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Apr 24, 2017
203
28
Georgia
Our local softball forum is FULL of teams in each age group "looking for two big bats/utility players to fill out our roster" and "very competitive team looking for "A" pitcher to round out our pitching staff". Everyone touts themselves as an "A team playing at the highest level" yet they barely have 9-10 players on their rosters, and everyone seems to need an A level pitcher. One of the parents there asked when is it time to combine? Throw the towel in as a coach and join another team? Or maybe take the high level B players and develop them? In our neck of the woods, we play fall school ball so TB gets rolling late February usually. We are TWO weeks out from most of our first tournaments and there are still some BIG name teams looking for two kids to round out their roster. Is this indicative of what others are seeing? Think coaches are just trying to get as many kids as possible on their team (collect all the good players so no one else can have them)? Even big name teams (EC Bullets, Firecrackers, Batbusters, etc.) are posting looking for kids. It seems worse than usual this year.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
To me it does not seem worse then any other year. A lot of teams leave a slot open hoping to run into a great player and as you mentioned time is running out.

I am with you though that if a Team is looking for 2 players to fill out our great competitive team. 1 pitch and 1 catcher, as a player it might be worth looking elsewhere.

Injuries happen too or do not heal as expected.

I think it might be hard to combine teams at this point, you would need to kick 6 or 7 players to the curb. I am sure you would be in the players and parents prayers for the next few years.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Our local softball forum is FULL of teams in each age group "looking for two big bats/utility players to fill out our roster" and "very competitive team looking for "A" pitcher to round out our pitching staff". Everyone touts themselves as an "A team playing at the highest level" yet they barely have 9-10 players on their rosters, and everyone seems to need an A level pitcher.

So like every season. No one is going to market themselves as "We are a crappy B team with 7 girls, 1 barely adequate pitcher and questionable and inexperienced coaching. We need some bodies. Anything with a pulse and a check that will clear accepted"

One of the parents there asked when is it time to combine? Throw the towel in as a coach and join another team?
When the adults coaching can get past their egos. Even then you need 2 coaches like that.

Or maybe take the high level B players and develop them?
There is no such thing not already on one of these other teams. These borderline A/B girls are already part of the 'A' teams which is why they all have 7-9 girls. Even if you said in your tryout postings "We are looking to develop your best B players into an A player" that isn't going to help because they are already on an 'A' team. And no one thinks of their kid as a 'B' kid.

There are still some BIG name teams looking for two kids to round out their roster. Is this indicative of what others are seeing? Think coaches are just trying to get as many kids as possible on their team (collect all the good players so no one else can have them)? Even big name teams (EC Bullets, Firecrackers, Batbusters, etc.) are posting looking for kids. It seems worse than usual this year.

One of the other problems is that pitchers have ALL the power. So more likely is that there is 3 or 4 pitchers going to lots of tryouts and they haven't made up their mind which team to join. When they do, then some of the '7-8 player teams but no pitching' will fold and their best players will go join teams that have pitching.

The other situation is there is no pitchers not on a team - then it will get ugly.

Additional Note: Some of the best teams will have pitching, but would love to have one more. So put it out there. Last year we survived with 2 pitchers and a part timer. This year we will have 3 'real' pitchers and a part-timer and we are much happier but it took a full season of being good and letting people know we would love one more to get that extra pitcher we really wanted to have.
 
Last edited:
Apr 16, 2010
924
43
Alabama
Our local softball forum is FULL of teams in each age group "looking for two big bats/utility players to fill out our roster" and "very competitive team looking for "A" pitcher to round out our pitching staff". Everyone touts themselves as an "A team playing at the highest level" yet they barely have 9-10 players on their rosters, and everyone seems to need an A level pitcher. One of the parents there asked when is it time to combine? Throw the towel in as a coach and join another team? Or maybe take the high level B players and develop them? In our neck of the woods, we play fall school ball so TB gets rolling late February usually. We are TWO weeks out from most of our first tournaments and there are still some BIG name teams looking for two kids to round out their roster. Is this indicative of what others are seeing? Think coaches are just trying to get as many kids as possible on their team (collect all the good players so no one else can have them)? Even big name teams (EC Bullets, Firecrackers, Batbusters, etc.) are posting looking for kids. It seems worse than usual this year.

