LL Senior Division Softball championship on TV

My understanding is that most of this team played together as a 12U travel team this winter and spring and did win the ASA 12U SC State Competitive Division title. Carley [14U Crush] and Amanda [12U Pride] being exceptions to that group. That team hasn't played since that tournament due to the Little League restrictions (and need to practice with the other girls as the All-Star team).

I don't know how the All-Star selection process happens in Simpsonville, but I'm guessing that all that talent rose to the top of that league and seeded the All-Star team accordingly. Half of the 14U Crush were on Mauldin's 12U BR All-Star team with my DD two years ago. The other 12U travel teams in the area seem to draw less from Simpsonville and more from Mauldin and Fountain Inn.

 

I was surprised to not see a staged play against the double steal in the last two games, but the most I saw in the last game was a (not very convincing) fake throw from the catcher.

IIRC, there was a cutoff play during the Central-East semi-final game, but the runner on third didn't bite, so there was no difference.

In one of these games I do remember seeing a throw to second resulting in a run scoring.

OTOH, most of the advances for East were the results of Wild Pitches, not Stolen Bases.

 

Another point I was going to make here is that a lot of school coaches don't want their team members participating in outside teams during the season (until a few years ago, the state High School League prevented it until over-ridden by the state legislature). The applies especially to rec, but travel as well. With 5 day-a-week practices and scrimages and school tournaments on the weekends, they really don't have a lot of time for that anyway, even if the coach is cool with it. [Before any of you say it, of COURSE they want them playing outside ball during the rest of the year.] And the travel teams that are coached by school coaches are obviously in a hard place during this time period (for multiple reasons).

Since in SC, school play starts at 7th grade, most kids are just turning 13 as they become eligible for school ball. Though most rec programs seem to try to delay the start of the Belle (15U) division seasons until after school ball is over, it makes it hard for those programs to get enough games in before the cutoff to start developing the All-Star team.

This, I think, is why the drop off in recreational All-Star teams happens right after 12U, rather than being more of a gradual or across the board thing.

 

observations

I think the East's team failure to "play in" their infield players for a shot at outs at home plate when SC had runners at 3rd base highly contributed to the number of runs scored late by SC. Bad coaching; did not give the girls an opportunity to succeed.

The 1st and 3rd situation for 12U especially rec ball even "all-stars" would be a rarity to gain an out, so that's not really valid.

On one of the bunts laid down the 1st base side (btw bunts were a key to SC's win) in the 6th inning, the SC right-handed batter was clearly running inside the baseline all the way from home to first, which is not legal, but rarely called.

SC was best team.

 

That championship game I saw last night was one of the worst games I have seen played. I have seen better played games in rec ball. I mean, how many runs did the south team get because the east could not make a good throw to first. Also, how many past balls should the catcher should have caught. For All-Star teams it was just plain and simple poor play!!

 

This was a sloppy game. Also poorly umpired for both sides. I did enjoy watching the game even though it was sloppy.

 

Can't believe the plate umpire called that one hit down the 3rd baseline fair, then the base ump called it foul. The tv replay did not give a very good angle and you tell clearly the ball was foul. The one good call was at first when the throw was high and the 1st baseman came down on the orange part of the bag and then got ran over. Good call by the ump!!!!!

 

How about the phantom check swing in the last inning the first base ump called a strike? I saw the replay and she barely moved the bat. No way it was a strike. Didn't matter anyway since she walked.

 

I disagree. We put 1st and 3rd plays in every year on our middle school team (12, 13, and 14 year olds) and the other teams always fall for it.

I also think rec ball and All Stars is a very good place for it since the coaches don't have time (or knowledge) to teach the runners what to do so you can easily catch an over zealous runner at third.

Even if it doesn't work, the next time the other team gets in that situation, the girl at third will stay closer to the bag so she doesn't get caught in a 'trick play' which gives you enough time to actually get the girl stealing second out and either hold the runner at third or get her at the plate for a double play.

All I am saying is don't give the base away for free. Do something, anything!

 

Go back to Canada!!...

....loser. You trashed these kids a couple of posts before, why did you watch this game?...Stay away "EHHH'.