Following the 2024 season, I am thinking of having my 09 daughter tryout for “A”/Premier/National team. Currently we are located in the Cincinnati area. Who are the best organizations in Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana to consider?
Thanks
A team that plays a true "A national schedule" tends to draw players from 2-4 hours away from their home and the team recruits during the season from other A teams looking to do the same so, spots are generally limited. (Every team however will generally make room for a stud pitcher, catcher or hitter).
A lot of theses teams have ladies that have been playing A schedules since 12/13u. Most are allready committed to a college by the time they hit 15U but as you go through 2024 season try to get to events that have have the better teams playing in. EX: If you are playing at Recruit fest try to swing up to Stingrays to catch some games and check out teams.
With this said, In KY I would say top programs would be Louisville Lady Sluggers, Southern Force (long drive to SW KY). Louisville Stunners.
Indiana has a lot of good programs; Indy Dreams, Magic, Gators, Shockwaves just to name a few.
Ohio: Lasers, Doom, Hawks have teams that play a national schedule. Ohio has a lot of good teams as well but many do not play a national schedule you are looking for just playing around the state or just over the border vs many of the same teams tournament after tournament.
The family has to want to play great competition and not worry about the cost of travel as fees can be as high as $2400 with rosters 15+ on top of travel expences.
If one is thinking about joining one of these teams for a scholorship most are dissapointed.
There are a ton of college opportunities to play that does not require a lot of expence or travel. Heck, some JC and DIII have ladies that only played HS ball and some DII-small DI have open tryouts.
Sites like Field Level is a good site to join as you can search travel teams from about 150 mile radious of Cincinnnati, have travel and college coach connections and look at what is avaliable. Keep in mind a lot of these teams on the site are lower teir A or B that do not play a national schedule. Your HS coach can also be a big help as many of the top programs in SW Ohio have long term coaches that can get players alligned to the right spot.