Replacement tournies for GAPSS and Stingrays...

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Hammers, not trying to be disrespectful, but what is your softball resume for your team?

http://www.bluechipsoftball.com/tournament.asp?id=31&core=1

I just looked at the teams that made it in gapps this year 16/18U. Last year we went 6-1 against the teams I know we played on the list losing only to Lasers Silver (and we split with them 1-1). It may have even been 9-1 but 3 of the teams I didn't count because I wasn't sure if it was their 18 or 16u team that is represented on the list. Not bragging, I just thought we had a good chance to get in. And no disrespect and congratulations to those teams that made it.

 

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Teams change from year to year so saying you had a good day against a team last year really isn't a big deal.

 

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I know for Stingrays it is based on what you did last year, so who you beat last year and where you played last year would definitely come into play.

The MC Hammers will be one of the best teams in SWO. Their college player coaches know their stuff and are INTENSE!! They had one of the most talent filled tryouts and the toughest, most intense tryout I have ever watched. My DD walking to the car after the tryout, looked like she just played 4 games on a 90 degree Saturday. Anyone who dismisses this team will be watching them play on Sunday and if they aren't, it is because the dismissers already went home!

MCH - Buckeye Showdown was one of the better showcases around...last year we had a lot of overflow from Stingrays, we had anywhere from 4-8 coaches watching all of our games. Our girls did a good job of corresponding with coaches too and that helped. Not sure about GAPSS as we were lucky enough to get into it.

 

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Teams change from year to year so saying you had a good day against a team last year really isn't a big deal.

yeah - if it was "a" good day and "a' team - I wouldn't have mentioned it. But like I said we were 6-1 maybe even 9-1. And why wouldn't teams you beat the previous year be a factor? Yes, I know sour grapes and I want to drop it but i couldn't let quote above slide.

Xpressdad - congrats if your DD's team made it in. Maybe we'll see you at another event.

 

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The DeMarini Invitational in Glen Elynn, IL, is a very good tournament both competitively and for D-I college exposure.

The level of competition is probably as high a level of competition as you will find in a mid-west showcase tournament.

From my experience, aside from the ASA & PGF Nationals, the collection of D-I schools in attendance is second only to the Independence Day tourney in Boulder.

 

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Teams change from year to year so saying you had a good day against a team last year really isn't a big deal.

What we did last year was with one 16 year old on the roster. We returned everyone but one. We split into two teams and added three quality pitchers for our team this year. Our Hammers Black team is ready and willing to play anyone.
We've done everything we were told to do to make ourselves more marketable to get into a tournament like GAPSS and Stingrays, and we did not get in.
I asked the question....what else do we have to do? We are in Lasers and Best of the Best. We are playing in the ASA state and Nationals if we qualify. We are in the Dayton Metro. Last year we came in 4th in the Metro, behind Lasers Silver, Doom, and I think Lasers Scarlet. Every other tournament we played in we came in the top 4, except for the Buckeye Showdown, top 16 over 100 teams, and we won a small tournament in West Liberty.

We've played deep into Sunday every tournament last year. We have gotten better this year and we are returning our roster (minus one) from last year.

It isn't whining, it is making a case for your girls. Any coach worth their salt would do the same for their team. We aren't bad mouthing other teams....we just wanted in Stingrays and GAPSS pretty bad.

With that, we'll move on and play in the best available tournament we can. Hopefully our girls will still get some looks from college coaches and can prove to them they are more than capable to play at the next level.

 

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I see your point(s). I think where you may have had 1 crucial scheduling flaw is not participating @ ASA State last year. This would have given the Stingrays a strong barometer on your talent level. With over 90 applicants and only 32 slots available it becomes a "what did you do on a national level" tournament. You appeared to have played a strong Fall Ball schedule but once again (as others have said) there may be too much gray area when it comes to opponent rosters in the Fall.

It's tough to fight the "Name Game" with these strong invitational tournaments. Only thing I can tell you is keep your girls involved in the top tournaments you can and invite your target coaches to everything. If they want to see your girls play they'll make it happen.

Also, check out the Sparks tournament in Chicago. It isn't too far from your area and we have had good luck there getting girls seen. I hope it's not too late to get your application in - if not be sure to apply.

 

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We looked at the Demarini Invitational as a option, but we looked too late. The dead line I believe was October 1, 2011. I found this by clicking on application on home page.

Oh well we can shoot for it next year.

 

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MC ... sounds like your team should have received some serious consideration for these tournaments. I'm assuming you did a good job with this based on some of the facts you shared here, but for the possible benefit of others, I understand that there is a bit of a science in how to put together applications for these more prestigious tournaments.

