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Member
Dog's Dad,
They have been playing womens/girls fastpitch from one end of the state to the other for 20+ years, from the very beginning they played fastpitch, there was never any slowpitch played in HS, the pool of coaches has been outstanding from the very beginning, the fact is they had a huge head start both in HS and Travel Ball, before we moved to Ohio my daughter played in a youth league which had the girls pitching at 8 and 9 years old, for the most part being taught by either men who played fastpitch or girls/women that had played or were still playing. I don't think you can underestimate this advantage and the head start they had, IMHO we are now in Ohio where they were 10 years ago. I think it is important to note that there are VERY strong teams from all areas of the state of Illinois, don't remember who said it but "In numbers there is strength".
I have been asked a number of times why our Storm teams played in Region #10, my response is as it has always been, the quantity and quality of the teams involved, when we have played in region 10 we have seen 10-15 teams each year that will attend and play in the ASA Nationals, the situation is improving each year, but realistically if we played in region 9 we would have seen 3-4 in most years, I realize it is a function of numbers of teams. Over the years we have had our heads handed to us a number of times, but we have also at times competed with those teams, and for sure our girls have been pushed by the level of competition, again this summer we will find ourselves battling for our lives against those teams, and as always will enjoy the challenge.
Thanks for the info about the Illinois girls, haven't been on Spy Softball in a while, for my part I am not suprised at Illinois girls being on the list, I just didn't think it would be to the exception of somany of the other states with great teams. I have always maintained the California advantage was NOT weather, it was the experience of coaching, the 20 year headstart, the quantity of great teams and players, a good California team will see 20-25 ASA Nationals teams in a season, with more than likely 15 in the top 25 at the National, you cannot sell that level of competition short, yeah it helps to be able to play 12 months out of the year, but the other factors are more important, and to prove the point are a common thread with the Illinois results.
They have been playing womens/girls fastpitch from one end of the state to the other for 20+ years, from the very beginning they played fastpitch, there was never any slowpitch played in HS, the pool of coaches has been outstanding from the very beginning, the fact is they had a huge head start both in HS and Travel Ball, before we moved to Ohio my daughter played in a youth league which had the girls pitching at 8 and 9 years old, for the most part being taught by either men who played fastpitch or girls/women that had played or were still playing. I don't think you can underestimate this advantage and the head start they had, IMHO we are now in Ohio where they were 10 years ago. I think it is important to note that there are VERY strong teams from all areas of the state of Illinois, don't remember who said it but "In numbers there is strength".
I have been asked a number of times why our Storm teams played in Region #10, my response is as it has always been, the quantity and quality of the teams involved, when we have played in region 10 we have seen 10-15 teams each year that will attend and play in the ASA Nationals, the situation is improving each year, but realistically if we played in region 9 we would have seen 3-4 in most years, I realize it is a function of numbers of teams. Over the years we have had our heads handed to us a number of times, but we have also at times competed with those teams, and for sure our girls have been pushed by the level of competition, again this summer we will find ourselves battling for our lives against those teams, and as always will enjoy the challenge.
Thanks for the info about the Illinois girls, haven't been on Spy Softball in a while, for my part I am not suprised at Illinois girls being on the list, I just didn't think it would be to the exception of somany of the other states with great teams. I have always maintained the California advantage was NOT weather, it was the experience of coaching, the 20 year headstart, the quantity of great teams and players, a good California team will see 20-25 ASA Nationals teams in a season, with more than likely 15 in the top 25 at the National, you cannot sell that level of competition short, yeah it helps to be able to play 12 months out of the year, but the other factors are more important, and to prove the point are a common thread with the Illinois results.