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Just curious on how the tourneys this weekend faired and where people would like to have it brought back again?
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sounds like orville is the place to go
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Orrville (Fire in the Sky) is 14U only.
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I liked the Pickerington tournament. We played in another tournament at Picktown a couple years ago and also liked it. The fields are all close together. There is plenty of room for team tents and warm ups. Plenty of parking, no gate fees, coolers are allowed and the parking is close to the fields. The tournaments are always well run. We played at Pickerington North both times and there is a Kroger and some restaurants right across the street. We haven't played at Pick Central yet, but there are several restaurants and stores close to those fields also.
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Boulder Colorado - Sparkler/Firecracker or whatever they are calling it now. ^_^!
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I would do the Pickerington tournament again.
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How bout one in the Bahamas, or Mexico, or Vegas...wait....Lets do one of those in Janruary...............
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There is no July 4th weekend in 2011. The 4th lands during the week.
We had a lot of fun at the Madness tourney in N. Ridgeville though
We had a lot of fun at the Madness tourney in N. Ridgeville though
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4th is on a monday in 2011. Sounds like a holiday weekend to me.
Pick central was great this past weekend. Love the setup.
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Looking at Colorado Sparkler 16u next year. Our 16u went this year and saw great teams and had a blast. Tons of College Exposure
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No real comparison between the two. If you don't know the difference, I would really suggest saving your money and playing closer to home. Had a player pick up with the 16U MN Blizzard and go out there for the week as a "college recruitment" tool and play in the Sparkler. The player is on the watch list for U of Texas and I was contacted by Connie Clark looking for the players schedule out there. They did send an assisstant to watch one of her games at the Sparkler and that was the only college coach they saw all week other than a few at the All Star Games and the All American Game. The Blizzard finished 2nd in their bracket (#2 of 5 brackets). Played lots of games against quality opponents, but it was not a college showcase.
Fireworks on the other hand is loaded with coaches but you can't just buy your way in there.
I will say this, if you already have a relationship with a college program and are under consideration, they are in Colorado that weekend and will probably come see you wherever you play.
In some ways I think the Sparkler is the coolest tournament in the country. 300+ teams per age, breaks into 5 different brackets after pool so that your more likely to be in a bracket with teams you will be competitive with. Just wish they didn't bill it as college exposure and didn't use the All star and All american games to line their pockets in excess of what is necessary.
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I would really question at length multiple people on the experience. Looks like they made top bracket by winning their pool but were 1,2 BBQ in bracket and done Friday by dinner time. Short of being in the final four or that top bracket, I just don't think there was college exposure based on what I heard from mutiple people including two other MN teams that did make that top bracket and had to face each other in an elimination bracket game (that's unfortunate, but not a knock on the tournament). I have talked to coaches fuming that they encouraged kids to participate in All Star events that were held in front of nearly empty stands.
It can be fun, it's a great tournament, just don't do it expecting college exposure.
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Nowhere. We like to take off this long weekend in the middle of the season to give everyone a break.
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The fastpitch and fireworks in pickerington Chris you did a great job.
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Orrville is the best tournament we have ever been to and this is dd's 4th summer. Not a huge fan of the carnival and stuff so even without it was awesome. Games on the main field had an announcer Sunday (not sure about Sat) fields were lined, watered. Games were 90 minutes. Everything ran very smoothly. Great layout of fields. People around the fields were knowledgable and helpful. A+++++++++++
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ne3gGC4kvk Here is a video about the Fire in the Sky Softball tournament created by our Official Field Equipment Provider Ventrac
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Canton, MI--NOT!! 4 inches of dust on top of concrete, pitchers area rutted above ankle area, open drains in the outfield....Truly a nightmare scenario. DD hit a ball that on first bounce probably went between 15-20 ft in air, and then flattened in a dust clould on second hop...Never seen anyhting like that in 40 years of ball...
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Yep, if it doesn't rain during the tournament, the fields will be extremely dry.
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Was glad to be a part of Fastpitch and Fireworks in Pickerington. Way to go Xtreme.
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we had alot of fun at picktown this year.
