ASA Nationals (14U) Normal, IL

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Game 220: Birmingham Vipers over GCKA Nightmare, 10-0

1. GCKA Nightmare
2. Valley Extreme Blue
3. Miami Valley Express-Red
4. Cincinnati Doom
5. Lady Lasers-Orange
6. Lady Lasers-Green

This brings an end to the 2007 ASA 14U National Championship for Ohio

 

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congrats on a great week to all the Ohio teams!...the girls from the Buckeye state showed the rest of the country there is some great talent in O-H-I-O.

girls, coaches & parents of the VXB..
thanks for a great season!
51-4-1 / 8 championships
doesnt get much better!

 

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Ohio scores from Friday and Saturday bracket play:

Friday Games:

Cincy Doom 5
Lasers Green 4

MVX Red 10
Michigan Athletics 0

Oklahaoma Rockets 4
Lasers Orange 3

American Pasttime 4
MVX Red 3

Arizona Hotshots 2
Cincy Doom 1

American Athlectics 2
GCKA Nightmare 0

New Orleans VooDoo 1
Valley Extream Blue 0

Saturday Games:

GCKA Nightmare 2
East Cobb Bullets 0

Birhmingham Vipers 9
Valley Extreame Blue 1

Birhmingham Vipers 10
GCKA Nightmare 0

Congrats to all Ohio teams for representing our state well!!!

I will now be rooting hard for the West Pine Diamond Dusters, Geargia Impact Black and Orlando No Fear. They are the only teams left in the final 8 that are not California teams.

I will go on record to say, that the winner of the So Cal Batbusters and Corona Angels Red game this morning will most likely win it all. Both teams are stacked, and only have one loss between them in the whole tournament.

 

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boomer

I was not putting down the Nightmare, they have a nice team. I don't like the chest thumping by some parents who are more worried about stats then the team (yoyo) at the expense of the team and softball in general. It not good for the game.

I congraduate the Nightmare for their 25th place at the nationals which was the best in Ohio and one of the best in the Mid West. I just wish there could be more celebrating the team rather than individuals.

 

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Boomer,

I think you have this person pegged!!!!!!!!!!! He wished all but the teams except the teams he's involved with would lose and go home!

I still say it is sad somebody is so eaten up with jealousy and then when they're caught, blame the problem on someone else!

 

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CONGRATS TO ALL OHIO TEAMS!! BUT MOSTLY MY TEAM
GCKA NIGHTMARE!!

 

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great job ohio! way to represent the buckeye state. great job nightmare coming up with the best placing of the ohio teams. i am impressed by your team and see that you have had a very successful season. i hope to see more success in 2008! again i was happy to see all the ohio teams did fairly well and i congratulate all!

 

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Flexone,

Don't know who you are, because you are hiding behind a screen name with no personal contact attached to it. I will say that my name is Rich Yoho (AKA YOYO) and my DD play's for the nightmare. If you are directing this socalled chest thumping at me or my DD, I would appreciate it if you would PM so we can discuss your problems in private or better yet in person. After reading this form for the past few years Im sure it was intended for people to post information and answer questions. It was not intended for a discruntled or jeolous person to take potshots at anyone they wan't to. ?Obviously you know me, otherwise you would't know me by my nickname. As you will see this is my first post on OFC, I usally only read the post from misinformed people such as yourself, but I think that is time to draw a line in the sand. The personal bashing of teams and 14 year old girls over the past year on a public form is uncivil, and the people using five or six different screen names to do it, if cought sould be held accountable on this public form.
Do you wan't to know why the Nightmare is so succsesfull. It because they practice four days a week, three hour a day, Play in the best tournaments avalable every week, and by the way the girls are genuinely freinds, no envy, no jealousy, no hate, they are just hardworking, dedicated, and loyal. Every coaching staff on this planet sould be as lucky to have a group of young ladies that play the game simply, because they LOVE THE GAME!!!! Do you know what that hard work gets you, it get you a 83-14 record.
I for one am honored to have wachted them grow from giggly,bracefaced,pigtailed girls to delightful young ladies. ?
?
? ? Congratulations Girls & Coaches
? ? Looking forward to big this from you next year!!!

