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My oldest's team is looking to possibly play in the 14U OGSO in Lorain County. What's your thoughts on how it is run, competition, etc?
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A couple of questions. ( It has been a few years since my daughter played OGSO, but I don't think much has changed.
Is your daughter's team a local team? (OGSO requires 80% of the girls to be from the same town I believe)
Does your daughters team play in weekend tournaments?
1. OGSO state tournament at the end of summer is on weekends and if you miss an OGSO game for a tournament you are disqualified from playing in any further OGSO tournament games that year.
2. Being local teams the competition is down quite a bit from what you would be used to seeing on the weekends.
My thoughts on OGSO are that it is a great way for younger players to get started and see better competition than their local city rec league. However by 14U most of the top players haved moved on from OGSO to weekend tournament teams.
Is your daughter's team a local team? (OGSO requires 80% of the girls to be from the same town I believe)
Does your daughters team play in weekend tournaments?
1. OGSO state tournament at the end of summer is on weekends and if you miss an OGSO game for a tournament you are disqualified from playing in any further OGSO tournament games that year.
2. Being local teams the competition is down quite a bit from what you would be used to seeing on the weekends.
My thoughts on OGSO are that it is a great way for younger players to get started and see better competition than their local city rec league. However by 14U most of the top players haved moved on from OGSO to weekend tournament teams.
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I'm not too familiar with the class C (age 13 &14) group....is Avon doing OGSO instead of little league or is she playing with another community?
My dd played OGSO for the past 3 years (2 years at Class A and 1 year at Class B), and you usually play 2 games a week, and some of the teams are decent, others not soo decent. I imagine at the C level, most girls are playing because they want to play (whereas in the younger classes, some girls are there because their parents signed them up).
District tournaments start in June and there is usually a County Champ game as well. DD's Keystone team last year played in the State semi finals and to be honest, that is when the competition really started.....the team they faced had a pitcher from Thunder Elite that could bring it.
I guess it depends on what your daughter wants...OGSO is probably better than most rec as far as competition and its probably par with Emerald Necklace. Its a breeding ground for most travel players coming from Lorain County.
dd is not playing OGSO this year because her travel team is playing a very heavy schedule....
My dd played OGSO for the past 3 years (2 years at Class A and 1 year at Class B), and you usually play 2 games a week, and some of the teams are decent, others not soo decent. I imagine at the C level, most girls are playing because they want to play (whereas in the younger classes, some girls are there because their parents signed them up).
District tournaments start in June and there is usually a County Champ game as well. DD's Keystone team last year played in the State semi finals and to be honest, that is when the competition really started.....the team they faced had a pitcher from Thunder Elite that could bring it.
I guess it depends on what your daughter wants...OGSO is probably better than most rec as far as competition and its probably par with Emerald Necklace. Its a breeding ground for most travel players coming from Lorain County.
dd is not playing OGSO this year because her travel team is playing a very heavy schedule....
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How old is your oldest DD?
I am still involved in this league at the local level (no kids playing, just administration, clinics, writing schedules etc...) Here are the problems we have run into over the last few years:
Their end of season tournaments (Districts (local) and State) always seem to run into conflicts because they hold many of those games on Weekends. So all of the tournament players are forced to make a choice. Tournament players of course choose their tournament teams and therefore leave their community teams hanging. So my advice on that has always been to make sure the OGSO team knows up front that you most likely won't be there and if they can't understand that then don't play. Unfortunately some of those parents and children take it very personally.
The next problem is usually the competition. OGSO was a decent league a long time ago, now the team numbers have dwindled considerably. I believe 14u or class "C" as they call it had 11 teams in it last year. Only a handful were quality and most that were decent only had 4-5 strong players that carried the team. (Not picking on anyone, just an observation)
The tournament players in our area have been ready to play in their 18u division since they were about 12. Most have chosen not to, but they could have. This year any of the 2nd year 14's in our area that end up signing up will be playing 18u.
They generally play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but there were a handful of Friday games scheduled last year. If by chance they passed the motion to start late to accommodate High School players then most likely they will play Tue, Thu, Fri most weeks. For what its worth, the 18u Division also plays Tue, Thu, Fri traditionally.
