New Name for 12u travel team for next year.

[Chris]

Ur right Mark. Some consolidation is in order;)

[Mark]

the dominant team of the bunch need to go out and get the better players from the other teams for next season.

and the tricky thing is to get the players it NEEDS to become better, and not necesarily the best players available

[Mark]

is there a reason why there isnt only 1 team to begin with???

is there too many players at the same positions?? no1 wants to change positions???

[crash23]

mcleanhatch said:

are all these turlock teams really turlock teams and is the talent still holding?? or is the talent watered down?? because i find it hard to believe that turlock can support 3 or 4 good travel teams without using out of town kids

The 12U Rangers are all from Turlock. The 13U Rangers have one player from Gustine, the rest are from Turlock.

[crash23]

As a follow up (for no partuclar reason other then to answer mark's question)... The Rangers began as a 10U team that had players in age from 8 - 10. We had excellent player that were ahead of the learning curve compared to most other teams. We did very well that year but realized that the younger players would be better served playing in their own age group, especially when we made the jump to the bigger field. There were also more teams at the oldr age groups and they were more competitive. Last year we evolved into three teams, this year there's two. Very few 12 year olds can play up to 13U while the best 11s can play with 12s (because both play at the same distance). Even the best players have struggled at 13s with the increased distances (54 mound, 80 foot bases, 300 foot fields). Some have still not found their footing but should make the adjustment when they hit their growth spurt. Some will also need to adjust the mechanics, whether it's hitting or throwing. As we've discussed before, flaws that are not that evident at Little League levels (60 foot bases, 46 foot mound, 200 foot fields) rear their ugly heads on bigger diamonds.

[Mark]

agreed

[scrapper]

Why do you have to consolidate. The travel teams don't want to carry 15 -20 players. I would think that if more kids have exposure to better playing environment that it would be good for them.

I must say the language has been consistent throughout the threads and that is all about the 13 best and forget the rest. Everybody else go work on your skills and hope you make it next year.

"is there a reason why there isnt only 1 team to begin with???

[Mark]

just my own personal opinion, but when i started my 18U team i had 18 players. there is plenty of innings for all 18 to get playing time in a given tournament, which averages 4 games

[trevor9]

I wouldn't call it consolidation, just common sense. The jump from 12 to 13 is huge even for a good 13 year old (like Craig said). As I have said before, Turlock can compete with just about anyone if we have teams that consist of players that are dedicated,talented, and playing at thier age level. I also believe that if we can get the adults to put thier egos aside that this is obtainable.

Just think if you combined the Thunder and the Rangers this year what they could have done. They were both good teams but 3 players either way would have made a huge difference. By starting early and getting things organized now I think you eliminate problems later, like looking for another catcher or centerfielder two weeks before your first tourney. There is plenty of talent at each level and there is plenty more to start second teams of kids that are good but need a little more experience. I think what the Nor Cal Braves did was great, take kids that just want to play ball and stay local.

BTW- Kenny, Trevor did hit one out at Rainbow this year (portable fence)......o.k. it was foul by about ten feet. But the little focker gave it a ride.

[Mark]

trevor9 said:

I also believe that if we can get the adults to put thier egos aside that this is obtainable.

that is the point i was trying to get at, without actually saying it.

[trevor9]

LOL, I can't help but be blunt.

[Mark]

sometimes the truth hurts

[Mark]

scrapper said:

Why do you have to consolidate. The travel teams don't want to carry 15 -20 players. I would think that if more kids have exposure to better playing environment that it would be good for them.

I must say the language has been consistent throughout the threads and that is all about the 13 best and forget the rest. Everybody else go work on your skills and hope you make it next year.

"is there a reason why there isnt only 1 team to begin with???

here is what you do. you take the top 15-16 players and play at a higher level of play than SS or USSSA can offer. you take them to Regional and/or National Tournaments (like what Tony is doing with the BYB team).

you then form the 2nd tier of players and have them playing in the local tournaments at Pedretti, Sacramento, Twin Lakes, Manteca, and other places at that level.

that way more kids get to compete at higher levels BUT not at levels that are over their heads.

Parents need to get used to their kids NOT being the star of the team. what are they going to do when they get to HS and their kid who was a starting SS/go to Pitcher every year of his life becomes the backup right fielder and 4th string SP?? because it will happen to some.

[crash23]

The good news is with the boom in travel ball over the last 2 - 3 years here in the valley more players are getting involved. More kids are also taking lessons. I think the talent pool in Turlock will just continue to grow. Baseball is making a comeback!

[Mark]

i hope so