What's wrong with Ohio Softball.......

[default]

ok. not Loads, but a pretty significant # as it relates to how many Top Tier kids their are at that level. The number gets pretty small once your up at that age/level.

Heck, how many OH kids have signed with OSU, the last ten years? These are kids that have or will sign with teams of that caliber, so the significance is why is Ohio's BEST need to leave. And I believe a few wise people including yourself have answered above.

 

[default]

My comment wasnt about cali vs Ohio in general it was an addition to Joes post...... but some of my remarks explains why in some cases Ohio is behind and why kids leave.

Kids leave the state for some of those reasons I stated, the weather east of us may still ****, but the intensity plays alot west and south. And as Joe states he dosent see Ohio teams alot. Why?........ because Ohio is behind in top level ball.

Ask Cincy Storm how hard it is to form a Team to go to those top tournies, I have always been a fan of his schedule. Its difficult to get enough kids to play at that level due to the fact of numbers in Ohio are not as great as out west or down south

Its all connected, numbers, experience and commitment, If something is wrong with Ohio softball in my opinion that would be it

Tim

 

[default]

Thanks Tim.. I see your points... Sorry, thought you were opening that scab of a topic we killed last year. : )

 

[default]

Something to add to that is population, Orange county in Cali has more people than the state of Ohio ( If my info is correct ) think of the athletes that they are capable of drawing from. And that is just one county. Which in its self explains why so many west coast kids come east looking for college schollies.......

Your population info is way off - OC's population is only 3 million compared to OH being 11-1/2 (US Census bureau estimates for 2009). LA County is closest with almost 10 million. The total population of SoCal is about 20 million.

 

[default]

Thinking maybe the Ohio Hawks might get there in a few years of providing a true GOLD level program for their kids to compete and be seen by more then Ohio and Indiana Colleges.

Funny you should mention that. We have a meeting in the morning to lay out a 3 year plan to drive the organization to have a top-tier team at every age group, including 18u Gold. With that though comes the responsibility to provide the training facilities, instructors, funding and other support areas to allow the girls to meet the objective. Just putting a team together and calling it a Gold team is not a good solution. In the past week I have had conversations with D1 and D2 coaches around the country about what it would take for our kids to be scouted by their programs. The mountain to climb for an org from Ohio is large but doable.

Equally important will be for our org to provide all our players with the recruiting resources - skills video production, marketing training (for them to market themselves), web profiles and other assists in the process targeted to mainly NAIA, D3 and smaller schools. Getting a full/partial ride to a small school to play ball while getting your education is an obtainable dream for many players - but what organizations really know how and provide the tools to help them get there? I would like to know what OH org's have a complete recruiting assistance process in place for their kids - I would love to work with them to share ideas.

 

[default]

Your population info is way off - OC's population is only 3 million compared to OH being 11-1/2 (US Census bureau estimates for 2009). LA County is closest with almost 10 million. The total population of SoCal is about 20 million.

Then I got my cities wrong thank you, I knew one of them was close to Ohios population

 

[default]

Nothing is wrong with Ohio softball. I think with the weather and Ohio's economic situation the state is doing just fine. 7 girls actually is probably .01 percent of the good travel ball girls. JMHO

 

[default]

I am going to take a guess and those 7 headed to the New Jersey Intensity. If that is what they want to do, then I wish them all the best and continued success.

 

[default]

Thanks Tim.. I see your points... Sorry, thought you were opening that scab of a topic we killed last year. : )

So you were part of killing that topic last year, it would be interesting to know what user name you were using back then....

 

[default]

not a bad guess but thats not correct. maybe a couple did but a think there are players going in different directions, just not east to new jersey . I actually think the number might bit quite a bit higher than 7 if all the names were thrown out there. I can name one from so. ohio that was stingray until she decided to play in WV , pitched her HS team to a 28-2 record. final 8 in d-3 I think.

