Topic: Pre season top 3 LI travel softball teams in each age group

Sounds like a kid. As an adult I will not respond to this poster.

18U-- Express, Team LI, Sudden Impact

16U-- Express blue(no doubt), Heat, fire and ice

14U--Bandits Tornlicasi, Riptide (COLE), Team LI

No offense but rants and raves like yours don't promote your travel team.

Team LI, Express, F&I Pride.

Sudden Impact just because there gold they think they should get the nod, dont think so

And what is with this Anthem team i read about on another blog, never heard of them 

And to add, try southern teams...Most college Coaches in FL will not even look at players from up North for their teams....so I would say just enjoy the game, and enjoy watching your daughters play for the fun of it.....it really takes on new meaning.  My daughter attends college in Fl, and misses playing, and is really looking forward to her summer travel team and the friends she has made on that team....they truly enjoy playing together, and there is no pressure.  GO BAYPORT PHANTOMS...see you all on the field

Good for your daughter still playing the game, even though she is not playing for her college.  It is far more important to keep ball in perspective and to focus on education.  No one should choose a college to play ball.  Softball will end after college anyway, therefore, it is much smarter to focus on academics and fuiture endeavors. 

For those who do play college ball, that is great too, however, there are many kids who give it up when it gets in the way of the college experience and academic pursuits. 

I think it's great that your daughter's team plays for the FUN of the game.  It would be great if more teams were like that!!!

Good to see diamond mom back spewing her hatred of the committed softball player and downplaying their hopes and dreams. GO BACK TO DRINKING YOUR ELECTRIC COOL AID AND THOSE ROSE COLORED SUNGLASSES GOT TO  GO!! LIBERALS ARE SUCH A PITA

PLEASE PEOPLE< START YOUR OWN TREAD IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN THE TOPIC.  THIS IS OPINIONS ON TOP TEAMS IN EACH AGE LEVEL___NOT IF OUR ATHELETES COMPARE TO SOUTHERN OR WESTERN ATHELETES< NOT TO DEBATE IF SCHOOL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN SOFTBALL--DUH etcc  please try to keep on track I have confidence in you!!

[[QUOTE:Good for your daughter still playing the game, even though she is not playing for her college.  It is far more important to keep ball in perspective and to focus on education.  No one should choose a college to play ball.  Softball will end after college anyway, therefore, it is much smarter to focus on academics and fuiture endeavors.  For those who do play college ball, that is great too, however, there are many kids who give it up when it gets in the way of the college experience and academic pursuits. I think it's great that your daughter's team plays for the FUN of the game.  It would be great if more teams were like that!!

I agree with you DiamondMom and think your post brought up good points.  Players can play for fun too and its great to see that they do.  TooMuch70 I think you caught him/her in a bad moment as he/she overreacted big-time.  There are lots of posts in various threads that are not on the point of the thread - and in fact there are probably more "off the point" posts in threads than are on the point!

I absolutely agree, so in that spirit here are my picks. It's difficult because some teams say they are one age, but play up and other teams don't play great schedules even though they have a lot of talent, but I'll do my best. As I define it, the difference between age groups is usually simply how old the girls are (i.e. if they go to nationals, which nationals do they attend or if not, are all the girls young enough for 14U, but they play 16U tourneys etc....) so that's why some of my picks might seem odd.

18U:

Sudden Impact: if their seniors stick around this summer, they have the best pitching. Like many 18U teams things could fall apart quickly if their seniors stop showing up, but over all, kids like Liz W., Nicolette S. and Chelsea S will keep them at the top.

Express - Elite: good pitching, solid defense, some GREAT hitters. Christine L. and Alex D. are a nice one two punch in the rotation. Colleen S. can really hit and Shaakira S. might be the fastest kid I've ever seen from H-1.

Chargers: A solid team with very good pitching. Patti C. is really their only non-senior option on the mound like SI, that can prove to be difficult. Jennifer R. can hit the ball a ton, but when the rest of your team relies on seniors as much as the Chargers do, it can be difficult to really put anything together.

