ASA Tournament 2nd Annual Metro Dayton USA/ASA National Qualifier

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I was at the other field watching the Stingrays 98 game when this occurred .....heard this from some friends. Yeah alot of emotions in those 12u games, too bad for the girls who have to watch it.

I was there as a spectator when this happened and it was managed quite well considering. Not good in the grand scheme but Doug handled it well and all went on with their business. Things always work out over time and when the emotions die down life goes on. "It is about the girls after all...". Hard not to get caught up in what it takes to win sometimes.

Got to see a some good games. I thought the park was better than described. Now, I wasn't on the field either, so for what that's worth... the field of teams was awesome! Congrats to all the winners.

 

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I have not had the chance to get on in a few days so forgive my long post.

I want to thank all the teams that participated in this year's event. The field of teams and the quality of play at every age group was very impressive. As a fan of the game it was awesome to watch some of the best of the best go at it.

The Oho Hawks and the Dayton Metro definitely have allot of areas that we need to improve on and your suggestions and critisism will help us do this. Hopefully, we will be able to keep this berth open to all Ohio teams and creat a great opening weekend of softball tradition for years to come.

I would like to hear of example where winners played back to back and losers rested. I am not saying it did not happen but I can not recall in the brackets where this would of taken place. I know this did not take place late in bracket play because the winners had to wait for the loosers bracket to catch up.

Here is what I know about the last few games this evening.

10U: I heard Ice won and unfortunately I did not get to watch many of these games. Congrats to ICE!

12U: Lenos made a great run through the losers bracket beating (my new good buddy Bill's) Laser Red team in the Looser final, beating Grand Slam in the first game of the championship and then loosing to Grand Slam in the "IF" game. Congrats to Grand Slam on a great showing and beating some great teams this weekend to earn the Championship.

14U: I got to watch allot of these games and the field was very impressive. Stingrays and Ohio Ice played a great game in the loosers final with Ice winning the game in ITB by a run. Ice played Lasers Gold in the championship game at 8 PM and they agreed to make it a one game final which was very popular by all in attendance including myself :yahoo:The Ice won a very good game 2-1. Ice got the 1st place trophy and Lasers got their NATS Berth. Not only were the Lasers, Stingrays and Ice very good teams but they were a great group of people.

16U:There were some great games here all weekend long and I personally was impressed by several teams such as Doom, Lasers Scarlet, Buckeye Heat 94, Buckeye Heat 95, HOH Explosion and MC Hammers. I missed some of the late games but I do know Doom 95 waited in the championship while the loosers played out. Lasers Scarlet won out in the loosers bracket setting up the final against Doom. Scarlet won the first game and then won the "IF" game scoring what I believe was 5 runs in the 7th inning to win 5-4. Congrats to Scarlet on a great come back they are a class act!

Thanks again to all who attended!

Thanks for mentioning the Montgomery County Hammers 16U team in your post. While I don't think we are to the level of the teams mentioned, we had one heck of a tournament. Lasers Scarlet brought us back down to earth in the semi's of the losers bracket. What a GREAT hitting team they are. For us to win a game against the Buckeye Heat 94 team made our weekend, mainly because two years ago we played them in our first tournament as a fastpitch team and were waxed 19-0. To come back this year and keep it close and win it in the last inning was a great testament to how well our team played, has worked and improved, and how well our two young coaches do with our girls. We aren't the Lasers, Buckeye Heat, Doom or any other bigger state wide program, but we aspire our results to be like theirs, and we are taking strides to get there.

 

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Where three years ago and beyond that ... the Dayton Metro berths were always a "mystery".

The Hawks stepped up and got Dayton Metro to once again run a tournament for their berths and preceeded to "open" it up to all Ohio teams.

That was a HUGE accomplishment by the Ohio Hawks organization to do so.

Big cities and union workers for the fields is a problem for any TD .. as you are at their mercy to take care of the things that need to be done. When things aren't taken care of.. then it falls back on you.

How many Hawks events have you been to in the past where you fall over the people of the Hawks Nation taking care of the fields? All of them. Dayton Metro is an exception where you are at their mercy.