The reason they are still looking is because they want to field so many teams. EC has eight 14U teams and six in 16U. There is no way they have eight competitive teams in 14U. Firecrackers? One extremely good team and the others have always been middle of the pack. I haven't played the Batbusters Georgia version but like the Firecrackers it's all about the name and not the substance. I don't mean this to bash any team because all of them have some great players but with a little retraction they could be amazing.

It boils down to two things. The org wants to bring in money off of the teams or the team wants a name on their chest because they cannot get into the right pools at showcases.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
The reason they are still looking is because they want to field so many teams. EC has eight 14U teams and six in 16U. There is no way they have eight competitive teams in 14U. Firecrackers? One extremely good team and the others have always been middle of the pack. I haven't played the Batbusters Georgia version but like the Firecrackers it's all about the name and not the substance. I don't mean this to bash any team because all of them have some great players but with a little retraction they could be amazing.

It boils down to two things. The org wants to bring in money off of the teams or the team wants a name on their chest because they cannot get into the right pools at showcases.

Rambler, you hit the nail on the head with a sledge hammer. It's starting to happen in Chicago area too. There are too many teams looking for that "Special" player(s) to complete their roster. A lot of the coaches have resorted to slimy tactics. They will post on the local boards say no name listed team needs (insert player and/or position) to complete their talented roster. Then the only contact information will a generic blahblahsoftball@gmail address in the post. My favorite is the "Due to a season ending injury." comment in the no name team post.

A mediocre daddy ball program is going the Batbuster direction with all kinds promises about support from the main organization in CA. Same coaches, just a different name on the jersey. Another program tried the Mizuno direction a few years ago. It didn't work well for them as soon as everyone realized it was nothing but a pretty bow on a steaming pile. They are not doing it this year.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
So Cal is exactly the same way. Every year.

That's where it started at. The mega name organizations looking for funds to attract the best players in the area to play for free. The other thing is the 20+ player rosters in the bag name organizations.

Great for a family if a player is one of the top 5%.
 
May 16, 2016
1,024
113
Illinois
Rambler, you hit the nail on the head with a sledge hammer. It's starting to happen in Chicago area too. There are too many teams looking for that "Special" player(s) to complete their roster. A lot of the coaches have resorted to slimy tactics. They will post on the local boards say no name listed team needs (insert player and/or position) to complete their talented roster. Then the only contact information will a generic blahblahsoftball@gmail address in the post. My favorite is the "Due to a season ending injury." comment in the no name team post.

A mediocre daddy ball program is going the Batbuster direction with all kinds promises about support from the main organization in CA. Same coaches, just a different name on the jersey. Another program tried the Mizuno direction a few years ago. It didn't work well for them as soon as everyone realized it was nothing but a pretty bow on a steaming pile. They are not doing it this year.

Time will tell but I think the BW going to the Batbusters name will help them in the long run. If the BW can retain some of their better players instead of loosing them to the Bandits their teams will continue to get better. That can be said for some other teams in the Illinois area. Is the BW going to become one of the top teams nationally? Probably not but I personally believe the BW will become better.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
Time will tell but I think the BW going to the Batbusters name will help them in the long run. If the BW can retain some of their better players instead of loosing them to the Bandits their teams will continue to get better. That can be said for some other teams in the Illinois area. Is the BW going to become one of the top teams nationally? Probably not but I personally believe the BW will become better.

Don't know this scene but it sounds similar to where I am in Florida.

All the orgs got sick of the 'big org' stealing all their talent around 14U and then running around claiming how great there were and how they 'developed' all this talent.

It is now the other way - there is too many big orgs names in State. We went from one in the north of the state and one in the south to having almost every name you have heard of represented.

That said, the well organized organizations are holding their talent longer and right now there is no clear 'big org' - and the best team(s) in each age group are not from the same org anymore. So that part of it happened. I also have a lot of respect for the people in state behind 3 of the orgs, and I expect if those people stay in place we will see these 3 orgs start to consistently put out the best teams in the future.
 

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