11U JUNE RANKINGS UPDATE

Updated 7/3/08

1. (2) Texas Prospects Americans (TX) – This team has an overall record of 70 wins, 10 loses and 2 ties.  The Texas Americans win streak of 43 games came to an end last weekend but this team is the most consistent in a very competitive region.  This team qualified for Elite World Series at the Oklahoma Super NIT defeating Houston Lightning, Inside Sports and Ft. Smith Outlaws – all ranked teams.

2. (3) TABU (CA) – Overall record of 86-20 with 13 Championships (53-14 and 8 tournament championships vs. 12U competition). TABU recently crowned the 11U CA State Champs (battling back after suffering loss to 7th ranked Cougars in Pool Play).  They are winners of two Super NITs (SoCal - MLK USSSA Super NIT Champions and NorCal - Presidents Day USSSA Super NIT Champions).  TABU traveled across the country and finished 2nd at Tournament of Champions behind EC Astros.  They defeated the likes of Florida Fire, Chiefs Baseball (twice), VA Storm and Viper Baseball Academy (AL) while losing once to the Astros and Fire.

3. (4) Florida Fire (FL) – The Fire continues to burn through the competition collecting its ninth tournament championship recently.  The two most recent trophies were against 12U competition.  However, the TBS ranked Diamondbacks (FL) have been a nemesis splitting four games with the Fire since the Florida Fire won the FL SNIT and a berth to Disney.  Team will stay home and compete at Disney for the AAU World Series championship as well.

4. (6) Chiefs Baseball (GA) – This team continues to pile up the victories, 64 against 11U teams, while only having 7 loses (all to TBS ranked teams).  In addition, they have a 16-6 record against 12U teams.  They won the GA state USSSA title and beating the ECB Astros along the way.  Only blemish has been to a much improved and ranked Mill Creek Hawks (GA). In the tournament of Champions, they fell twice to the third ranked TABU team while beating four worthy and ranked opponents: North Florida Hurricanes, Bullets Gold (FL), Greensboro Tarheels (NC) and Shoetiques (TN).

5. (8) Houston Lightning (TX) – 48 wins in 62 games.  Lightning was the winner of the Texas South State Tournament which was filled with multiple ranked teams.  This is not unusual as they have beaten their ranked counterparts in Houston only to let their guard down and lose to weaker teams.  They finished second at the OK Super NIT before winning the Colorado Super NIT by outscoring the competition 68-3 in six games including 1-0 win against top ranked Inside Sports.

6. (7) Lamorinda Baseball (CA) – Winning against 12U competition, the Cougars sport a 36-14-1 record against the older boys and a 37-4 record against teams in their age.  The Cougars out scored TABU (giving TABU half of their six loses against 11U teams) in pool play of the State Tournament before falling to a non ranked team during the championship round.  Lamorinda is preparing for another cross country trip, this time to Orlando for the Elite 24.

7. (1) East Cobb Astros (GA) – 61-15-1 record in the 2008 season with over half of the 15 loses coming to 12U teams. Since winning the Tournament of Champions event, this team has multiple loses to 11U ranked teams Chiefs Baseball (GA), Home Plate (GA) and Mill Creek Hawks (GA).  The Astros are playing up in preparation for the AAU National Tournament in Disney.

8. (5) TEAM Rattlers (TX) – The 2007 Elite 24 World Series champs mostly play up against 12U Majors and have little trouble against 11’s but recently has shown signs of being vulnerable to the top ranked teams (T.P. Americans, Houston Lightning, and RBA Seahawks).  Team has power galore and a strong pitching staff.

9. (12) Inside Sport KC Blues (KS) – The Blues are currently riding a 19 game winning streak dating back to a 1-0 championship game lose to the Lightning (#5) at the CO SNIT.  Included in the streak is a first place at the KS SNIT.  Inside Sports is positioned to be the top seed at the Elite 24.

10. (16) RBA Seahawks (TX) – Strong showing in Texas South State Tournament by beating the TP Americans (#1) and Team Rattlers (#8) in back to back games before falling to the Lightning (#5) in third game of the day against a top 10 team.  Team qualified for Elite World Series by winning Governor’s games in Louisiana.

11. (13) Virginia Storm (VA) – Lost some tough games at the TOC in Atlanta but has bounced back to improve their overall record to 44-7.  Their latest tournament championship was the Elite 8 Tournament.  In addition, they are playing up against 12U teams in preparation for the tough competition at the AAU World Series in Orlando later this month. This is one of the best teams from the strong Atlantic Coast area. Look for them to repeat as AAU World Series champs if they get hot.

12. (HM) Armour Baseball (CO) – This is a team that is gaining confidence as they improve their record to 48-7.  A recent sweep of a 12U tournament brings their 12U record to 16-3.  Two one run loses to the Inside Sports (#9) in the semis of two SNITs and a championship win against the Lightning in another SNIT proves this team will be tough at the Elite 24.

13. (9) Simi Predators (CA) – A third place finish in the State Tournament (South) knocks this team down a few notches.  The Simi Predators play in the 12U Bronco division (Pony League) and have not played a tournament since March. Predators have a history of showing up for the big events and doing well. Team has improved their record to 33-9-2 while playing up against 12U competition in 4 of their 9 tournaments (winning the last one). Four of their five 11U tournaments rank as some of the hardest. They are one of a handful of teams to have played in three SNITs and another National event (Super Series Winter). They qualified for the Elite World Series with a second place finish at the Presidents Day Super NIT.  This is after winning the Super Series Winter Nationals (as Inside Pitch Elite). Former USSSA National Champion is expected to do well at Disney.