Thanks should be given to the Hawks for bringing the Dayton Metro berths back to the kids of Ohio.. for their usage in a fairly run event.

Now, if people could get Cincy Metro to get their head out of their rears.... things would be good for Ohio teams.

 

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Thanks for mentioning the Montgomery County Hammers 16U team in your post. While I don't think we are to the level of the teams mentioned, we had one heck of a tournament. Lasers Scarlet brought us back down to earth in the semi's of the losers bracket. What a GREAT hitting team they are. For us to win a game against the Buckeye Heat 94 team made our weekend, mainly because two years ago we played them in our first tournament as a fastpitch team and were waxed 19-0. To come back this year and keep it close and win it in the last inning was a great testament to how well our team played, has worked and improved, and how well our two young coaches do with our girls. We aren't the Lasers, Buckeye Heat, Doom or any other bigger state wide program, but we aspire our results to be like theirs, and we are taking strides to get there.

I was so impressed with your 12u coaches and team. I spent a good deal of time talking to them both - that team is headed in the right direction! Both them and the 16u team are exactly with the spirit of this tourney is about .. they played hard, excelled agianst some great competition (I watched a lot of your 16u games yesterday) and their level of excitment and energy was great to watch. You are building a great program over there - we look forward to playing your teams in the future!

 

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The Hawks stepped up and got Dayton Metro to once again run a tournament for their berths and preceeded to "open" it up to all Ohio teams.

Big cities and union workers for the fields is a problem for any TD .. as you are at their mercy to take care of the things that need to be done. When things aren't taken care of.. then it falls back on you.

This is a huge problem that we have to address.. I am going to sit down with the city commisioner and contact the mayor about resolving this. Without maintenence support during the games we can not offer the quality the teams expect. We were told in no uncertain terms that we can not help prepare the field in anyway. We applied for and spoke to the city 3 times about fences - which were never set-up.

I apologize to the the teams in that regard - that must change next year.

We plan to host this tourney ext June 8,9,10 2012. We are going to hire a seasoned TD to oversee it as well.

I had a chance to talkto many, many coaches, parents and players this weekend .. once the girls hit the dirt to play the qaulity of ball was outstanding... thanks again to those team that participated.

 

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@MCHammers:

You had a very impressive weekend at 16u, though we weren't surprised since one of our families had tipped us off in our scouting preparation that your team is committed, talented, well-coached, and improving on an extremely fast curve.

Great to see college players paying it forward and the demeanor of those seasoned players as coaches was special to watch. I think our next shared tournament will be at ASA States. If we don't actually play each other, I'll make a special effort to look up those two coaches and thank them for their contribution to Ohio fastpitch.

 

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I tried to post a picture of the 16U brackets at the time we left this evening, but I ran into technological issues. I also tried to develop a concise statement of all of today's scores, but I am just too tired to get that done. Hopefully someone will post the brackets with results soon.

Buckeye Heat 95 had two games today: A 6-0 (I think) loss to Cincy Doom 95 in the Winner's Bracket finals and a 6-4 loss to Lasers Scarlet in the Loser's Bracket. In the latter, Buckeye Heat 95 scored four runs in the first two innings (I think) and was up 4-2 going into the 6th inning (I'm also too tired to go through all the unloaded stuff from our tournament gear to find the scorebook). Lasers Scarlet just made some clutch hits to take a 6-4 lead in the top of the 6th and Buckeye Heat did not score in the 6th or 7th.

When we left, Cincy Doom 95 and the Lasers Scarlet first game had just begun and it looked like it was going to be a very competitive game. I believe that someone has posted that Lasers Scarlet won the first game and the teams were into the "what-if" game. I would love it if someone could post what finally happened.

CGS it was GREAT to finally meet you!!! I have all the brackets and will post them this afternoon !

 

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I was so impressed with your 12u coaches and team. I spent a good deal of time talking to them both - that team is headed in the right direction! Both them and the 16u team are exactly with the spirit of this tourney is about .. they played hard, excelled agianst some great competition (I watched a lot of your 16u games yesterday) and their level of excitment and energy was great to watch. You are building a great program over there - we look forward to playing your teams in the future!

