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Originally posted by Jacked-up

How can a team be removed from the tournament based on a rumor? With NO CONTACT to the head coach to verify?

Really would like to hear the FACTS from the Hosting team's coach that made the decision....

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Originally posted by Jacked-up

How can a team be removed from the tournament based on a rumor? With NO CONTACT to the head coach to verify?

Really would like to hear the FACTS from the Hosting team's coach that made the decision....

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Originally posted by jdrew

For anyone that has wood bat questions regarding this tournament, saw this today on hosting team's website:

* BAT RULES(REVISED 5/14): Due to many concerns about durability and cost issues, we will allow bamboo bats and bats with composite handles. Composite bats must have a 100% wood barrel. We have verified with an ECB official that these bats offer no competitive advantage so performance and safety are not a concern.

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Originally posted by jdrew

For anyone that has wood bat questions regarding this tournament, saw this today on hosting team's website:
* BAT RULES(REVISED 5/14): Due to many concerns about durability and cost issues, we will allow bamboo bats and bats with composite handles. Composite bats must have a 100% wood barrel. We have verified with an ECB official that these bats offer no competitive advantage so performance and safety are not a concern.

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Originally posted by ecball

No teams were removed based on rumors or anything else! We had teams on our website that verbally said they would play - that is all and nobody that had paid was removed - you can't do that nor would we ever. We invited all of these teams - why would we remove them? We listed every teams payment status and it's been listed for over a month saying in bold letters - teams that haven't paid are in jeopardy of losing their spot - even if they paid the $100 deposit which neither of these teams did. How much clearer can this be?

Don't get caught up in the gossip, as people are now trying to "CYA" because they didn't get in. There are two teams mad that they didn't get in so I'm not sure which one you are referring too. The first 48 teams to pay get in - just like every tournament hosted by any organization. We started marketing this tournament back in October and took $100 deposits if you wanted to hold a spot - neither team decided to pay this fee or the full amount or any amount for that matter. How can this be our fault that over the last 8 months some team or teams didn't pay - but we should hold them a spot and turn away teams that are willing to pay???

We aren't holding spots for anyone and due to the travel involved and long weekend the schedule had to come out as we delayed it almost 3 weeks to allow teams to get the check in. We got burned last year by the MegaStars who said, we will pay, we will pay and guess what - shocker.....The team folded and they never paid and it screwed up the pools, brackets, and had us scrambling to find a team to take their place. This tournament doesn't work with 47 teams! We run very good tournaments (thus the interest level) and Chris bust his butt to honor everyone's schedule request but when he text teams and nobody replies for a week and doesn't submit payment, we aren't exactly banking on their payment. It's not as complicated as you might think.

There is no conspiracy theory in place here - pay your money and you are in. We absolutely want the best 48 teams we can find as we held a spot for the MegaStars last year. The two teams upset were both invited by us all the way back in the fall so we have nothing against either but this isn't a 50 team event. There is old saying, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice....

Enough of that - it should be a great tournament with balanced pools and the wood bat part should make it very interesting. We are trying to line up wood bats for each kid on the winning teams of both of the Gold and Silver brackets. No promises but that is what we are working on for awards. The kids should love it.

Mike Kirksey

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Originally posted by eastcobbkreskin

Question? NEW RULE STATES "Composite bats must have a 100% wood barrel. We have verified with an ECB official that these bats offer no competitive advantage so performance and safety are not a concern"

Does this mean as long as the barrel is 100% "natural" wood or does it mean 100% "composite" wood or are we talking about a composite handle with no "composite" and all natural wood in the barrel?

for example: all though they are wood, the wood has been "restructured" or is manufactured from a "wood Veneer"...

Wood Bat Feel with the longevity of a composite

If you find yourself going through a lot of different bats our composite bats will help remedy that problem. The Viper composite wood bats are designed specifically for the players new to wood bats and for people looking for a wood bat that will take a beating and not break. Our composite bats are all unique as well as BBCOR Certified and come with the BBCOR identification sticker on them.

Our composites bats involve restructuring the wood itself and adhering them back together in a way that increases durability and longevity. The 360 composite involves cutting the maple billets into a pie shape and then gluing them back together in a way that makes the bat not have a "face or edge grain". This is important because with your normal wood bats they have a definitive edge and face grain; when contact is made on the wrong side of the bat it will cause it to snap. By putting the pieces back together in this fashion you're able to hit the ball on all sides of the 360 without repercussion. The 360 also has a fiberglass handle that is adhered to the handle up to about the logo of the bat to further increase the strength. This sleeve makes it so the weakest part of the bat, the handle, is protected from the balls that would shatter any wood bat. This bat comes with a 30 day warranty.

