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Stinger1
59 Posts |
 Posted - 04/26/2012 : 10:20:05
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| Triple Crown tournaments are always competitive and no weak teams even try to enter into them. Triple Crown in my opinion is a much higher level of competition than USSSA tournaments. As a matter of fact all of your Major teams will generally play in Triple Crown and there's always more teams in their tournaments. Even the teams listed in USSSA as AAA should be Major like Kennesaw, New Hope, Etc all play in these events. The Super NIT is generally the only one that is on the same level as a regular Triple Crown tournament. Just a thought.... |
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full-out
5 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 11:18:10
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I would agree with Stinger1. The triple crown tournaments on average have better teams in them and in a lot of the bigger ones you get 20+ teams. It's hard to win a tournament with that many teams, especially when the majority are all pretty good. Also, triple crown has no point system for pool play scheduling, so it may be luck of the draw as to whether you even make it to gold bracket. Ultimately there will usually be 2-4 really good teams not make it to gold.
On the other hand there will always be 4 to 6 teams that are classified as AAA in USSSA that are really major or could beat major teams with the right kid on the mound. Right now you have Acworth Warriors, Kennesaw, New Hope, N. GA Crush, and Gwinnett Storm who have very good teams. There are also several teams who may be classified as major but are really AAA, some of that is ego and some of that is not knowing how you stack up. Up until this year USSSA just classified teams either as 9U or 9AA, this is the first year they added 9AAA. The goal for teams should be to compete at the highest level where it pushes the kids to get better, it's not all about wins and losses. It doesn't do teams any good to go out and win or lose by double digits each week. If you win or lose by a few runs then you know it was probably a really competitive game. Why do you think the Angels have played up the last couple years, to push the kids to get better. They could have easily played down and won but that's not going to make them better. There is probably at least 15 teams, excluding the Angels, that if they played each other it would be a really competitive game and could go either way. Each one could say well I've beat that one and I've lost to that one. That's what great about many of these tournaments none of them are easy. |
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3up3down
68 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 12:10:08
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Stinger1 & full-out
I agree about the TC tournaments are very competitive. That post was not meant to disrespect the Triple Crown events but give the Generals some needed love.
All 9U teams have big wins and tough losses this year. It appears there is only 1 team wondering how they are not on every top 10 team list. This is what we have done, etc... Don't worry about any list and Play Ball! If the Generals get it done against the best teams, they will be on every top 10 list!!!
We all have our opinion on the top 10 teams (talent, depth, smarts). |
Edited by - 3up3down on 04/26/2012 12:14:51 |
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WestCoastGuru
148 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 13:33:52
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| I agree with full-out.....alot of the teams you listed as AAA, should be major teams, and the whole objective of travel ball is to get your team/kids competing at the highest level.....not to be ducking tournaments(like previously mentioned teams) to avoid being bumped up to the major level in regards to playing u-trip sanctioned events. |
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lyles40
68 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 22:13:40
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| That is a very solid top ten. I also think Chaos Baseball gets an honorable mention. |
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SwingCoach
34 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 22:53:03
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Updated:
1. Angels - maybe that skills gap is not closing. Still prove to be the best.
2. Astros - a lot of runner ups
3. Kearns - Still winning and playing well.
4. Reebok - stong showing at ECB
5. Titans - Playing well and winning a lot of games.
6. Bulldogs - Still good, bats are very good.
7. Gamers - playing some strong ball at times.
8. Yard dogs - look very good at times.
9. Black Knights - have the talent to compete.
10. Kennesaw - Would like to see them play rest of this list more.
On the bubble: Acworth? Crush? Select? Grays? 643? Pirates? Hard to judge some of the teams on the southside of ATL as you never get to see them play. I have heard a lot about Select and the Grays, but where are they playing? Hopefully everyone will get into USSSA state or CABA World Series.
Bottom line is that the Angels are proving that they are the best and will continue to be the best until a team can compete with them. Number 1 is undebatable, the rest is up for grabs. |
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ecbjdp
22 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 08:24:51
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Very competitive list of teams.
I think Bulldog Baseball and Reebok both deserve to be 4 and 5. I would move Black Knights up the list and the Titans out of the top 10. |
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Shaggy
24 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 09:43:12
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quote:
Originally posted by ecbjdp
Very competitive list of teams.
I think Bulldog Baseball and Reebok both deserve to be 4 and 5. I would move Black Knights up the list and the Titans out of the top 10.
