ASA Tournament 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch Tourn

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Very upset at the way the TD handled the 12u Championship game, Coin Toss??? ?The Wadsworth Grizzlies went 5-0 going into the Championship and became runner-up because of coin toss. ? There is such a thing as Wins/Losses, Runs allowed, Runs earned and then use the coin toss as a last resort. The fields were playable. ?I'm very dissappointed. ? ?But I guess you got your money so I'm just waisting my breath.
??

Good Job Grizzlies!! ?Your Champs in my book! ? ?

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

I understand you disappointment, but would like to point out that the TD did the results per ASA guidelines. ?

As far as the fields being used by the city of Strongsville; I am sure the TD would have loved to have had 100% control over Volunteer Park; however his hands are tied to the city's requirements. ?Is this something they should consider for next year? Yes! ?Would it have made that big of a difference in getting in all of our games in with if the city did not have control of one field off and on? ?Realistically, no, you still would have at least two additional games where a team had yet to play. ? It may have allowed for a couple of additional games, but it would not have allowed all of us the opportunity to play.

My team was a number one seed and the coin flip affected each of us in the same manner. ?I believe all of us would have liked to have had our opportunity to bring it to the field, but until we can control Mother Nature and the powers that be, we have to deal with the situation in the hand that it was dealt.

I personally was very disgusted by the rude manner in which some coaches felt they could try to put in little digs and sidebar comments towards the TD, as well as, parents that felt they had the right to convene with the coaches when the games were called. ?Sportsmanship starts with us as coaches. ?We don't have to agree with how things were handled, but rude and snide comments are not acceptable.

I guarantee you a college coach sees a player behave in that manner and they will not be looked at for long. ?They want team players with good sportsmanship. ?We need to make sure as coaches, parents, and fans that we are setting that example.


We must have been looking at two different sets of fields at Volunteer Park. You were talking about at least two hours to prep those fields and the number of injuries that would have resulted in poor field conditions. Is it worth it? I have already lost my short stop due to an injury from playing on soft fields last weekend. I don't want to take that kind of responsibility on my shoulders to possibly damage a kids future. . .

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Showing kids Sportsmanship, yes. How about showing them responsibility and EFFORT?

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

I agree with you Fiestymom, I was with the 18U team that was wiped out because of the weather, and I too was disappointed since I really think we could have gone all the way, and my girls were playing better than I had ever seen them play. ?However, I think it unfair to blame the TD for everything from the weather, ASA Rules, and even who Strongsville allows to use their fields. Not to mention the City grounds crew did not set some fields up correctly, but the TD was out there himself in the dirt fixing the problem right away. ?

I have entered every ASA Qualifying tournament since Memorial Day, including the State Tournament and this was the best oranized and well run tournament we have entered, had it not been a weather related issue. ?Also I have been to this tournament for at least 5 years, and it has always been well organized and ran with quality people. ?In the past, some of the fields that were used were not that great, but this year, more of the Strongsville fields were acquired and once again if not for the weather it would have been an even better event with the great fields. ?

At any rate, even though I am sure many people was disappointed with the outcome, I think it is unfair to blame the TD for all the problems. ?As for the ASA rules and codes in determining a winner, I was standing by the TD as he was talking with the ASA officials on the phone, as how to determine a winner in the 18U Division, after the storm blew in Sunday afternoon. ?

Anyway, Steve, I know it was difficult and all the negative feedback you are getting but hopefully it will not deter you in the future from holding this tournament for all the young ladies that love playing this game. ?

Many times coaches and parents need to realize this is a game for the girls and not some ego trip for themselves. ?I usually see the players have a more adult attitude and behavior than their parents and coaches over most issues that arise in these tournaments. ?

Just my 2 cents, and if I coach next year and this tournament is held, it will be at the top of my list once again. However, I will hope and pray for better weather. ?

?

Re: ?Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch

I can't speak to your disgust with parents and coaches. I am sorry that disappointed you.
It sure does seam to me that the TD is attempting to hide behind "ASA rules" and ignore everything that came before that.
ASA States in Columbus went right to single elimination when the first rains came. They knew the forcast and chose not tempt fate.(someone can correct me if I am wrong) That was on Saturday evening also.
Why did the TD at Lady Bear not make the same call? Show me how if we went to single elimination we would have not at least been in the middle of the final game?
Did he not know the forecast? Did he ignore the forecast? Either way, it was a poor choice.
I have never before seen city league games played in the middle of a girls tournament on the same fields.
How are "hands tied" by the city?
Don't have any games at that park if you can't have the fields. Was the TD just trying to get as many teams as possible to get more entry $$$?
I understand the city makes the call on if the fields are playable or not.
Again, ASA rules are ASA rules but, what was displayed by the TD before we got to that point was pure incompetence.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

I believe the players were just as upset as the egotistical parents and coaches. Who's thinking of who?

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

feistymom,

You are 99% correct in your assessment of the tournament. The 1% where you are not is in saying that some of the comments were "rude and snide". The comments that I heard were beyond just rude and snide, they were completely out of line. Some of the parents are threatening to never come back, the players will be missed but the inappropriate comments and actions of the parents will not be.


