NSA NSA A States

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Coach Jim -
You say that "we" did the tunnel to rub it in your faces?... Do you not forget how your Express team celebrated after beating us at Stingrays? As I remember it, they were yelling and just as excited as we were. I don't see a problem with being excited after playing hard to win. I assure you that if your girls would have made the "tunnel" for us, and we would have not walked through it, we would have been in trouble by our coaches. I am sure no one meant to offend you or any of the Express players by doing this... But the Express players offended the Lasers by not walking through... Good luck with the rest of your season!
#16 Kiara

 

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PurpleJack.

Thanks for the constructive criticism, and nice comments. We've bought 2 more grills (and also added a french frier)

People seem to forget about the warmup area over the bridge and by our field 5. NSA didnt want to use the 5th field due to the boys mound that had to stay in due to the Vienna Youth league being in Post Season play. The mound was scheduled to be removed prior to States, but our deal with the Youth Association delayed it. Anyhow, there is lots of room for warmup there. I'm going to add some better signage to let folks better know about it.

The gate was an NSA thing. The Thunderplex doesnt charge parking or gate. We supply the fields, ground crews, proshop and concessions. Some of the organizations that rent the facilities dont charge a gate fee.

I do want to apologize for all of the construction that is taking place. The lights were supposed to have been up in April, but the warmer winter and rainy spring made it impossible for the heavy equipment to get onto the fields without damaging them. We've also been closing in the fields, but have to wait for the last of the poles to be set before finishing. We also crushed 2 of our outfield irrigation mains which with the recent drought, directly impacted our outfields. FWIW, All construction and repair will be completed by next wednesday, which will give us 2 weeks to wrap up the landscaping and catch a breath before hosting the 16u pony nationals.

Feel free to keep the constructive criticism coming.

Dave

 

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Dave, no need to apologize -- what you and Marcee have done in two years is amazing -- people forget that the Thunderplex is still a relatively new facility -- growing pains are tough, but I'm certain with the progress that's been made it will be a gem of Ohio (maybe Midwest) when it's all done.
On the parking charge, did anybody notice there was a death at a youth baseball tournament in Springfield (Akron area) due to parking fee in addition to a gate fee in addition to team fee???
NSA has a reputation of ?gouging. It's too bad the Tplex rep takes a hit because of the NSA's continued greed.

 

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live-4-fastpitch
There is no need to compare the celebrating that each teams does. The discussion is about the tunnel that some teams do, like you girls, and the fact that almost all people have expressed disgust with it. All people kids, parents and coaches alike think that it is a form of "nah nah we won!" Screaming and yelling with your team is not the same unless your saying rude comments directed at the loser or their fans.
Your team is very good and has been for a long time congrats on winning. Doing that from the loser bracket is amazing as there were no slouch teams at that tournament. But do us all a favor and lose the tunnel thing, it is not being considered a friendly gesture as demonstrated by all the comments here.

 

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I understand what some may think about the tunnel, and that is not the point. Just do not assume that the girls were being rude. No more tunnels as far as my daughter is concerned.

 

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Dave,

Keep up the good work! Ohio needs more dedicated softball people like you and your staff. Hopefully we will get to visit the Thunderplex again in the future.

 

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I'll second BigTrain's comment Dave. Was up at the Thunderplex earlier in the year for a PONY tournament, and, while there was a bit of construction going on, it was a very nice facility, and the fields were in good shape. We had a deluge on that Saturday (come to think of it, every time I go up there it rains 8)) that would have wiped out several tournaments, and were up and playing first thing Sunday morning on freshly lined and drug fields. Good luck with Pony Nationals Dave.

 

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Lasers and Express, wish we could of been there ! You are both very talented, You have a lot to be proud of. Lasers why so cocky ? We watched you at Stingray and yes every team celebrates when they win, but as I remember the Express didn't do a tunnel. What up with that. Your team acted disgusted to receive 2nd place. Don't need to boast about how many times you beat a team, Or do you feel the need to. Please :-X Just enjoy this win.

 

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Thanks, folks.

Yeah, Jean. one thing we've learned how to handle is the wet stuff.....