? ? Big YO

? ?

 

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After watching some of the best softball that I've ever seen today, and rocking out with the MOTOR CITY MADMAN with the little wifey tonight, our vocation is coming to an end :'(

But here's how they finished and I still can't believe that the American Athletics are an all 13U (was told their pitcher was 6'2&quot team...Incredible!

1 American Atheletics
2 Corona Angels Red
3 So Cal Batbusters
4 West Pines Diamond Dusters
5 Orlando No Fear
5 So Cal Firecrackers
7 Georgia Impact Black
7 Next Level Gold

Here's how the Ohio teams stacked up against the rest of the USA:

GCKA Nightmare finished with a 3-2 record and 25th.

Lost 2-0 to the American Athletics (8-1, 1st place)
Lost 10-0 to the Birmingham Vipers (6-2, 13th)

Valley Extreame Blue finished with a 2-2 record and 33rd.

Lost 1-0 to the New Orleans Voo Doo (3-2, 17th)
Lost 9-1 to the Birmingham Vipers (6-2, 13th)

Cincy Doom finished with a 2-2 record and 49th.

Lost 6-1 to the Texas Travelers (2-2, 49th)
Lost 2-1 to the Arizona Hotshots (5-2, 17th)

Miami Valley Express finished with a 2-2 record and 49th.

Lost 3-0 to the Kenosha Cyclones (3-2, 33rd)
Lost 4-3 to the Ca. America Pastime (4-2, 25th)

Lasers Green finished with a 2-2 record and 65th.

Lost 2-1 to the Katy Express (4-2, 13th)
Lost 5-4 to the Cincy Doom (2-2, 49th)

Lasers Orange finished with a 2-2 record and 65th.

Lost 3-1 to the Georgia Impact Black (8-2, 7th)
Lost 4-3 to the KC Rockets 92 (2-2, 49th)

Looking at the matchups, I believe that all 6 teams from the Buckeye state represented very well! A run or two here or there and who knows, we might of had a couple of teams placing near the top ten. Regardless, it was an incredible week, but we're not going to miss Normal, Ill.

 

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I missed watching any of the Ohio teams as I was delayed until they were eliminated :'(

I will say that all fans, officials, and teams that were remaining thought Ohio is on the fast track to bigger and better things!

Did get to see the American Athletics, Corona Angels, and So Cal Batbusters to name a few, wow

I didn't get to see the tall girl from the Athletics pitch, but the other pitcher was "major league" along with their team and the other teams playing - heck I was watching a game of "SEC" teams, and thought they could be So Cal teams by the way they were playing! Everyone is getting better!

I will babble on about Ohio softball on another thread when I get home. Great Job all Ohio teams, you along with the other age groups are making Ohio SPECIAL in terms of fastpitch softball

 

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Hello,

I was very fortunate to attend the ASA 14U Nationals. The weather was very good( very high humidty), the motel was good, got to take in some sites and overall the Tournament in Normal Ill.
was fantastic. ?
However, I have one complaint and it is my assessment and opinion. I thought the officials were very poor and inconsistent in their calls and I know they are human. I witnessed and from conversations with coaches and parents who strongly know the game(including some officials from other states), ?there were very poor calls that caused teams to lose. This also added stress and concern even with the teams that won and what will happen in the next game. Poor calls were made on the winning teams and loosing teams. Others and myself saw poor calls that cost a team a chance to win. One coach I spoke to said they were very lucky to have won a game which was due to poor officiating for the other team. Myself and others saw poor or inconsistent calls at the bases and behind the plate. For example a pitcher can get strikes called by pitching the corners, but if the opposing pitcher did the same, balls were called. There were calls made where the girl(s) where clearly safe to the next base or home plate, but called out. There were girls that should have been called out, but where given the call of being safe. I saw quite a bit of sadness and disappointment (to the point of tears) from the girls, parents and some coaches. A coach joked that maybe they should have instant replay, but that would stretch the tournament to basketball season. It was also discussed that a team should score and score so that if an offical makes a poor call it wouldn't cause or might cause the team to lose.
I suggest and it's my only suggestion, that the tournament evaluate the officials and maybe change to younger ones who do have experience in officiating and ?know the rules and have played baseball and/or softball. I also assume that younger ones would have better vision (including peripheral) and focus and move quicker and maybe work better as a team. ?
I think it's too bad that some officials have hindered a team and maybe helped other ones win. This can take the fun out of this sport. (OK, at least for a short bit). Some coaches and players said that one of the stressors is who was going to officiate their game and if it was the officials' first time to officiate their game, there was normally that thought in the back of their minds. Some of the comments have been who are the officials and what are they like.
This is my assessment and doesn't mean it's the final word. The tournament was still fun and exciting. It was what it was. Congrats to all who represented Ohio.

