SOFTBALL: Apaches gaining steam before playoffs

And of course the same is true in baseball - there isn't a prep league team that could beat any team in the other leagues. So if it can't be done in baseball - how is it possible that in girls softball a prep league team could be better than the teams in the other leagues.

Extrordinary school ... just not good softball

Please, lets not get back into the Poly thing again.

Poly is a great school.

If Poly (or any Prep League team for that matter) played the same competition as #1, #2, #4, #5, or #10, they wouldn't have anywhere near the same W-L%, thus, wouldn't be even close to a "top 10" ranking. Except for the very rare exception, there isn’t a Prep League team that would even have a close game with #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, or #10. But bravo to the Pasadena Star News for giving notice to the broad spectrum of schools in the area.

For you Poly supporters, please don't barrage us again with the dissertation on how hard your kids study and the youth of your team. There isn’t a person in the area that doesn’t recognize the academic quality of your school and youth isn’t the factor here. However, the reality is the level of softball play in the Prep League isn't even close to some of the other area leagues.

I'd give the "Prep League Coach of the Year" to the Poly Coach, however, for "All Area Coach of the Year" it is very difficult to consider a Prep League Coach because the level of competition is so significantly different than the more competitve leagues in the area.

Bob Ellingsworth is the man!

Mayfield isn't in the top 10 - Poly is at number 9

No one has been a bigger differennce make than Poly's Jeff Taylor.

How can the Mayfield Coach get more votes than the Poly Coach Jeff Taylor. Poly lost almost their entire team from last year - has 8 freshman, a freshman pitcher and one junior and they are a half a game out of first place with a real shot to win the league.

Again, "Coach of the Year" is not necessarily for the coach with the best W-L%. It is for the coach of a successful team who is the biggest difference maker ... i.e., done the most given the talent. This by no means minimizes the coach of the team with the best W-L%. The Monrovia team and coach have done a tremendous job this season, however, TC's Bob Ellingsworth has been the greatest difference maker to his team for all the reasons articulated earlier in this blog.

you mean what i know

Try to "preview" what you write before you post.

We have the number 1 team in the CIF and we want to give coach of the coach to a middle of the road - performing just above 500 team in the RHL. Amazing.

They would have a tough time this year, but in the past Poly has been a top team with plenty of talent and could compete with anybody in D5. They seem to be rebuilding this year and will be fine in the next couple of years.

Do any of the Prep League teams (Poly, Mayfield or Westridge) have a shot to go all the way in the playoff or is like the Boys Division where the league has been push up a couple of levels to schools that are 5X the prep league size?

The "rest" of the SP team is not underperforming, the majority of the "rest" of the team are learning and growing, and the couple older kids are in key positions and doing a great job holding down the fort while the others are picking up their pace, which they are. They have a strong record, especially in the second half of the season, and they have put themselves in a position where they have an equal chance to be 2nd in the RHL. I don't think anyone was expecting them to be more than that, considering Monrovia's talent situation and their #1 CIF ranking. You need to wait until the end of the season before you make these claims. SP and TC are in the middle of a dogfight for 2nd place and are both headed toward CIF.

It's a lot easier to coach when you have one good pitcher..let alone 2 qualty pitchers ? Is Medina a good coach or lucky to have a bunch of seasoned seniors including 2 stud pitchers...

Perhaps next year will tell a lot. Freshman Brooke Cowell does look like another good all around player coming up though!

SP coach seems to be riding their good pitcher too. Rest of that team is underperforming...

Looks like TC coach is doing more with a lot less talent? I'd give him Coach of the year.

Fred,

You may want to extract the rest of the comments that surrounded the "idiot's" postings and only applied to them.

Sorry for the recent comments that got through. Even with blog controls, there will always be idiots who get around it...Don't engage the idiots, just ignore them and let me know about it at fred.robledo@sgvn.com. and I'll take care of it.

The game was not rescheduled and is permanently cancelled. bummer.

when has the Alverno - South Pas games been rescheduled to?

So does this mean you guys can't agree on a coach of the year?

Most high school coaches and college coaches are men - so much for that theory moron - now go back to taking the legs off of bugs.

