LL Senior Division Softball championship on TV

OHHHHHHHH !!!

Thanks, guru

 

Guru from what I know and I maybe wrong this is the last year that this pitcher can play LL. She has a 95 birthday. I think she is 13 now.
I am not sure when they started letting travel players participate. This team is all from the same area. I was told the NC team was very good that they faced in regionals.

 

TD4SC

Is the same Crush team that has won a berth to 16U ASA Nationals in SD for 2009 ??

Classification: Girls' A 16-Under Fast Pitch Southern
Location: Altamonte Springs, Florida
Date: 7/30/2008 to 8/3/2008

1st Tennessee Fury - Oottewah, TN 5-0
2nd Carolina Crush - Greenville, SC 4-1
3rd Lady Gators - Jupiter, FL 4-2

 

My Understanding ----

That these players come from a recreation format...such as an Optimist League... but I'm really not schooled on this type of play!!!

Guru

 

Same organization only. This girl plays with the 14U team.

 

I can add a little insight here. I live in Portland Or, where the Majors div of the LLWS (11-12) is held every year ( my dd got to play in 2, so I have been involved quite a bit all the goings on).
First off, it is true the rules are some somewhat archaic, in that the LL rules for softball at one time, where exactly the same for baseball, with very few exceptions. What some folks dont understand is, to them, its LL. Rules set by LL, and all that, its taken a huge effort to get them to change the rules for the good of fastpitch softball.

There used to be a pitch count thing, but now it is a game rest during tourneys, a game a and a day during regular season play.

But they have made progress in some rules. There is one lady, from in town here, that goes to the board meeting every single year in Williamsport to combat this notion, and to give LL a better shot at better players, who are leaving LL for ASA, due to a lot of rules. Over the last 3 years, she was the one responsible for first:
1-changing the ball size from 11" to standard 12" at the 11-12 age,(my kid went through this, throwing an 11" ball all week, throwing 12" at asa tourneys during the weekend, wasnt to difficult, but still).
2-Getting the age dates end of year, same as ASA, used to be like, april??
3-allowing players to play ASA, between LL tourneys if time allows. (the old rule was once any LL championship play started, you could play no other games or tourneys, in another league, nor could you play inter league(that really sucked and was stupid).

So its getting better, however, the biggest deal is the boundries issues. It is a stringent requirment and you have to actually sign a dang map of where you live in that boundry, with proof, and I dont mean copies. lol. so its a, you gotta play with what you got kind of mentality. In my opinion, its a harder route. You have to teach players early and some how maintain them. However, the mindset of the parents are more, well, I paid, she gets to play, and well if Im not on vacation we will play post season, maybe. lol. so its not simple. But its still worth it.

And just a note, ESPN 2 will have the semi's today at 4 and 6 pdt and finals tomorrow at 4 pdt.

Her to, once 11-12's are done, eveyone plays ASA, very few play LL after 12 if they are competitive.

But having gone to watch games every year for the last several, I can see the decline in the play at 11-12 as well. pitching is the first obvious, but I can remember seeing WACO, 4 years ago, and when they warmed up, they looked like college kids ready to destroy. For the first time since, WACO has returned, and they are really shaky with limited pitching and a mediocre defense from what I had seen in the past. kind of a shame to see.

It is another avenue for girls to play, always a good thing, if done right, and for the right reasons.

 

Thanks Slap

Slap
Great and informative post from the left coast.
Thanks again and please keep us informed of LL progress towards the 21st. century lol.
Give that lady responsible for the changes a big thanks from us.

 

I will tell her, they work awefull hard at it. you would think, such a tourney would be this huge thing, but folks would be surprised at how "grass roots" it all really is, well, till ESPN gets there, at that point, it changes the landscape.

Oh on the quote about housing, yes, we have hosted 4 times of players. 3 times it went so well, and my daughter still IM's with some of them. one year, not so fun. I guess it just depends. The idea for that is, they want kids, staying and playing with kids. LL is about kids, not perfection, not super competition, but kids, playing with kids. If you look at it, in that premise, it almost makes sense, lol. We have met some wonderful players and kids in those times.

I have been to a handful of games, but actually had not got a chance to watch the SC team (and it looks like they are motoring over eveyone), I need to make an effort to do that and talk to the coach and tell them ya'll are watchin.

 

Bob If you get to the game see if the parents might want to make a Hello TBR poster LOL we could use the press

 

soccer remark

the ESPN announcer on Sat. made a rather derogatory remark about soccer during the softball game. I am in no way a soccer fan, as I really have no love for the game..........but I was surprised at the remark. It was unnecessary.