Houston Teams showing well at PGF 1st session

I'd like to point out that the two teams in the 12U PGF finals yesterday were both from the Houston area. Sudden Impact winner and Impact Gold runner up. Oh and let's not forget one of the teams in the 10U finals were from Houston area as well. Intensity South. Out of the 8 top teams playing for the championships 3 were from the Houston area. Too bad most of the better Tx teams chose to go to the JO Cup instead this past week. Oh and let's not forget that the starting pitcher in the final game for FC-Rico team is from Texas. Jus' sayin'!!!

Let's see how the 14's and 16's this week.

Very nice!! Here in Minnesota, our girls are not even ALLOWED to play club ball until 13U.

29dad said:

Very nice!! Here in Minnesota, our girls are not even ALLOWED to play club ball until 13U.

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You need to explain that. Is there an actual rule? Or is the sarcasm font needed?

Sparky Guy said:

You need to explain that. Is there an actual rule? Or is the sarcasm font needed?

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Sorry for the threadjack, but it is an actual rule. 12U and under MUST play community ball. No club ball until 13U. You will never see a 10U or 12U team from MN compete at one of the premier national tournaments. Or if they do compete, they won't be very competitive. From the Minnesota Metro bylaws:

C. 14UA, 16UA and 18U are considered open ages and players can make up teams from either a community or multiple Communities for summer season play, Fall, or Dome Ball season.

D. 8U, 10U and 12U age group teams shall be community based for advancement to State and National play.

29dad said:

Very nice!! Here in Minnesota, our girls are not even ALLOWED to play club ball until 13U.

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In TX, FLA and CA, girls are playing fastpitch.
In MN, girls are playing hockey, volleyball and hockey...

29dad said:

Sorry for the threadjack, but it is an actual rule. 12U and under MUST play community ball. No club ball until 13U. You will never see a 10U or 12U team from MN compete at one of the premier national tournaments. Or if they do compete, they won't be very competitive. From the Minnesota Metro bylaws:

C. 14UA, 16UA and 18U are considered open ages and players can make up teams from either a community or multiple Communities for summer season play, Fall, or Dome Ball season.

D. 8U, 10U and 12U age group teams shall be community based for advancement to State and National play.

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Interesting - is that ASA? If so, why not play PGF, USSSA, etc.? Just curious

Daddylawman said:

Interesting - is that ASA? If so, why not play PGF, USSSA, etc.? Just curious

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MN fastpitch is controlled by an org named Minnesota Metro Fastpitch League (MMFL). MMFL also runs ASA, USSSA, and NAFA in MN. PGF does not have a presence here. Yet. So if a club were to start up a 12U team, that team would not be allowed to participate in any ASA, USSSA, or NAFA tournaments in the state. Which for all practical purposes are all of the tournaments. Folks who have been here longer, like MNdad, can explain it much better than I can. We just moved back to MN a year ago so the rule didn't effect my dd at all.

Close enough. MMFL/NAFA/ASA are all partners in MN. USSSA was a part of that group until this year. I'm kit sure what their relationship is now. Every team (community-rec or club-travel) playing under MMFL/NAFA/ASA MUST participate in their league play and in their state tournament to advance to National competition. This group is led primarily by rec program representatives that implemented rules that don't allow club-travel until 14U. They also don't allow 12U age eligible players to move up to 14U. I'd compare them to a mini softball mafia strong arming anyone who crosses them.

PGF has been slow to catch on here. We have a PGF state director, but she's not very effective. The few club teams that play a PGF schedule need to travel to the Chicago area, KC or Iowa to find decent tournaments.

slugger3 said:

In TX, FLA and CA, girls are playing fastpitch.
In MN, girls are playing hockey, volleyball and hockey...

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You forgot about hockey, trap shooting, and hockey.

I'm in MN too guys. I suspect all one has to do is follow the money.