Our 12U coaches are also excellent and thanks for pointing that out. I just rarely get to see them play. I have 3 neices on that team too, so lots of fun when I go to any of our games. The kids have fun and really respond well to these young coaches pushing them to give their all. Best thing I ever did was get out of the dugout and turn it over to someone that knows what they are doing.
Thanks for a great tournament experience right here in Dayton.

 

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We had a great time and I loved watching the 14U teams play at Action Sports. My only complaint is the bugs, which you have no control over! Thanks for a wonderful weekend of softball! :yahoo:

 

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I know Grand Slam and Hawks-Lenos were in the finals. Not sure who won it for the 12u's.... drum roll...

I saw the first game between these 2 teams this morning. Good stuff!!!

Kevin and his crew/families are gret folks ... we played them 3 times yesterday - losing in bracket play, winning the 1st championship game and losing the final 'if'' game when they scored 4 times in the bottom of the 6th to take a 5-3 lead ... I think our 3 games were decided by 2 runs each - close all the way .. very, very few errors, great plays in the infield/outfield - it was the highest level and most solid play at 12u softball I have ever been a part of...

We playd 5 back-back game in a row with 15 min in between them.. I am amazed how hard our girls fought and played in the heat with no break ... it is something they will remember for a lifetime.

I also want to thank Chris and Mike and all the Stingray coaches, parents and players... they are a great group .. Chris and Mike haev become great friends and I can not think them enough for their support and words of encouragement while I was trying to help Lou and Shorty with the toureny and coach our team. We had a 1pm game with them and the umpires wanted to start early - I called Chris and asked him to make their way to the field, then found out that one of my players "from Cleveland' went to Delco by mistake. I asked them and the umpires if we could have a few minutes for her to get to the park - we only had 8 players - and the Stingrays coaches had no problem with waiting. That is class and a team with an undersanding about why we do this for the girls.

Stingrays - thank you for being such good friends and coaches - look to see you guys in a couple weeks!

 

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@MCHammers:

You had a very impressive weekend at 16u, though we weren't surprised since one of our families had tipped us off in our scouting preparation that your team is committed, talented, well-coached, and improving on an extremely fast curve.

Great to see college players paying it forward and the demeanor of those seasoned players as coaches was special to watch. I think our next shared tournament will be at ASA States. If we don't actually play each other, I'll make a special effort to look up those two coaches and thank them for their contribution to Ohio fastpitch.

They are both such good girls and role models for our kids, as are our 12U coaches. It was a great weekend to see where we stand against some of the best Ohio has to offer. We were pleased, but realize there is still work to be done.
I've never thought finished fourth in anything would have me as excited as I was was yesterday watching our young team play. Has anyone else figured how to get the Lasers Scarlet team out yet?

 

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I have to make one more comment... the Cincy Hot Shots 12u got in thei tourney late and they were every apprehensive about the level of competition. Coach Rich Moore and I talked all week .. he was excited for them but also kept telling me that they need to see what was out there but hoped he was not throwing them in the fire... I watched them all day Saturday - they did GREAT .. they won 2 games and the level of excitement and fun his kids had was enviable. His parents were glowing with pride during the day - or was it sunburn? - and I saw his team advance each game and leave the fields a much more confident and better team than when they started.. Coach Rich and the Cincy Hot Shots great job, thank you for coming.. Hope to see you next year!

 

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PLEASE email me if you ordered Tee Shirts and did not get them - we will ship to you free of charge later this week - we are printing up more as we sold out early...

 

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This is a huge problem that we have to address.. I am going to sit down with the city commisioner and contact the mayor about resolving this. Without maintenence support during the games we can not offer the quality the teams expect. We were told in no uncertain terms that we can not help prepare the field in anyway. We applied for and spoke to the city 3 times about fences - which were never set-up.

I apologize to the the teams in that regard - that must change next year.

We plan to host this tourney ext June 8,9,10 2012. We are going to hire a seasoned TD to oversee it as well.

It's always a huge problem.. when dealing with cities on crews and paying $38.00 dollars a hr PER PERSON for Sunday crews. Been there - done that.

But, in the end, we are at their mercy.