It is my fervent hope that you do not have daughters who might be influenced by your bigotted and prejudical mind-set. Your comments are not only offensive to women, but show the depth of your ignorance and I'm so very thankful that my daughters have been raised by a man much more intelligent and broad-minded.

Ignor "who cares" and "anon 8:29" - they are just a bed wetters who will live with their moms until they espire - then out on the street.

I think you meant to say "you're dumb." Before you make insults, spell it right. Now go watch Ellen.

Your dumb

I guess you jumped the gun about Bob with that last comment, Anon 9:46pm.

Maxpreps was wrong Temple City beat San Marino 9-2.

On Maxpreps it says San Marino won 9-2.

Ah Anon 7:34 your Coach of the year just lost to 1 - 6 San Marino. Let's cut the nonsense about Bob Ellingsworth being Coach of the year with a .500 record. There are alot of .500 Coaches who are just as deserving.

ANyone who doesn't think Randy should not get coach doesn't know softball. There is no way Bob should get it over Randy. If you want to open it up th the subjective more with puffery a lot of coaches could be up for it and a lot than have done more with less than Bob. Just because you write it doesnt make it so.

LC Faithful doesn't understand that W-L record doesn't necessarily determine Coach of the Year. Otherwise, Arcadia’s Andersen, or Alverno’s Russo would be automatics. Although the Arcadia and Alverno Head Coaches are solid, both teams have very good Pitchers, and Arcadia has played less of a challenging schedule (as compared to Monrovia, SP, and TC), and Alverno has played a significantly weaker schedule. Bob Ellingsworth has done "more" with "less" and I think what was written about Bob Ellingsworth late last night (11:41 PM) and early this morning (6:34 AM) presented a pretty compelling argument in his favor. Nevertheless, Bob Ellingsworth, Mike Williams, and Randy Medina are all great coaches and all three deserve a lot of credit for this season.

My guess is that any one of the 3 of these 3 coaches could care less and would defer to give their players all of the credit. The Head Coaches who typically care about such an award don’t typically offer Coach of the Year performances.

Everybody who thinks Randy should get coach of the year is nuts.

Randy has done a good job. But give credit to the players,if you take Katie,Krissy and Sam and put them on any other team in the RHL. That team would be league champs and that coach would be considered coach of the year.

tgrfan,
I just think that SP is a better team than their record - hence they underperformed - i look at their players and think they have a very talented team regardless of the youth - hence they underperformed. I also think they have have an excellent coach. I don't know what else to call it - unlucky maybe. I feel the same why about SF on the boys side. I think that not giving the coach of the year award to anyone other than Randy is a mistake - he has worked hard to get it. I think SP should do well in the playoffs and be even better next year.

Don't worry, Medina is likely to get it and he deserves it. But, he does have the best group of senior players and that has been clear in the RHL over four years. It is also nice to recognize the coaches who had to struggle a bit to be successful. It is not "puffy... begging". Believe me both TC and SP teams have gotten better as the season has progressed and they have both been successful. Look at the amount of w's in the second half of the season for both teams. These teams, like Monrovia, are well coached teams.

By the way, when you say SP under performed all year, do you not realize that they lost six seniors from last year and have only 4 starters returning. We are very proud. We will live with one bad game a year, it just so happened to be against LC. Even though LC played well it was a difficult hurdle for the kids to overcome, but they did. All other losses were hard fought battles against very good teams.

SP is not .500, they are 11-9 and 4-4 in league after winning 8 of there last 12 and in a veritable tie for second with TC and are hoping to finish just as strongly.(If both teams win out, their final head to head game will decide 2nd place.)

We sincerely hope the best for LC's softball program for the rest of the year as well as years to come. The stronger the RHL the better for all teams in it.

I have to agree with LC Faithful. Randy Medina deserves Coach of the year. And my kids don't go to Monrovia.

Guys please:
Monrovia is 18-2 and 9-0 in league
Temple City is 12-9 and 5-3 in league
And SP has been at .500 all year - They have under performed all year and was shut out by LC - I happen to like the SP coach and think his team will be at the top next year.
But the coach of the year is clearly Randy Medina - a great coach and a good guy who live softball -quit the long winded nonsensical, begging and puffy blogs on other coaches - scoreboard.
By the way I would be happy with any of them as a coach.

