Nor Cal Gold Teams 08-09

[Demonboy]

"From the outside looking in the Sorcerer looked like a fine oiled machine in Lancaster"

They looked more like a sewing machine against the Diamonds.

[DHBHitting]

They looked more like a sewing machine against the Diamonds.

Very nice, Demonboy...touche!

I was certainly surprised to see the Diamonds bow out the way they did at Nationals, most definetly did not see that one coming. Because they certainly hit the crap out of the ball the game they dismantled the Sorcerer, hell they looked good all 4 games that weekend.

That is the beauty of this game, what a difference a day makes because on any given day when two good teams are matched up anything can happen.

[tracerass]

Both teams had great college players in Lancaster. Some of the players were not at nationals. The Sting will beat Sorcerer. Pitching is everything. Compare those pitching staffs. Not to mention most Cal players went entering Cal go to summer school. That means no more Wallace for Sorcerer. My bet is Burns is done with Mumma. If those two don't come back Moore is out. The word from the Sting camp she may be going with Rebstock on Sting. Moore has options. That kid can play for anyone. Not sure she wants to play for Sorcerer. Did not one of the Sorcerer coaches keep her put of the PAC 10? This kid is a stud.

[DHBHitting]

Great point on the Sting Tracerass, they are sort of the forgotten man in this discussion but I have always had great respect for that organization, they put together winners every year. Now call me crazy but they can bring back quite a few college players themselves cant they? The little shortstop that hits the crap out of the ball that is at Sonoma, a couple of others, to go along with Ricketts in the circle, Sting will be who they have always been, a real solid club that can get hot and make some noise for sure.

I'm not sure if the Diamonds where missing anyone at Nationals, look like they same team to me, but I will take your word on that one. I know the only college kid Sorcerer had was Arioto and she did not make the trip.

As for these college kids, who knows what they will do, you just never know. People forget sometimes how brutal the college season actually is. Their workouts are pretty intense from September until the end of May, mandatory weightlifting, mandatory conditioning, 70+ games in 4 months....these kids bodies take a beating, so you never know if they will even be up to it come June. I do know this there are certain clubs that are depending heavily on these college kids coming back and Sorcerer is one of them that is for sure. If in fact Tracerass is correct and Sorcerer could possibly be missing J.Wallace, M.Burns, and C.Moore....OUCH! I think the discussion around qualifying is pretty much over......

Due to all the senseless drama and a complete inability to consolidate talent this could be Nor Cal's worse year at getting teams qualified, we could be looking at just two or three clubs getting it done, and it is not outside the realm of possibility to only have one this year....dam shame too...all the talent we have but winning is not the #1 priority, which is why we will never bring home the big one until this changes, coaches egos, player egos, and parents egos have to be checked at the door if Nor Cal ever wants to be Gold Champions. I will give Lady Magic and Sting credit, at least they do seem to steer clear of all this BS and do seem to put winning above all else, kudos to them!!!!

[proglfer]

I have read these boards for the past year and have enjoyed them very much. I never felt the need to post any comments but this entire conversation regarding Nor cal teams is so ridiculous. The most ridiculous comment is probably regarding Kim Fabian. She is a class act and if more people/coaches in the softball community would follow her act all this negativity and BS most of you disgruntled parents are posting on here would stop. Here are the facts: No one knows what team will do what this summer and who cares! Hope they all do well and for all you bashing any one team get a life. Wishing Phil's Sorcerers to fail and this is exactly what some of you disgruntled dads.moms are doing on here by posting your BS is only wishing young ladies that are working hard and making a lot of sacrafices to fail and shame on you. They had Jessica and Hannah last season at nationals and they did not dominate. They did not go the distance and it is not any one girls fault. To even say anything bad regarding Chelsea is ridiculous. She is flat out legit! I think Medeiros and Albanese will do a good job for Phil with the defense behind them and the speed on that team. I got to see both of them on the mound in the fall and I think you are under estimating them. Could it be because your daughter got cut from the Sorcerers and all the bad blood is coming out on the message boards? Medeiros will not blow it past anyone but she has a lot of junk and will keep them off balance and Albanese has a great spin on her ball. Good luck to the Sorcerers. As for Sting and a lot of great pick up players?? Well I can speak regarding that personally because my daughter was one of the 7 and yes 7 new kids that tried out. You make it sound like they had a flock of girls to pick from. I will not bash any of the girls but I will say Ricketts will be a work horse and they better hope she stays healthy. I hope she does. They're back up will not close the door on anyone and from what I hear they only have two pitchers. You might see ONE player come back to play summer with them. I listened to one of the dads at the tryout talking very bad regarding Sorcerer and that is the main reason why we chose NOT to go to Sting. Coaching is good, girls are talented but no one likes a big mouth on the sidelines to ruin it for everyone else. With that being said Happy New Year to all and may all your daughers have a new healthy season playing summer ball!

