Perry wins D1 state title

BlueDevilDad said:

Yes- she is my DD. Thank you. She did not pitch her best against Perry. She stuggled to hit her spots and her rise did not work like it has been.

She stated to me- " I just did not feel it today. When I missed my spots Perry capitalized on it. Thats the way it go's"

If you replayed the the final four the next four weeks there would be different outcomes everytime.

All the teams were very good or they would not be there. Perry played great all weekend.

I feel it takes away from the game by throwing out reasons why a team looses.

Just enjoy the moment. You do not get their often. I am just happy my DD took me for that ride.

Congrat's to Perry!

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I was sitting next to the 2nd baseman's grandfather during the first couple innings of the game. I enjoyed speaking with him and telling each other about our teams. I told him there is this guy on OFC, a softball website that I go on with a guy named BlueDevilDad, I wonder if he's if here, I said. I wish I would've known the pitcher was your dd. I'd have looked you up.

BlueDevilDad said:

Yes- she is my DD. Thank you. She did not pitch her best against Perry. She stuggled to hit her spots and her rise did not work like it has been.

She stated to me- " I just did not feel it today. When I missed my spots Perry capitalized on it. Thats the way it go's"

If you replayed the the final four the next four weeks there would be different outcomes everytime.

All the teams were very good or they would not be there. Perry played great all weekend.

I feel it takes away from the game by throwing out reasons why a team looses.

Just enjoy the moment. You do not get their often. I am just happy my DD took me for that ride.

Congrat's to Perry!

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You are very much a class act! Good luck to your daughter !

Great job Perry, and a special High Five to all the previous Slammer girls on the roster. You worked hard and you deserved the win!

wgman21 said:

I was sitting next to the 2nd baseman's grandfather during the first couple innings of the game. I enjoyed speaking with him and telling each other about our teams. I told him there is this guy on OFC, a softball website that I go on with a guy named BlueDevilDad, I wonder if he's if here, I said. I wish I would've known the pitcher was your dd. I'd have looked you up.

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I would have enjoyed that.

If my child ever had the good fortune to be in a state tournament, one of her parents would be going with her and staying in the hotel just like we do for travel ball.

Just making it to the Final Four is a tremendous accomplishment. You have to be VERY good, and have some good fortune.

Look back at Perry's journey this year, they were seriously down a few games, late. Elyria's journey over the past 4 years? Hudson in 2007? Heck, even a dominating team like Hoover took some lumps, and had some scares in the years they won. It really has to be a special ride to make it all the way, and be the only team in your division without a season ending loss.

Congrats to the D1 Champs, and all four of the Regional "survivors" .... er, champs!

mom said:

I think Mr. Smooth made a very good point. Trekking up to Akron takes a toll on the players like crazy, especially with the weather problems. Nice to know the NE teams can play state in their backyard. (May not have changed the outcome, but I think the game would have been closer. Hotelling/travelling had to have an effect on them.) Here's hoping the powers that be move the tournament to a more central location the next time the opportunity arises!!

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If your argument had any logic behind it, then Poland would have won the D2 title since they played Regionals at Firestone (in their backyard). Firestone Stadium is the only softball venue I know that can handle large numbers of fans for the playoffs. Ashland and Columbus are nice, but sitting behind an outfield fence or standing is not the same.

Travel? ... Really?

Maybe it affected the Greyhounds, sure, maybe it did. I don't know.

I don't think it would have affected Perry though, had it been the other way around. That team is made up of hardened travel softball players (Slammers, Lasers, Sapphires, among others). They play on summer ball teams that play out of state as mush as in-state .... two hours up the road is a relief, possibly commutable just to get the grass cut and feed the dog, a few times that summer.

If they played ten times, who knows who would win the most games, Grove City is a great team that had a great year. This is way more about who was better at "High Noon" on a given, than traveling 120 minutes vs 35 minutes. Honestly, a lot of teams use that travel away together to bond and pull tightly "together".

