This year was my DD's first trip to CA for PGF Nationals. It was a great experience and I highly recommend everyone make the trip if they are able - especially at 16U.
1) Gotta love CA weather - 75 and sunny does not suck!
2) Field conditions were OK, nothing great, but not bad.
3) Lots of open space in the outfields for teams to warm up.
4) Plenty of parking, but it pays to know which fields you are on - it is a pretty good hike from one quad to the other.
5) It is cool seeing all of the marquee teams you hear/read about in one place. I think there was one CA team at ASA Nationals. 20+ here.
6) No gate fees!
7) No hotel kickbacks! Stay wherever you want. Plenty of hotel choices in all price ranges.
8) Not sure who designed the restrooms at the park, but I hope they were fired, and are now responsible for cleaning the restrooms daily.
9) Putting a little trash can next to a toilet in a restroom used by males is a BAD idea!
10) Because there is no gate fee or hotel kickback, PGF has no problem sending teams home early.
11) Some teams went 2-and-out the first day of bracket play. Long way to travel to be done Tuesday night.
12) Brackets are random draw, so there were some BIG match ups in the first round.
13) There are college coaches EVERYWHERE.
14) Always great to see other DFP members at a tournament. 29Dad's DD team is having a great run with some comeback wins.
15) There are no dugouts, just concrete bleachers outside the gate - easy access for psycho bucket dads who need need to have a discrete conversations with their DD between innings. You know who you are....
16) Great experience at 16U - wish my DD had gone last year as a first year 16U.
17) It is cool to play against a lot of girls who are verballed to big D1 programs.
Bonus discrete psycho softball dad conversation....
Me: What pitch was that HR you just gave up.
DD: Hung a riseball down the middle of the plate.
Me: Don't you mean "a pitch that flattens out"?
DD: Shut up dad.
Me: Who hit it?
DD: Their catcher who is verballed to Arizona State.
Me: Arizona State - that's impressive!
Me: I would recommend trying something else next time she gets up.
1) Gotta love CA weather - 75 and sunny does not suck!
2) Field conditions were OK, nothing great, but not bad.
3) Lots of open space in the outfields for teams to warm up.
4) Plenty of parking, but it pays to know which fields you are on - it is a pretty good hike from one quad to the other.
5) It is cool seeing all of the marquee teams you hear/read about in one place. I think there was one CA team at ASA Nationals. 20+ here.
6) No gate fees!
7) No hotel kickbacks! Stay wherever you want. Plenty of hotel choices in all price ranges.
8) Not sure who designed the restrooms at the park, but I hope they were fired, and are now responsible for cleaning the restrooms daily.
9) Putting a little trash can next to a toilet in a restroom used by males is a BAD idea!
10) Because there is no gate fee or hotel kickback, PGF has no problem sending teams home early.
11) Some teams went 2-and-out the first day of bracket play. Long way to travel to be done Tuesday night.
12) Brackets are random draw, so there were some BIG match ups in the first round.
13) There are college coaches EVERYWHERE.
14) Always great to see other DFP members at a tournament. 29Dad's DD team is having a great run with some comeback wins.
15) There are no dugouts, just concrete bleachers outside the gate - easy access for psycho bucket dads who need need to have a discrete conversations with their DD between innings. You know who you are....
16) Great experience at 16U - wish my DD had gone last year as a first year 16U.
17) It is cool to play against a lot of girls who are verballed to big D1 programs.
Bonus discrete psycho softball dad conversation....
Me: What pitch was that HR you just gave up.
DD: Hung a riseball down the middle of the plate.
Me: Don't you mean "a pitch that flattens out"?
DD: Shut up dad.
Me: Who hit it?
DD: Their catcher who is verballed to Arizona State.
Me: Arizona State - that's impressive!
Me: I would recommend trying something else next time she gets up.
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