PREDICTIONS???

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diamondking,

If you have read the posts, most people agree that the Ice/Slammers game was simply that --- a great game. The complaining has not been from the teams...they both recognize each other as opponents and are not complaining. Each had the same opportunity to score. The observations have been about the drop dead rule in softball. If I read what everyone is saying, they believe the girls should be given a chance to complete a game. Especially in championship play. Clark Richards did ask for more time and it was a classy thing to do. No One is saying any different. As to your reference about the 16/18U tournament, I believe there was a thread about the problems with the drop dead rule. You are the one who brought this into the PREDICTIONS post. Did you make any?

Predictions for 2008: The teams that work hard in the off season will see results in season. Period.

 

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YES my prediction is WHO WINS THE LAST GAME IS CHAMPS!!!!

 

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One thing to keep in mind! And I dont know what the final was either but i was watching the Slammers play Heat of Ohio in Kent last month and allthough they pitche their 2nd pitcher many balls were smoked into the nets...the deep nets in right and left. My Prediction is this the Slammers tend to play well in big games but that big year like last year well...I dont think so! 14u looks good this year and like I said earlier get ready for lots of good games this year from this age group!

 

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diamond king
You are a Bigtrain hater just look at you last 10 posts all negative towards Slammers and I would not say all teams in organization are classy but what ever. Have a great day

 

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are these predictions for best outdoor team or best indoor team?
i don't see any whining, just stating of fact
outdoor softball and indoor softball are two completely different critters
take them both for what they are

 

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Here's my question. ?What criteria are people using for their predictions? ?Just curious. ?Haven't seen some of the teams play, so I was wondering how people get their information on other teams.
1. ?Are people basing their predictions on a team's past record? ?(What if the team experienced a 60% turnover last year?)
2. ?Are people basing their prediction based on an organizations name? ?(Aren't the lasers red and white new teams? )?
3. ?Are people basing their prediction on team's performance at an indoor tournament? (This has already been discussed in other threads.)
4. ?Are people basing their prediction on teams that mostly play ASA?
5. ?Are people basing their predictions only on the teams that play in tournaments, such as CompuWare, GAPSS, Stingrays, and Uncle Stan's? ?
Personally, I like the predictions. ?If I see a team that was listed on the prediction list playing at a tournament that my dd is in, I like to check out the games because I know they'll be fun to watch.
Some organizations have very good teams at one age level, but it may not apply to all teams in the organization. ?Too many people assume that a team is good based only on organization's or coach's name.
I can't wait to compare the predictions with the records at the end of the season.

 

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My predictions are based on absolutely nothing, but this thread has seemed to live on, so I have offered my opinion. You know what they say about opinions!!! :-X

 

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When you throw an opinion or prediction out there it certainly motivates people to give one of their own and if you ask me, if no one responded with their viewpoint OFC would be pretty boring.

 

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Ladyknights,

Way to step up and offer an opinion, and get the Hot Stove talk started!!! There is nothing wrong with offering an opinion on predictions as long as it's done with class. This is good for long standing rivelries and good info for up and coming teams looking for good competition in the future.

I always look at quality of tournaments played in, head to head scores against 2 good teams and common opponant game scores of top teams, when preparing for who we might face in the quarters, semis and championship game of a tournament. Also last season results, Fall tournaments and Winter leagues/tourny's come into play.

Anyway with that being said, it is far too early to actually predict teams in any order. But I will answear a post from above about the 12U and list 10 teams at 12u in no particular order to start the 2008 year off. ?

Valley Extream White
Ohio Ice
C.O. Stingrays
Cincy Doom 95
Ohio Classics
Ohio Topguns
Buckeye Heat 95
Ohio Roadrunners
Scioto County Wild Thangs
Lasers Silver

Hope I didn't stir the pot too much...lol. ?

 

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Thanks for the mention Bink from the Wild Thangs ---I'd like to mention again that the Cincy static black have young kids who know the game ---I've seen very few teams so my opinion would need a quarter added to it just to be worth 25 cents. Do the classics have a 11u and 12u teams this year ? Or just 1 team ? MD

 

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I will get the 18U started, but I am not qualified to mention all the teams as I have only seen some play.

