Is Softball in Ohio on the rise???

[Softball Dad]

With Ohio players on the roster at Kentucky, Tennessee, Washington, and Oregon I believe the talent level in Ohio is on the rise and the rest of the country knows it.

 

[flygirlsdad]

Softball at the highest level is certainly on the rise with more and more teams seeking out of state and high level tournaments, but in general I don't see any increase in participation numbers in my area.

 

[Run26]

I'm going to respond and hopefully I don't show my age .
Is it on the rise? Hmmmm not sure when speaking to some of the older high level orgs. I can still remember watching games played by Lasers Aqua, Wolfpack and Stingrays and those teams were absolutely loaded. So good that I'd put them up against any of the rosters today and would bet Aqua would win 9 of 10 match ups. You think you see speed and power now but Aqua would run most teams off the field.
I think Ohio is getting noticed now more than anything. You have better staffs and individuals who focus on getting kids seen. Its an incredibly important function and one that needed development and has made strides. The more Ohio kids get signed makes it appear that Ohio is indeed getting better. Kids knowing that college scholarships being awarded to Ohio girl influences them to work harder and get better.
Without some of these older generation players getting a chance and proving it on the national stage has made it feasible to today's Ohio athletes. No disrespect to the younger players but some of them could use a history lesson on why the college coaches started coming around in the first place.

 

[hittheball]

With Ohio players on the roster at Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oregon I believe the talent level in Ohio is on the rise.

I believe you have overlooked the co-freshman of the year in the PAC 12 that is with Washington. I believe she is from OHIO last time I checked.

 

[cz fastpitch fan]

One of the reasons the quality of the game has improved, generally speaking, is the rise of opportunities and the interest in getting personal instruction. How many private instructors were out there 10-15 years ago versus today? How many indoor facilities and training academies existed?
Now, they are plentiful and they all are here to stay.
Let the game continue this upward trend. This is good for Ohio and good for the girls!

 

[BulldawgsDirector]

I'm going to respond and hopefully I don't show my age .
Is it on the rise? Hmmmm not sure when speaking to some of the older high level orgs. I can still remember watching games played by Lasers Aqua, Wolfpack and Stingrays and those teams were absolutely loaded. So good that I'd put them up against any of the rosters today and would bet Aqua would win 9 of 10 match ups. You think you see speed and power now but Aqua would run most teams off the field.
I think Ohio is getting noticed now more than anything. You have better staffs and individuals who focus on getting kids seen. Its an incredibly important function and one that needed development and has made strides. The more Ohio kids get signed makes it appear that Ohio is indeed getting better. Kids knowing that college scholarships being awarded to Ohio girl influences them to work harder and get better.
Without some of these older generation players getting a chance and proving it on the national stage has made it feasible to today's Ohio athletes. No disrespect to the younger players but some of them could use a history lesson on why the college coaches started coming around in the first place.

That may be true as far as those teams back then but I feel there is more talent spread out among more organizations than there was then. So if you took all the best players from Ohio now and put them on 4 or 5 teams rather than Ohio girls on Beverly Bandits, Outlaws, Lasers, Wolfpack, Thunder, Indy teams, Louisville sluggers etc..., you would find that there is more talent now. Just my theory. But I think the change in times is good for the sport.

 

[hayhay07]

I'm going to respond and hopefully I don't show my age .
Is it on the rise? Hmmmm not sure when speaking to some of the older high level orgs. I can still remember watching games played by Lasers Aqua, Wolfpack and Stingrays and those teams were absolutely loaded. So good that I'd put them up against any of the rosters today and would bet Aqua would win 9 of 10 match ups. You think you see speed and power now but Aqua would run most teams off the field.
I think Ohio is getting noticed now more than anything. You have better staffs and individuals who focus on getting kids seen. Its an incredibly important function and one that needed development and has made strides. The more Ohio kids get signed makes it appear that Ohio is indeed getting better. Kids knowing that college scholarships being awarded to Ohio girl influences them to work harder and get better.
Without some of these older generation players getting a chance and proving it on the national stage has made it feasible to today's Ohio athletes. No disrespect to the younger players but some of them could use a history lesson on why the college coaches started coming around in the first place.

Well I watched those teams play as well, 9 out of 10 by Aqua is a stretch,and yes they was loaded,but I also seen them get beat by Vikings Elite, Wolfpack, and The Nightmare.It would be an interesting to see how they would do because I would put Gabriel,Dorsey,Cash,Alvelo, Trainer, and McCombs and some of there teams up against those great ones of the past. They got the ball rolling for sure but these other kids have really opened the door for more opportunities. Last 2 pac12 freshman of the year players have been from Ohio, Lilley -Hoover, Alvelo-Carroll.
Education of the game, understanding of the recruiting process has been a factor as well.