2010 USSSA 'A' World Tournament Preview
USSSA 'A' World
Tournament
Preview
The Stadium Field normally uses a temporary homerun fence set at 305-320 feet
Fields 12 and 13 will be used at the 'A' Worlds and are 305 foot softball fields
The Stadium Field is in the lower right of this map. Fields 12 and 13 are in the upper left
Link to the entire Disney "ESPN Wide World of Sports"
Link to the 'A' World Team Information List
Projected weather for the weekend. Bring your Gatorade!
Note on my preview and predictions: This is all in fun. Just hoping to get some hits on the website and maybe give some people something to read at work while waiting for the weekend to get here already! Congratulations to all teams participating. Old Scout basher's not withstanding, this is actually a great field of teams. I just wish I could see all the games, but with two fields in the back away from the stadium that isn't going to happen. Obviously there will be some major upsets and the tournament is nearly impossible to predict. I really don't know a whole lot about the Florida 'C' teams but we all know what happened with Shoppe last year.
Round #1
Game #1: Wiley's Supreme FL-C vs Russell Paint FL-C. In a battle of Florida 'C' bagger's I'll take Wiley's in the Stadium. The game is basically a toss up. Amazing how these teams say they play 'C' because there is no 'B' program in the State yet these two haven't met in USSSA all year? I don't see either of these teams getting past Sinister.
Game #2: Team Combat WA-A vs Bestway GA-C. Laser Vision has lost 2 games this year to 'C' teams however both were at the start of the season. 12-0 since. That isn't going to change now. Bestway may go down swinging though.
Game #3: ATS AZ-C vs Marty's Boys FL-C. ATS has enough veteran players left to squeak this one out.
Game #4: Suncoast FL-A vs East Coast FL-C. Suncoast is just 8-3 vs 'C' teams this year but are more than capable of making a run like they did in 2007 when they upset a hot Ropeclub team at the 'A' Worlds. Suncoast in a run rule here.
Game #5: Wisconsin Worth WI-C vs Dave's Place FL-C. Looks like Dave's Place might have Brad Stillwell on the roster? That should be enough to win this game against a Wisconsin Worth team that is 0-11 vs 'C' and higher teams this year.
Game #6: Lawn Rangers FL-C vs Team Combat/SS Wood FL-C. I'll take Lawn Rangers over the mini Team Combat. Neither team will last 7 innings against GTL in the second round.
Round #2
Game #7: Aubrey's VA-A vs AJS FL-B. These two are 1-1 against each other this year. Aubrey's made a late surge by winning the North Carolina Major and finished 13th in the nation. AJS is ranked #16. Aubrey's Brian Justice will need the table setter's to fill the bases. AJS will have to bat around the order at least once. I'm taking Aubrey's 22-18 although I've witnessed this team wilt in the sun before.
Player to watch: Aubrey's 3B Brian Justice
Game #8: Jean Shoppe TN-A vs Wood Law TX-A. An 8 AM battle Saturday morning that will make or break one team or the other. Shoppe finished 12th in the rankings and Wood Law finished 11th. Wood Law should battle and this game is just about a toss up. I'm going with Jean Shoppe although I have a lot of respect for a Wood Law team (best ever) that is getting a bad break having to play Shoppe in their first game. No Joerling, Gordon, or Garris in the lineup this year for Shoppe has hurt them.
Tim Cocco will have to power the Shoppe if they are to make a 5th consecutive 'A' World finals
Game #9: Sinister MI-A vs Wiley's FL-C. Sinister owes me some quality softball after last Sunday morning. Look for their top 4 in the lineup (McGavin, Sedlacek, Filby, and Joerling) to outscore Wiley's by themselves. Oh, and Wiley's had better hit their homer's more than 306 or the kid Dillon in CF will be robbing them blind.
Player to watch: Sinister CF Brandon Dillon
Game #10: Logo Express GA-B vs Team Combat/Laser Vision WA-A. Logo comes in as the surprise 4th ranked team in the country and an impressive 8-7 record vs 'A' teams. Combat comes in ranked #14 and has just a 4-6 record vs 'A' teams. I think veterans like McCraw, Bisbee, and Bumgardner will step up and win this game. Rumor is they went out and picked up Billy Messina to pitch. Should be a fun one as Logo has proved everyone wrong all year long and are led by big 1st baseman Brian Autry.
Combat's Johnny Mac and Vince Bisbee look to provide some big 'O'
Game #11: Albicocco NY-A vs ATS AZ-B. Albicocco should make short work of ATS although Albicocco doesn't have a lot of run rule wins.
Game #12: NW Combat WA-A vs Suncoast FL-A. NW Combat the 5th ranked team in the nation is 6-5 vs 'A' teams and should knock off Suncoast ranked #22 and just 2-5 vs 'A' teams.
Game #13: EWS IL-B vs Daves Place FL-C. EWS the 10th ranked team in the country gets some practice on the show field.