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Just returned home from Colorado. We played in Aurora at the Colorado Fireworks and some of us made it over to Boulder a couple of times to watch the Independence Day tournament.
About half of our team watched the OC Batbusters (Haning), as well as the Corona Angels, Arizona Hotshots, Arizona Suncats, So Cal Athletics, Shamrocks, Beach Girls, etc. It was a great experience for our girls to sit there in the first row and watch these teams. The top 18-U Gold teams are indeed playing at a different level than anyone in Ohio. But once you get past those top 15 or 20 teams, I saw no reason why the top Ohio 18-U teams couldn't play with the rest of the crowd.
At 16-U, the Indy Edge lost the championship game in Boulder to the OC Batbusters. I have no idea why, but the Edge didn't throw its lefty ace in the final. Had they used the ace, I think the Edge wins that tournament, as she is practically unhittable.
While the overall quality of teams was very good at 16-U in Aurora and Boulder, and there was quality top to bottom, the top level wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be. Grand Slam finished in the top 8 at Boulder and lost in bracket play only to the Indy Edge pitcher. We finished tied for 17th out of 55 in Aurora and lost 6-4 to the team that got 3rd and 1-0 to the Xtreme Edge (TN). When I watched the 16-U OC Batbusters play the Corona Angels in the semis at Boulder, I couldn't help but sit there thinking that my team (which is even a young 16-U team) could play with these teams. The pitching was about what we've seen all year at Stingrays, Compuware, etc., very good, but not overwhelming. At Aurora, we finished ahead of many of these California programs that we've all heard of. We played two teams that each tied for 5th at ASA Nationals last year and beat one 7-2 (Sudden Impact, TX) and lost to the other 5-3 (San Jose Sting).
I guess the bottom line is that, other than the top level of 18 Gold, I think we're probably selling ourselves short in Ohio. I know that my team next year won't be the least bit intimidated by anybody we might go up against in Colorado or ASA Nationals.
About half of our team watched the OC Batbusters (Haning), as well as the Corona Angels, Arizona Hotshots, Arizona Suncats, So Cal Athletics, Shamrocks, Beach Girls, etc. It was a great experience for our girls to sit there in the first row and watch these teams. The top 18-U Gold teams are indeed playing at a different level than anyone in Ohio. But once you get past those top 15 or 20 teams, I saw no reason why the top Ohio 18-U teams couldn't play with the rest of the crowd.
At 16-U, the Indy Edge lost the championship game in Boulder to the OC Batbusters. I have no idea why, but the Edge didn't throw its lefty ace in the final. Had they used the ace, I think the Edge wins that tournament, as she is practically unhittable.
While the overall quality of teams was very good at 16-U in Aurora and Boulder, and there was quality top to bottom, the top level wasn't nearly as good as I thought it would be. Grand Slam finished in the top 8 at Boulder and lost in bracket play only to the Indy Edge pitcher. We finished tied for 17th out of 55 in Aurora and lost 6-4 to the team that got 3rd and 1-0 to the Xtreme Edge (TN). When I watched the 16-U OC Batbusters play the Corona Angels in the semis at Boulder, I couldn't help but sit there thinking that my team (which is even a young 16-U team) could play with these teams. The pitching was about what we've seen all year at Stingrays, Compuware, etc., very good, but not overwhelming. At Aurora, we finished ahead of many of these California programs that we've all heard of. We played two teams that each tied for 5th at ASA Nationals last year and beat one 7-2 (Sudden Impact, TX) and lost to the other 5-3 (San Jose Sting).
I guess the bottom line is that, other than the top level of 18 Gold, I think we're probably selling ourselves short in Ohio. I know that my team next year won't be the least bit intimidated by anybody we might go up against in Colorado or ASA Nationals.