Another indicator of a great coach is the team that makes noticable positive adjustments and improvements over the coarse of the season. Some of these teams have few to no noted superstars at the start of the season, however, some very good players emerge as the season progresses on these teams. The players on these well coached teams look prepared and confident on the field.

On the contrary, the teams with bad coaches seemingly appear to start strong but they make few to no adjustments over the coarse of the seasson and they appear to fall apart. Many of these teams even have some very talented players. Many of the players on these poorly coached teams look unprepared and lost on the field.

TC coached by Bob Ellingsworth and SP coached by Mike Williams are the most evident examples of teams that have improved as the season has progressed. Mike Williams is also worthy of coach of the year honors, however, Bob Ellingsworth would still get my area coach of the year vote as I indicated last night.

TC doesn't depend on any couple of players to win, they all support each other through the entire line-up. That is an example of good coaching. Monrovia is similar in this regard, however, they start from a high place player-for-player than TC, but it takes a talented coach to hold all of that talent together. SP has the huge benefit of a great battery but the rest of the team has become much more of a supporting cast to that battery during the coarse of the season. Another example of very good coaching.

Just to round it out, Coach Mike Williams from South Pas is a similar type of coach who has a great relationship with all of his players from top to bottom and treats them all with respect. He has done an excellent job with the program since he took it over last year. And even though there has been a lot said about SP here, he has helped a lot of young players get a good start this year as well as maintain the spirits of the older ones. He is a good person as well as a coach.

These points about Bob, Randy, and Mike are probably good reasons why the RHL is such a strong league these days. I hope he is at least considered when the honor comes up.

Someone is off their meds.

I agree on Bob Ellingsworth as area coach of the year. Although for slightly different reasons. He is a coach who has truly made a positive difference for his team this year. Their strength is primarily their fielding defense. At times they have been challenged offensively, although their bats have come alive in spirts and those spirts typically come at the right time (a credit to the TC kids). Relatively speaking their pitching is not anywhere near as good as their better competition, and Bob masterfully manages around his team's pitching challenges and they have put together a very good season. Bob Eliingsworth's year round commitment to his players, and his ability to get the most out of his kids has been the difference. He is always confident, but never arrogant. His team is always prepared to take on whatever competition. Also, he skillfully identifies the weaknesses in his oppontents and he and his players attack those weeknesses during games. One other observation about Bob, although he has been around this game for many years, he never views himself as the ultimate authority on softball ... he is always trying to learn new ways about how to better coach his kids. His ego never gets in the way and he lives his philosophy that it is always about the kids. Unlike many of his less successful contemporaries who say that as a punch line, however, they don't show it. Those same unsuccessful contemporaries love the title, "head coach" but they offer virtually nothing to their kids and teach them nothing about how to maximize their talent.

As for the Monrovia coach, your negative comments are grossly unfair. I don't know him personally, however, I have had the opportunity to observe his team play this season several times. Yes, they are a very talented team, by far the most talented team in the RHL, but my observation is that he is an excellent coach. He is certainly very worthy of coach of the year honors, it is just my personal opinion that Ellingsworth is slightly more deserving.

The old addage, very good coaching typically goes un-noticed and bad coaching is always far more obvious ... moreover, it is very unfortunate that in area high school softball bad coaching is more the norm and that bad coaching can make a good team look bad. It is certainly easier to assess coaching from the stands, but some of the poor coaching stands out like a sore thumb. There are several of these glaring examples this season in particular. These are typically the coachs who walk on to the field in Feb. and they walk off of the field in May. The truly successful programs have coaches that promote their softball programs year round.

All that being said, high school coaching is really a labor of love ... it certainly isn't for the money. It is very challenging to successfully coach teenage girls, and managing parental issues is even more challenging. It is horrible for anyone to begrudge the coaches who have put together this as a successful season. For those teams who have fallen short this season, take note of coaches like Ellingsworth and learn from what he has done this season. Also, Randy Medina for taking a talented team and guiding them to maximize their talent.

PS, I am not a TC, Monrovia, or RHL parent.

Coach of the year should be Randy Medina - no one else is close - he is very positive with all the girls and opposing teams. He is the most impressive coach this year we have played against. His level headed attitude and encouraging nature is one of the primary reason Monrovia is so strong. It is great when you come up against a team and a coach that doesn't have a huge chip on their shoulder and his teams play better as a result. Plus he had a great year last year.