There is nothing worse for a TD.. then to be at the field, know the fields need to be relined... and powerless to do it.

I would suggest working with the Montgomery Convention and Visitors Bureau and letting THEM iron out the problems with the City. A lot of these CVB's have the "inside track" on many things .. one would be the ear of the Mayor and City Manager.

 

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Some great competition at 10u'. Had 3 great games with the Hawks. Congrats to Ohio Ice Orange who beat us in the finals. But some major field problems and organization. Seems like they put 10u in the back and forgot about them.

1st game Saturday morning....No drag of field, no lines, batters box or circle...bases were sitting in the outfield and we put them in our selves....umpire had 12" softballs so we had to use softballs out of my bucket which I didnt get all back. On Sunday again no drag. Fields were terrible. They did come down middle of 1st game Sunday and stop play to line the field.

Brian Anderson
Buckeye Heat 10u

 

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Some great competition at 10u'. Had 3 great games with the Hawks. Congrats to Ohio Ice Orange who beat us in the finals. But some major field problems and organization. Seems like they put 10u in the back and forgot about them.

1st game Saturday morning....No drag of field, no lines, batters box or circle...bases were sitting in the outfield and we put them in our selves....umpire had 12" softballs so we had to use softballs out of my bucket which I didnt get all back. On Sunday again no drag. Fields were terrible. They did come down middle of 1st game Sunday and stop play to line the field.

Brian Anderson
Buckeye Heat 10u

Great comment.. and absolutely useful for when the Hawks go to the Dayton people and say, " Read about this problem" when they take the tournament thread to the Dayton officials to "talk".

You hate to read about all the problems .. granted ... but at the same time it is a useful tool when dealing with a city government.

It's the ole, " Look. We got them here for the event... huge amount of revenue for this city.. but you dropped the ball. What are we going to do to change this for the 2012 tournament ?"

 

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The problem with having 'city workers' is they don't seem to have the same urgency to get things ready as the people that run the events. If you had Hawks people out there doing things, lining the fields, dragging them, etc, I am sure it would be done and things would have been much better.

There has got to be a way around using the city's workers, especially at $38 an hour. Hell, I'd do it and bust my butt for that kind of money.

 

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PLEASE email me if you ordered Tee Shirts and did not get them - we will ship to you free of charge later this week - we are printing up more as we sold out early...

How do you run out of shirts if they were pre-ordered?? Might wanna look into a different printing company.....

 

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I agree Hammer... but it is one battle never won when dealing with a city. Union workers are there and Sunday is double time.

Like Barberton... absolutely beautiful park with 4 fields... Huge amount of parking and lights.... it's the big " Sunday pay" that is the problem there.... or TD's would DEFINATELY use that location.

In Chillicothe one Fall, I had the Uniform Blowout there. Great park.. nice fields, etc... but when paying $114.00 dollars an hour for a total of three people... it is an expense.

It's a clear understanding by all that attended this event ... that the Hawks could not control the conditions set forth as " city duties". You'll never convince me that not one Hawk would not have LOVED to get out there and reline fields, rake, or whatever. Their past tournament performances.. you'll fall over them at a tournament.

As much as anyone hates to see what happened.. the problems, etc... you have to let them know and thus the Hawks org has got "ammunition" when going to speak to the City.

Just don't give up on the tournament. The berths FINALLY came out of hiding so to say, when it comes to the Dayton Metro. And it was the Hawks org that got it done for these teams in Ohio.

Four teams are going to the National Championship out of this event. Four teams that two years ago... weren't going because an event for the Dayton Metro berths was never held.

 

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I would like to hear of example where winners played back to back and losers rested. I am not saying it did not happen but I can not recall in the brackets where this would of taken place. I know this did not take place late in bracket play because the winners had to wait for the loosers bracket to catch up.

14u: I can only speak for the one game that I know where a winner played back to back and the loser sat. We played the Riptides at Noon on Saturday for the first bracket game, the winner of that game got the 2pm game and the loser played at 6pm on Saturday night. Riptides won and went straight to the next field and played an extra inning game with the CC Cannons. Not sure if this happened in other brackets or not, again only what we were affected by.