2009 Colorado Sparkler and Fireworks

I am not sure why the need to be defensive about my comments... If the time had been taken to really read what was stated.

If you had seen the dynamic for two years up close as I have you would understand.

ps: I am not aware of any "out west" teams who come to NC to play. Really they dont even have to come to Boulder... as one CA gold coach said we just come for "BRAGGING RIGHTS". There is still a west coast bias on a national level among some in the coaching fraternity. I am not talking about the coaches from our area who were there.

 

We don't get the college turnout in NC as we do at Rising Stars, Colorado tournaments, California, etc...Players in NC can get the opportunity to play at UNC, NCSU, and other Division I's in the state, but college coaches like players who have a good resume of National tournament experience. Just as LBlues1 said to be the best you have to beat the best. Not just the best teams at home, but the best across the country. That is why UNC, NCSU, and the other ones have players from across the country, not just NC. We get more turnout in 1 game at a National tournament, than we may get a in all at a local tournament. The more national tournaments a player can compete in, the more it increases her stock and value to college coaches. Not everybodies definition of great schools is the same. A lot of the schools that I consider to be great schools do not come to VA, NC, or SC to recruit or do not come on a regular basis. I've had players in the past that had the athleticism or the ability to play at better schools, but these better schools were "iffy" on them due to not playing in or as many national tourneys. Those previous players have helped pave the way for the current players to have better scholarship opportunies and to play at higher level schools. College coaches want battle tested players and this gets accomplished the best playing the schedule we play. My plan is to keep expanding our schedule to attend even more national tournaments. More and more teams from our area are starting to do this. Lady Blues, Cardinals, Lady Lightning and us from NC have been doing this. The Cobras and soon to be Sun Devils competing in ASA Nationals is great for NC. Softball is softball, athletes are athletes, but the style and level of play does vary. There are plenty of coaches that still do not take NC seriously when it comes to softball. As many other posts on this board have stated before, you have to pick what is best situation for you. Just keep in mind there is a big softball world out there!

 

Maybe I misunderstood what I read. It sounded like the west teams automatically win against the east teams. The scores I've seen don't seem to indicate that. If western teams were to send 4 or 5 teams to eastern tournaments I believe their chances of winning would be about the same as the eastern teams attending tournaments out there.

We have plenty of strong talent here in the east and in NC. The grass is not necessarily greener out west.

One example I have seen is Chelsea Leonard. If you've ever seen one of her good curve balls I think you will agree.

 

OK.. this is the bottom line... if you could take the top 50 girls each year in the state of NC and identify them and somehow magically transplant them and let them mature in a softball sense by growing up in the CA environment every one of them would play D1 ball.. does that happen in NC?

As I stated before.. its not that the CA players are better athletes... they just play better competition and it makes them better for having done so. Look at how many teams from CA were in Boulder!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe its not that the grass thats greener out there but something sure is!

To use your example.. dont you think ANY FP player would be a better hitter if they faced Leonard twice a week?

 

OK. I get your point. But the gap is closing fast!

 

Real

If you have not been to Boulder, New Jersey, Plantation, Champions Cup etc. you really have no idea what you are talking about. I don't mean to be mean but the other posts about these tournaments are accurate. If you get a chance you will see what all of us that have gone understand. The scores really are not the deciding factor but a gauge to compare your self on that particular day. Go see some of these tournaments and then we can talk.

 

It sounds like there is an opportunity for a go-getter to develop a like-minded tournament(s) out here. Now I realize it takes years to build a reputation to encourage out of state Gold teams to travel to NC...but the opportunity is there to create one.

Of course, I'm biased because I hate that families have to spend so much money to travel these long distances just to catch the eye of D1 coaches. I fully understand why they do it, I just wish we could create a National tournament here.

 

Happy for you

I'm so glad all of you can afford to go to tournaments like those out West. What about those that can't afford to go be seen by all those colleges. I guess we just have to stick to the ones around here, and heck even those are costing 500.00 a weekend. Don't get me wrong I would love to be able to go off to Colorado or the Plantation tournaments. Anyway good luck to all of you, wish you the best.

 

Yep

Well said Ghost Rider, Well said

 

It's the pitching

I was at the Dynamites tournament last month and mentioned to one D1 head coach sitting beside me that I just didn't see any 'shut down' pitching. Her comment was, 'if you want to see that you'll have to come to Boulder'. Not my words, hers. Coaches go to Boulder to find pitching but also to see how the position players will hit against first line pitching. Does a kid have to go to Colorado to get offers? Clearly not. The absolute first-line pitchers (the C Leonards) and the first-line hitters (A Presnell from a few years ago) will get looks and offers irregardless. If a kid is not a Leonard or a Presnell though (and most aren't), a trip to Boulder can make difference, especially if the girl wants to play D1 and/or is willing or wants to go to school outside of the Carolina's.