14. (18) West Chester Baseball Club (OH) – This Cincinnati team has 40 wins in forty three games and one of those loses was to the ECB Astros (2-1 record in B.I.T.S. tournament before rains came). They also will make it to Disney after winning the Michigan SNIT.  They have wins over Honorable Mentioned Regional Redbirds (IN) and fifteenth ranked Macomb Mudhens (MI). Only recent loss was in a rain shorten game (3 innings) to the Diamond Hawks (OH) an Honorable Mentioned team.

15. (19) Macomb Mudhens (MI) – Finish the season with a 45-8 record.  Only lost to three teams in their age and all are ranked.  Second place finish at Michigan SNIT has the Mudhens returning to the Elite World Series

16. (10) Houston Angels (TX) –  Success outside of the Houston area continues as this team finished fourth in the Triple Crown Slump Buster week long tournament in Omaha while playing up against 12U competition.  2007 Elite 24 Runner-up qualified for the Elite World Series by winning the Carolina SNIT.

17. (25) – Central Florida Diamondbacks – 24-9-2 with 3-3 record against the Fire (#3) and 4-3 against Bullet Gold (HM).  Winner of the Florida Elite 12 11U Tournament with a championship win against the FL Fire.  The Fire and Diamondbacks have split their last four games (all squeakers).  CFD finished second at the FL SNIT. They have wins against Honorable Mentioned Bullets Gold and North Florida Hurricanes.  CFD will play in their backyard for the AAU World Series.

18. (15) Ft. Smith Outlaws (AR) – Arkansas State Champs (USSSA) after beating DQ Busters (HM) twice.  Team is led by MVP Players Ty Storey and Mark Clark Jr.  Word is that teams don’t run on the Outlaws catcher who will throw you out from his knees. The Outlaws had an impressive showing at the OK Super NIT where the beat the OK Jammers, Houston Lightning (#6) and Inside Sport KC Blues (#9) before falling to the Americans (#1).   

19. (21) SoCal Mavericks (CA) – Mavs record is 46-11-2. Team qualified for the 2008 Elite World Series by winning the 2007 West World Series. 

20.  Parity in Southern California – Each week a different team emerges as the champ.  The 20 spot in the rankings could go to anyone of these SoCal Teams:
Santa Clarita Redhawks is making the strongest push for this spot after winning the Triple Crown’s week long Slump Buster Tournament.  They dominated their opponents with 79 runs and only allowing 4.  They won the ‘ship against Houston Senators (TBS HM).
Other Teams to consider - Chino Hill Storm and San Diego Stars have been ranked most of the year, Tides Baseball Club and South Gate Democrats have received HM status, while Walnut Rebels (State Champs – South CA), SoCal Thunder, and Tomateros have shown they can win the big tournaments too.

21. (HM) Home Plate Chili Dogs (GA) – Reference last week’s Featured Team article (TBS 11U Home Page) for more information about this team that is making a name for itself (in more ways than one).

22. (23) Palmetto Flames (SC) – Won the Beast in the East Tournament by run ruling NC State Champs and TBS Honorable Mentioned, Charlotte Megastars.  They have compiled an impressive 61-17 record with a 1-3 performance against 12 AAA competition. The boys from South Carolina will take their show on the road to participate in the Elite 24.

23. (24) Alabama Naturals (AL) – Winning just comes naturally for the boys down south.   They added wins to bring their total to 60-13 (10 ‘Ships including the state title) and a championship win in the Alabama Super NIT. Team went 2-4 in last tournament while challenging the boys in a 12U tournament (six loses to 12U teams in total).  They too will travel south in July for the stiff competition at Disney.

24. (25) - Mississippi Royals (MS) – Royals are top seed after Pool Play at the NABF World Series at Snowden Grove Park where they hope to repeat as champs. Won State title last week but suffered a loss along the way.  The Royals have a 41-12 USSSA record, a third place finish at the AL SNIT and a 6-3 record against 12U teams. Last year’s Super Series National Champs finally had some big wins at the Tournament of Champions by outscoring North Florida Hurricanes, ECB Titans, and VA Storm. They lost to the eventual champs, ECB Astros, in a close one (7-6) and Runner-up, TABU.  Look for this team to repeat as Super Series champs.

25. (NR) - Mill Creek Hawks (GA) – This team has come a long way since winning last year’s 10U USSSA Triple A title.  Their overall record of 41-18 (third of loses to 12U teams) has improved with recent wins in the past month against ECB Astros (#7), Chiefs Baseball (#5), and earlier wins against Alabama Naturals (#24), Charlotte Mega Stars (HM), Southside Gray Sox (HM), and tied Home Plate (GA).  They also won the Triple Crown GA State title.  Hawks will travel to Disney for the AAU Nationals.

Honorable Mention: Beaumont Gladiators (TX), Houston Senators (TX), Region Redbirds (IN), New Orleans Monarchs (LA). Florida Hurricanes (FL), Vipers Baseball Academy (AL), Ohio Diamond Hawks (OH), Charlotte Megastars (NC), Southside Gray Sox (GA), DQ Busters (AR), Shoetiques Baseball (TN), Mac-N-Seitz Indians (KS), SGV Cobras (CA), Arizona Desert Blaze (AZ), Gauchos Baseball Club (AZ), Greensboro Tar Heels (NC), Cincy Flames (OH), St Pete Hurricanes (FL), Miami Enforcers (FL), Bullets Gold (FL), Knoxville Stars (TN), Oklahoma Jammers (OK), Columbus Sharks (OH), Voodoo Baseball (LA),Texas Crush (TX), Des Moines Oaks (IA)