kjktj,
Our 7 team tournament is a combined district/section. If we win it we go to the Long Beach regional. The runner up goes to the Quartz Hill regional.
There will be three teams from the District 1 tourney in Corona. Not sure where the Regional will be held. So far Chino, Corona and Valley Wide seem to be the strongest teams here. But we all know a baseball game can go sideways in a hurry.
The kids won 8-5 today giving them 1st place in their pool and a spot in the semifinals. My son started pitching and threw well the first couple innings. He drove in a couple of runs with two outs in the bottom of the first to start our scoring. We were ahead 5-0 after 2 but in the third my son got flustered about nothing and walked the leadoff man. The next hitter hit a little pop behind third that landed on the infield and should have been caught. He got even more flustered and fell behind their #3 hitter then grooved a high fastball which was hit well over the center field fence. He stopped them in the fourth and then struggled in the fifth. I pulled him with 1 out, the score 6-5 and runners on first and second. My reliever picked the runner off second and then got the next hitter to shut them down.
The semis are on Sunday and we're hoping the team we play will have tired arms. If we play the team we expect to play then they'll have played on Friday and Saturday before our Sunday game.
On the other hand we only have 3 legit pitchers and one threw 4 innings on Thursday with a high pitch count, the reliever threw 3 on Thursday with a low pitch count and 2 2/3 today with a low pitch count. My son threw 4 1/3 with a fairly low pitch count of about 60 pitches.
The semis are on Sunday and we're hoping the team we play will have tired arms. If we play the team we expect to play then they'll have played on Friday and Saturday before our Sunday game.
On the other hand we only have 3 legit pitchers and one threw 4 innings on Thursday with a high pitch count, the reliever threw 3 on Thursday with a low pitch count and 2 2/3 today with a low pitch count. My son threw 4 1/3 with a fairly low pitch count of about 60 pitches.
Our boys had a 9 run rally in the bottom of the fifth down 6-1 to win the Sub District Tournament 10-6 and remain undefeated. They now head to the District Championship beginning on Monday. We have a first round bye and resume play on Tuesday.
My son batted .500 for the tournament and had some key hits at clutch moments throughout the week. He played errorless 1B and made some great plays. Overall our little group of 11yo's is more than holding their own but there are some very strong teams at the District level and I am sure that we will be viewed as the weakest team to advance.
It should be fun...
My son batted .500 for the tournament and had some key hits at clutch moments throughout the week. He played errorless 1B and made some great plays. Overall our little group of 11yo's is more than holding their own but there are some very strong teams at the District level and I am sure that we will be viewed as the weakest team to advance.
It should be fun...
Callaway,
Congrats and best of luck on Tuesday.
Congrats and best of luck on Tuesday.
Saturday the Long Beach Pony 13 yo won their first tournament game 4 to 0. Strong pitching by our pitcher, perfect through the 1st four. We play again at 4 today. Our manager didn't make the game and is doubtful for today as he didn't get behind the L screen quick enough and took a ball in his back while pitching batting practice Friday night. Besides a big bruise it collapsed a lung. Should be out of the hospital today.
Our run was ended today. We lost pretty badly. I threw our slower throwing pitcher because our other starter who had more than a day's rest had been hit hard by the same team in a warmup tournament, while my son had gone 4 1/3 on Friday. We were down 3-0 after two only because of some poor baserunning on their part. We pulled within 3-2 and I left the pitcher in. He had a couple errors made behind him and gave up 3 more runs before getting to two outs. I then left him in while they scored 6 more thinking we only had to get one more out and that he wouldn't walk anyone. Since we only had 9 players I had no way to warm anyone up. I finally did put in a reliever who retired the next batter. By then our kids had given up and even though they put in weaker pitchers we went quite meekly to defeat.
CADad
Sorry that your season ended. It sounds like you had a good year though. Are you going to take a little break before travel ball?
All the best,
R.
Sorry that your season ended. It sounds like you had a good year though. Are you going to take a little break before travel ball?
All the best,
R.
Callaway,
My son starts the high school's "not mandatory" summer camp today. We've got one more Pony tournament to go starting sometime this week and then we're going on vacation at the end of July. When we get back my son will go to Jaeger's arm strength and conditioning camp. We'll use that as the springboard for building arm strength over the summer and winter. I'm planning on having him play fall ball and a few tournaments but I want to focus on building the arm strength and limit the pitching innings. He'll also be working out in the gym and working on his running speed to try and catch up with the older kids as he'll be a 14yo freshman next year.