Some people need to be reminded that it's only softball.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

devildogs
I did not make it back over, but were you 5-0 in elimination - or better question,
what was your record in the elimination tournament.
ASA rules and regulations specifically address criteria for qualifiers, and coin flip is
last resort, provided you were in elimination.
head to head
what team advanced furthest in elimination
least runs given up
most runs scored
run differential

If you meet the qualifications, you have a legitamate gripe with and can
get ruling overturned.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Lots of good points here. What I saw there was a lot of angry parents and coaches. One mom had to be pulled away by a husband and the assistant TD almost got in a fight with a coach. I think the TD kept his cool in the face of a lot of angry people. Also, As we left our 14U coin flip I watched some of the players from different teams and not one player seemed nearly as angry as the parents and coaches. The Lady lions travelled from Columbus and left with nothing except 3 pool games played. I understand their feelings and I don't blame them. Bottom line is that I know all of you coaches could care less about a coin flip victory. It is not real. We wanted to play and I know all of you feel the same. Hopefully lessons are learned and we put the best interest of our girls first.

Jeff
Lady Knights 14U

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Does anyone have 14U results from pool play??? Please post.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

any results of the "coin flip"- 16U? how was it decided

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

I think an apology by the TD for multiple missteps prior to having been forced to go to coin tosses would go along way.
I would agree entirely that this can be a great lesson for our girls.
I always tell my kids that saying you are sorry is one of the most courages things anyone can do.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Valley Sting won the 16U By results of bracket play.Valley Sting and Lady Lasers Orange were the only teams left in the winners bracket.Valley Sting had allowed 1 run in 2 bracket games and Lady Lasers had allowed 2. No coin flip .

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Now if they went by record and runs earned and runs allowed. I will agree with that. We only had to play 2 games on Sunday (we earned 19 runs and allowed 4) since we placed 1st in our pool so that my have ment the other team had to play and win 3. And that would be understandable.

And I guess for my being upset about not trying to get the fields ready. Goes back to when we were in charge of the fields at the Slam Series in Akron and we worked our behinds off getting the fields playable. We all were mud head to toe. And to see it rain for only 20 mins and then not even an attempt to touch the fields. I'm sorry, it just seemed like they just wanted to get the Tourn over.
And alot of people are saying its for the kids and your right it was for the kids. So make an effort. And then if the fields are still bad then call it. I'm sure that is what everyone expected. They just expected the grounds crew to try to get the fields ready.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Our pool 14u

Breakers Gold vs. Parma Pink Panters 10-2
Breakers Gold vs. North Coast Saints 13-2

Runs scored 23, Runs allowed 4

Out of pool play Game Called Top of fourth with Breakers batting and 0 out
Breakers Gold vs. Valley Sting 4-4
both coaches agreed to a tie due to the desire to not see players injured and no count towards bracket awards

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

feistymom said:

Our pool 14u
Breakers Gold vs. Valley Sting 4-4 ?

Click to expand...

I watched both of these teams at diffenet times on Saturday. That would have been a fun game to watch finish.
Where are they this weekend?

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

Breakers off this weekend. Playing 16u the next weekend in Fairview Park and then to Toledo

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

I'm not trying to stir the pot here but... Warren Jones said our ASA Qualifier final game had to be played to decide a champ even if it meant coming back at a later day to finish a game. The berth given with a coin toss? really - that wasn't even an option for us. We worked on diamonds till they were good enough to safely play between all of the rain showers. were complete by 7:00 pm Sunday

we dropped pool play on Friday Morning when we got 4" of rain on Thursday night. we begain playing double elimintaion bracket play (because thats what ASA code says) at 1:00 on friday.

David Beckham
Ohio Classics Black
Ohio Classics ASA National Qualifier T.D.

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

David,
Did you drop pool play because of the 4 inches Thursday or because of what was forecast?

Re: 7th Annual Lady Bear Classic Girls Fastpitch T

We knew we couldn't get started on time when we got another cell go thru at 5:00 am. we were at the diamonds by 6:00 and set our sites for 1:00 pm for a start time. The forecast called for 80% chance of rain on Saturday so we made the call to swith to bracket at that time. 95% of the teams there agreed it was the right thing to do because the berth was the most important thing. It rainded Friday Night and we started at 8 on Saturday morning. It rained saturday afternoon and postponed two rounds of games till Sunday and we worked till 10:00 pm with vacuums to get ready for 8:00 am. it rained around 1:00 and at that time we regrefully sent the 6 teams in the loser bracket home and scheduled a finals for later that day after we got the diamonds ready again... then it rained during that game. the wolfpack and Nightmare were declared co-champs because the nightmare had a berth and the wolf just got one by being in the final with the Nightmare at 16u. The Classics and the Attack were told they had to play it out so after an hour of rain and 90 minutes more work we completed the game and the Attack took home the final berth. 84 bags of field dry and a bazillion man hours later.... We are lucky too - the facilites are awesome and drain very well. but even luckier because of the parents we have working so hard to get it in.