You just cannot appreciate what a challenge it is to just get out of the NE Ohio Region ..... when Perry made it out, there are probably 4-5 (or more other teams) that feel like it should be their championship. Some of those districts that feed into that Akron Region are just filled with hard core, battle hardened, softball warriors. I know Central Ohio has some top teams also, especially Grove City & Gahanna, among others this year.

Just tip your cap to the Champs though. Getting to State is difficult, and as Yogi once said .... baseball (or softball) ..... [SIZE=-1]"Baseball is ninety percent mental. The other half is physical."[/SIZE]


http://www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quoberra.shtml

There is a saying in poker that I think applies here:

The winners tell jokes and the losers say "Shut-up and deal"

I think we're having two different arguments here.

Maybe, I haven't read every post closely enough, but I don't think anybody is saying that Grove City lost because they had to travel or because it was in Firestone Stadium. Perry has a very, very good team; disciplined hitters, great defense and a pitcher that gets the job done. They played a solid game and deserved to win. I prefaced all my comments because many people make the assumption that any comment about a game other than "Congrats to Team X" as an excuse.

Discussion should be a good thing. Heck, OFC wouldn't be as popular as it without all the analysis and discussions. It's a great resource for becoming more informed about fastpitch softball.

It's just human nature to analyze a game; look at hits, errors, pitching, coaching to help explain why one team lost and another team won. Just watch ESPN after a big football game; these commentators are getting big bucks for giving their opinion about a game. Winners of any sporting event probably don't want to hear the losers explain why they think they lost, and the losers don't want to hear comments about why the winners were better than their team. Both sides are sensitive. How many times do Buckeye football fans get sick of the "over-rated, over-rated" comments after a loss?

The other argument people are having is whether traveling takes a toll on people. Most people would agree that it doesn't decide a game. However, in my very humble opinion, I believe that traveling does take a toll. I know I'm glad when my daughter has a tournament closer to home. It takes a lot of money, time, and effort to travel. I think that's the point people are trying to make; they're not trying to diminish the win or take anything away from Perry or any team for that matter.

There has been a lot of discussion lately in the papers and on forums about where tournaments should be held. I'm sure OSHAA looks at not only proximity, but availability of facilities and the ability of those facilities to accommodate expected crowds. As more and more schools go to pay-to-play or threaten to do away with sports, money will become more of issue, with proximity being in the forefront of the argument for a centralized location. Hopefully, they'll still take into consideration the ability of the facility to handle the crowds. Firestone seems to fit the bill in that area and you gotta love the covering especially during a rain delay.

Congratulations to all the teams that participated in the state tournaments. What a wild ride. You'll cherish the memories forever. Just 9 months until the wild ride begins again.

Congrats to Massillion Perry and Cassie R. on there State Championship run! As my pre-season predictions show this was no suprise to me. Also, Congrats to the young ladies of Grove City who had a great run through the tourney. I know first hand with all the levy issues faced during the past year, that your accomplishments go far beyond that of the softball field. Good luck to all the seniors on both teams and good luck to all the underclassmen with there summer teams.

Lee Pyles
Central Crossing H.S.

#54 04-02-2010, 11:30 AM
Bink44
Addicted Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 1,356

Re: OHIO HS Coaches' Pre-Season Poll voting now open!!!!

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Is there anyone else who is willing to step up and do a high school coaches poll?

#55 04-02-2010, 11:59 AM
Bink44
Addicted Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 1,356

Re: OHIO HS Coaches' Pre-Season Poll voting now open!!!!

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Just IMHO STATEWIDE Preseason Division I Poll...

1) Massilion Perry
2) Glen Este
3) Grove Cty
4) Elyria
5) Hudson
6) Lebanon
7) Gahanna
8) Anthony Wayne
9) Teays Valley
10) Perrysburg

Also North Canton Hoover, Upper Arlington, Massilion Jackson, Springfeld Holland, Oregon Clay, Lakota West, Pickerington Central and Youngstown Boardman should also be considered for preseason Top 10 consideration!

This will be my only entry for the season due to personal conflict, but OFC has been so dry the past couple of months, I'm just tryng to get some good conversation started...lol.

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Last edited by Bink44; 04-04-2010 at 01:39 PM. Reason: spelling

I have no stake in the Grove City-Perry game, so my post has nothing to do with that game. I am speaking generally.