My son starts the high school's "not mandatory" summer camp today. We've got one more Pony tournament to go starting sometime this week and then we're going on vacation at the end of July. When we get back my son will go to Jaeger's arm strength and conditioning camp. We'll use that as the springboard for building arm strength over the summer and winter. I'm planning on having him play fall ball and a few tournaments but I want to focus on building the arm strength and limit the pitching innings. He'll also be working out in the gym and working on his running speed to try and catch up with the older kids as he'll be a 14yo freshman next year.
Long Beach Pony 13 yo's won yesterday to advance to the Championship game of the district tournamnet. It also garuanteed our advancement to the Regional in Long Beach at Heartwell Pony's field.
CADad--My middle son was a 14 yo freshman, Nov. BD, it was tough, but a good ball player is a good ball player and a good coach will recognize it.
CADad--My middle son was a 14 yo freshman, Nov. BD, it was tough, but a good ball player is a good ball player and a good coach will recognize it.
kjktj,
Congrats. Watch out for Mid-Valley. I scouted the Mid-Valley vs. West Hills game on Saturday as we were going to play the loser. We already knew that West Hills was stronger than we were so we were hoping to find that Mid-Valley wasn't all that strong. They mercied West Hills. Neither team used their best pitchers for any length of time so it was hard to determine just how well the two teams really matched up, however just from looking at them I'd say Mid-Valley is the strongest 13yo team I've seen so far. If they beat West Hills tonight as I expect they will they'll be headed for Long Beach while West Hills will head for Quartz Hill.
Congrats. Watch out for Mid-Valley. I scouted the Mid-Valley vs. West Hills game on Saturday as we were going to play the loser. We already knew that West Hills was stronger than we were so we were hoping to find that Mid-Valley wasn't all that strong. They mercied West Hills. Neither team used their best pitchers for any length of time so it was hard to determine just how well the two teams really matched up, however just from looking at them I'd say Mid-Valley is the strongest 13yo team I've seen so far. If they beat West Hills tonight as I expect they will they'll be headed for Long Beach while West Hills will head for Quartz Hill.
Thanks, we are a decent team. Pitching is only average, good control but no dominating guy, our defense ios good with good team speed and our hitting is solid. Not sure that we will advance from the next tournamnet, but we will compete. I know the boys are looking forward to the next tournamnet, especially the opportunity to play against thier friends at Heartwell.
I've yet to see dominant pitching in this tournament, although the Mid-Valley team had one pitcher I saw for only an inning who might be. He was throwing smooth and easy and although he looked like he was throwing hard he didn't look like he was throwing it that hard. The West Hills hitters told another story as they weren't coming close to getting around on the ball. These same hitters tatooed our league's #1 13yo pitcher who knows how to pitch and maxes out about 79 mph.
Update: West Hills beat Mid-Valley in extra innings so they'll be going to Long Beach and Mid-Valley will head to Quartz Hill. Let me know how West Hills looks compared to the teams down there.
Update: West Hills beat Mid-Valley in extra innings so they'll be going to Long Beach and Mid-Valley will head to Quartz Hill. Let me know how West Hills looks compared to the teams down there.
Well our 14U advanced, my 8U did not fair as well, the fell short 7-6 in a real tight game. We start Sectionals in Upland on the 21st.
Great game but tough loss last night. We were up 5-0 going into the fifth and the coach brought in our closer. He gave up 4 in the fifth. We scored another in the sixth and then they tied it up in the bottom of the sixth.
In the 8th inning they hit what would have been the walk off HR. Our center fielder caught the ball over the fence to save the game. Unfortunately they did hit a walk off in the 9th inning to win.
Tonight we play our sister team who is also in the loser's bracket. Their team is comprised of mostly 12yo's (unlike ours) and they will probably be looking past us. I think that we can beat them if we play our "A" game. My son woke me up at 6:30AM to hit balls! He'll be ready.
In the 8th inning they hit what would have been the walk off HR. Our center fielder caught the ball over the fence to save the game. Unfortunately they did hit a walk off in the 9th inning to win.
