10U RANKING UPDATE 6-25-08
Updated 6/27/08
1. (1) Oklahoma Elite (OK) – With three USSSA Super NITs under their belt, who can dispute this team’s willingness to play anyone, anywhere. Their bid for a fourth was stopped in the championship game of the Dallas Super NIT to the Dallas Patriots (4-3). The loss was their second to the Patriots this season. Though they have lost twice to TBS #6 Dallas Patriots, they have a most impressive out of region resume.
2. (3) Knoxville Stars (TN) – The Stars continue to shine. Since grabbing their 2nd Super NIT tournament win in early May, the Stars haven’t missed a beat. They’ve won every tournament entered since our last rankings including winning an 11U tournament in Tennessee, the 9th Annual Smoky Mountain event they hosted with key wins versus the Chattanooga Colonels, Georgia Roadrunners and East Cobb Stallions. That was followed up with a return trip to Atlanta where they stumbled in pool play, losing an extra inning game against then TBS #14 ranked East Cobb Longhorns. The team recovered and won the tournament beating #12 ranked East Cobb Astros 15-7 in the semi final and the well respected Home Plate Chili Dogs Black in the championship. The Stars will play the Triple Crown Summer Nationals in Myrtle Beach, SC and hopefully we’ll see a match up against the defending champs and TBS #4 ranked GBC Team Acceleration. A final four finish will solidify their position in the season’s final rankings.
3. (11) Leon Medical Centers Baseball (FL) – The talk of Cooperstown last week, LMC ran through the tournament like the tropical storms this Miami-based team is used to. Going 11-0 and outscoring opponents 119-11, there’s no denying this is one of the strongest clubs in the country. With dominant shut out victories against TBS #16 San Diego Stars North and TBS #20 Kennesaw Xtreme, LMC was not to be denied. The team’s primary goal for the season was accomplished in impressive fashion. The three players from #3 Tomateros were significant pick ups, but this team deserves credit for standing on its own. With arguably the Country’s best two pitchers, one a fireballing lefty, LMC can hang with anyone. Hopefully they’ll be offered an at large bid to the Elite 24 and we’ll get to see them again this season.
4. (7) GBC Team Acceleration (NC) – GBC has moved up and down our Top 7 all season. But they’re clearly one of the country’s best five teams. This group just wins! LMC was the only team standing in their way of winning Cooperstown. They gave LMC all they could handle in the semifinals before losing 4-1 against one of the strongest right-handed pitchers you’ll see at 10U. GBC actually out hit LMC, just couldn’t string them together. A potential Triple Crown Summer Nationals match up against #2 Knoxville Stars could decide who finishes #1 in the land.
5. (2) Tomateros de California (CA) – The Tomateros drop again after being disqualified from the Southern California USSSA State Championship. The disqualification was for violating the roster rules of USSSA. However, it was confirmed by the State Director that the violation was not an attempt to gain a competitive edge in the tournament. The team used their three allotted roster adds (two players are 9U), and had a player playing that couldn’t be added. Teams of this caliber should be fully abreast of tournament and sanctioning bodies’ rules and can’t use not knowing as an excuse.
6. (8) Dallas Patriots (TX) – The Patriots recently won the USSSA Dallas Super NIT beating our #1 Oklahoma Elite for the second time this season. Are the Patriots better than the Elite? Maybe, but we haven’t seen this team outside their area. We’d love to see this team go where the competition is. Hopefully they’ll accept the berth earned to Disney for the Elite 24.
7. (4) OC Black Sox (CA) - The Black Sox recently won the USSSA So. California State Championship going undefeated. Expect them to continue their winning ways leading up to the USSSA Elite 24.
8. (17) Miami Playmakers (FL) – We expected the Playmakers to be in the Sweet 16 at Cooperstown but not necessarily the championship game. But the Playmakers beat our TBS #11 Texas Nationals Team twice, as well as a scrappy team from the well respected Beaver Valley program and a previous unknown #15 LVBA Lightning team in the semifinals. The Playmakers have one of the best combinations of size and speed to make for a formidable line up.
9. (23) Most Feared (TX) – In the last rankings we mentioned this group was gaining momentum. They may now be Texas’ hottest club after going undefeated in the Governor’s Games Super NIT, with key wins against USSSA point leader and TBS Honorable Mentioned New Orleans Monarchs. They also twice defeated our #11 Texas Nationals Team.
10. (5) West Pines Nike Cobras (FL) – The Cobras are a household name with major success behind them. They had a great pool play run in Cooperstown, going undefeated and finishing as the #6 overall seed heading to the bracket. But in their first bracket game they played a hard fought extra inning game against TBS #12 East Cobb Astros and came up short. Don’t knock their team strength; the Astros weren’t the run of the mill #27 seed. Look for the Cobras to rebound and make a run for the Elite 24 championship. A strong showing keeps them in our Top 10.
11. (16) Texas Nationals Team (TX) – Getting hotter and hotter, Texas Nationals represented their home state well at the Governor’s Games in Louisiana losing only to eventual champ and TBS #9 Most Feared. They followed that up in Cooperstown finishing in the final 8, with their only two losses at the hands of runner-up and TBS #8 Miami Playmakers.