My humble opinion is that OGSO has a definite purpose and in Ridgeville is much more competitive than it's rec program. Don't get me started on that........ In other communities it does a decent job of being a bridge to tournament ball for many kids. For many others that can't quite deal with the tournament grind it provides them a place to play semi-competitive ball while still playing with friends. If your DD is an established tournament player then she won't get much out of it other than being around others in her community.
Agree with above post that it is on par with Emerald Necklace.
I am still involved in this league at the local level (no kids playing, just administration, clinics, writing schedules etc...) Here are the problems we have run into over the last few years:
Their end of season tournaments (Districts (local) and State) always seem to run into conflicts because they hold many of those games on Weekends. So all of the tournament players are forced to make a choice. Tournament players of course choose their tournament teams and therefore leave their community teams hanging. So my advice on that has always been to make sure the OGSO team knows up front that you most likely won't be there and if they can't understand that then don't play. Unfortunately some of those parents and children take it very personally.
The next problem is usually the competition. OGSO was a decent league a long time ago, now the team numbers have dwindled considerably. I believe 14u or class "C" as they call it had 11 teams in it last year. Only a handful were quality and most that were decent only had 4-5 strong players that carried the team. (Not picking on anyone, just an observation)
The tournament players in our area have been ready to play in their 18u division since they were about 12. Most have chosen not to, but they could have. This year any of the 2nd year 14's in our area that end up signing up will be playing 18u.
They generally play on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but there were a handful of Friday games scheduled last year. If by chance they passed the motion to start late to accommodate High School players then most likely they will play Tue, Thu, Fri most weeks. For what its worth, the 18u Division also plays Tue, Thu, Fri traditionally.
My humble opinion is that OGSO has a definite purpose and in Ridgeville is much more competitive than it's rec program. Don't get me started on that........ In other communities it does a decent job of being a bridge to tournament ball for many kids. For many others that can't quite deal with the tournament grind it provides them a place to play semi-competitive ball while still playing with friends. If your DD is an established tournament player then she won't get much out of it other than being around others in her community.
Agree with above post that it is on par with Emerald Necklace.
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I don't think his oldest plays travel ball.
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My oldest is now 15 and Julie is right, she doesn't play travel. She chooses not too. She only likes to sub.
According to her coach, they are playing Class D since some are sophomores. Avon is doing Little League, but her coach is keeping the select team together. He is having them not sign up for Little League, and looking at OGSO.
According to her coach, they are playing Class D since some are sophomores. Avon is doing Little League, but her coach is keeping the select team together. He is having them not sign up for Little League, and looking at OGSO.
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Having had both dd's in OGSO, and the oldest in Little League as well, I guess I'd go with OGSO, since most of the D girls would be high school players who are likely not to be travel ball players. The only caveat would be when LL starts its state playoffs -- I think you're more likely to see the teams stuffed with TB players. The Elyria team that went to nationals 2 or 3 years ago was a prime example.
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After dd played two years in OGSO, then last year in Emerald Necklace, I'd agree that both leagues are very comparable. My dd, as a newbie pitcher, got a lot of pitching time last year in the EN, which she wouldn't have if she'd played on a straight TB team.
John, it sounds like your dd is looking to play for the fun of it, and I'd say go OGSO because they'd be traveling over Lorain and Medina counties to new parks and against new teams. I hope she has a great summer. as well as you and your younger dd.
John, it sounds like your dd is looking to play for the fun of it, and I'd say go OGSO because they'd be traveling over Lorain and Medina counties to new parks and against new teams. I hope she has a great summer. as well as you and your younger dd.
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Finally! Something I know a little about! lol....I am newer to the travel ball thing and we are bridging my DD into it...I joined this site to learn as much as I can...but there is so much to learn!
My DD plays in OGSO in Portage County. Last year we were the A ball (10u) state runners-up...moving up to B ball (12u) this year. Being that I am not close to Lorain, I cannot comment directly on your area, but in Portage County OGSO is a mix. OGSO IS rec ball for many areas, so some teams aren't very competitive at all. However, there are also some fairly competitive teams, even at our young level. Once you get into later levels of districts and then state, the competition is increased with many of the teams actually having some travel ball players on them as well.