Travel does certainly take a toll. There is a reason that home teams have a winning percentage in almost every sport at every level. How much of a toll travel takes depends on how a team travels, how long it is on the road, accommodations, etc. It's impossible to know exactly how much traveling puts a team at a disadvantage. Maybe it's just 1% or maybe it's 20%, but it's a factor.

The mentality of "shut up and play ball" is fine, but that's a separate issue. When we travel, we never talk about whether travel is taking a toll on us, so in that sense, we just shut up and play ball. Again, that doesn't mean that the travel isn't taking a toll. This all seems pretty basic to me. How anyone could claim that planes, buses, hotels, different beds, etc., would not have an effect on one's body is just nonsense. What is the one thing that the SAT, ACT, interview advisors, etc., tell people to do the night before? Get plenty of rest. It's a huge factor in one's mental and physical performance. And anyone who has traveled all day, stayed in a hotel and eaten out non-stop knows that you don't sleep nearly as well as you do in your own bed.

I don't care where Ohio plays its State tournament, and other than knowing the Grove City coach and a couple of the parents, I really don't care who won that game. My point is that anyone who claims that travel has no effect on people is not being even slightly rational.

Bink44 said:

Congrats to Massillion Perry and Cassie R. on there State Championship run! As my pre-season predictions show this was no suprise to me. Also, Congrats to the young ladies of Grove City who had a great run through the tourney. I know first hand with all the levy issues faced during the past year, that your accomplishments go far beyond that of the softball field. Good luck to all the seniors on both teams and good luck to all the underclassmen with there summer teams.

Lee Pyles
Central Crossing H.S.

#54 04-02-2010, 11:30 AM
Bink44
Addicted Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 1,356

Re: OHIO HS Coaches' Pre-Season Poll voting now open!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is there anyone else who is willing to step up and do a high school coaches poll?

#55 04-02-2010, 11:59 AM
Bink44
Addicted Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Grove City, Ohio
Posts: 1,356

Re: OHIO HS Coaches' Pre-Season Poll voting now open!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just IMHO STATEWIDE Preseason Division I Poll...

1) Massilion Perry
2) Glen Este
3) Grove Cty
4) Elyria
5) Hudson
6) Lebanon
7) Gahanna
8) Anthony Wayne
9) Teays Valley
10) Perrysburg

Also North Canton Hoover, Upper Arlington, Massilion Jackson, Springfeld Holland, Oregon Clay, Lakota West, Pickerington Central and Youngstown Boardman should also be considered for preseason Top 10 consideration!

This will be my only entry for the season due to personal conflict, but OFC has been so dry the past couple of months, I'm just tryng to get some good conversation started...lol.

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Last edited by Bink44; 04-04-2010 at 01:39 PM. Reason: spelling

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I guess this is for another thread. But I would disagree with some of your picks. Didnt you pick P-Burg as a perseason top 10?

My question to you is....Do most of these teams have Laser White players on them. LOL Taking the PC route.

I do not have a dog in the fight anymore so I can be more objective than most.

JoeA1010 said:

I have no stake in the Grove City-Perry game, so my post has nothing to do with that game. I am speaking generally.

Travel does certainly take a toll. There is a reason that home teams have a winning percentage in almost every sport at every level. How much of a toll travel takes depends on how a team travels, how long it is on the road, accommodations, etc. It's impossible to know exactly how much traveling puts a team at a disadvantage. Maybe it's just 1% or maybe it's 20%, but it's a factor.

The mentality of "shut up and play ball" is fine, but that's a separate issue. When we travel, we never talk about whether travel is taking a toll on us, so in that sense, we just shut up and play ball. Again, that doesn't mean that the travel isn't taking a toll. This all seems pretty basic to me. How anyone could claim that planes, buses, hotels, different beds, etc., would not have an effect on one's body is just nonsense. What is the one thing that the SAT, ACT, interview advisors, etc., tell people to do the night before? Get plenty of rest. It's a huge factor in one's mental and physical performance. And anyone who has traveled all day, stayed in a hotel and eaten out non-stop knows that you don't sleep nearly as well as you do in your own bed.