12. (15) East Cobb Astros (GA) – Playing one of the toughest pool play schedules in Cooperstown, the Astros struggled and looked unimpressive against overall #1 seed Virginia Wolfpack and #4 seed San Diego Stars North, being shutout in both games. But a middle round win over TBS #10 West Pines Nike Cobras was the boost they needed to make it to the final 8 before losing to the tournament’s #3 seeded LVBA Lightning 1-0 in the bottom of the tenth inning. At first glance their 7-3 Cooperstown records looks only average, but take a look in this light: The Astros lost to the #1, #3 and #4 seeds.
13. (12) Central Florida Bobcats (FL) – The Bobcats continue to fine tune things playing up against 11U competition. Check their recently posted feature article for more on this club.
14. (14) East Cobb Longhorns (GA) – The Longhorns knocked off the TBS #2 Knoxville Stars in pool play of the East Cobb Classic. In recent weeks they’ve won Grand Slam Georgia State Championship and disappointingly are competing in a noncompetitive Grand Slam World Series event in Panama City, FL. Hopefully this doesn’t end their season.
15. (NR) Las Vegas Baseball Academy Lightning (NV) – One successful tournament doesn’t make a team great, but it can put you on the map. Well Cooperstown was LVBA Lightning’s coming out party. The Lightning finished pool play as the #3 overall seed. They beat both East Cobb teams in bracket play on the way to a 3rd place finish, being knocked out by TBS #8 Miami Playmakers. An extremely well coached and defensively sound team, we can only hope to see this team in another national event this summer.
16. San Diego Stars North (CA) – A great showing at Cooperstown rounding out pool play the #4 overall seed, they club fell short to #3 LMC in the final 8. Hopefully the beat goes on for the Stars and we’ll continue to hear from them this summer.
17. (6) American Avengers III (TX) – The Avengers followed up a poor showing in a Memorial Day USSSA NIT with another disappointing finish in the Governor’s Games in Louisiana. But maybe an 11U tournament win Father’s Day weekend is what they need to get back on track.
18. (18) Armour (CO) – A recent USSSA NIT tournament championship gives Armour another piece of hardware as they dominated the weekends competition. They’ll need a couple more tournaments with stronger opponents to prepare for a powerhouse field in the Elite 24.
19. (10) Banditos Black (TX) – Banditos seems to be fading some, not having won a 10U event the entire season. The run differential in their wins and losses shows they may need to strengthen their pitching as they prepare for their annual summer finale. They recently won an 11U tournament going undefeated. Winning while playing up is always a good sign of progress.
20. (9) Kennesaw Xtreme (GA) – Unfortunate for the Xtreme they had to go through the LMC to advance in the bracket at Cooperstown. Mission Impossible for most, it was for the Xtreme as they were shutout. No question they’re a strong, well balanced club but their season ended with a Sweet 16 showing in Cooperstown. Nowhere to go in the rankings but down from this point.
21. (13) VYAA Bomberz (CA) – The Bomberz finished in Cooperstown where we predicted, the Sweet 16. They were knocked out by TBS #11 Texas Nationals Team in a close one. Before the loss they were undefeated going into bracket play as the #2 overall seed. With great speed and strong pitching, the Bomberz will be a handful in the Elite 24; we look for an improved showing from their Cooperstown finish.
22. (NR) Virginia Wolfpack (VA) – The overall #1 seed in Cooperstown, this group is deserving of mention despite a mediocre season previous to this point. A strong week in New York included a shutout victory against TBS #12 East Cobb Astros in pool play. They gave #4 GBC all they could handle in a nine inning quarterfinal match up. It was their only loss of the week.
23. (22) Mac-N-Seitz Indians (KS) – They’ve got some good wins and good losses, but will need to improve to avoid being ran out of Disney with a losing record. A recent USSSA NIT tournament championship indicates their hard work is producing positive results. The only significant win in the event was against program partner Mac-N-Seitz Red Sox.
24. (25) Chet Lemon’s Juice (FL) – They cracked the Top 25 after winning the Florida AAU State Championship. We hope to see them against some higher ranked Florida teams in June to better gauge their strength.
25. (20) Chattanooga Colonels (TN) – We haven’t given up on the Colonels, they continue to play well but unfortunate for them keep running into TBS #2 Knoxville Stars. They’ll need to grab a couple more tournament wins to remain in the next rankings.
Teams to Watch
Georgia Roadrunners (GA)
San Antonio Devils (TX)
Carolina Mustangs (NC)
Jackson Coyotes (TN)
Alabama Senators (AL)
Cincinnati Riverbats (OH)
New Orleans Monarchs (LA)
Orlando Bulldogs (FL)
Southern Jaguars (GA)
Edgewood Bulldogs (IN)
Hanover Sports (VA)
Stixx (TX)
Lamorinda Monarchs (NorCal)
Beaver Valley Red (PA)
Belle Chasse Diamond Dawgs (LA)
Alabama Bombers (AL)
Pensacola Aqua Sox (FL)
Mac-N-Seitz Red Sox (MO)
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Congrats to the GA teams...
Posted - 07/25/2008 : 20:09:25