I think that the coach who should get coach of the year for softball is Bob Ellingsworth. He roots for his girls and never gets down on them like some of the coaches i have seen. Randy Medina is only good because he has a bunch of girls who can win to make him look like a good coach. Personally from what i have heard Randy does not support his players and has only a select few who he worships and that is only because there dad coaches for him.

Can you imagine what anon 3:44 looks like - want to bet he is a fat, short, with greasy hair and two a----s. Who everyone in HS made fun of and regularly gave him a swirly. His IQ is 65 and can't get a job. What a man to make fun of a teenage girls - now go back to your room in the basement before we tell your mom - she might not make supper for her little big man and don't be afraid and wet the bed tonight the only monster in the room is you.

softball is a team sport one all area pitcher only.

Daynuh,
Agree!

You have five pitchers in your list.

Annonymous at 3:44--

That was completely uncalled for.

softballfan-the most obvious answer to your question was so they could make room for their own daughter.

How many burgers can Grimes crush in one sitting? just curious.

If this is your all area team. How can you exclued both Shelby Gibbs and Katie Mcwhirter.Probably the two best all around players in the valley.

Poly is a GOOD team THIS year - they just are not a GREAT team THIS year. Previous post was witten by the Dad/Little League/ assistant coach on the travel team who lives vicariously through his daughter and is in deep trouble when she goes to college. It makes him feel like a big man - which he has never been on his own -when he puts down Prep League girls when the real difference is not that great - but it makes him feel like a big shot to do so. You know that guy. You know the guy that can't shut up about how good good his daughter while putting down 14 year olds playing against 17 - 18 year olds and really relishes it when the 17-18 year old team beats the team where the average rounds down to 14. You know the dad on the blog at 2:54 in the afternoon making excuses for his daughter's team losses by blaming the younger players on the team or they play really hard non conference teams in OC and putting down the smaller schools in the area that have one tenth the student body. You know the dad who is a complete and utter bore in the stands - he is that guy.

"thank you" for straight forward response to Olympic League comment.

The rest of this no-show nonsense reeks of an excuse by a Dad/fan. You know the one..the proverbial guy pacing both side of the stands with comments as to how good his kid is and that her below average stats are not a good indicator of how good she really is... "wait till next year, they're young" Poly is not a good team THIS YEAR. . . They do OK bouncing around the weak Prep league but whenever they stick their heads out....WATCH OUT!

Let's get back to the present and reevaluate with unbiased opinions if possible?

Jenna Rodriguez MVP
Krissy Mihm
Sam Rogers
Brittany Bateson
M Escamilla
N.Parada
Marnie Hillier
Amy Leos
Katie tripoli
Tiffany Rubin
Alex Chavez

Pasprep,

I guess you don't like honest responses, I'll take the shut out as a compliment.

I guess you don't like honest responses, I'll take the shut out as a compliment.

Daynuh,

It is a different level, but it is a similar situation. (And this not about Poly anymore, we seem to have resolved that.) The reason it doesn't happen in college is the same reason it should be avoided in High School. It is not fair to put one schools academic needs over another schools academic needs, even if it is more difficult. When you agree on a schedule, that is essentially a contract that both teams are going to show up on that day and compete. Imagine if this were a regular occurance and teams regularly showed up at scheduled sporting events to find out that the other team had a test the next day so they were going to forfeit. Could you imagine the wasted time and effort that would take place if it were common. Fortunately it is not, because high school sports or any team activity would be a mess.

chkyrslf ....I hope you get the help you need soon,

Pasprep,

That was YOUR silly site which promotes that kind of discourse, it has from the start. That was a ridiculous question for you to ask and it needed to be shut down. Plus the word "idiot" was only used because you called yourself "ignorant" and you even accepted the term "idiot" because you said you were one. For that matter, the whole Red Sox World Championship team called themselves idiots and it didn't seem to bother them. Listen, if you throw up such ridiculous and insulting topics on your site you are asking for that kind of response. That wasn't a frustrated response, that was a pointed and truthful response, which I was under the impression was what you were looking for with that kind of ridiculous question.

