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Watrboy
21 Posts |
 Posted - 03/14/2012 : 09:41:11
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| With a field this size, this tournament will prove nothing about who is King of the Diamond. Young players are taught line drives and ground balls. This tournament will turn into a HR slugfest and be a complete disappointment. Many teams are built on defense and pitch to that defense. And, with this also being the location for State and WS, what a joke!!! |
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Cherokee Red
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 09:50:09
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| Does anyone know if these will be the same fields we are expected to play on for State and World Series? We haven't played on fields this small since 6u coach pitch. I like to see the homerun as a part of the game but not the entire game. I'm thinkin one or two per game is part of the game, which would happen on a 175-195' field. |
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Travel for Life
49 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 10:26:47
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| Sounds like to me that everyone is in agreement that we should all be playing on bigger fields but for some reason we keep playing on the smaller fields. Unfortunately the State and the WS is set for these locations. I'm thinking that most everyone is playing these tournments are because of the Points system that dictates the younger age groups season. Someone with bigger fields needs to step up and start hosting some USSSA tournaments and the teams that want to really play baseball and compete will come. At least Triple Crown is playing all their tournaments on proper size fields and they don't use a points system, JMO... |
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Cherokee Red
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 11:21:57
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| Well I guess my question was answered by Watrboy. This being the case, state and WS being played on short fields, is anyone else looking at other options? |
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T13
257 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 11:52:31
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| Triple Crown Summer Nationals in Myrtle Beach, July 20-25! Sandlot Sluggers planning on attending... |
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Travel for Life
49 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 13:00:40
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| And it also looks like Acworh and one of the ECB teams are going to Mrtyle Beach as well |
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WestCoastGuru
148 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 13:04:43
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| Travel for Life....The last 3 years, I've coached and watched a lot of 8u travel ball and while each team may have a few boppers in there lineups....I think the 50% chance of homering against KP is no where near an accurate description on 150 ft fences....playing CP with 150 ft fences would turn into a homer run derby. I would suggest to let the kids enjoy the homers, its going to be a while before they hit another! |
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Mad1
252 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 14:30:35
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| According to USSSA rules the field dimensions for 8u KP are supposed to be set up at 150 down the lines and 175 to center. 55 foot bases and 40 ft mounds. 8u CP the bases are extended to 60 feet. |
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Travel for Life
49 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2012 : 15:05:28
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WCG
I agree 50% is pushing, it was mostly a point. I agree that the kids should love homers but I'm saying the smaller fields don't help the kids. When we were 8 the kids weren't this strong or even this big and every year they are becoming even bigger. All I'm saying if u watch some of these HR's they aren't clean hits they pop ups that a outfielder should be able to catch on a proper size field. The outfielders are not truly learning how to play the position, JMO... But it is the choice that we have to make right now if we want to compete at this age group. A couple of posters above seem to be in agreement. Teams should not be getting run ruled at this age. Yes I do understand that it's not totally due to the hits but the short fields have a lot to do with it.
