Lady Lightning Teams Qualified for 2011 PGF National Championship

Glad you feel this way

Oklahoma City is a heck of lot more centrally located than Orange County, CA. ASA going to San Diego after it was held in Marietta, GA last year. That's the way it should be if the tournament isn't centrally located. ASA was not put in CA to lure CA teams.

Their 14/16 is something far less than ASA. If you want to call 18 that I agree but its far from having all the best teams.
I have followed Premier close before it ever got off the ground. Their crusade at first looked great to create change in ASA. Even after ASA changed rules to match what they wanted it showed what it really was. California Word Series and money maker for the OC Batbusters. Your 18U team is playing in a good tournament. Congrats on that. My feelings are in no way against your team.

History Gold Champs East of Mississippi
2004 Southern Force
2005 Shamrocks
2006 Gold Coast Hurricanes - Cooper
2010 East Cobb Bullets

Since 1996 When Gold started the tournament has been in OK City 5 times. It rotated around the country the other years.

 

Others

Just in the Southeast Atlanta and Orlando have facilities to do all age groups during the same week. I am sure their are others.

 

"California Word Series and money maker for the OC Batbusters."

And the ASA National tournaments are not money makers for ASA?

93 teams at last years 18A

135 teams listed as qualified so far this year's 16U.

152 at the the 2010 14U

If their idea of a National Championship is to invite everyone they can and play, they are getting there. My guess is it's more focused on generating $$$$

 

PGF VS ASA

So why did PGF form??? Because Gary Haning got pissed at ASA cuz they wanted to move nationals around and no longer play every year in Oklahoma City........which truly meant something to people who qualified and got the opportunity to play at the site of WCWS. Whether anyone likes it or not his organziation refused to travel to Atlanta for nationals and as a result we now have PGF........money and power talks. Yes, they have hurt ASA as a result and its creating a recruiting nightmare for colleges. Regardless of who you side with, doesn't matter.....it's there and not going away. Don't bash ASA for trying to rebound, teams still have to qualify for nationals unless they have bid based on previous finish. This is off PGF website>>>>>

As you all know the PGF Directors, Dan Hay and Gary Haning, along with PGF Committee members, Bill Conroy, Bruce Richardson invited a number of teams to the 2010 Inaugural Premier National Tournament. Some of those teams subsequently received a two year invitation. We felt that it was necessary to extend these invitations in order to insure the stability and success of this new exciting venture. The 2011 PGF National Championship will remain a mixture of invited and qualified teams

Enuf said!!

 

Yep, it also says that in 2012 there will be no invitations.

One thing about competition, it's ultimately good for the consumers .......and good for generating debate

 

ASA

ASA has nobody to blame but themselves. Yes its money to them. The bottom line is it created division and leads to no true national champion at 18U. ASA ego and not listening to their teams cost them. From the lips of of Gary Haning though this was more about college freshmen being allowed to play Gold. I read every statement he made when this was put together. You can read this recent article. http://www.dailycamera.com/sports/ci_18382362 Most of his original statements probably can still be found if you search hard enough.
The teams didn't back back off once ASA gave them everything they said they wanted. ASA did drag its feet slowly and had to be forced to make those changes. My point is this was more about CA and not what is best for softball. Before the split you had everybody. There was no argument over the best team. Colorado is about the closest you get to a true champion and it was still missing the best Gold Coast team and Fico's Firecrackers.

If you can tell I am not very happy with Premier or ASA. Its left organizations and college coaches with too many questions that I think will take several years to get sorted out. The one thing I don't believe can be debated is Premiers real intentions rather you are on their side or not.

In the younger divisions I don't think Premier is a valid option. That may change but I don't see it happening soon. Even the CA teams haven't jumped into it. You would think they would all be tired of playing one another. I will quit calling it the CA World Series whenever all states are involved. Its not there yet. One thing for sure at least at 18U Premier will be around awhile.

 

Agreed. There are plenty of issues on both side.

As you say, Premier will need make in roads into the younger age groups on a national level, otherwise it will be 18HS and "west coast" thing.

Hopefully, this period will ultimately be viewed as being beneficial for the sport. Unfortunately, it will be a few years till it sorts out. Too many years for most of us.