I don't think that anyone should be using universities like Stanford, Harvard, etc for comparison in this situation. University Athletics is a totally different realm, and I'd have to think some of you know this. If an exam is scheduled during an NCAA game, then of course they're not going to miss the game, they're going to take the test privately with a tutor at a later (or earlier) time. This is how exams are taken during any road trip. High School obviously does not have this option, so the comparison is useless.

chkyrslf ...I think you should follow your own advice that people "shouldn't get so frustrated so quickly about discussions."
You called me an idiot exactly ten times in response to a "discussion" on my site yesterday.

Olympic League Fan,

I do not think that those teams are covered by this paper as locals. They are great teams and would be near the top of our polls but I don't think they apply at this forum.

Whoever made the first comment said the players forfieted by choice. The circumstances you translate are different. I think the person who was saying it originally is trying to ride both sides of the fence, saying that Poly should be seen in the same athletic light as other schools, but also trying to say that Poly is so academically challenged that they should be held up to different standards than everyone else. I don't think that is the opinion of most Poly supporters but that person's point of view and limited info started the whole thing. He kept trying to justify a forfeit and under the circumstances originally described and it was unjustifiable.

I keep looking back for nutty remarks and don't see any. People shouldn't get so frustrated so quickly about discussions, that's what this is for.

I knew Poly and all the teams in the SGV had too much class simply not to show up for a game.

Anon 10:14,
Should have written that sooner - would have saved alot of blogging. Re my previous post never mind.

Freshmen are taking Physis?

Poly thought they were going to have enough players - many of the freshman had the Physis test - but some didn't - Poly showed up with 8 playersat the field on time ready to play and were willing to play as was the other team. the ref's wouldn't let them - he would rather take his pay day without working. So get off Poly's back. You are free to make some nutty remark here if you have never made a mistake otherwise don't post a response.

going to a softball game is in Duarte id more than a 1:45 commitment - let's say 30 mins to warm up - 45 mins there and back with changing and so forth - almost a 4 hour commitment. I think the girls made the right choice and id I was a parent of one of them I wouls be. The admin off Poly whould have alerted the team in advance - it they didn't.

Why do most continue to overlook the OLYMPIC LEAGUE? There was a posting last week and only one weak response...Come Playoff time all you RHL and PREP leaguers will know who they are.

They currently have two teams in D5 top 10

They knocked off Monrovia last year?

2006 CIF RUNNER-UP (Cerritos Valley Christian)

2005 CIF Champs ( Whittier Christian now in Olympic)

2003 CIF Champs ( Village Christian)

Another question....It will be interesting to see where monrovia's at next year as they lose 5 quality seniors including both pitchers? Is it the league that is strong or the teams that have the most experienced players? Looks like we get back to an earlier question about a numbers game... How many new girls will they have to choose from? Lets flip them up to D3 or D4 and see how they'd fare...

Lastly why waste time debating HOW BAD POLY IS? Didn't they follow all of this up by losing to Mayfield yesterday? The same Mayfield that got mercied by Maranantha a week or so ago?

I have no personal stake in this situation, I am just reacting to the information that is being put out there with what feels like logic to me. It seems to me that I made a mistake early in the thread questioning Poly's status in the ranking, along with others.
You brought up the forfiet and started the whole new discussion. Now I ask a question, and I have to leave the blog?
Believe me I have no ties at any of the schools discussed in this matter, look back at my entries on this thread, I am not being offensive, just persistant.

Sounds like someone doesn't want to answer the question.

Just because I think you are wrong doesn't mean you are. This is a forum for debate and the forfeit that you brought clearly is debatable. I don't think I am alone on this matter.

chkyrslf:

I'm sure the kids don't care nearly as much as you seem to. Why don't you "Check yourself" off the blog for a few days. I think its taken over your life.

Question for parent,

What are you feelings for the other team that didn't get to play that game?

Kids come up with all kinds of ideas, good and bad, it is the parents and the powers that be to keep them in check.

Hold On! I am not talking about the girls. I am talking to about the parent who came on to the blog boasting about this practice and represented as something that was good. My criticism is pointed at the AD, Coaches, and Parents for allowing it to happen.

it's not the girls who are wrong, it's the adults who are responsible for parenting, teaching and coaching them that are wrong

Okay tough guys. Let's stop beating up on 14 and 15 year old girls.