Rough weekend for the Titans, but I wouldn't drop them out of the top ten based on one tournament. They lost to three solid teams in the Astros, HP-Lewis and Bulldogs, and beat NG Crush in bracket play. Not how they wanted the weekend to go, I'm sure, but no "bad" losses to week teams, either. They could beat or have beaten any team on everyone's top ten list except #1.
I might swap Acworth for Black Knights or Yard Dogs, though the Knights had a nice win against Kearns this weekend, though it was in pool play and Kearns may have been saving pitching for Sunday. Yard Dogs are hit and miss from what I've seen, but they also gave the Angels their toughest game this weekend. I wouldn't overlook them by any means, but not sure that Acworth isn't a more consistent team.
Most of the others you could pick 'em. I said a few weeks back and this weekend reinforced it in my mind...other than the Angels, there are about 10-15 really solid 9u teams, each of which could beat the other in a given game with their top pitching. I think what we saw this weekend is that a few teams - Astros, Kearns, Reebok, Bulldogs and maybe a few others - have a lot more pitching depth than others. A few teams started strong but then fizzled, no doubt due to a lack of pitching depth. In that type of tourney where nearly every team is solid, it's really hard to save pitching for bracket play, especially with how tough some of the pools were. Nowhere to hide in Pool A with Titans, Reebok, Bulldogs and HP-Lewis.
I also noticed that a few teams seemed to have much stronger hitting than others on the list. Every team that I saw had some big hits, but Angels (obviously), Bulldogs, Astros, Gamers and Yard Dogs seemed to be killing the ball all through the lineup. You can win without tons of power hitting, but it certainly doesn't hurt 
Overall, great tournament this weekend and lots of really well-played games by some solid teams! |
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Stinger1
59 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2012 : 09:44:08
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| The Stingers will be in the CABA World Series this year - we are looking forward to it.... |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 16:13:52
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| Just to set the record straight, we are honored to be mentioned in the same list with any of the top 9U teams from North GA or South GA. We are a 2nd year team out of a Rec Ball park. We aren't looking for love from anyone (3up3down). I was looking to have an interesting conversation with folks that actually check their facts, know the boys, and the teams....instead of ones who would prefer to stir the proverbial pot and observe from the stands. I will be in the dugout this weekend during the North Atlanta Open if you would like to discuss this further Love Doctor. |
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Shaggy
24 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 17:54:30
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quote:
Originally posted by tonywellis
Just to set the record straight, we are honored to be mentioned in the same list with any of the top 9U teams from North GA or South GA. We are a 2nd year team out of a Rec Ball park. We aren't looking for love from anyone (3up3down). I was looking to have an interesting conversation with folks that actually check their facts, know the boys, and the teams....instead of ones who would prefer to stir the proverbial pot and observe from the stands. I will be in the dugout this weekend during the North Atlanta Open if you would like to discuss this further Love Doctor.
Dang, what's up with everyone getting their feelings hurt and challenging other posters to meet at the ball park to "discuss things further"? Let's try to have thicker skin, guys. And, no, if this is offensive to anyone I don't have any interest in meeting you at your dugout to discuss things man-to-man
All the teams being talked about here are really good and even if one wasn't good, no one is going to talk badly about them on this board. |
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coach32
18 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 21:23:07
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| Congrats to the East Cobb Black Knights for winning the Triple Crown North Atlanta Open this weekend! Beat the Elite Gamers in the championship game (14-7). Beat East Cobb Titans and Kennesaw Generals to get the championship game. |
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tonywellis
75 Posts |
Posted - 05/06/2012 : 21:48:09
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| I would like to offer congratulations to the EC Black Knights as well. They put on a clinic today. |
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Shaggy
24 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 10:41:41
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1. Angels
Big Gap.
2. Astros - Off week, but still #2 after strong showing at the Astro Invitational. Most consistent EC team.
3. Kearns - Another good showing for HP-Kearns at the Tennessee SNIT
4. Bulldogs - Tough to beat and consistent with lots of power at the plate.
5. Black Knights - Last week I thought they were overrated. Bracket wins over Kennesaw (17-1!), Titans and Gamers say otherwise.
6. Acworth - Strong wins over Reebok this weekend.
7. Gamers - Wins over Acworth, Atlanta Thunder and a pool play tie game with the Titans. Not a lot of pitching depth though.