Record or tournament wins alone aren't going to get a team there, but they supposedly look more at what tournaments you played in and who your "quality" wins and losses were to. And the applicant should not assume that the tournament committee knows these details so they need to be well documented in the application. Aside from this, I know some of the tournaments like to be well-represented with some of the bigger name organizations, like to be able to say how many different states they have teams coming in from, and like to have teams which have players being actively recruited by some of the bigger colleges so they can draw in more college coaches.

In any event, it is good to have back-up plans in place and I wish you the best in getting into some other good tournaments. I know when we didn't get into one of them last year, we played in Loudonville which is a very competitive tournament and a lot of fun for the girls and families.

 

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We've played in the Buckeye Showdown twice. Nice tournament, but hoping for more exposure. Thanks.

WWOLF is right if you were originally thinking Stingrays the Buckeye Showdown would be your next choice. They have the NCFA Camp at Berliner and the coaches at Stingrays and the Buckeye Showdown do go back and forth.

Bottom line is the exposure comes first from the player marketing themselves and getting the interest of the College Coaches with contacts, profile, camps etc.
If they do that now, any tournament you play this summer has the potential to be an exposure tournament...

 

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WWOLF is right if you were originally thinking Stingrays the Buckeye Showdown would be your next choice. They have the NCFA Camp at Berliner and the coaches at Stingrays and the Buckeye Showdown do go back and forth.

Bottom line is the exposure comes first from the player marketing themselves and getting the interest of the College Coaches with contacts, profile, camps etc.
If they do that now, any tournament you play this summer has the potential to be an exposure tournament...

That's probably where we are going. After weighing the options, the 'overflow' of coaches from Stingray, we might have the greatest success there.

Thaks, the girls have been in contact with several coaches and have a ton of responses. We'll just try and re-route them a few miles south.

 

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Anyone know of any ASA/USA qualifiers the weekend of GAPSS?

 

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There are no ASA/USA National Qualifiers that weekend. There are some ASA qualifiers though.

 

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Coach Dennis makes a good point, if you are a 16u or 18u team the Buckeye Showcase is probably your best alternative to the Stingrays Showcase for that weekend, largely because the NFCA Camp is that Thursday at Berliner Fields.

Having worked multiple Recruiting Camps for the NFCA, I can say that attending the NFCA Camp and then playing a nearby tournament the next day will likely get your dd exposed to about 20 - 25 college coaches over a two day period.

Besides the NFCA Recruiting camp, the college coaches will likely be hitting the Stingrays Showcase, but (if told an interested recruit(s) will be playing) I presume they will also hit some games at the Buckeye Challenge.

For 14u/12u/10u teams, other alternatives may be more attractive. Of the other available tournaments the weekend of the Stingrays Showcase, Battle of the Burgh (in PA) seems like the most competitive.

 

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That's probably where we are going. After weighing the options, the 'overflow' of coaches from Stingray, we might have the greatest success there.

Thaks, the girls have been in contact with several coaches and have a ton of responses. We'll just try and re-route them a few miles south.

We had teams playing in both Stingrays and Buckeye showdown last year. coaches were going from park to park looking at Static players so, they will if you have made the contacts.

I had the opportunity to watch your team play 2X last year and you guys defiantly can play and are deserving. This time of year stories like yours are not uncommon and naturally there are several teams/young ladies with the same let down.

 

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We had teams playing in both Stingrays and Buckeye showdown last year. coaches were going from park to park looking at Static players so, they will if you have made the contacts.

I had the opportunity to watch your team play 2X last year and you guys defiantly can play and are deserving. This time of year stories like yours are not uncommon and naturally there are several teams/young ladies with the same let down.

Thanks Coach Dennis - it's disappointing but these girls are pretty good at using stuff like this for motivation - I hope they use it and make some noise in the events we do attend. Great group of young ladies. We'll keep our fingers crossed for 2013.

 

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There is an 18u tournament in Kidron, OH that same weekend as GAPSS and there are just a just a few open spots remaining for teams to enter. It is not a qualifier, but the TDs are inviting many college coaches to attend.

If your team is interested in the Wayne County Invitational, please send me a PM and I can submit it to the TDs.

 

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I would say that I would go out of state if you could get in. But the question that I would have is where do your kids want to go to college? Need to understand where there 5 - 10 schools that they are interested in and then go to places that they reasonbly could travel to.

 

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We got into the GAPSS tournament, but not the Stingrays. We replaced the Stingray tourney with the Buckeye Showdown @ Berliner Park. 5 GG for $450 isn't a bad deal.

Tracy Wilson
Ohio Danger 98

 

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www.orrvillefireinthesky.com if your looking for a 14u. They also have a 16u this year in June. All the info is at their website