Games last about 1hr 45 minutes and, by the way, they allow books on buses, dugouts, cars, starbucks,... I think it is important to find a way.

At minimum, if a game in a tournament is going to be forfeited, the tournament director should be notified ahead of time and given a chance to reschedule a substitute for the bailing team. If the team doesn't doesn't have that forsight, they should then honor their commitment and find a way with their high level intelligence to get the work done without reneging on a commitment. There is nothing more depressing for an athlete than getting ready for a game and finding out the other team forfieted.

Some kids work very hard in pratice and value every game they play and balance it well with their studies.(To the point of getting straight A's and being acccepted to great colleges.) That is what I meant by a "hard earned" schedule. You are limited in the games you can schedule in CIF so it is important to make them count.

I do understand and I do care, but I care about both teams. I am very surprised a coach, AD, or parent who sees the whole picture would let that happen.

Caring about your grades and your future is not selfish and arrogant, however, not living up to prior commitments (especially when that non-living up effects others) is selfish and arrogant.

Again, if caring about your grades and your future is selfish and arrogant, then these young ladies are guilty as charged.

Faulty logic at its finest.....A meaningless softball tournament should take priority over school and exams? WOW........

Sorry, can't comment on what other schools do. I don't know enough about them. Perhaps you should heed the same advice. Your intolerance and lack of knowledge regarding the academic culture at the school is quite obvious.

Please read the comment regarding perspective at the end of Solomon's last blog.

The academics are certainly "priority one", however, Poly is not the only school who has players that recognize this priority. Also, it is certainly ridiculous to suggest that a school schedule exams around a softball tournament. However, I don't think that was what was being suggested. The Poly no-show at the Duarte Tournament was just plain rude and inconsiderate of the other teams. It isn't about making a priority choice of academics over athletics ... it was just plain selfish arrogance to not follow through on a commitment. You can certainly equivocate and chalk this up to smart kids prioritizing their academics but that wasn't what that situation was about. Again, Poly isn't the only school who has kids that understand the priority of academics, however, they were the only team to not follow through on their previous commitment.

The reason this blog is so over the top is that fathers are very protective of their daughters. It is a double standard in action. Most of the goof ball and over the top comments and my kids are better than you and our school is better than yours is by the fathers. Whereas on the boys blog, those dumb comments are made by the students or recent graduates. I think most of the people on this blog have lost all perspective - it is really just a game and I wish my daughter went to a school where a physis test was more important than a meaningless tournament game. If I could afford it and she could get in I would send her to that school in a second. Congratualtion Poly Girls on having more perspective at 14 than most of the grown ups on this blog.

Who has had the best girls softball player in the last 5 years?

chkyrslf,
Why are you so bitter - did your or your daughter not get accepted to a prep league school?

chkyrslf,

If her brother can pass the entrance exam, I am sure Poly would welcome him.

I kind of figured you would not understand or care for that matter.

The decision was not made by the administration or the coaches. It was made by teenage girls whose education is very important to them. So smack them around if it makes you feel good.

Additionally, I don't know of any high school that schedules their exams around a softball tournament.

By the way....What is a hard earned schedule?, and how does one equate hard earned grades for a hard earned schedule.

If wanting to earn good grades and striving to be successful is self centered, then they are guilty as charged.

Lastly, I agree neither Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Princeton, or Brown has cancelled a game on the count of an exam; however, once one set foot in these fine institutions they are already in the show. Not preparing for it.

La Salle has played some great teams in the new Del Rey League they are in...most of the teams in this league are tough and could easily play with any team in the RHL (yes, even monrovia)

What if her brother can throw a 90 MPH fastball? Maybe then, huh?

I am not a La Salle fan, I was taking up the earier comment that I agreed with; that Poly has played few good teams and beat none but is still ranked, thats it.

By the way scheduling a tournament and cancelling it, I don't care what for, is not something to proud of. That takes away from another teams schedule and high school scheduling is not easy. Its sounds to me like Poly should have planned their schedule so that they didn't have to trade their team's grades for another group of kids hard earned schedule. Very self centered. Whoever the Poly team bailed on probably didn't even want to play them. They probably just wanted to play somebody.