We personally are using it as a bridge for a few of our girls to go to travel ball (my daughter included). We are mostly playing in OGSO this year, but planning on attending about 4 travel tournaments. We attended the Outlaws Breast Cancer awareness tournament last fall and played at 12u (had only been practicing with the larger ball and distance for 3 weeks at that time) It went pretty decent. We were totally crushed by the first team we saw, beat the second team we saw, and kept pace but ended up losing by one to the last team.
I guess my point in all of that is....you will find some fairly competitive teams in OGSO... not like travel ball of course, but decent. However, there are also some terrible teams as well.
FYI - games (at least in Portage) are on Tues. and Thurs., but districts and state are on the weekend. State this year is the the very last weekend in July and I am very excited to say that it will be held in Portage County in Randolph, Ohio - our hometown! :yahoo:
My DD plays in OGSO in Portage County. Last year we were the A ball (10u) state runners-up...moving up to B ball (12u) this year. Being that I am not close to Lorain, I cannot comment directly on your area, but in Portage County OGSO is a mix. OGSO IS rec ball for many areas, so some teams aren't very competitive at all. However, there are also some fairly competitive teams, even at our young level. Once you get into later levels of districts and then state, the competition is increased with many of the teams actually having some travel ball players on them as well.
We personally are using it as a bridge for a few of our girls to go to travel ball (my daughter included). We are mostly playing in OGSO this year, but planning on attending about 4 travel tournaments. We attended the Outlaws Breast Cancer awareness tournament last fall and played at 12u (had only been practicing with the larger ball and distance for 3 weeks at that time) It went pretty decent. We were totally crushed by the first team we saw, beat the second team we saw, and kept pace but ended up losing by one to the last team.
I guess my point in all of that is....you will find some fairly competitive teams in OGSO... not like travel ball of course, but decent. However, there are also some terrible teams as well.
FYI - games (at least in Portage) are on Tues. and Thurs., but districts and state are on the weekend. State this year is the the very last weekend in July and I am very excited to say that it will be held in Portage County in Randolph, Ohio - our hometown! :yahoo:
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I want to thank everyone for their input. If anyone else has anything to add please do so. I know last year, it wasn't fun for my oldest because we played the same teams over and over again. I just hope the coach pulls this off.
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Just make sure they get signed up in time. Deadline is fast approaching.
Fun to play with their friends, but the competition is often lacking in the lower half of teams. There will be some games where you need to get creative to make an out or 2 just to get out of the inning. Also some fairly solid teams too. If you have many/mostly travel type players, suggest you play up an age group.
Fun to play with their friends, but the competition is often lacking in the lower half of teams. There will be some games where you need to get creative to make an out or 2 just to get out of the inning. Also some fairly solid teams too. If you have many/mostly travel type players, suggest you play up an age group.
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Can any roster team get into the OGSO tournament? Does anyone have information on when the tournament is for 14U and who to contact. I am looking for a good tournament for a roster team the second week in August or later.
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These are community based teams. The max number of players outside of your community charter is 2. You can have a 3rd with Executive Board approval (which rarely happens). Their tournament is not an open tournament, it is only for the OGSO teams. It is a "State" tournament of sorts of all OGSO teams. Of course by State they mean like 4-5 counties....
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OK, thanks.
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Here is the link for OGSO:
http://ogso.org/
Here is the link for Trumbull County's league's:
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?cmenuid=1&url=tcybs&sid=622904779
http://ogso.org/
Here is the link for Trumbull County's league's:
http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?cmenuid=1&url=tcybs&sid=622904779
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We have been apart of OGSO for a few years with my 9 and 12 year old girls. We feel the experiences has been pretty good.
My 12yr old plays on the Garrettsville JAGS, 52-1 2x defending OGSO state champs, with "0" travel players last year and "1" the year before.
Competition has been varied. We did not have a close game until deep into the tourney, but the JAGS are a rare rec team. Most rec teams will have good solid competetion overall.
My 12yr old plays on the Garrettsville JAGS, 52-1 2x defending OGSO state champs, with "0" travel players last year and "1" the year before.
Competition has been varied. We did not have a close game until deep into the tourney, but the JAGS are a rare rec team. Most rec teams will have good solid competetion overall.
