What is the status of the Ohio "Beverly Bandits"

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... The three biggest they hit is the PGF Nationals, Sparkler, and ASA/USA. Lastly, they did state you need to get on a team that attends those tournaments. Sparkler, they take all and is no invite, PGF you need an invite (so org recognition is a must) then qualify, ASA/USA we all know what you need to do to go there.

While PGF has invited quite a few teams to get broader national representation and Ohio teams have been the recipient of some invites the past 2 years, Ohio teams wanting to play PGF should plan on qualifying by playing in a qualifier.

Have any of the Ohio org's tried to host a PGF qualifier?

 

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I think you've hit the nail on the head, a lot of Ohio teams have a mix of girls with different talent levels and differing views of what they want out of the travel experience. Thats why it is so important when picking a team that the goals of all the girls are the same. If your dd wants to go to a bcs or top 25 program, then she has to play with girls that have the same aspirations.

If you pick a team where your dd will be the stud of the team and she plays with other girls that do not have the desire, or skill set, to compete at the bcs or d1 level, the team will not be able to draw the coaches to see the one stud on the team. At that point you have to chose to either move on to a like minded team or resign yourself to take the looks from coaches that you can scrape up.

As for how many d1 schools are giving Ohio girls a serious look, the depends on the team. I guarantee the Ohio girls on the Bandits teams, had a group of big time schools watching just base on his rep. And none of the girls on his team expect any less than getting a BCS or D1 offer because they want to compete with the best of the best at all times.

Just check out the scholarships and the schools on the Bandits home page. nuff said

The Beverly Bandits - Illinois' Premier Girls Fastpitch Softball Organization

Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.

Many Ohio Bandit girls still staying in Ohio and not many are top 30 programs.

 

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Have any of the Ohio org's tried to host a PGF qualifier?

I honestly don't know. I just know more Ohio teams are attending.

 

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While PGF has invited quite a few teams to get broader national representation and Ohio teams have been the recipient of some invites the past 2 years, Ohio teams wanting to play PGF should plan on qualifying by playing in a qualifier.

Have any of the Ohio org's tried to host a PGF qualifier?

Hmmm, that would be tricky...don't think there will be any fall PGF qualifiers s
summer, weekends are limited: couldn't host until HS State tourni is finished which puts you at mid June, can't compete with Lasers or Stingrays, wouldn't hold it during ASA States or the two-three ASA/USA NQs (Hawks, Explosive, Ohio/Pa Classic), don't want to compete with the Demarini event, Sparks, or the tournaments in Colorado.

 

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Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.





Hutch is Ohio University

 

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Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.





Hutch is Ohio University

yeh, my bad. i must have been on a toledo roll or something. and coop gets Ohio U and didn't have to spend all that money going to california.

 

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Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.

Many Ohio Bandit girls still staying in Ohio and not many are top 30 programs.

Its their money, who are we to tell them they are spending too much. Sometimes it's about more than exposure or money. Just because a girl isn't going to a top 30 program doesn't mean she shouldn't surround herself with talent and make herself the best she should be.

 

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The Beverly Bandits Ohio will have theirfirst practice this Sunday with the rest of the Bandit Teams. They are nottaking a break after Nationals and will begin a very tough Fall schedule. Thiswill be the first time that the Beverly Bandits have put together a team basedin Ohio. The head coach is from Michigan. The team will also have a hitting,defense and pitching coach. During the Fall, the kids will be mostly from Ohio.Kids play for the bandits for all of the reasons stated above, but most play forthe love of competition and preparation for the next level. The parents are ascommitted to the game as the kids. I have been around Ohio Softball for YEARSand there is nothing like competing at tournaments outside of Ohio and in thetoughest divisions. Boulder is not the same as Sparkler or Fireworks. Only thevery best teams (year after year) are permitted into Boulder and the collegecoaches understand that difference and attendance by who's who in coaching ismuch higher at this tournament compared to the others. Not all Bandit playersare going to the top 30 schools and many of the Ohio Players are going to OhioSchools....who will be playing top level schools throughout their careers. Manyhave turned down good schools outside of Ohio to stay in Ohio. All of them willhopefully step out of College with a 4 year degree and very little debt. Manyof Conroy's team this year were Seniors playing their last year of travel ball.All are going to Div 1 schools. They traveled to Colorado, California, Indiana,St. louis and Chicago to play the best and be part of this team/organization. I'm not sure why anyone cares about how much money a family spends to do softball in the summer.