Tonight we play our sister team who is also in the loser's bracket. Their team is comprised of mostly 12yo's (unlike ours) and they will probably be looking past us. I think that we can beat them if we play our "A" game. My son woke me up at 6:30AM to hit balls! He'll be ready.
Long Beach Pony (13 YO) advanced by winning its tournamnet last night. Gave up 3 in the first but came bck and won 7 to 3. We advance to the Region? at Heartwell Park in Long Beach
We're done. We lost last night in another very exciting game. We were up 7-5 in the 6th inning. The coach brought in another boy to close and he gave up 3 runs. Ultimately we didn't have enough depth at pitching. Our 11yo sticks carried us in the sub district and kept us close in the district. I am proud of our kids and very proud of my little guy.
Good luck to the rest of you.
R.
Good luck to the rest of you.
R.
At the 13 yo Pony Sectional Heartwell beat West Hills 4 to 3 to advance to the winner's bracket final. Long Beach plays Covina today at 12"30 for the right to advance in the double elimination tournament. The tournament winner will advance to the ZOne in Fullerton next week
Corona Blue 13's are done. They had a good run but ran out of pitching it looked like. The 14's play Thursday in Upland CA. I think my kid is getting the ball but that isn't final.
The Long Beach 13's beat arch rival Heartwell last night 8 to 2. This puts Long Beach in the driver's seat for the trip to Fullerton. Heartwell plays Sylmar tonight for the opportunity to play Long Beach in the Championship Wed.
THe Long Beach Pony 13 YO won the Regional Championship against Sylmar for the right to go to Fullerton for the Western Zone. Sylmar held a 3 to 0 lead going into the 7th, but Long Beach had 9 straight hits including a 2 run home run to go ahead to 3. Sylmar didn't quit. There first batter in the bottom of the 7th hit a solo home run and the next batter hit the fence for a double. Long beach held on though for the 9 to 5 victory.
Sylmar beat our Pony 13 A team in section and our Pony A team ended up winning the Quartz Hill Region. I understand they led 7-4, gave up 7 runs in the top of the 7th then came back to tie when with the bases loaded one of the other team's outfielders got his foot stuck in the fence resulting in an inside the park grand slam to tie the game. The next batter hit a walk off homer.
Now is the time of year where I really hate travel ball. And it propbably really isn't travel ball as a whole, just the attittude of a lot of people in it. We just won our Pony 13 tournament and advanced to the Zone, which is one step from the world series. Coach informed the kids last night that our #2 pitcher and our closer, both also position players won't be with us durning the tournament because of thier travel team is in a tournament. This affects at least two teams and maybe more. Us because we are going forward not as strong, yes we still get to play the game. But it also affects the teams we beat, as the chances of us advancing in easrlier tournaments would have been reduced. It is not ethical of these families to try and play both sides of the fence
Kj,
When I belonged to pony optimist as a member/coach/board member the rules were you could not belong to two teams in one season. If you played rec then you could play for all star team after the season. If you played travel you were not eliegle to play for the pony all star teams.
I know I live on the east coast but, are the rules different on the west coast.
Seems fair since the parents would get hurt rideing the middle of the fence then esp if the fence is pointed....
When I belonged to pony optimist as a member/coach/board member the rules were you could not belong to two teams in one season. If you played rec then you could play for all star team after the season. If you played travel you were not eliegle to play for the pony all star teams.
I know I live on the east coast but, are the rules different on the west coast.
Seems fair since the parents would get hurt rideing the middle of the fence then esp if the fence is pointed....
kjktj,
I believe that means those two are done for the duration and can't play in the Pony tournament even if you advance. I'm not absolutely certain on that.
I believe that means those two are done for the duration and can't play in the Pony tournament even if you advance. I'm not absolutely certain on that.
I have heard two interpetations of the rule. 1st was from our Pony coach--If you play another team during the Pony all Star tournament, you are done playing on the All Star Team
2nd is from a Pony site, you can only be the member of one Pony All Star team
The 2nd one is the one I tend to trust, mainly from my Little League days as Little League was sued by a family whose child was denied the Little League All Star experience because he played on another team. Little League changed the rules and now does not forbid membership on another team.
2nd is from a Pony site, you can only be the member of one Pony All Star team
The 2nd one is the one I tend to trust, mainly from my Little League days as Little League was sued by a family whose child was denied the Little League All Star experience because he played on another team. Little League changed the rules and now does not forbid membership on another team.