I just checked, Stanford has not cancelled any games this year for a test. They apparently respect commitments to other organiztions and aren't worried only about their own needs.

Take the ranking sniveling up with Robledo and staff.

Regarding the rest of your posting:

I hate to disagree with you; however, the girls at Poly, as competitive as they are, are really not concerned with the way their record "looks" to local softball afficionados. Remember, this is the same team that had to forfeit a game against Rosemead High School during the Duarte Tournament earlier this season because most of their girls "chose" to prepare for a Physics exam instead.

You are correct, Poly does pick from "the cream of the crop" however, they are not going to drop their academic standards because the gal can field a ground ball.

This current team is good, they are all very smart, they are just very young. They will only get better.

Anonymous,

That is the exact reason why Poly shouldn't be ranked in the same catagory as LaSalle and other schools. LaSalle has to play those teams(Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery,...) this year while in D4. Several teams in the area were "chomping at the bit" to play higher division teams and had mixed results, but the purpose was to GET better not LOOK better. Big difference.

Those teams that keep challenging themselves are the ones I respect and the ones that are going to be able to sustain over time.

Enough with the small enrollment stuff, Poly and other schools get to pick from the cream of the crop with the most amount of rescources(money) and that more than makes up for the numbers difference. It has in the past it will in the future it just isn't right now. Smart kids are just as good at softball as dumb kids, probably better. Look at Stanford.

last response was for pas prep

Maybe so, an athletic director/coach may use that as his show of success to a booster club in an effort to maintain a status quo at a school. This level of play may not be acceptable, but when the dust settles a program that is really struggling could be made to look after the fact that they are successful. At least that person has something to hang their hat on.

Whereas a kid who doesn't know what a farce the ratings are, can get a glimpse of their rankings and it seems really official. If this is a kid that is on a team that is working their butts off and playing great competition, but not posting a great record and they see a team that they know they outplayed dramatically ranked with a trumped up record, is that right? I don't think so.

It must not be about trying to get it right though.

chkyrslf,

The CIF places schools in certain divisions and leagues for a reason. The most common denominator pertaining to school enrollment. Why would the Athletic Director of a school (Poly) with 400 students (of which only 200 are eligible to play girls softball) schedule games against schools with 1,500 students (Bishop Amat) or 1,200 students (Bishop Montgomery)?

Especially when they are attempting to rebuild their softball program.

Probably the same reason none of the local private schools in the Pasadena area are "chomping at the bit" to schedule Long Beach Poly in football.

Be real.....

chkyrslf ...when the season is over and championships decided, does anyone really care who was ranked where in a Star News Poll?

One may say, "what are ratings? They don't really mean anything." This may be true, but ratings are the things that sit at the top of this page and are the general motivator for our dialogue.

Being an optimist I would hope that teams are looked at equally and given the proper amount of attention to approach the rankings from a well informed point of view. I just don't think that the people involved in the rankings have the time or the man-power to cover the teams properly. This creates an atmosphere where people are judged mostly on w's and l's rather than quality of opponents. And some teams take this into consideration when doing their scheduling and they avoid quality teams altogether because it makes them look better as AD's and coaches.

Then some teams schedule tougher non-league games in order to get better and those are the teams that should be rewarded.

That is incredibly rude, please go look at yourself in the mirror.

You guys are right. I don't get it!

pasadenapreps.com,

I don't think you do understand what annonymous/chkyrslf were saying. Your example of the 2005 Flintridge Prep. team is not an indication or example of Prep League competitiveness. Not to mention, that's history, and is not good way to describe the current status. Reality and the fact is the occassional times a Prep League team plays a Rio Hondo, Pacific, or Mission League team, they not only are typically beat, but they are also beat very, very badly.

LaSalle is somewhat an example of this competitiveness point. This season CIF jumped them up a couple of levels, and they've certainly found it more competitive this season. Most feel that their team last season could have better competed with this jump, however, the team this year is a very different team (much less experienced) than last season LaSalle team, and is finding their new competitve level very challenging. I would also suggest that this new competitive level for LaSalle still isn't as competitive as the Pacific, Mission, and Rio Hondo Leagues. To put a Prep League team (as well as #6, #7, and #8) on the same top ten list as the other teams makes the rankings a farce.

