NCAA softball still dominated by regions

1/2 and 1/2

coincidentally?..........both the UNC & NCSU softball rosters are half NC natives and half from outside NC.
20 players on each roster.

 

That is true, however if you look, other than a few occurances their "studs" came from out of state. That may (or may not) play into their recruiting stategy (i.e. give alot of the scholarship dollars to the out of staters and fill out their roster with talented NC kids they can get for cheap) And they are not the real issue. Until recently ECU, Elon, App., UNCC, and several others recruited very few NC kids. The fact that they are now is a welcome change.

 

There are some really good NC players on those teams. Unfortunately, I can't get to too many games but I know Landon Warren and Toni Ann Williford have shown what they are capable of. Players like them are paving the way for local players to have the opportunity to be recruited. Wish Caitlin Sandy had been recruited locally (sorry, my mind drifted).

The talent pool is getting better and better from NC. TB teams from our area are doing really well out West. It's moving faster than people realize.

 

12U-14U talent pool

My youngest DD is 13. When she graduates HS and if she is good enough to play D1, thats yet to be determined, she said she wants to play in state close to home. Many of you guys and gals out there have seen a lot of TB MS and HS ball. Look at some of the 12U and 14U teams and just watch the ones that stand out at that level. Normally each team will have those 2 or 3 A+ players and the rest A to B players, just being honest after watching a lot of SB .... I know of 1 at 12U that will be a dominate pitcher by her Soph yr in HS if she will stay with it and D1 coaches will be traveling to see her pitch. NC Fastpitch is getting real good real fast as has been stated. Mine is 13 and she has 5 yrs. By the time she and all the others reach the age of 18 and playing TB and HS and showcase, the talent level in NC should be up there with FLA TEX ARZ CAL.

 

Maybe they will one day add Softball to that "Got to Be NC" site.

 

maybe a worthwhile stat?

in 2011, the # of softball players with batting average (BA) of .300 or higher:

SEC: 43

ACC: 27

and yes there are only 8 ACC teams vs. 11 SEC teams, so that is a statistical factor.

(I did not check the pitching stats, but can we agree by default / assumption that the SEC has better pitching, which makes the BA stat even more impressive).

 

Based on what I've seen the last month . . . .

I'd rank the conferences as follows:

#1: Big 12
#2: SEC
#3: PAC 10
#4: CUSA
#5: ACC

 

what's needed

So what is needed for the ACC schools to bring themselves up to the SEC and PAC 10 schools??????????? I know $$$$$$$$$$ you might say. I don't think that will be the final thing. The ACC schools are D1 and the $$$$ will likely be there. Every school has high quality facilities to play in. I have watched some of the games this weekend. Some of the teams that are going to the WS or competing to go. would be top ACC teams and others are just HOT at the right time. Would Texas AM, Baylor, Houston consistently be the top team in the ACC?? ECU beat Houston this year. So what's needed....

 

What about Ally Blake

Ally Blake is a NC product and is one of the top catchers in the SE! She hits for power, average, and is great behind the plate. UNC has a number of NC players and have been competitive for several years. NCSU was competitive with NC players as well. Pitching is key to success and the main reason most teams make the final 4. Sure hitting, especially power is great but just like baseball stellar pitching will stop great hitting almost anytime.
Recruiting, as stated earlier, the kids that are D-1 quality have many options and may choose to go out of state like basketball and football players do on a regular basis. It is their decision and if they feel it is best for them then I support.

 

Pitching

All the teams you mention have a #1 pitcher that is clearly better than any #1 in the ACC. In fact, Houston's #3 would likely be a #1 at most ACC schools. NC has produced some solid D1 pitchers but I can only think of two or three in the last ten years who might have been capable for winning the #1 role for a PAC-10, SEC, or Big 12 team this year.