My son player 14u select. The team has the option of going to few different places and I would like to know about a few tourneys. Has anyone been to any of these places? things to do? fields? 1) USSSA WORLD SERIES IN CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA 2)TRIPLE CROWN WORLD SERIES STEAMBOAT SPRINGS COLORADO 3) TRIPLE CROWNSUMMER NATIONALS IN MYRTLE BEACH S.C. 4) USSSA ELITE 24 IN ORLANDO FL. WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? THANKS

Went to Myrtle Beach last July. Hot and Humid. If you go take tents. We felt so bad for teams that flew in - the poor parents roasted. (Some could be purchased locally at the national sporting goods store.) tents, not parents!

Played on a number of High School Fields. The longest drive was 30 minutes at least. (naturally an 8am game )Most of the fields were very nice. Just one needed some TLC imo. Coaches seemed to think TC did a good job running this tourney and the qualifer too.

MB has plenty of things to do and see. Outlets galore if shopping appeals to anyone. Plenty of restaurants too. Talked with folk from WI and a few other places (just remember WI). They were happy with most things except the weather. Since you are from TX the heat won't be a problem - the humidity might.

Have fun where ever you go.

thanks mom.

We have played in the Elite 24 the last three years and planned on going back this year, but it looks like they moved the tournament back to far in August. The boys would have to miss the first three days of school. Good tournament with some great teams, however, very top heavy. Only 4 game guarantee. We are thinking about trying AAU 14U Nationals in Sarasota, FL. Nice spring training complex and I belive AAU guarantees 6 games. Elite 24 allows way to many pick ups.

Mikeau- When you say pick ups, are you referring to add-ons? In actuality, USSSA has 3 add-ons and AAU has 5. I will tell you that AAU was by far the best tournament to attend way back when (been doing this since 1992). I would now tell you that AAU is just not very competitive anymore. Not when you can just go without qualifying.

Three tournaments that I would consider the best would be Battle in the South, PG WWBA at East Cobb, and the Elite 24.

My son played in the Steamboat Springs tournament in 04 as a U11. Some people complain about the fields and there can be a 40 mile drive. You will mostly see western teams (Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah etc). However if your boys haven't been exposed to the Rocky Mountains this is a great choice. We had a lot of fun and played a good team from Frisco Texas called Stars Baseball. Real nice people. There were some really good teams there and some that were not so good. Good luck this year.

To NCBALL. We are playing in the Battle of the South and wanted to play in the 14U WWBA at East Cobb, but they basically are back to back. Not many parents and coaches can stay on the road for 10 straight days. Elite 24 needs to be played in July. USSSA needs to think about kids that start school in August and have mandatory football workouts. As far as the Elite 24 goes, I would say half the teams are pretty good, with about 6 teams that have a legit chance of winning it. There have been a number of berths given to very weak teams just to have 24. There are some very good teams that attend AAU. I do agree that the if you had a true top 20 in the country, the top 10 probably attend the ELITE 24.

We were going to try for the Elite 24, but it was too late in the year and would have had several boys in trouble with the High School fall sports coaches for missing camps and practices.

We are instead going to the AAYBA World Series in Cocoa Beach, FL instead.

ncball,

We will see you at BiTS and 14U WWB.

redbird- Look forward to seeing you there. We will culminate our season with the Elite 24. I personally don't like Florida nor the people that run that tournament but I do believe it has the top teams in the country and is the place to measure yourself against the best. Mikeau- We figure as long as we're out there that far we would double up with both tournaments. We are thinking of making it a coaches and players-only road trip with chaperones trading off for each tournament to keep the cost down.

ncball - We have debated the Elite 24 but run into the same issues as Mikeau. I look forward to meeting you.

redbird- California schools start later and end later than other states. I do agree that the Elite 24 should move their dates up but I think they do that to try to not have a conflict and ensure that all the teams will come.

NCBALL and Redbird5, what teams do your sons play for? My son plays with Team Alabama? Looks like the Battle In the South will be stonger than the ELITE 24.

I don't have a son. I started and still run NorCal Baseball club since 1992.

Sure you do ncball-you got 17 of em' (and that's only on the 2012's)

BBfam- Good point. Guess I've had about 400 or so throughout the last 16 years or so. Wow, I'm getting old!

ncball, do you guys still have that kid from your U13 team that was at the BITS last year that clocked 90 or so in your organization. Can't think of his name I know you know.
My sons team will be at the U14 BITS again this year, man what a group! We are either goingot TC or AAU, not sure yet. I know one thing, I read that the EC Astros sure bulked up their staff.

I hear the Astros picked up a player from Alabama who is huge and very talented- high 80's. Coach Roberts from East Cobb is a friend and does a great job. It's always fun to play an East Cobb group.

Regarding our guy, Dylan Davis, he will play on our freshman team (he's a 9th grader) for the summer but will participate with the middle school team in the 14&U Elite 24.

ncball, I was thinking I saw his name on a PanAm games team, is that true? If so, how does one get elected/nominated for something like that? His credentials of MPH and his bat I am sure is a huge component but what else does it take?
Yes, EC picked up Simpson, Dahl etc they wil be tough as always. My sons team has been very fortunate to have played them a few times and come out on top all but once as well, but they are nothing but a phenomenal program to say the least, as is yours!!!

Eric G.- I didn't want to mention Tucker's name but, since you did, he's a great kid and Dave will do a great job with him. I'm not as familiar with Dahl. Regarding the Pan Am team, your team needed to participate with USA Baseball who ran several tournaments in Florida as well as the west coast. We had great parricipation out this way.