(Note: I'd put the Bandits in a close 4th, but there is just too much coming and going from that team. Half the time people aren't even sure who is on it or who will show up one weekend or not. However, that team is capable of beating anyone with Alexis G, Melani M and Jordan S. and Nicole E. and Michelle A are both having very good school seasons on the mound)

(Please no freakouts from Spartan and F&I fans. As a team, I believe these teams are simply better, even if it's just fractionally, it's one opinion and certainly not to be taken all that seriously)

16U:

Team Long Island - probably all around still the most solid team out there w/o any seniors, although their pitching is weaker without Bella C. Several of Long Island's best players are on this team like Haley B., Sam G., although I'm wondering when/who they're going to add to their 10-girl roster. They play an extremely tough schedule, tougher than most teams in the Northeast.

Heat - Didn't really know much about this team, until I looked at their roster. A bunch of very good players and they seemed to have a very good season last summer and fall. Nicole H and Lauren A. are probably two of LI's best and Annie I. is having a very good school season on the mound. Although if Meg B. doesn't heal up, it could be a long summer for them. Heard they're looking for a player too, so like TLI it'll be interesting who they pick up. Very tough schedule listed as well.

Express - Blue - very good season last year, although the team looks a little different than it did in the summer when they had a very good run at Nationals. Their pitching staff is not quite as good as the two teams I listed above them and their schedule not nearly as daunting as either TLI or Heat, but the team is certainly solid. Lindsey T and Kristen L will keep them in games and Katie J is a very nice player and good behind the plate (although it looks like she could use some help back there, tough going into the summer with only 1 catcher).

14u:

Bandits - Torlincasi: bunches of players already making serious varsity contributions and several girls who probably should be on their varsity teams really dominating the JV circut. Good pitching, good hitting, can't go wrong. Kids like Lyndsay M and Nicole & Reina T. are making their mark for the Varisty squads this year. Their catcher (who's name escapes me) is a hell of a hitter.

Team Long Island - Angel: Again, good pitching, good hitting, heads up on the mental game like all TLI teams. If Tiana G. is ready to go, the combo of her and Merissa S. is a great duo to have. Gotta like Annie G. in the infield and Sam L. behind the plate.

Long Island Riptide - Cole: Maybe not quite as talented overall as the two teams above this one, still a very solid team capable of beating anything, especially with Ashely C. and Leanne I. having such a great season in CP and Annie W. in LB. They should have a nice summer.

Verry nive post..I see you put some effort into your thoughts bravo!!!..My question is: the teams that have a hole to fill ( LI Express Blue and LI Heat ). Since most teams are solidified at this point what are your thoughts of using the organizations pipeline ie younger teams wher players deserve to play up etc..I know it may hurt their current teams but isn't this about player development?

Many organizations operate differently. Some organizations are just a bunch of teams that happen to fly under the same banner. Others are a program where the kids show up at tryouts and are put on the team that best fits their ability, some are an interesting combination of both. In the end I think you have to balance what is best for the kid and what is best for the organization. That relationship is a two way street. If there is a significant need on an older team and the move won't severely cripple the younger team (and by cripple, I don't just mean they'll lose a couple of games, I mean they won't be able to play because their roster drops to 9 or if they only have one kid capable of catching/pitching and you're taking their catcher/pitching) then I think it has to be made, especially if the kid is ready for the jump up. Also, I know most teams play a full summer compliment of tournaments, but there is nothing wrong with taking a kid for just a tournament or two, when you know you're going to need their help, especially if there isn't a conflict.

Regarding TLI (16-Angelo) and the fact that they have 10 players.  They have 2 kids coming in.   Both Pitchers,  One is from Lake George who plans to attend Hofstra and wants to get a feel for the Island.  The other is from PA  (14 year Old) flamethrower (like Sam). 

Nice Reload. 

good teams, find good players.  

Hey Toomuch --- You are a very sick person with way too much time on your hands.  If anyone is "spewing hatred" it is YOU!!  If you actually read my posts, there is nothing hateful about them. 

As for being "liberal", that is laughable. 

 Also, you really should get a life that doesn't revolve around your daughter's activities.  You are way to obsessed with softball.  Why are you so worried about the top 3 teams anyway??  Why not just focus on whatever orgnaization you are involved with and enjoy watching your daughter play.

I feel sorry for you!!!!

18U - Team LI, Fire &Ice (pride), Sudden Impact

TLI- going to Team NJ

Pride- going to Carolina Cardinals

all of these teams are going to strong showcases.  

16U-  (best 16U is really TLI, but Angelo has his kids playing the 18U schedule)

14U Team LI- Angel