:-/ :

 

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Slidin1st, the tunnel thing is done. As for being disgusted at Stingrays, it was more like disappointed. We lost the Championship game to the Express who also put us in the losers bracket. And you are right, no need to talk about how many times you have beaten a team, the most important game is the next one. Hope that wasn't too thingy! ???

 

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Just to clear up an earlier post - NSA did not charge a gate fee, the tournament director decides on whether to charge or not to charge.

 

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First time we have had a tourney @ Thunderplex.....nice facility, one of the fields we played on ...I think #3, not sure, was a bit to shallow for 16u, frankly no team has that many home runs and as soon as the girls saw the fence they knew it would be a home run fest, LOL The fields where very nice and we like the way they actually relined between games.
About the tunnel.....the only time I have seen it used appropriately is when our older team was supporting their little sister team @ the end of Nationals... then it was to give them a pat on the back for playing well.....it was kids from same organization doing it for each other not an opposing team, my daughter has been involve twice both on giving and receiving end and it was very neat, but they did keep it "within the family", otherwise to do it I think it could be construed as rubbing the victory in to the loser's face......JMHO

 

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slidin1st...my apologies. i thought live_4_fastpitch cleared it up that the MVE Blue didn't do a tunnel. i misunderstood my daughter, she just felt bad they did go thru the tunnel. again, my apologies to all, the tunnel has been laid to rest.

Go Ohio Teams this weekend where ever your play or whom ever you play!

 

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LUVFPSB,

Thanks for the nice comments.

#3 "appears" to be shorter, due to the way it backs on to #2, however, #s 1, 3 & 4 are exactly 200' all the way around. ?#2 is 285' with a 6' fence, but uses a temporary system at 200'.

Dave

 

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KAYSEEDAZE,

it wasnt really and ego buster more of a motivator...just like your comments...

exactly..its not like they were mad that we lost..it was just that they wanted us to start thinking like a team and playing like a team..which they knew we could do! getting put into the losers bracket aint all that bad actually, because if you love softball, you would be happy because you get to play more games.

 

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ive seen losing teams to the tunnel for the winners- in fact i see it more in the losing teams- theres no way u can say its rubbing it in, its just a fun thing for them to do and shows respect for the other team

 

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Read the reponses, thats not the way most people on here see it, and ALL that I have ever spoken to about it think it's condescending.

 

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I think the "tunnel" is not an appropriate cheer for any sport. It has always been viewed as rude and demeaning. The winners have a right to cheer all they want but don't forget to be sincere with your handshake/handslap followed by "good game". Let's teach our children to be good sports-they follow our example.

 

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kayseedaze... best game of the weekend was ANY game that ice white played in the losers bracket. ;D ?These girls worked hard and earned their wins!!! They played tough and proved what it is to work together and to really want something. ?You may be disgusted by hearing the Ice coaches yelling, but I am disgusted by your obvious joy in thinking this was an ego buster for a team of young girls.. ?kinda the pot calling the kettle black is it not? :-X ?The girls were not being scolded for "losing" but merely reminded of how to play "as a team" when sometimes a team loses sight of that... ?win or lose. ?

yea, they worked hard to beat little reck teams (besides wolfpack).....is that what you call state champs? I dont see their name in the top 3 when it comes to ASA states, where some of the tough teams were! :-*

 

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Excuse me, I thought you just said rec. teams. hmm... If I do remember correctly, the Thunderbolts 14u PUT the Ice in the um... loser's bracket??? Yeah. Who's the "rec. team" now, losing to the Thunderbolts (no offense guys). Oh, and I guess the Thunder Elite 14u is yet another one of these rec. teams at the States? So what if the Ice hit their gaps in the outfield and that's the only reason why they won, the Thunder Elite had some good plays and good bats. And, I'm almost positive that the Thunder Elite just won a tournament this past weekend. I don't know which is "better" out of ASA, NSA, PONY, USSSAF, etc. And frankly, I don't care. There are leaders of the pack in each qualification and there are underdogs. It only matters how THAT game is played, not how that game is played compared to another.
Thank you and have a nice day.