Best

 

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As some of you know, I have recently moved to the Atlanta area where I am now teaching and coaching at an area high school. Softball in Georgia is in the fall, and we had one player at the 14U ASA Nationals and three at the 16Us. The 14U player played for the Georgia Impact Black (who finished 7th) and the 16Us played for the East Cobb Cobras (13th) and the Georgia Knockouts (33rd). When they came back from practice, all four of them said that while every California team there was very good, none of them were so impressive that you had to assume they were from the WestCoast. They said that they saw teams from all across the country that were capable of playing with every team, and that a lot of the California mystique had worn off. Obviously I am new to Georgia softball, but I think it speaks well for all of us East of the Mississippi.

 

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Coach Tamanini, This is good to hear. This demonstrates that the girls hard work off season is paying off. Thanks for the update.

 

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Very well said Coach T. ?
I Don't post much, but wanted to say how proud I was of all of our Ohio Girls for cheering on all of the other Ohio teams. ?It was nice to see that even after all the summer battles in ohio they join together at ASA, staying after long 7 inning games in heat of the day, or late in to the evening to cheer each other on. ? GREAT JOB all of you! ?

From an Orange Parent to The NIGHTMARE........... CONGRATULATIONS on finishing BEST in OHIO

 

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Coach T,

Being in California for 12u, with 31 Cali teams present ("ALL" of their top tams at 12u), I can appreciate your thoughts also. There were perhaps a few teams which may have looked unbeatable, but none are actually. In fact, when walking around and watching the marquee teams play, I saw very few that we would not have expected to beat, or at least give a good run for their money, not that it works out that way necessarily. I thought I was going to see teams which would make my jaw hit the pavement in fear. Actually, I thought our Ohio pitching (both Ohio teams considered) was superior with a few exceptions, but the Cali girls sure can run, field & hit 1-15..

I guess, I am saying that I thought our "Ohio" teams fit in quite well with the best of the best as some would consider an ASA tourney taking place out there on the worst coast. Well, we finished 9th which we are proud about, ... and another Ohio team finished ahead of us! I think the Valley Extreme Red (the "Pony champs" roster) woud have fared well also.

The flip side though was that there were 50 teams there that could have beaten us also, and of course some fine eastern & southern teams who likely chose a closer nationals rather than flying out to California for ASA.

In fairness to Cali, 7/8 of the final 8 winners bracket teams were from the land of fruits & nuts. There was talk even among Californians though that the rest of earth is catching up though.

You know, we can put a handful of teams out there that can compete with anybody, but it is the depth that wins out for a HUGE population state like Cali, which also has long time interest, and year round competition opportunity.

 

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Final order of standings:
1. American Athletics-Nauden (South Orange, CA), 8-1
2. Corona Angels Red (Corona, CA), 8-2
3. So Cal Batbusters (Southern, CA), 7-2
4. West Pines Diamond Dusters (Pembroke, FL), 6-2
t25. GCKA Nightmare (Grove City, Ohio), 3-2
t33. Valley Extreme Blue (Poland, Ohio), 2-2
t49. Miami Valley Express (Cleveland, Ohio), 2-2
t49. Cincinnati Doom (Cincinnati, Ohio), 2-2
t65. Lady Lasers Orange (Cleveland, Ohio), 2-2
t65. Lady Lasers Green (Wooster, Ohio), 1-2