And yes CADad, these boys can no longer come back and play for us, if indeed we do stay playing
kjktj,
I read the same rules and had the same questions as you. The league gave us the first interpretation, but I read the rule the same way you did. That's why I said I wasn't absolutely certain.
Let me know if you run into our Pony 13A team at zone.
I read the same rules and had the same questions as you. The league gave us the first interpretation, but I read the rule the same way you did. That's why I said I wasn't absolutely certain.
Let me know if you run into our Pony 13A team at zone.
Our first game is against the Northwest, I beleive a team from Washington, at 10:00AM Saturday. I will try and give updates. Simi Valley palys the South Region at 3:00PM on Sat. I am not sure who represents the South Region
the south can't be represented by Pembroke Lakes 13 yo team from so fla because they chose to go to Cooperstown.Very hard decission to make but, they made it and now can't play in the state tournaments You could see a team from Fl called Weston Rattlers but they usually play AABC which I never understood. competiton not as good as Pony < just my opinion though...
Good luck update us with your status...
Good luck update us with your status...
Well the Pony 13 West Zone is not going as we wished. Won our 1st game against a team from Washington state. But lost to Hawaii, actually got slaughtered ruled against them 11 to 1. Hawaii plays the winner of Chula Vista North and Cypress tommorrow for the winner's bracket. Today in the losser;s bracket we, Long Beach, play. I am not sure who is left, I know Morgan Hill is, Simi Valley played Fullerton, I do not know who won, the loser would be eliminated For CADad Simi Valley last thier 1st game to Chula Vista
kjktj,
Looks like Long Beach will be playing Simi today. Fullerton was a pretty obvious example of why it doesn't make sense to give the host team a berth in a zone tournament. Their team would have probably been able to compete in a game or two at the district level instead of being humiliated at zone.
Simi is capable of winning any one game as they've got pretty good hitting but I don't think their pitching can hold up going through the loser's bracket.
Looks like Long Beach will be playing Simi today. Fullerton was a pretty obvious example of why it doesn't make sense to give the host team a berth in a zone tournament. Their team would have probably been able to compete in a game or two at the district level instead of being humiliated at zone.
Simi is capable of winning any one game as they've got pretty good hitting but I don't think their pitching can hold up going through the loser's bracket.
I think we are in the same boat. Pitching thin and tired
Unless losing the two players to travel ball was too big an impact it looks like the two teams ought to match up pretty well so at least this game should be a good one. The winner will have their work cut out for them in the evening game.
Well I Was expecting a competitive game, and was wrong. Simi hit well and thier pitching kept our bats quite. I am not sure how much the two travel ball guys hurt us, certainly pitching, but we just didn't play well when nedded. Simi did everything they were supposed to. Cypress and CHula Vistalook like the teams to beat, but the four teams left, are all capable strong teams. My son enjoyed playing against and talking to kids from all over
Corona 14U eliminated on Sunday. Scary moment was when the starting pitcher took a line drive off his throwing arm. Dr. report was good nothing broken just a deep tissue bruise. he will be playing in the USSSA World Series this week. FYI it happen to be my kid, I literally stop breathing when it happened.
kjktj,
Simi won the evening game vs. Cypress so now Simi will play the loser of Hawaii vs Chula Vista and then if they win have to beat the winner of Hawaii vs Chula Vista twice.
Simi won the evening game vs. Cypress so now Simi will play the loser of Hawaii vs Chula Vista and then if they win have to beat the winner of Hawaii vs Chula Vista twice.
Well now you know to be careful if you and I are at the track and i like a horse. I do think that Chula Vista, Hawaii, Cypress and Simi were the top 4 teams. Cypress played Fullerton and won 23 to 0, so I thought that their bats were pretty strong, but maybe more an argument against the hst team automatically qualifying to be in the tournament. Should be a couple of good games left in the tournament
kjktj,
Hawaii beat Chula Vista in the winner's bracket finals, then Chula Vista beat Simi. It'll be Chula Vista vs Hawaii.
Hawaii beat Chula Vista in the winner's bracket finals, then Chula Vista beat Simi. It'll be Chula Vista vs Hawaii.
Congrats to the 12 year old Tracy National Little League team! The Tracy Nationals are 1 win away from being crowned the Northern California Little League champs and flying off to San Bernadino for the Little League Western Division Championship. Good Luck Tracy!