I don't care where Ohio plays its State tournament, and other than knowing the Grove City coach and a couple of the parents, I really don't care who won that game. My point is that anyone who claims that travel has no effect on people is not being even slightly rational.

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Agree with your statements Joe. I hate sleeping on the road. But I never use it as an excuse to why I did not get the sale. I just have to step up my game.

Facts are there will allways be a team traveling.

^^^ Yes Perrysburg is listed in my pre-season predictions on 4-2-10 at #10 as stated above. And your 2nd question is clearly Noooooo...lol. I think there is a total of 4 Laser White players on the 16 teams I listed.

I'm just addicted to softball and have watched a lot of these other players play in the summer and in H.S. over the years. Half of the fun for me and DD's have been making friends with players, parents and coaches on other teams. I was just giving a very neutral, educated guess, and got a little lucky with 9 of 16 teams making it to regionals...lol.

Elyria-2 players
Perrysburg-1 player
Anthony Wayne-1 player

Bink44 said:

^^^ Yes Perrysburg is listed in my pre-season predictions on 4-2-10 at #10 as stated above. And your 2nd question is clearly Noooooo...lol. I think there is a total of 4 Laser White players on the 16 teams I listed.

I'm just addicted to softball and have watched a lot of these other players play in the summer and in H.S. over the years. Half of the fun for me and DD's have been making friends with players, parents and coaches on other teams. I was just giving a very neutral, educated guess, and got a little lucky with 9 of 16 teams making it to regionals...lol.

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Holland Springfield will be down next year. Lose their pitcher and 3 other Seniors and have heard through the grape vine 2 other players may not play next year. Now their 6th 7th and 8th grade classes are loaded.
Clay has a untested pitcher next year and graduate 4 seniors. But they do reload every year. May be the safest pick.
Perrysburg- May be your second best pick from the NWO area. However they really struggle to hit and play solid D. Bryson is leaving which pitched against the strong teams.
Anothny Wayne- Looses their best pitcher, their catcher, 2nd, and left field ( I think there is 10 Hrs that are now out of the line up). They do not have much coming up. Their 7th and 8th grad classes are very week.

Look out for Sylvania Southview. I think they lose 1 player.

Wild card = 43ft pitching distance

BlueDevilDad said:

Agree with your statements Joe. I hate sleeping on the road. But I never use it as an excuse to why I did not get the sale. I just have to step up my game.

Facts are there will allways be a team traveling.

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BDD: Do you then step down your game a notch when you're not traveling? If you can step up your game while traveling, that implies that you get by on less than 100% effort when not traveling.

No denying the fact there will always be a team traveling. But also no denying that the traveling takes something of a toll.

JoeA1010 said:

BDD: Do you then step down your game a notch when you're not traveling? If you can step up your game while traveling, that implies that you get by on less than 100% effort when not traveling.

No denying the fact there will always be a team traveling. But also no denying that the traveling takes something of a toll.

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I travel a LOT, for business and with softball. In both areas, too much travel leads to fatigue, sometimes even malaise. Just the right amount, on a limited basis can help with focus, and even generate enthusiasm. I am pretty familiar with a recent D1 champion (for example), that chose to stay out in a hotel the night before their state championship game and played quite well in winning. All things, ... in moderation ... with good planning and leadership. We're not talking about the pro circuit, and 4-6 months of travel.

The reality, is that it is more about how humans choose and are able to react to their surroundings and prepare & use them to their benefit. I understand the comforts of home having advantages, but there are comparative disadvantages as well.

Lemons and lemonade.

Now Perry has to beat Boardman today in their final Federal League game just to tie North Canton Hoover for 1st place.... tough league.

ohlovessteelers said:

Now Perry has to beat Boardman today in their final Federal League game just to tie North Canton Hoover for 1st place.... tough league.

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Heard a rumor that Boardman released their Varsity and JV for Travel ball. If that's the case, it may be a mix of their Freshman, JV, and Varsity team that plays Perry. Maybe Boardman just wants to throw a little love Perry's way.