I hope the weather stays this nice because it's almost the weekend! |
Edited by - Travel for Life on 03/14/2012 16:18:36 |
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DirtBall
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 08:30:00
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| I'm not sure the Home Runs are the main issue here. Yes there will be some home runs that would normally be outs. But, with the smaller fields you are almost eliminating doubles and triples. A hard hit ball in the gap will end up being a single or a bang bang play at second. The home run is great for baseball, but the last thing I want my kid to do is swing for the fence. 150 is to small for 8u. |
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Cherokee Red
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 10:23:41
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| I agree 100% with dirtball. |
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Watrboy
21 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 10:24:59
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| Apparently, USSSA needs to catch up with the times...lol....These small fields take the fundamentals out of the game which are being taught to the kids. I like HRs also, but only when it's earned. A 50 mph pitch getting popped into the air which would usually be a routine pop up isn't a true homer. Outfielders will be playing with their backs to the fence. Is this the way one plays baseball? These are 8 year olds using top dollar bats which give them even more of an edge. Its a tournament of pitching and which pitchers can keep the ball down. |
Edited by - Watrboy on 03/15/2012 11:14:44 |
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baller23
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 11:25:49
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| So whos going to win? |
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Travel for Life
49 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 12:29:55
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| Who ever can put it over the fence the most! |
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DirtBall
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 13:34:10
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The Team With The Most HR's :)
JK.. You would have to believe that the Yard Dogs, Acworth Warriors, and 6-4-3 would be the favorites. With that being said, there are about 10 or so teams that can or may upset the top 3. Trying to predict the consistency of 8 year old kids is like trying to predict the weather a week in advance. |
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baller23
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 14:13:16
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| Didn't really see to many teams hitting it out at hidden valley last week maybe 2-3teams. |
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UncleCharlie
31 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2012 : 22:08:49
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Yard Dogs have to be the favorite after the way they rolled through some very good teams last weekend. I believe they hit 5 or so HR's last weekend at HV.
One thing is for sure, there will be 4 strong teams going home saturday night.
Best of luck to all the teams! |
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WestCoastGuru
148 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2012 : 05:34:44
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| I have to agree with Uncle Charlie....we played approximately 15 games at HV last year, and had 6 kids that were GOOD hitters with the power to go deep against GOOD pitching, and we only hit 3 as a team in those 15 games! |
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jamie77
53 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2012 : 09:55:48
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| Just FYI guys. The Yard Dogs averaged 2 home runs per game. They actually hit 11 in last weeks tournament. |
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baller23
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2012 : 17:55:55
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| wow but that's just one team. I don't think the other 10 teams combined hit more than that. Guess we'll see this weekend. Good Luck |
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dawgfan999
41 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2012 : 23:28:06
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| Very poorly run tournament. You would think for what we paid to play we could at least get someone to run the scoreboard. Lines in the outfield were last painted probably sometime last year, several balls hit out there today that the umpire had no clue because there is no line. $8 gate fee, are you serious? Very poor umpiring and don't get me started on the short fields. Maybe I'm not being realistic, would just expect more for the price we paid to play. |
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Watrboy
21 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 12:37:59
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| Interesting tournament. I was disappointed with the parks; I expected a USSSA tournament would've been played on better fields. I guess 8u gets the short end of the stick and takes the worst of the fields. Maybe I'm spoiled and used to the North Metro area fields which are clean, freshly cut, and LEVEL. They also don't rip you with a $8 gate fee on Sat and Sun. I also saw non working scoreboards and bases that weren't properly secured. Ground crews put fresh chalk around the box at the end of each game, but never raked the field "some" or add chalk to the lines. They weren't even straight. I didn't see as many HRs hit like expected, but I did see balls hit in the gap that are usually a double and held to singles. Fields were too small for this age group. Congrats to the Yard Dawgs, even with the small field size, that's a good team. |
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wareagle
324 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 13:16:00
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| Congrats Yard Dogs, and really proud of HP for a good showing in the tournament. I really thought about checking birth certificates for a few of the Yard Dog kids until I saw the Dads. The dads and/or coaches look like the wide reciever corp for the FALCONS. The shortest one I saw looked 6'4, maybe thier kids are that BIG. Great team and had fun watching. |
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baller23
4 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2012 : 18:04:21
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| small field/big field from what I saw the outcome would of been the same. If teams can't hit on small field what is a big field going to do. Too much whining and complaining. |
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Watrboy
21 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2012 : 11:00:05
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| I disagree with you somewhat baller........a bigger field stops the easily hit homeruns and allows the outfielders to catch the ball. Yes, one must hit to score. But many teams did hit the ball. Balls in the gap ended up being singles. Runners couldn't advance when normally they could. Some teams are built on pitching and defense and play small ball. They don't rely on the "big" hit. I'm sure the outcome probably would've been the same, but other teams would have had more of a chance. |
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