My oldest daughter has had her commitment to college for 3 years. Sheplayed for the competition and to face the best hitters and pitching to preparefor her first year at OU. There IS a difference and most don't know it until they play it. Her college coach was at most of her games during thesummer and has always encouraged her to play at the gold level. My youngestdaughter recently verballed and has faced UCLA's incoming pitcher, Az, Florida,etc. She is playing with Georgia, Perdue and Kansas' Pitchers and a host ofother players who have all committed to D1 schools. The friendships arepriceless and will be all over the United States.

There are many, many good teams in Ohio and one, the Nightmare Gold, has beenat the same tournaments as the Bandits. Others are moving in that direction.The Classics 96 are putting together a tough schedule too. Not all teams needto play a gold schedule, but if Ohio wants to get noticed then teams need toshow up and perform at the top tournaments in other states.

 

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Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.

Many Ohio Bandit girls still staying in Ohio and not many are top 30 programs.

Wolfie,

I think you are missing the point. You seem to be intentionally leaving out some of the other Bandit girls that dont happen to be from Ohio, going to Georgia, Florida, LSU, Ol Miss, Washington, Oregon, Ohio State etc, etc, etc.

Just because some of the girls chose to stay in state, and maybe got a higher % of scholarship $$, doesnt mean they didnt want to play the highest level of competition and in turn might have gotten more $$ for playing the highest level possible.

Congrats to Coop for landing at OU, she is a special player.

Your comment at the end though seems kind of snarky about the girls that chose to go another route. JMO

 

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I agree Ump! I'm not sure why he is hatin on the kids staying in Ohio. Especially when I have seen them play. He has also ignored all of the kids going to other schools. I rarely bare my soul on this thread, but couldn't resist on this one. This past season has been awesome. I believe Cammi blazed the trail for many of the kids as well as some of the other original Ohio Bandits! I can't wait to watch her during her first year at OSU and hope to catch a game or two with you. Of course, there will be one I will definitely be catching!!!!

 

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(Sheplayed for the competition and to face the best hitters and pitching to preparefor her first year at OU. There IS a difference and most don't know it until they play it.)

Could't agree more. I know my dd will be much better prepared going into her first year of college ball.

 

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Wolfie,

I think you are missing the point. You seem to be intentionally leaving out some of the other Bandit girls that dont happen to be from Ohio, going to Georgia, Florida, LSU, Ol Miss, Washington, Oregon, Ohio State etc, etc, etc.

Just because some of the girls chose to stay in state, and maybe got a higher % of scholarship $$, doesnt mean they didnt want to play the highest level of competition and in turn might have gotten more $$ for playing the highest level possible.

Congrats to Coop for landing at OU, she is a special player.

Your comment at the end though seems kind of snarky about the girls that chose to go another route. JMO

I AM NOT HATIN. My point, if you read an earlier post was to point out that some of the reasons many families don't go the gold and Premier route is because of the money spent and the toll it takes on the family. Then there was a post about all the Bandit girls and if you wanted to go to a BCS or top 25 program you had to play this level. I was only pointing out that many Ohio girls going that route of the Bandits ended up staying in Ohio anyway. I was not telling anyone how spend money, or they made a bad decision or anything like that.

My take is that some of the girls listed would have ended up with the same offer regardless of playing with the Bandits.

Not all but some.

I agree with all the comments about the memories the kids make. all the experience of playing all over the country is great. Preparing the player for that first year of college ball. My oldest did the Gold circuit years ago. She had a great time and great memories and all that. They went to California twice, Colorado twice, New Jersery, South Carolina, etc. And at the end, every girl on the team got offers. And only one went to a team out of Ohio.

 

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Hmmm, that would be tricky...don't think there will be any fall PGF qualifiers s
summer, weekends are limited: couldn't host until HS State tourni is finished which puts you at mid June, can't compete with Lasers or Stingrays, wouldn't hold it during ASA States or the two-three ASA/USA NQs (Hawks, Explosive, Ohio/Pa Classic), don't want to compete with the Demarini event, Sparks, or the tournaments in Colorado.

PGF isn't shy about scheduling their qualifiers the same weekend as ASA and there are more than enough ASA qualifiers in Ohio for true ASA/USA-caliber teams to qualify as Plan B. The only age group in Ohio that has more teams than berths is 16u and they probably won't use them all next year with ASA/USA Nats being in Sunnyvale (NorCal). I predict the younger age groups still won't use all 10 berths even though ASA/USA will be within easy driving distance - 12u is Chattanooga and 14u is Normal, IL.

