***southwest ohio***

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The problem is that we have a very limited quantity of teams here in SW Ohio. You will need to travel to Columbus or Northern Ohio to see the majority of the teams.

Northern Ohio is where you have to go to see some competition... that's a given and probally the reason I suggest Indy and Louisville and Lexington area for the SW Ohio teams.. so they can see the level of competition they need and not have big every weekend motel bills for their parents by traveling North every weekend.

There are some top teams in the Louisville area ... and usually that is where Bowling Green, Indy, Louisville and Owensboro and Southern Illinois teams meet. Especially at the NSA event in Owensboro, KY.. "Border Wars" is the name of the event.

Most SW Ohio teams don't travel much. Maybe Columbus, OH every once in a great while. Economy has nothing to do with it. They didn't travel much when the economy was good. They play somewhere where they can be home for supper on Sunday night.

I could be wrong.. but I don't think Columbus teams travel much either. I heard Columbus coaches say they play the I-270 circuit. One weekend it is on this side of town and then the next weekend it is on the other side of town. Then on the other side of town. One coach called it the I-270 Circuit and smiled.

But, (and we are talking younger age groups) with GAPPS and Bill Beckham, Stingrays.. they don't have to actually . The teams from the North and South come to them. So why should they travel. Can't really blame them there. Sure saves their parents a lot of money in travel and motel costs not needed.

But, I think SW Ohio teams are making a mistake not going South and playing that competition actually in the younger age groups. Lousiville and Lexington is but an 1:15 minute drive from Cincy versus two hours to Columbus, Ohio and a motel stay.

And towards Indy and Shelbyville.. like Lester said.. there are some for real teams there.

Same could be said for going to Central Illinois area. 4 hr drive versus a four hour drive to NE Ohio. IN Central Illinois.. you will see Indy, Owensboro, Chicago and St Louis based teams in one location.

I think it comes down to what a team or org can afford financially.

 

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We are trying to build a schedule that is truely tough. All of this will help. Now the picking and begging starts.[ for money] Thanks.

 

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What tournaments draw the highest competition in the 10u division?

Laser Invitational
Stingrays
GAPSS

These three bring in good competion and it enables you see teams outside of southwest Ohio. I would highly recommend applying for these three tournaments. Its great to see competition from West Virginia, Michigan, Indiana and other surrounding states. It can be a humbling experience for some and rewarding for others. Either way, you will walk away knowing how you stand with your peers outside of your back yard. Good luck and enjoy..

 

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Tim,
It really depends on where you are in the Cincy area as well to say which is a local trip. For me being north of Kings Island, Columbus is almost local, now on the flip side Louisville and Lexington are another 30 minutes from downtown. It is all about location. I am sure you know there is a ton of quality tourneys up in Columbus (Lasers, Stingrays, GAPSS, Vipers and more that I am not familiar with (YET)). There are also a bunch of top notch teams out of Columbus, they are in the same dilema as we are though, 1 city with suburbs as opposed to all of Northern Ohio, which is comprised of several big cities all within about 2 hours from end to end (Please forgive me if I am off by a little time, but I am sure you get my point).
I do not think o1FIRE or I are making any judgements against SW Ohio Teams. He just wants to do the best he can challenge his team. Which should be a good little 10u team from this area. If you are looking to play a friendly against a decent sqaud you should hit this team up.

My dd was looking to become the best she could be, and she took it to a new level. (ie the new avatar) Our new local became the entire state of Ohio. Not all SW Ohio people are content staying in our little section of the state. She was able to make this trasition with the help of an AMAZING 10u Cincy Magic team. (Thanks Coach Earnie)

Andrew

 

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Let me first say that being from Indiana and playing in the Indiana tournamets, the Shelbyville, IN tournaments are a joke if you are looking for the top teams around. Indianapolis area and NWI area are where the top teams in IN are and play. If you are looking for a Fall tournament check out Indiana Gators Classic Sept 30-Oct 2 and Monster Mash Oct 21-23.

This will be first year for Gators Classic 10U (NSA), but I have been in contact with many top teams/orgs in IN, OH, KY, IL, TN, and MI. We are trying to make this one of the best around. Lasers, Team Worth(TN), KY Fillies, NL Lightning(IL), PC Pride (MI), Magic(IN), Bombers(IN), NWI Sox(IN), CP Bulldogs(IN), Matoon Pride(IL), and many others have show interest.

Monster Mash (NSA) has been best drawing Fall tournament in past years, but only IN teams.

Winter- SportZone ASA Tournaments usually draw IN, KY, IL, and a few OH teams. www.sportzoneindy.com

Spring/Summer- toss up!!!!!! Worth Invite at Midwest Sports Complex was best last year! It is in April and had 3 or top 5 from IN along with Matoon Pride(IN) and PC Pride(MI).

Not going to get much better than Laser's, Stingray's, and GAPSS. (IMO)
We were at Stingray's last year and competition was good. Although, would've been better if single elim tournament could've been played!!!!!!!!

Illinois- Orland Park Sparks!!!!!!!

 

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There are some top teams in the Louisville area ... and usually that is where Bowling Green, Indy, Louisville and Owensboro and Southern Illinois teams meet. Especially at the NSA event in Owensboro, KY.. "Border Wars" is the name of the event.

Owensboro tournaments, including Border Wars, are not where the top teams go! Last year Lady Colonels were good team, but that was it!

We went to Owensboro 2yrs ago and only reason it was worth it is because we played at team called Knoxville White Lightning 99 and they were for real!!!! 3rd place in USA/ASA that year!!! The rest was nothing but run-rule games. Every tournament I've seen in Owensboro area is B quality!!!

NONE of the better teams from IN go there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For us it's Indy, NW IN, NE IL, or OH.

 

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yeah, Shelbyville isn't a good option...

 

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Tonya Perkins, who ran many events out of the Columbus, Indiana events for years.. based herself out of Shelbyville last year. I think her move was to USFA from years of USSSA. Maybe that hurt her in her draw.. but when she ran out of Columbus, IN.. she always had good competition there.

 

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I would still say that the Urbana/Champaign or Normal/Bloomington or Springfield/Decataur region in Illinois.. is a good place to find some of that Chicago/St Louis mix of teams. BGNSA holds many events at their own fields.

 

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BNGSA holds some very good tournaments!

Tonya is now w/ NSA and mostly in Indy area.

 

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play the lottery if you get Tonya on the phone... I've played in 3 of her events in the past, all went really well.