
Not one team representing California or Arizona, or are there teams I've never heard of before?

WOW if this is the case, and an AZ team won it last year...

http://gfp.tournamentasa.com/i!/tournam ... p?TID=1974

Thinking PGF is making an impact, as I know dd's future coach is heading to PGF for recruiting.

[Fredegar]

Well, it's not THAT surprising to see so few west-coast teams, is it? When Nationals are held 3000 miles away and there's a local west-coast option, more and more teams will consider the expense and the all-day travel time (with very few nonstop options, which makes it even longer). Yes, I know there was better representation a few years ago when ASA first left OKC to hold Nationals in Marietta. GA, but PGF was still new and many west-coast teams had already committed to doing ASA.

In my opinion, ASA made a mistake in only using OKC every three years. Even though it wasn't local for the west-coast teams, it was worth consideration because it a) is centrally located, including many shorter, non-stop flights, b) has a unique history with the adjacent Softball Museum, and c) hosts the WCWS and many National Team contests, which are watched by TB players every year. When kids get to play on the main OKC field, with the scoreboard and announcers, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of them.

[PDad]

I see 4 from CA

Your vision is better than mine. I thought I saw 5 on the list of Qualified Teams, but it's only 4.
- American Pastime SGV, San Dimas, Calif.
- Easton Elite, Petaluma, Calif.
- OC Elite Greg, N/A
- Pacific Coast Predators, Thousand Oaks, Claif.

Correction: Nemesis 18U GOLD is not the SoCal team.

[PDad]

Well, it's not THAT surprising to see so few west-coast teams, is it? When Nationals are held 3000 miles away and there's a local west-coast option, more and more teams will consider the expense and the all-day travel time (with very few nonstop options, which makes it even longer).
PGF's new 18U Platinum division greatly expanded the local option. Did anyone else notice the results of the 2nd Western TQT? It was scheduled for July 5-7 in Phoenix - same week as the CO tournaments. Only 6 teams entered, none from the West and they all got berths without having to show up. Who would have believed 5 years ago that mediocre teams would come out west to qualify...

Yes, I know there was better representation a few years ago when ASA first left OKC to hold Nationals in Marietta. GA, but PGF was still new and many west-coast teams had already committed to doing ASA.
ASA had only used OKC the 4 previous years (2006-09). I think PGF being an unknown was a bigger factor than teams being "committed" to ASA a year in advance.

In my opinion, ASA made a mistake in only using OKC every three years. Even though it wasn't local for the west-coast teams, it was worth consideration because it a) is centrally located, including many shorter, non-stop flights, b) has a unique history with the adjacent Softball Museum, and c) hosts the WCWS and many National Team contests, which are watched by TB players every year. When kids get to play on the main OKC field, with the scoreboard and announcers, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of them.

ASA scrapped the every 3 year rotation. OKC is every 2 years and the other years alternate between east and west.

[NemesisMedia]

Nemesis on the list not Nemesis Elite based out of Downey California. Subtract from list...down to 4.

[MTR]

In my opinion, ASA made a mistake in only using OKC every three years. Even though it wasn't local for the west-coast teams, it was worth consideration because it a) is centrally located, including many shorter, non-stop flights, b) has a unique history with the adjacent Softball Museum, and c) hosts the WCWS and many National Team contests, which are watched by TB players every year. When kids get to play on the main OKC field, with the scoreboard and announcers, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of them.

it was the JO folks who wanted it spread out. CA folks complained that it should be in CA because of the softball presence, but as is the argument here, you then alienate other parts of the country. The other argument was that people wanted a location that is family oriented (i.e.beaches, amusement parks, etc.) and OKC isn't exactly a big time family travel destination.

I really don't see an issue going East - West, but someone is always going to complain anytime something isn't where they want it to be. I think East, West, Central makes the sensible rotation.

[Fredegar]

it was the JO folks who wanted it spread out. CA folks complained that it should be in CA because of the softball presence, but as is the argument here, you then alienate other parts of the country. The other argument was that people wanted a location that is family oriented (i.e.beaches, amusement parks, etc.) and OKC isn't exactly a big time family travel destination.

I really don't see an issue going East - West, but someone is always going to complain anytime something isn't where they want it to be. I think East, West, Central makes the sensible rotation.

We agree that someone is always going to complain. But it absolutely is an issue of going East/West. In the East, you alienate the West Coast (especially with PGF as an option), which is evidenced this year. In the West, you risk alienating the East and Middle. OKC doesn't alienate anyone and almost certainly provides the widest range of states attending. Sure, the West Coast teams might still prefer PGF's location, but as I said above, playing on the OKC fields is always worth consideration due to the history there.

[PDad]

3 of the 4 Cal teams (AP, OC Elite & PC Predators) are in the same pool (C)...
http://gfp.tournamentasa.com/i!/schedul ... p?TID=1974