Congratulations to Vertigo for a well played tournament! They really showed up this past weekend. I really don't think they "surprised" anyone, they just outplayed everyone. However, I do think PP97 surprised a few people! Congratulations goes out to them as well. Although they didn't surprise me ( read my comments on last weeks forum) I think they did some others. They are a very good team and beat 3 other very good teams. They beat Heat, Elite and the Starz! This years 12U division is TOUGH!!!!

I agree Panther Pride 97 and Vertigo played really good ball. I think the only reason PP97 was not ranked higher is that they had not played much with the other top teams in state. PP97 has well balanced team. Good hitting, Good pitching depth, and good defense. It was good to see them play at higher level. I think after this weekend there is no way they can call themselves a "C" team.

I was glad to see another few teams step up and play with better competition such as Renegades and Beebe Blast 97. Despite not winning I was really impressed with them loosing Elite and AR Heat in really good 1-0.

Starz had a pitcher out with injuries or I thing they would had done better in the tournament.

There was some really good softball played in Cabot this weekend in a really sloppy game.

Yes Congrats to Vertigo! I think they were the best team there this weekend. And yes with Vaughn off the mound for All-Stars that could have made a difference with the way they finished but I believe Vertigo was going to win this weekend no matter who was throwing.
I think Elite was a little off this weekend with the bat but they did win the series and got the rings. Congrats on that Elite! Very impressed with Blast 97 as well.

Krush...Panther Pride is only classified as a C team because that's where we were told to register. On a national level, which is what we were told by the state director your team should register as, we are a C team. Not that we are a great team but I don't consider us a C level team as far as statewide competition. Pride will not be playing in C state for ASA or USSSA. We would have registered 11U A but we play with one 12yr old. We would have loved to play in the second leg of the triple diamond and we were signed up to play. But we had 4 girls out that weekend. Two with opening ceremonies in White Hall, One with a broke arm, and another on a walk-a-thon in honor of a little brother she lost. We simply did not have enough to play is the only reason we were not there.
Now this is just my opinion, but Vertigo, Elite and All-Stars are probably your top three teams in the state. There are several others, example - impact, heat, krush, etc that are very good as well. As a first year 12Under team Panther Pride is fine with maybe sneaking in the bottom part of the top 10 in state. We will be playing A/B state and hopefully we can give some of the better teams some good competition. Just wanted to clarify why we are registered as a C team. I will sign my name as well. Thanks, Scott Richey 501-920-5992

Thanks Scott for the reply. My main complaint is that our team was moved up to B class last fall by the USSSA state director. There is no doubt PP97 more talent and depth then our program. It make me wonder how they could be classified lower. That would say true about many of the other teams that are classified. I guess my real complaint is that we were forced to play B when we have never won a tournament.


They moved us up to B when we had only played in one USSSA tournament and did not place.

The 2nd year teams need to be class B. If you had 2nd year girls on your team and this year they had to move up then sorry. This b,c is stupid go out and play ball if you dont like the teams in it dont get in. PP97 is much improved but they class at the beginning, as a first year you dont know what kind of team you have. We have a good group of teams and girls in 12 u and any team can be beat. you know as well as I do this age you dont know what team will show up.

Vertigo,Starz,Elite are the top 3. then you got krush,pp97,heat,Impact in any order. Next year pp97 and heat will prob be the top of the field if they stay with there 11 yr olds and not try to get 2nd yr girls. they are young teams imo playing up and doing a great job at it.

Good job vertigo girls way to come out and play ball this weekend.

Congratulations VERTIGO!! Nice tournament. WOW i think this years top 12s are about as close as they have ever been. Any of them can win on any certain weekend. Scott i have to disagree with you, there is no way you guys are at the bottom of the top 10 and there is no way your going to sneak up on anyone. Theres going to be some great State Tournaments this year.... good luck to all.

I have to agree with Razorback1410 about Panther Pride not being at the bottom of the top 10. They have proven themselves by beating the top teams in the state during their last two tournaments. I'd have to consider them more along the lines of being in the top 5! I'm not afraid of saying that they are definitely one of the teams I do not look forward to having to play! Hats off to Panther Pride for their performance in the third leg of the Triple Diamond!

Danny Muilenburg
Vertigo

Congrats Vertigo on a great weekend and 1st place finish.

The 12U division is shaping up to be very competitive this year, which is a good thing for everyone! It makes the games more fun. Now if we could just get the rain to go away, we might get to play an entire tournament under normal conditions, and normal length games.

I agree, before rain there were some really competitive games in Benton as well. I know Arkansas Swingers was a surprise wining the Big Boom Classic. They beat Ferndale Fireballs and Battin Babes 96. I say this team last fall and they were much improved.

Due to 2 weeks of rain it was decided to place the tournament based on points allowed.

1. Arkansas Swingers
2. Thunder97
3. Battin Babes 96
4. Ferndale Fireballs.