According to Florida forum posters, what are the top tournaments in Florida during the high school season (pre-season, spring break, etc, not summer events)?

Why?

TA

The 3 schools you mention are usually very strong. Bishop Verot fields a good team in Naples each year. Sarasota has been strong for a long time. There have been several multi-age AAU organizations in Sarasota-Bradenton that have fed the school for the last 8-10 years.

I don't know about the teams in their tourneys. Son's school is playing in the Seminole High Spring Break Tourney near St. Pete.

Lakewood is a newer school but has started well.

Where is Pendleton playing? Who do they play in the spring? Do they mostly stay around Bradenton?

JD

Geaux Cajuns!!

Hey guys, the Tony Saladino Tourney in Hillsborough County ( March 20-27 ) is one of the best in the state, with 24 teams, playing in various sites throughout the county. Gaither H.S.6A. won last year.

3A is the most competitive class in Florida. I don't know why but thats the way it is. Top 3A teams that move up nearly always dominate the higher divisions. Maybe its because of recruiting.

Softhands, FHSAA rules limit the number of teams in any tournament to 16.

FNG, during my son's HS days he played in three different spring break tournaments.

Pensacola, Tate HS sponsored, was a great tourney with teams from up and down the east coast of the country.

Sarasota, was also a good tourney with many strong teams from all around the state.

Nova HS, Davie, was a local tourney with good teams from Broward and Dade Counties.

Can't go wrong with Pensacola or Sarasota.

Docball

I think I agree about 3A being competitive. Thats why Eustis winning twice since 2000 is so strong. No sneaking to Tampa around those schools. My sons school gets a new team in the district, Crystal River, a 3A moving up to 4A this year who has been successful in the past.

I hope they take a year to adjust.

Whats the least competitive class, easiest to get to Tampa?

FOR THE FUN
Hi, for your information The Tony Saladino tournament in Hillsborough County last year had 24 teams, one of the best in Florida.
Alonso,Armwood,Blake,Bloomingdale,Brandon,
Chamberlain,Durant,East bay,Freedom,Gaither,
Hillsborough,Jefferson,Jesuit,King,Leto,
Middleton,Plant,Plant City,Riverview,Robinson,
Sickles,Tampa Bay Tech,Tampa Catholic,Wharton.
As you can see "24 Teams"
Played from March 22th to 28th of 2003.

Softhands, seems like someone went outside the rules. This is the rule directly from the FHSAA book.

104. Invitational Tournaments
104.01 All invitational tournaments (conference, county, league, etc.) must have
the approval of the FHSAA Office. The “Application for Approval of Multi-School Athletic
Event” (Form AT2) must be submitted not less than 30 days in advance of the first day
of the tournament to avoid a late fee of $50.
104.02 There is no limit on the number of regular season tournaments in which a
team may participate. Each and every game played by a team in a tournament, however,
shall count toward the team’s maximum limit of 25 games.
104.03 Regular season tournaments:
(1) May have a maximum field of 16 teams;
(2) May have single elimination, double elimination, round robin or pool play formats;
and
(3) Must begin and end within the same one week (Monday-Saturday) unless held
during a holiday period.
104.04 No member school may participate in a tournament game that begins earlier
than 3 p.m. on a school day. This provision may be waived by the Commissioner to accom2003-
04 FHSAA Baseball Manual 5
modate tournaments held as part of the FHSAA Baseball Playoffs.
104.05 No junior varsity, junior high or other sub-varsity team may participate in
a tournament involving a varsity team. Junior varsity, junior high and other sub-varsity
tournaments, if held, must be held as separate events.
104.06 Application fees shall be assessed the school/organization making application
to hold an invitational tournament based on the number of participating teams according
to the following schedule:
• 4 or less teams – $100.00
• 5 to 8 teams – $250.00
• 9 or more teams – $500.00
The FHSAA shall not receive any percentage of the receipts, and the host school/
organization shall not be required to file a financial report form with the FHSAA Office.
104.07 Certain invitational tournaments involving out-of-state schools may require
the approval of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). See
FHSAA.org for NFHS regulations on interstate and international competitions.

Good luck this year.

TA

I didn't respond to this earlier because honestly I am not that familiar with most of the high school tournaments throughout the state.

We just got our spring schedule for Santaluces High School and we hold a pre-season Classic with Cardinal Newman, Kings Academy, and Lake Worth. The following week is the annual Santaluces Slam with Atlantic, John I Leonard, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Olympic Heights, Pope John Paul, Spanish River and of course Santaluces.

Last year we competed in the Westminster Classic during spring break, it was a very good tournament but I believe due to the reduction in games allowed this year to 25 from 28 participation would have put us over our limit. The reduction in games this year for FHSAA schools will probably affect a lot of schools this year. Really don't understand the reasoning behind this reduction. The excuse I have heard most frequently is budget cuts, but I honestly don't believe that reason is valid. Baseball programs typically are 100% funded externally so the reasoning doesn't seem to hold water.

There is a relatively new website for Florida High School baseball www.sunshinestatebaseball.com that is doing a very nice job of providing information for and about the upcoming season. If you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth a look.

JMEPop

One opinion is that the reduction in games from 28 to 25 was meant to benefit basketball in some way, but I have not checked to see if they increased their number of games. The reasoning there is that schools sell more basketball tickets than baseball.

I was wrong again. Basketball lost 3 games also, from 28 to 25 like baseball.

If you visit the FHSAA website and look at their Feb 2003 News release they have revamped the schedules for all high school sports with the exception of football..
The following is directly from their minutes: We propose that the baseball season be nine weeks in duration. The Cap of 28 games would stay in place but would be played on a maximum of 22 playing dates with no more than one date per week requiring a loss of school time. Tournaments will count as two playing dates.
I also know that just from school son attends that their school vacation during this time frame isn't the same as Public schools in the area. Last year they played in the Nova tourn and this year due to the FHSAA changes will not be participating in a tourn during this period.

How about the district in 3A with 2 state finalists in it. 2A 2002 champion and 2003 Runner-Up CLearwater Central Catholic faces moves to 3A and is in the same District as 3A Finalist Jesuit. Talk about some good games, CCC plays thier first against Jesuit in tampa, will be one to watch! WHo stands out from Jesuit this year? and who is better? only one can get to the final 4 this year......