Slammers
Tribe
Wolfpack
Classics

Help me out with some others teams

 

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Here is the problems with predictions.

Unless you have seen every team play it is hard to form an opinion. The teams from NE Ohio tend to play a great number of their tournaments in that section of the state. Even last year, many of the very good teams from NE Ohio played NSA B instead of NSA A due to the distance to Tealtown. If they would have played A - I can guarantee that many of the "predictions" would have a number of these teams included. It is hard for people in central Ohio to form an accurate opinion without seeing these teams.

Last year, the Tidalwaves 12U came to GAPSS and for many, this was the first time they have seen a team from this organization. Over the past few years, I have attended the Sunraze in Mentor and Uncle Stans in North Ridgeville. I had an opportunity to see some of the great team from that section of the state - including the Extreme, Tidalwaves, Akron Sapphires, Wolfpack, Ohio Ice, Pride, etc.

Even knowing these fine teams from the past makes it hard to predict what they will be like for 2008, but based on the past history, they deserve inclusion.

NW Ohio is also somewhat contained but some teams from central Ohio do venture to Toledo and some team from the NW venture to some of the mid state tournaments. You have some fine teams in that sector also - Emeralds, Wizards, SGS Magic, etc.

Another problem is that some cannot make predictions without including their own team out of loyalty. Nothing wrong with that - it is just hard from people to leave their team off of the list for whatever reason. That is why I read all prediction posts with a grain of salt. It is fun reading but it does not mean a thing prior to the season.
Here is my list of Top 10

16U
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

14U
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

12U
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

To be completed after the 2008 nationals.

 

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Way to go out on a limb Jim. ?Your reckless abandon when it comes to your predictions makes me wonder if you forgot to take your medicine this morning!! ;D

 

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I think we should all wait untill the end of the year to make a prediction.

 

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Way to go out on a limb Jim. ?Your reckless abandon when it comes to your predictions makes me wonder if you forgot to take your medicine this morning!! ;D

If the medicine was suppose to help my memory - I am in a world of hurt...LOL Just being honest Shane. I can't bring myself to make predictions. One of the teams that I leave off of my list might come back to bite me in the ***. Why provide any motivation to another team? "Girls - this guy left you off of the list of the best 14U teams, yadda, yadda...."

 

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I predict that I will crush the ball off of every pitcher I face this year.
I predict that I will pitch in a game and get pulverized in a spectacular debacle.
I predict that I will in response bean someone.
I predict that in response to that I will be ejected.
I predict that I will swing at the first pitch 89% of the time.
I predict that I will see some catostrophically bad umpires.
I predict that someone will tell me "I played baseball - then hit .075 for season.
I predict that I will get my first career steal
I predict I will spend way too much money on a bat that wont last but 1 season
(easton Stealth CNT COMP - broke in half was greatest bat ever - broke my heart)

I predict that it will also be yet another great year of playing an awesome game.

 

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Bink44, don't forget those Pittsburgh teams in the 12u division, we have had a chance to play them and they are for real.

 

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"OHIO" FASTPITCH CONNECTION

 

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I know it's early, but predictions .....

14U

Ice Richards has always teamed a nice group of players, and when playing against a competitive team, always puts forth a great game for spectators.

Slammers may not be able to maintain their 2006/2007 winning season, but don't count them out either.

Power Shepard - the real deal - big hitters from top to bottom and serious depth in pitching - should be a great contender for lots of wins.

Valley Extreme (Blue) of last year was a phenomenal team - I believe they are now 16U, they certainly were a nice team to watch (only their spectators left a little to be desired).

Good luck to all the teams of 2008!

 

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Most people here have been very welcoming of us Western PA folks over the years - others, not so much.

The dilemma we have is that PA is such a wide state, it's like the East and the West are two different states. Most Western PA teams play a lot in Ohio - it's closer than the majority of the PA tournaments - some of us go east as well, but it's a major trip.

I'm sure over my six years of watching fastpitch, I've seen my daughter play against more Ohio teams than PA teams. I don't see the point in making the state line a big issue when they are all competing together, and I enjoy following the Ohio teams as well as our local ones.

Even if they startup a PA Fastpitch Connection, I doubt that wide gap of turnpike separating Eastern PA from Western will be bridged.