8. Reebok - Had been playing well was beaten twice this weekend by Acworth, by an 11-0 score in pool play, no less.
9. Titans - Very strong early in the season but has struggled recently.
10. Yard Dogs - Never know what to expect, but not a team anyone wants to face in bracket play.
Just a stab at it. I might be overlooking somebody and if I did it wasn't an intentional snub.
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8U Travel Fan
23 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 14:02:04
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| Just my opinion. But, you can't take too much stock in beating a team in pool play. Unless if pool play results factor whether or not you play for a gold or silver bracket. Any decent coach doesn't burn pitching to go for the #1 seed unless it is a huge advantage such as a bye get to play less games to get to the championship It's bracket play where there should be no excuses. Rankings should only be based on Sunday. I personally do not have a dog in the fight but i got tired of seeing people posting who got beat by who in pool play. |
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Shaggy
24 Posts |
Posted - 05/07/2012 : 18:04:36
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quote:
Originally posted by 8U Travel Fan
Just my opinion. But, you can't take too much stock in beating a team in pool play. Unless if pool play results factor whether or not you play for a gold or silver bracket. Any decent coach doesn't burn pitching to go for the #1 seed unless it is a huge advantage such as a bye get to play less games to get to the championship It's bracket play where there should be no excuses. Rankings should only be based on Sunday. I personally do not have a dog in the fight but i got tired of seeing people posting who got beat by who in pool play.
I generally agree with you that pool win isn't nearly the same animal as a bracket win against the same team. It is notable sometimes though, like Acworth beating Reebok 11-0 last weekend. Dropping 11 and shutting out a solid team like that is no easy feat, no matter who is on the mound. Same batters, same defense and presumably both teams are saving pitching. Also, if you see teams consistently winning pool games against other top teams then that usually means good pitching depth, which I would also factor into a ranking.
I do agree that beating a team in pool play isn't, in and of itself, something to crow that much about. It's nice to win any game, but definitely have to keep that in perspective. Still, it does show a little something. It's pretty rare to see one of the teams everyone has in their top ten list get beaten by a lower tier team.
In the Astro Invitational the Black Knights beat HP-Kearns in pool play and I figured Kearns was just saving pitching. It didn't make me think the Knights had turned a corner. But they had a tremendous showing at the Triple Crown tourney this weekend. I'm sure a win against HP-Kearns in pool play the week before helped their confidence going into this past weekend. |
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Stinger1
59 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 08:37:32
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| I agree with Shaggy. However Acworth in my opinion would be among the top teams. I also believe that a win whether in pool play or not is a good win for the kids. The kids don't really care about it being pool play or not. A win over a solid team 11-0 is awesome regardless of pool play or btacket play. Just a thought... |
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ATLDEE
41 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 09:07:52
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| In my opinion...within the 9u the competition is so close that a loss in pool play could force you in a nasty situation for brackets...for example haveing to play your first bracket game on saturday evening after having played two games earlier and possibly your first game was the 8:30am that morning..so having that to consider ..I dont feel many coaches are taking pool play games lightly in the 9U division...Now that doesn't mean that everyone comes out with their ace on Saturday but no on is taking these games lightly...you drop a game in pool play and you can very well catch one of the teams in the top five early on Sunday, making for a bad day or a short day....bad in the sense that you now are in a survival mode throw your best now? or hope the others can get you thru? and belive me nothing is worse than getting to the SHIP with no arms or going home with your best arm never hitting the bump.... So in my opinion Saturday games in this division are nothing to just overlook..so a win is worth noting and counting... |
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Stinger1
59 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 10:45:42
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| I agree - just from our aspect - we try to win our pool games. In my opinion the boys get pumped up after they get one or two wins under their belt. Also my kids hate early games - so we try to avoid those as well.... |
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offspeed4
169 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2012 : 01:51:04
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Top 10
1. Angels: Top team for sure, but gap is closing
2. HP Kearns: Rock Solid, deep pitching
3. EC Astros: Rock Solid
4. Bulldog Baseball: strong bats, good pitching
5. EC Black Knights: Some very impressive recent wins
6. Elite Gamers: Starting to play to their ability
7. Acworth Warriors: Good all around
8. EC Reebok: Solid
9. Georgia Pirates: Capable of beating anyone
10. EC Titans: Started strong, but have been sliding. They should bounce back quickly.
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Edited by - offspeed4 on 05/22/2012 08:34:54 |
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