Senior League Championship Softball

[fastpitchdad05]

Senior league is 16U, Big League is 18U

Thanks. Watching the PGF stuff now, real athletes and real softball.

Last time I checked... they are real athletes and they are playing softball... Sorry its not up to your high expectations DonnieS. The family, friends, and players on the LL teams will probably disagree with you

TYB - His comments may be a bit harsh, but my bet is that he, like a lot of us, is frustrated because the level of play in LL is far lower than what one can find in ASA, PGF and TCS and it is being presented on a national stage as the highest caliber in a "National Championship".

Certainly these are fine athletes and above average players of whom their family and friends can be proud. But it is unfortunate that they are thrust into the limelight as the best of the best.

I like USSSA and what they do, but I would not want their national championship televised for the country to see either.

The debate on the pros and cons of the LL broadcasts will continue I'm sure...

With respect,
FPDad05

[DonnieS]

Senior league is 16U, Big League is 18U

Thanks. Watching the PGF stuff now, real athletes and real softball.

Last time I checked... they are real athletes and they are playing softball... Sorry its not up to your high expectations DonnieS. The family, friends, and players on the LL teams will probably disagree with you

I'm sure they would.

[joemcq51]

Funny, another site having similar discussion. Here was my reply there. Seems to fit here also:

While I agree that Little League is not on the level of ASA or PGF, I want to share some thoughts. My daughter plays an extremely competetive travel ball schedule year round in Florida. She is going to be a freshman this year and we are excited for HS to finally begin. This past summer she competed against some very talented travel clubs. Many top 10 finshers in 14U ASA and 16U ASA. PGF has not really taken off in Florida, so I cannot speak to it. She also had the opportunity to represent her local community for her Senior League All Star team. They were successful this summer and made it to the regional semi's before dropping a 2-1 game. So I feel I am somewhat qualified to speak about this topic.

Little League is made up of girls from the community. They have very strict rules and allow no outside the community players on All Star teams. So her All Star team was made up of girls who basically live in a 15 mile radius of one another. In contrast to her travel program where she plays with girls who drive several hours for practices in all different directions. I agree the better teams are in travel. I just do not think it is a fair comparison. If you think of little league as high school ball, you get the idea. My daughter played in well over 150 games this year. I have spent thousands chasing her around the country. When she went to regionals with Little League, it didn't cost her a penny. Little League picked up the rooms for the girls and food. She got to play full 7 inning ball games, PA announcers, newspaper coverage, must win games. The experience for her was a positive one. I did not see the TV games, but can say that the team that knocked out my daughters would have been a good 16U team. Not a top 10 team, but certainly not a team that you could take lightly. I can't believe I am defending Little League, but felt it was only right. They do know how to run the post season.

[DonnieS]

Good point - and the comparison to high school - that's right. Community teams.

[Dugout Dad]

Senior league is 16U, Big League is 18U

ESPN had a graphic illustrating Big League as being 14 to 19 year olds. I guess they were wrong.

[freetacos]

Little league reaches thousands of kids and last I checked that was the most important thing. Get that kid off the couch, out of the mall and on the field!
Little league love or hate them really is all about the kid.
Many organizations these days are not about the kid.... but about the money.

my 2 cents

ft

[DonnieS]

Little league reaches thousands of kids and last I checked that was the most important thing. Get that kid off the couch, out of the mall and on the field!
Little league love or hate them really is all about the kid.
Many organizations these days are not about the kid.... but about the money.

my 2 cents

ft

More good points.

[tbjd33]

I don't think this tread is about kids getting off the couch. Though I do agree that is an excellent point and LL softball/baseball does an excellent job at it. I would add HeyBucket's audience doesn't cater to the LL crowd, truthfully they don't even know HeyBucket exist for the most part.

The tread was commenting on the different level of play and how America is being tricked into believing that's the highest level. Add the arguement and frustration of all of us Dad's that travel, spend $$, time and everything involved in our DD's playing at an elite level as a slap in face when those girls receive the publicity which they don't deserve!

All I can say guys it's a futile effort to fight the LL power. I've been on the elite boys travel seen for years and still get asked about the LL comparison. It a joke!

[softballfan33]

All I can say guys it's a futile effort to fight the LL power. I've been on the elite boys travel seen for years and still get asked about the LL comparison. It a joke!

We have with our boys as well. LL isn't even in a close second to elite 32 baseball, perfect game, or many of the others. But agree, I think the thread is more taking aim at LL trying to say it is the "best" level of softball. I have the greatest respect for the teams that make the LLWS either in SB or BB, as no matter the competition, that is a huge honor. It is the "top" of "their" game. The fact that LL has gained the ability to televise their games is a step beyond where we have gotten at the ASA level and PGF although trying, hasn't got the "pull" LL does. I am happy that SB is getting some national "visibility", but really wish people could see the skill and competitive level of some of the better travel teams.

However on another note, I doubt much of the viewing public would grasp the difference between the two levels. We see it because we do this day in and day out, but most people just see the ball being pitched, caught, fielded, thrown and hit.... or not....

[BigPeaches]

Those of us in the real "softball world" know that LL isn't the gold level, but everybody has to start somewhere right? Just because they are "lower level" players doesn't mean they don't deserve their moment in the sun.

The 12U LL WS winners last year were made up of players from a travel ball team from New Mexico; The Albuquerque Stingers. They were actually pretty darn good, even though I still can't figure out how they got away with that because they were registered as a 14U team on USSSA that year and supposedly travel teams aren't allowed to play together in LL.