[Goldball4]

Sounds to me , you have been one of these parents players who has been cut. As far as your comments towards these teams, they are true. Kim is a great coach, and person. Sorcerers will be okay, but the pitching they have will not get them to nationals. They are good, but just not going to match up well against the big boys. The Sting now did make some very good pickups, obviously your dd was not one of them. From what I hear, they were only looking for a few players, and they added what they needed. Only 2 pitchers? Yes, and the big lefty, and williams are a fine duo. They will add someone else I'm sure. I was at a few tryouts, and saw the same thing all over, numbers down everywhere. Some teams combined their tryouts to make it look large, but take 16s away , most teams stayed put with what they had in fall. At least from what I see. Except one org., was has a new team every season.

Can't wait to see next season!

[proglfer]

Goldball4 - who are you to say they will or will not qualify? If they do great and if they don't WHO CARES!!! and FYI my daughter received a phone call from Sting after tryouts
and they offered her a spot which we declined. I don't know who you think you are kidding but you better quit while you are ahead because you are giving your identity away and from where I see it your reputation is not that great out there as it is. Don't ruin it for your daughter by bashing other pitchers. Only wanted to pick up a few players huh? Well that's good because that is all they got out at the tryout. It certainly is not the team they had last year and they struggled to qualify but lefty came thru on the mound. You won't see any of those girls returning to play Sting this summer I can guarantee you that.
Were you not present to see Firecrackers destroy Sting in the fall? Oh yeah you were! Nobody was dominating on the mound that game for sure! Kiss and make up with Phil because frankly we are all tired off listening to your whinning about Sorcerers.

[Goldball4]

I'm not sure where all your hostility is coming from? And kiss and make up with Phil? Don't even know the guy personally. Giving my identity away? I'm a parent like yourself, so I could give a rats a-- who likes me or not. I never said that in any way that I dislike the Sorcerers. Just that they will struggle with the pitching they have. That is not a secret maam. Sounds like you maybe are a part of the Sorcerers group the way you are bashing the Sting!! Don't know why you are bashing the team , because you said they offered you a spot? What would make you bash them for?

[proglfer]

It is not hostility but it is old the bashing of the Sorcerers and them not going to nationals and Sorcerers not having pitching and why the girls left and the bashing of the coaches. I am not a part of the Sorcerer's squad and to be honest my daughter did not make Phil's or Pete's team last year and we didn't even try this year. She is playing on a semi low key NorCal team and is very happy. It is not the team I wanted her on but I am not on the field playing so it was not my decision. I am talking truth here and that is not bashing Sting. Were there more than 7 girls at the tryout? Am I lying? Did they take a beating against the Firecrackers? Am I lying? I don't believe Sorcerers took a beating like that with the pitching they had. Am I right? I am not going to feed into this topic anymore because it is like beating a dead horse. And if you have never met Phil then that definitely shows the credibility of your post Maammmm

[Goldball4]

Why don't we kiss and make up. Because i don't really know how I got singled out in this whole mess. I basically said what everyone else has. Pitching is the key, some have it , and some don't. I would never wish anyone bad luck, just stating the facts that we all talk about on here. I wish you and your DD luck, but you said she is playing on semi low key team this year? After making the Sting? Not sure what team is low key, and is going to get your DD recruited properly. Sharks(both barrera,and piper), Sting, Sorcerers, RR Gold, Grapes, Breeze, AASA, these areall pretty well known teams that do a great job in the recruiting. So, if you passed up the Sting invite to play for anybody but these more high profile teams, then I'm not sure you made a wise decision. These teams get it done!