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Stinger1
59 Posts |
 Posted - 02/29/2012 : 08:27:50
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| Should be a very competitive tournament. With 21 teams this will be a crazy weekend for baseball. We have the Yard Dogs and the Generals in pool play - should be interesting. East Cobb should be strong in this one we are looking forward to the weekend... |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 11:24:05
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This tournament is going to be very solid! I know most of the teams and there is several tough pool play games. The Generals do not play Yard Dogs in pool play. It will be fun to see if some of the new teams to kid pitch have made the adjustments. My seed predictions 1-3 after pool play games.
Pool A: Astros, Warriors, Storm
Pool B: Reebok, Braves, Prospects
Pool C: Cougars, Hooks, Outlaws
Pool D: Knights, Scorpions, Braves
Pool E: Rangers, Bandits, Mavricks, Thunder
Pool F: Yard Dogs, Titans, Generals, Elite
I suspect there will be some early surprises and will take the Cougars and Astros in the ship. |
Edited by - 3up3down on 02/29/2012 11:35:21 |
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Linedrive11
91 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 13:22:16
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| Astros, Yarddogs or 643 DP Cougars. I think the Stingers have the potential to upset some teams in bracket play. I am looking forward to following the results. |
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NH_Rangers
62 Posts |
Posted - 02/29/2012 : 16:10:41
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| Based on what I saw this weekend with the Titans and Generals that Pool F is brutal. Those are 4 solid teams. If you are not the 1-4 seed you are playing 6 games in the GOLD division if you make it to the ship so managing pitching--or hoping it lasts, is going to be at a premium. There will be some great bracket match-ups |
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 03/03/2012 : 23:20:35
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| Looks like the talent in 9U may not lie with a select few teams. Looking back at the projections above, many of those teams are not even in the gold bracket. |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 09:43:13
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There was solid 9U baseball with a few surprises this weekend at ATPP.
I know it's early in the season but this would be my top 5 after what I watched.
1. 643
2. ECB Titans
3. Acworth Warriors
4. ECB Astros
5. ECB Black Knights
It appeared 643 & Acworth had the deepest pitching of all teams.
This will be a huge advantage as the season moves toward the bigger tournaments! |
Edited by - 3up3down on 03/06/2012 09:50:05 |
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Linedrive11
91 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 11:09:54
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Those are very good teams. But how can you have a top five that does not include at least a couple of the following teams: Atlanta Angels, Yarddogs, Bulldogs Baseball, Grays and Elite Gamers??quote:
Originally posted by 3up3down
There was solid 9U baseball with a few surprises this weekend at ATPP.
I know it's early in the season but this would be my top 5 after what I watched.
1. 643
2. ECB Titans
3. Acworth Warriors
4. ECB Astros
5. ECB Black Knights
It appeared 643 & Acworth had the deepest pitching of all teams.
This will be a huge advantage as the season moves toward the bigger tournaments!
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Edited by - Linedrive11 on 03/06/2012 11:16:00 |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 15:00:15
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Linedrive11-
You are correct- I was not ranking the entire 9u group. I was only ranking the top 5 from the 20 teams that played in the triple crown tournament this weekend.
I agree the Angels, Bulldogs, Grays and Elite Gamers will be right in the mix and could even be in the #1 spot!
Also, Congrats to GA Yard Dogs and NH Rangers for going to the silver championship. There were several tough pool play matchups early and several solid teams got bumped to silver bracket after pool play. |
Edited by - 3up3down on 03/06/2012 16:13:29 |
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sah489
85 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 15:37:22
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Didn't the Hobgood Braves beat ECB Black Knights?
quote:
Originally posted by 3up3down
There was solid 9U baseball with a few surprises this weekend at ATPP.
I know it's early in the season but this would be my top 5 after what I watched.
1. 643
2. ECB Titans
3. Acworth Warriors
4. ECB Astros
5. ECB Black Knights
It appeared 643 & Acworth had the deepest pitching of all teams.
This will be a huge advantage as the season moves toward the bigger tournaments!
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 03/06/2012 : 16:23:54
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| They did. And Kennesaw Generals and Diamond 9 Mavericks were higher ranked in the Gold Bracket than several of those teams, as well. |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 09:52:48
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This is just my thoughts from what I watched over the weekend.
You have to remember some teams might save pitching in pool play games and come out as a different team in bracket play.
I did not see the Hobgood Braves game but did watch Kennesaw and Diamond 9 Mavs.
It is way to early to really predict but I will stand by my top 5 from this weekend.