BTW, the advantage to hosting a qualifier is you have control over the date.

FWIW, I suggested to the PGF board 2 years ago they piggyback some of their qualifiers on existing high-level nonqualifiers like Lasers to get more exposure. They replied they've considered it and wanted to give their own qualifiers another try. They had a lot of canceled 12u qualifiers last year and still had a couple at 14u canceled. Could be worth a try - at worst they look at the results and consider the winner for an at-large berth...

 

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Good luck to all the Ohio girls willing to step up and take the challenge....I enjoyed watching all of the great Ohio players playing such a tough schedule this year. Many of them my dd has played against or has meet in her travel ball career.

To the new Ohio players willing to take this challenge it is not easy so good luck, work hard, and kick some butt. Some parents/players/TEAMS/COACHES are used to winning and being successful in Ohio, and are afraid of the challenge of Gold level.

It sure seams like a lot of teams are promising the toughest competition and college exposure but do not go outside of Ohio. I'm am not talking about 1 or 2 tournament a year that they go to at the end of the year but facing the tough competition all year. I know people will say we have the Stingrays, Lasers and Best of the Best, but its not tough enough! (And they are awesome Ohio tournaments!) So with all these teams promising we are going to this and that you better look at the teams history and see where they have really played.

PS I believe the Ohio Nightmare Gold is looking for 1 or 2 players;&

 

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... It sure seams like a lot of teams are promising the toughest competition and college exposure but do not go outside of Ohio. I'm am not talking about 1 or 2 tournament a year that they go to at the end of the year but facing the tough competition all year. I know people will say we have the Stingrays, Lasers and Best of the Best, but its not tough enough! (And they are awesome Ohio tournaments!) ...

There were a number of GA and TN teams that placed high at ASA/USA and PGF Nats - including winning both 14U championships. I'd be looking for places to meet up with them (e.g. Scenic City for 14s and 16s).

 

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Warren - Kent State
Rice - Toledo
Anderson - Toledo
Hutchenson - Toledo
Rivera - Ball State - out of Ohio, but still really close.

Many Ohio Bandit girls still staying in Ohio and not many are top 30 programs.

Many times the subject of other threads but worth repeating.... not all girls make their choice solely on which schools are in the "top 30" when they select a school.

Also a poor assumption that none of the girls you singled out had other options that are perceived to be "better" choices in your eyes.

I'd also wager that these girls will be far better prepared for D-1 and will contribute sooner and more over their 4 years than kids sticking around playing an Ohio 18 schedule like most of the "elite" Ohio teams.

 

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Guess we,ll see. I think my Ohio "elite" players will be fine and contribute just as soon.

Everyone chooses they're own path. Good luck to ALL of them.

 

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catalyst, couldn't agree more.....Fill a schedule playing PGF, Surf City, St Louis, Heartland, Sparks, Boulder, Rising Stars and one or two ASA Q.

Look at the schedules of the midwest/ eastcoast teams: Illinois Chill,Bandits, NJ Intensity, NJ Breakers

Problem in Ohio is having the name to get into those tournis. That's why Bill went to the Chill and thats why kids go to the Bandits because the Bandits don't play daddy ball (non parent coaches is mandatory) and every kid earns there spot every inning and those teams produce.

You definitely want to have a big name if you come to the Surf City Early Thanksgiving Showcase. It is a huge showcase spread all over Orange County and some neighboring cities. It is a waste of money if you aren't playing on the prime fields (e.g. HB, FV or Irvine).

BTW, I wouldn't recommend coming out here for the Winter showcases either because there aren't very many college coaches - most of them are too busy with their own teams.

 

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You definitely want to have a big name if you come to the Surf City Early Thanksgiving Showcase. It is a huge showcase spread all over Orange County and some neighboring cities. It is a waste of money if you aren't playing on the prime fields (e.g. HB, FV or Irvine).

I'm always amazed at how many teams will spend thousands of dollars for Surf City, knowing they are going to be on a field 20-30 mintues away from the main fields. I would sometimes venture out to those fields, but I wasn't a Div. I coach, and I often would be the only college coach at those games. I know my way to Mission Viejo and Anaheim quite well.

 

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so are the ohio bandits actually having an open tryout ? I actually know a kid interested (not mine) . Seems to me like if the coach is from Michigan she might want to see all kids in action instead of going on reputation alone. maybe they dont have any openings ?