Review of WFC National, Myrtle Beach

[default]

Thought I would post a little review for those who may be looking for a national for 2011.

http://www.playwfc.org is the official web site for the WFC organization and has the info on nationals at Myrtle Beach.

This was our first experience with this organization.

Pros:

Ball complex --
The Pepper-Geddings complex was really nice. The fields are natural red sand and drain really well. Crews did a nice job with dragging and lining. All of the fields have 200 ft fences, dugouts, some shade nearby, indoor restrooms close by, and there is paved parking. Warmup areas were adequate. Coolers were allowed. It's easy to get to the complex from all over MB.

Area --
There's a million things to do in MB. Obviously the beach, but also about any kind of restaurant, shows, shopping. Hundreds of hotels, but you still need to book early.

Competition --
Teams were pretty good for the most part. I would say it is a "mid-level" tournament about like PONY nationals, maybe NSA.

Communications --
Good during the tournament. Personal calls to cell phones.

Qualifying --
There were no WFC tournaments in Ohio (in 2010...) so no qualification. Probably will be the same for 2011.

Cons:
Rules --
WFC has their own rules which can be strange. They use a "bandit runner" which can run ANYTIME for ANYONE. Southern teams were ready and used to this, but it seemed the northern teams were not. It was not a major issue, but a bit strange. WFC also uses EP, DP, and DP/flex but their flex can come in anytime for the DP and it is not a substitution. Bat rules are different, too. We had a TPS bat taken, but other players were using slowpitch bats.

Heat --
Its very humid in SC. It actually wasn't any worse than our last couple of Ohio tournaments, and on the plus side, it makes the beach more enjoyable

Communications --
Pretty poor BEFORE the tournament. When we showed up to sign in, we were informed we owed another $110 for gate fees in lieu of paying each day. I personally would rather do it that way, its just that we were not prepared with cash. I was informed they "posted it on the web site", however it was not. Email would have been nice.

Travel --
Its 10-12 hours drive depending on where you live in Ohio. We drove straight through both ways with no problems. On the plus side, we loaded up with SC peaches


All in all, WFC was nice way to end a season.

 

[default]

Base Bandits or Base burners is great. Allows more people into the game and I like it. Global Sports Authority out of the south is like that . 10 or 11 players and a base burner.

www.globalfastpitch.com

Coming to Ohio soon as well.

 

[default]

WFC got kicked out of Savannah two years ago.

 

[default]

We also went and had a really good experience despite being eliminated in the fourth round of brackets. Someone that went to the ASA USA in Chattanooga for 10U mentioned how the Georgia teams hit the snot out of the ball. I can say the same for those Carolina teams. We saw three teams that I would compare to Lasers Purple or Hawks Gold. We didn't get to play the team that won it (Carolina Diamond Divas) but I heard their record going in was 80-11. Now it's 87-11 (WOW!!!).

WV TNT Explosion took second and although we didn't get to play them, I saw them beat a very talented NC CV Storm team and was highly impressed with them. Word from their parents was that they had three kids lose time due to injuries incurred at the Lasers Invitational but they were all healthy now.

We only had two teams use the bandit runner on us. First time was sweet when we shot her down at 2nd by about 10 feet.

I will add a another Pro to this thread: They made every effort to have us done playing in the morning / early afternoon so the rest of the day was beach time.

I did know about the $110 admin fee however. Didn't like it, but we did know about it so I'm not sure what happened with the OP.

 

[default]

Vacation is the bottom line and having a great time at a medium level event.

 

[default]

Vacation is the bottom line and having a great time at a medium level event.

Being a new 10U team we have no regrets. We weren't the best team in Ohio and were tickled to get all the honorable mentions that we did get in the polls this year.

It was however a "big-time" atmosphere for the girls on VERY NICE diamonds, with opening ceremonies, pin trading, parade of teams, and some individual competitions that they got to participate in. Officiating was as good as we've seen anywhere and the competition was as good as the best we saw playing in Ohio. Has no problems with communication or the way things were handled the day we got rained out.

We also saw some other Highly regarded Ohio organizations represented there. Maybe in a few years as our kids turn their thoughts to college ball we'll be more concerned about the prestige but for a young team I would highly recommend the experience.

 

[default]

We went there two years and had a great time. Base bandits were different to us also. My youngest DD was fast and got desinated the bandit. She loved it although she was tired. There were numerous times where she would score from third and turn right back around and go back to third base, never went to the dugout. Competition was on par with all the other regional nationals, ASA, USSSA, etc.

 

[default]

Base Bandits or Base burners is great. Allows more people into the game and I like it. Global Sports Authority out of the south is like that . 10 or 11 players and a base burner.

Matter of opinion. I don't like the designated runner myself. Its one thing to put together a team of sluggers who can hit and can't run, then throw in some speed burner who does all the base running. It's quite another thing to have a team of players with strengths and weaknesses, and figure out where to put them in the batting order and on the field. I am "old school" I guess!

All in all, the WFC was the best national we've been to for the "total experience" of family vacation and good softball. It was my daugther's last ever tournament and a nice way to go out.

 

[default]

WFC got kicked out of Savannah two years ago.

DD played in a WFC event in Savannah. Hands down, that was the worst officiating I'd ever seen in softball, EVER. We were told the umps were just Savannah city employees & had to be since they were using city fields. If that's true, it was a good thing they aren't in Savannah anymore.

 

[default]

DD played in a WFC event in Savannah. Hands down, that was the worst officiating I'd ever seen in softball, EVER. We were told the umps were just Savannah city employees & had to be since they were using city fields. If that's true, it was a good thing they aren't in Savannah anymore.

It is true as I dealt with the Savannah people when I tried to form the Winter World Series last December. Good people running the parks in Savannah. Guy takes care of all of Georgia HS playoffs in all sports .

It wasn't over the umpires that they got kicked out of Savannah.. but the first question that was asked to me was I with WFC? Which I had no idea what WFC was...:lmao:

My problem was with a guy who runs events in Savannah wanting to claim Savannah as his own and contacted teams telling them not to get in the "carpetbagger's tournament" ...LOL

He posts on here sometime when he doesn't have enough southern girls to fill his "showcase event" and looking for Ohio girls...LOL

Funny thing is.. he is a true to life carpetbagger to the very sense of the word.

 

[default]

As for employees having to work the games... that is so much a lie . He had none as there was no WFC umpires to be found in Georgia. The Savannah guy who runs events there... took care of the local umpires and threatened them if they did a WFC games.

That is why you got what you got...

 

[default]

That's a shame because Savannah was the most fun I've ever had on a softball trip. We stayed on the Riverfront & it was just simply amazing, with the exception of Wet Willeys. There's probably a picture of me there that says do not serve this woman LOL

 

[default]

Savannah is beautiful.. especially during Christmas break as that was when I was holding an event there. Great diamonds and Parks. Paulson Park is awesome in my mind. I was wondering why I wasn't getting Georgia teams... and then I looked in an North Carolina forum and found out why. The local guy was calling me a carpetbagger...LOL

When in reality, I was trying to get out of the cold winter weather here in Ohio and take some Northern teams with me to play some softball and have fun with the Southern teams.