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2012 : 16:23:17
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quote:
Originally posted by 3up3down
You have to remember some teams might save pitching in pool play games and come out as a different team in bracket play.
And how do you know the teams that beat them weren't doing the same thing but just better?? |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2012 : 08:12:06
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dad4kids- You are correct, I don't know what teams were saving pitching, etc... I was trying to look at overall team strength and depth (my opinion only). This is just my Top 5 from the tournament. One win or loss did not determine my 5 teams. Look at the ECB Astros getting beat by the Acworth Warriors 13-3 in game 1. I was very impressed with the Warriors as they looked very strong but the Astros have a proven record over the years and have strong/smart players!
My top 5 was not meant to put teams on the defensive. I only watched a snapshot of several games and all the teams played well.
It should be a fun year of 9U baseball!
quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
quote:
Originally posted by 3up3down
You have to remember some teams might save pitching in pool play games and come out as a different team in bracket play.
And how do you know the teams that beat them weren't doing the same thing but just better??
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Edited by - 3up3down on 03/08/2012 08:30:15 |
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2012 : 10:30:19
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I hear ya, 3UP. Just interested in your thoughts. Lots of baseball to be played.
It was a great tournament and we were all fortunate the weather didn't derail it completely. |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2012 : 22:39:24
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| 643 and EC Titans have proven themselves worthy so far this year. They have met in the finals in the last two tournaments. 643 beat us in the NH tourney 7-4. We have split with the EC Titans. We beat Acworth Orange pretty handily in the finals of the North Cobb tournament in the Fall. The EC Astros is a team that has always had our number for some reason. They have a great group of kids who are well coached. We have not played the Black Knights this year. They've had some player turnover. However, a loss to a rookie Hobgood team eliminates them from the top 5 in my opinion. The Yard Dogs were scrappy but not impressive. The Stingers Elite gave the Yard Dogs all they could handle only losing by 1. We run ruled the Stingers with one of their best pitchers on the mound. Our Generals are a much improved team this year. We like being taken for granted. |
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Stinger1
59 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2012 : 07:49:45
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| I agree - the K Generals looked strong when we played them. We lost to them 11-1 in this tourney but as we all know at the 9U level because the talent is so close it will come down to who is the most consistant example - in the Home Plate Invitational in just our pool - we beat Home Plate Lewis 9-5. Then we lost to the Elite Gamers 9-5. 643 beat the Elite Gamers but lost to Home Plate Lewis. Everyone in our pool went 1-1 in pool play. You guys played a better game than we did that game however our pitching was off that game. We live far from each other but we will end up playing again i'm sure. Not taking anything away from you all because I even said in another forum the Generals looked good to me... |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 08:44:14
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I agree the Generals looked good a couple weeks ago at atpp and won the triple crown (silver) this past weekend. They can hit and play defense! I would not take them for granted but just think they lack pitching depth and speed compared to others?
quote:
Originally posted by tonywellis
643 and EC Titans have proven themselves worthy so far this year. They have met in the finals in the last two tournaments. 643 beat us in the NH tourney 7-4. We have split with the EC Titans. We beat Acworth Orange pretty handily in the finals of the North Cobb tournament in the Fall. The EC Astros is a team that has always had our number for some reason. They have a great group of kids who are well coached. We have not played the Black Knights this year. They've had some player turnover. However, a loss to a rookie Hobgood team eliminates them from the top 5 in my opinion. The Yard Dogs were scrappy but not impressive. The Stingers Elite gave the Yard Dogs all they could handle only losing by 1. We run ruled the Stingers with one of their best pitchers on the mound. Our Generals are a much improved team this year. We like being taken for granted.
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Edited by - 3up3down on 03/13/2012 09:23:28 |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 14:50:39
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| Keep in mind we (Kennesaw) were invited to the Forsyth tournament at the last minute as a fill in for a team who dropped out. Because of the late notice, we were missing two of our top players on Saturday and one the entire weekend. They are both pitchers and BIG/consistent bats for us. We were fortunate and grateful to win the GOLD D2 division. The Titans won the GOLD D1 division. Another team won the Silver Division. |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2012 : 16:15:09
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tonywellis- I do agree the Generals a much improved team and could upset several major teams including the Astros this year. I realize you were missing some key players this weekend but I will ask this- If you guys go 1-1 in pool play and win bracket 2 on Sunday. Is it really winning gold or silver?
quote:
Originally posted by tonywellis
Keep in mind we (Kennesaw) were invited to the Forsyth tournament at the last minute as a fill in for a team who dropped out. Because of the late notice, we were missing two of our top players on Saturday and one the entire weekend. They are both pitchers and BIG/consistent bats for us. We were fortunate and grateful to win the GOLD D2 division. The Titans won the GOLD D1 division. Another team won the Silver Division.
