You dont need to go to their camps, and 3 hrs isnt far away at all for what you are talking about. We have a local camp every year near us with ~20 regional schools from D1-D3 represented. Players and teams come from as much as 8 hours away and stay the weekend for it. Camps are about instruction though, not recruiting. You shouldnt go to a camp expecting to get noticed, thats not what its for.
Many top Div 1 schools do recruit heavily west coast players, theres just so many. Competitive girls fastpitch softball started out there in the 1960s and spread to the rest of the country fairly slowly. There are still pockets where the hot activity and good coaching, and competitive teams come from, some of these were the first areas that began fielding teams back in the 70's and competing with California. Of course Cali's real benefit is the sheer overwhelming # of people on top of that softball history.
A quick look at 2009 14U ASA national top 20 finishers shows 13 from CA, 3 from GA, and a couple various others. The Atlanta Ga area has become an area producing competitive teams, and no doubt teams from there would catch recruiters eyes at showcases. But, its easy to see why a lot of recruiting will focus on west coast programs, thats where theres just an overwhelming number of good players.
Many top Div 1 schools do recruit heavily west coast players, theres just so many. Competitive girls fastpitch softball started out there in the 1960s and spread to the rest of the country fairly slowly. There are still pockets where the hot activity and good coaching, and competitive teams come from, some of these were the first areas that began fielding teams back in the 70's and competing with California. Of course Cali's real benefit is the sheer overwhelming # of people on top of that softball history.
A quick look at 2009 14U ASA national top 20 finishers shows 13 from CA, 3 from GA, and a couple various others. The Atlanta Ga area has become an area producing competitive teams, and no doubt teams from there would catch recruiters eyes at showcases. But, its easy to see why a lot of recruiting will focus on west coast programs, thats where theres just an overwhelming number of good players.