The HR4 model is composed of 44 sheets of veneer grade birch laid up in a special vacuum method to ensure perfect glue bondage. With this model it is required you hit on the edge grain of the bat as there is a definitive grain structure and hitting on the wrong side will result in premature breakage. This bat is a great transitional bat from composites to a standard wood bat as players are required to learn to hit on the right side of the bat. This bat comes with a 30 day warranty.

Our last composite bat is our bamboo series. Our bamboo models are premium bamboo that utilize a revolutionary technology during the assembly process called “Synergistic Wood Alignment Technology or S.W.A.T. This process ensures that the wood is structured in a way that ensures durability while maintaining great flex for increased pop. If purchased with a fiberglass handle these bats are warenteed for 60 days.

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Originally posted by jdrew

For anyone that has wood bat questions regarding this tournament, saw this today on hosting team's website:

* BAT RULES(REVISED 5/14): Due to many concerns about durability and cost issues, we will allow bamboo bats and bats with composite handles. Composite bats must have a 100% wood barrel. We have verified with an ECB official that these bats offer no competitive advantage so performance and safety are not a concern.

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Originally posted by jdrew

For anyone that has wood bat questions regarding this tournament, saw this today on hosting team's website:
* BAT RULES(REVISED 5/14): Due to many concerns about durability and cost issues, we will allow bamboo bats and bats with composite handles. Composite bats must have a 100% wood barrel. We have verified with an ECB official that these bats offer no competitive advantage so performance and safety are not a concern.

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Originally posted by BangTheBox

What are the roster rules or this tourney?

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Originally posted by ecbbraves

quote:

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Originally posted by Jacked-up

How can a team be removed from the tournament based on a rumor? With NO CONTACT to the head coach to verify?

Really would like to hear the FACTS from the Hosting team's coach that made the decision....

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No reason for that to be addressed on a public forum. If you are member of that team feel free to call me to discuss.

Chris Ottinger
404-285-3273

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Originally posted by BravesFan

sorry boys, been busy with work and haven't been able to make the big contribution to the board as usual. here is who I think wins each pool.

A - Braves
B - Astros
C - CC Bulldogs
D - FL Pokers
E - Tampa Threshers
F - Dirtbags
G - Stealth
H - Alpha Titans
I - Rays
J - UBC Venom
K - TPSA
L - Jax Blue Claws

Not a big woodbat fan but usually scores are lower and teams that can play defense and manufacture runs will win, got to go with the host team as the favorites. Watchout for the dirbags tho, they won't have the big boy with them but they are still very good.

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Originally posted by rbr08

I agree with all but E and H. Look for Giants to win bracket E and TPX to win H. Should be a fun tourney...

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Originally posted by BravesFan

sorry boys, been busy with work and haven't been able to make the big contribution to the board as usual. here is who I think wins each pool.

A - Braves
B - Astros
C - CC Bulldogs
D - FL Pokers
E - Tampa Threshers
F - Dirtbags
G - Stealth
H - Alpha Titans
I - Rays
J - UBC Venom
K - TPSA
L - Jax Blue Claws

Not a big woodbat fan but usually scores are lower and teams that can play defense and manufacture runs will win, got to go with the host team as the favorites. Watchout for the dirbags tho, they won't have the big boy with them but they are still very good.

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Originally posted by is it spring yet

Would like to see the Braves and TPX in the final again. There are alot of good teams and who ever wins will have earned it.

quote:

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Originally posted by rbr08

I agree with all but E and H. Look for Giants to win bracket E and TPX to win H. Should be a fun tourney...

quote:

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Originally posted by BravesFan

sorry boys, been busy with work and haven't been able to make the big contribution to the board as usual. here is who I think wins each pool.

A - Braves
B - Astros
C - CC Bulldogs
D - FL Pokers
E - Tampa Threshers
F - Dirtbags
G - Stealth
H - Alpha Titans
I - Rays
J - UBC Venom
K - TPSA
L - Jax Blue Claws

Not a big woodbat fan but usually scores are lower and teams that can play defense and manufacture runs will win, got to go with the host team as the favorites. Watchout for the dirbags tho, they won't have the big boy with them but they are still very good.

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Originally posted by GAFarmer

With a big field all will be earned. This is the type of tourney you just sit back and enjoy as a coach or parent. Only one can win and the victories are in the play of the boys.

I would like our team to win it sure but in all likelyhood top 10 is the goal.

Just hope the fans and coaches are on their best behaviour as last year there was tension and drama.

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Originally posted by cburney

Yankeedad,

I'm looking for the brackets after pool play, because last year, it wasn't seeded top to bottom. The pools that played each other in bracket play was predetermined. Hopefully, it'll be seeded from top to bottom this year.

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