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 08:33:27
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| 3up3down: There were so many teams in the tournament this weekend they split bracket play into 3 divisions. Gold1, Gold2, and Silver. So, it's semantics really. The teams from Cobb County showed their consistency again. If we get beat, we are beating each other. |
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smiths1
53 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 11:59:35
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| I disagree that it's "semantics". The teams who made it to the respective brackets were there for a reason. Our team handily beat a Cobb County team to go 2-0 in pool play and then made it to the semis after a perfect game pitched in the first bracket match up. I agree Cobb County teams are extremely consistent (we lost to the Titans in the semi) but they are by no means invincible. |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 15:04:36
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If a team gets an easy draw in pool play, then they are obviously going to end up in the Gold bracket. If you get a tough draw in pool play, then you are likely to end up somewhere else. It's what you do in bracket play that really matters. We could argue this all day.
Some teams save their best pitching for bracket play. Some teams use their best pitchers in pool just to get to brag about getting to the Gold bracket. Sometimes you stink up a game in pool play and end up in a lower bracket....then clean house. That is what we did this past weekend.
Lastly, I'm not saying ALL teams in Cobb County are great. What I am saying is if you want to win the Gold Bracket in metro Atlanta tournaments, then you are likely to play a team from Cobb County in the Championship.
EC Astros, EC Titans, 6-4-3, Acworth, EC Black Knights. These teams play at a level - consistently - that the average 9 yo travel team cannot match. In most cases, it is not even close. Look at what the Titans did last weekend in Forsyth. 6-4-3 and EC Astros played in the Championship at the Chuck this past weekend as well. Feelings are one thing....facts are facts. You gotta beat the man to be the man.
I will, however, pay reverence to those that are Atlanta Angel fans out there. Their 9U team seems to be playing in all 10U tournaments right now. They can flat bring it as well. |
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C. MORTON
1051 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 16:25:15
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I think all the Cobb folks need to relax and let the field tell who is the top. If they take 10 teams to each bracket over all the best the G2 could finish is 11the place. Sounds like to me everyone should just play ball and let the chips fall where they fall. These young players come out on the weekends to play ball and some
Of you just seem to want to knock the next man down. If someone didn't have their best players and still played why make excuses of why you didn't win? Play ball and be glad that you competed. There is plenty of baseball left for you to prove how good your team is or is not. |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 22:46:55
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quote:
Originally posted by C. MORTON
I think all the Cobb folks need to relax and let the field tell who is the top. If they take 10 teams to each bracket over all the best the G2 could finish is 11the place. Sounds like to me everyone should just play ball and let the chips fall where they fall. These young players come out on the weekends to play ball and some
Of you just seem to want to knock the next man down. If someone didn't have their best players and still played why make excuses of why you didn't win? Play ball and be glad that you competed. There is plenty of baseball left for you to prove how good your team is or is not.
I thought these boards were meant for open discourse. I wasn't trying to knock anybody down. I was just stating my opinion and responding to smiths1's rebuttal. Please notice also that I did not include our team in the aforementioned group of CC teams either. Why so touchy? |
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smiths1
53 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 01:31:58
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Tonywellis, you can only play and try to beat who is put before you by the vagaries of the draw. That particular team, by your definition, becomes "the man" you need to beat regardless of what stage in a tournament you are in.
Certainly there's a lot of strategy involved in deciding when to use pitchers and for how many innings but it was clear last weekend that every team was doing it's best to win every game because winning is what you try to do. You try to "clean house" as you put it from the first game onwards.
Should you happen to lose and end up in a lower bracket, then you readjust and start again albeit it at a different level. Making excuses about "tough draws" makes no sense at all given your argument and inferring that for some teams simply making it to the gold bracket is a kind of victory in itself is very condescending to the players and their coaches. Not to say hilariously, ridiculously inaccurate. These are 8 and 9 year olds out there playing their hearts out in a game they love and doing their best to win. We should all be proud of them....but let's not allow "feelings" to get in the way shall we?
Going back to our experience last weekend it's a truism that depth in pitching is absolutely critical to winning games. The outcome against East Cobb would certainly have been different with the kind of pitching we are capable of...not saying we would have won it but it would have been significantly closer. In all other areas of the game they had the edge, no question, but it's not an unassailable chasm and we will continue to improve and compete with humility and passion as will all the other wonderful teams out there (regardless of which county they are from).
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Edited by - smiths1 on 03/15/2012 09:10:26 |
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