It would be nice if everyone suited up for the glory of the buckeye state but at 16-18u it's about exposure and that full ride, not bringing glory to ohio. MD

 

[default]

If it is the New Jersey Intensity, how many times a week do they make the trip? By this question I mean to ask how much it is about training and how much it is about playing top competitions. I don't have a problem with whatever the mix is, but I do think that Ohio families need to know if this is more a matter of exposure (and therefore more a matter of travel expenses) or a matter of skills training. If it is more about playing top competitions, some team in Ohio could probably fill the alleged hole and put together a travel schedule that involves Florida, Arizona, Texas and of course California tournaments. If it is more about training, probably at this stage no Ohio team could make the resources available to upgrade to the level envisioned by playedfortheworst. Would need some serious capital funding to achieve that. Sounds like the Hawks are willing to engage in a 3 three plan to get there. Best of luck to them in that endeavor.

 

[default]

BD, thread isn't about Cali vs. Ohio. It's about why are loads of OH Girls leaving OH to find the level of training, competition, and recruiting they need to meet their goals.

This is not a thread about Cali... Just that apparently neighboring states have more to offer at the 18u level. And I'm wondering why? Above comments have been fantastic... We already killed the Cali thing last year. lol

Trolls are whats wrong with Ohio Softball!!;& Wondering how you can have knowledge of a thread from last year when you have only been a member of OFC for 2 weeks as "playedfortheworst"!! Hiding behind a screen name is done for no other reason than to stir up **** which you a clearly trying to do. Come out and play fair like the rest of us and quit stirring the pot!!

As for your thread...7 girls leaving the state of Ohio to play travel out East or wherever for that matter is lower than the % of me ****ing out of an airplane and landing on the pitching rubber at OSU!!! Its just not a big deal.

 

[default]

just my own thoughts but 7-12 of the cream of the croppers (esp at 1 single age group) is the difference between a national top 5-10 (champ ?) and our traditional top 20-30. It does make a difference. statistically minute but huge in importance. They are the type of kids that just can't be replaced. MD

 

[default]

Only need 10 more to round out our strong core of 1.

This quote was for Intensity 16U

 

[default]

 

[default]

I was always told EVERYONE IS REPLACEABLE !
Maybe everyone else should just quit. Like knight said who really cares. Sometimes folks need to spend less time focusing on others and spend more time working on their own goals, whatever they are. If that is your goal to cause trouble for others, then I feel sorry for you.
Just remember education, grades, SAT/ACT scores, etc.

 

[default]

So why do many of our top girls leave Ohio Softball to pursue their dreams elsewhere. There is an obvious gap. Is anyone working to fill it. I think a previous thread last winter talked about Elite Training / Program being a void because of the lack of Elite Opportunities that come to Ohio girls.

As much as people want to say Lasers is that resource....
I would say the fact that 7 of Ohio's best softball players leaving to play for a team in another state is an indictment on how POOR our 16-18u programs are at providing high level training, playing highly competitive schedules, and lacking the relationships with major D1 colleges that in one year 7 of our best kids skip town cause Ohio can't deliver to their needs.

And this is not to rip Ohio Fast Pitch as 90% of it is great, but that 10% I'm pointing out is obviously needing some development.

Be careful of what you say because it can blowup in your face.

 

[default]

I am not sure it is fair to say they are the 7 best in Ohio. They are all good but???

 

[default]

"What's wrong with Ohio Softball....... "

Not a thing....saw some great games last summer. And some great talent.

Everyone has different dreams....best of luck to everyone trying to make those reality.

 

[default]

Look, if these 7 were from the Ohio Intensity, that means that the Ohio Intensity weren't able to fully roster a team. What I don't get is why playedfortheworst is calling out the Lasers organization when Ohio Intensity wasn't able to fill the hole (well, in his or her words the "whole") alleged in Ohio ball. Probably these families together saw an opportunity to keep playing with some team in Pennsylvania (saw some allusions to that on PA threads) or New Jersey. That's a logical and understandable decision. But why that should translate into a condemnation of any other organization in Ohio . . . that escapes me.