But then again, I think the big purpose of these ranking is to give news notice to less competitive teams too.

Thanks for the better picture!

In most leagues the 1st and 2nd place team have a guaranteed spot in CIF. The third team has an "At Large Bid" and enters CIF as a third seed. These "At Large Bids" are decided by current record, quality of opponents, and past performance of the league. There are only so many of these bids available, so when two teams are in question for one spot they will sometimes have a playoff to see who gets the spot. Usually the bid is just awarded to a team, though.

In the tournament, a #1 seed will either play a #3 team or a #2 team, and the rest of the #2 teams play each other and the bracket thins out from there.

Chkyrslf….I see your point and it gives me an idea for a new discussion on our site. Check us later today and contribute to the banter.

I get it, but the whole "dominant pitcher" thing is an overrated concept especially when it comes to giving value to the game as a whole.

There is a reason why so many people get on the blog about it. It is an exciting game, especially when it is being played at a high level.

If you would have gone to see either the Monrovia vs TC game or the Monrovia vs SP game this week you would have seen how good the game can be with a combination of great pitching, fielding, and hitting. Low scoring games that came down to the wire.

I know I may be thinking too far ahead, but I would like someone who knows a little about playoff seedings to explain this to me...if a team finishes in 2nd place in their league, they automatically get a berth in CIF, right? If a team finishes third, are they considered a wild card team, or do they also get a place in the first round competition? Do teams that finish 2nd in their league play other 2nd place teams? Do third place teams play teams who finished first in another league?

chkyrslf ....nothing against softball it's just not my favorite. And I really don't expect anyone to care that it isn't. I still follow it but don't get to many games because my daughter plays two other varsity sports and by this time of year I've had enough of lousy coaches, unqualified refs and complaining parents to last me until it all starts over again in the fall.

pasprep, that last response was from me

pasprep,

With all respect, I don't really think anybody in the whole world cares if YOU like softball. It has established itself around the country as being an exciting game to watch. It attracts large crowds and get excellent (relative) ratings on ESPNU. They have doubled their coverage of college games this year.

Dominant pitchers are few and far between, but when they come along they are enjoyable to watch and shoot teams to the top,that is what makes them stars of the game. True fans in baseball and softball appreciate a defensive battle. High scoring games which are common in all levels of softball are fun as well. The misnomer is that a dominant pitcher takes away from a game, that is ridiculous. Nobody wins a game 0-0 and because in softball with the short distance between bases, no plays are routine. It requires a different type of skill. When a game is low scoring and two dominant pitchers are involved, errors become magnified and the drama truly builds at the end of the game.

Stop judging it and jump on board.

Poly is indeed a very young team and will definitely be exciting to watch in the next few years. Aside from their game against La Salle, Poly has played well Their youth is indicative in their play in the later innings. Their ability to finish will come with experience and maturity. (Yes, when you don't have the luxury of a multitude of travel ball players; experience and maturity play a factor.)

A few snapshots:

Tied with Maranatha 6-6 after 5 1/2 innings.

Tied with South Pasadena 5-5 going into the 5th inning.

Tied 1-1 with Paraclete (#3 team in the Division) going into the 5th inning.

They will continue to improve. Stay tuned.

Fred,

You really could have come up with a better picture to headline the story. I mean you can't even see the kids. The fence looks nice, though.

chkyrslf ....I think this whole discussion points out what I personally like least about softball...get a dominant pitcher and you're a contender.

SP and TC are both very good teams, and it's between them for CIF and RHL 2nd place. Monrovia solidified themselves as a great team and as the the RHL champ in the past week with their victories over both TC and SP.

SP was the focus of a lot of negativism on this blog from others early in the season ... especially from LC. Some of which was extremely mean-spirited and inappropriate. But when LC started in amongst themselves, that was truly deplorable and that's what silenced many on this blog, not just SP.

Ask the Monrovia and TC coaches if they think SP is a good team? The battle between these three teams has been highly competetive and fun to watch. SP is right ther battling and has nothing to be quiet about or hang their heads about and is a lock for CIF in either 2nd or 3rd in RHL. It all depends on the last game between SP and TC.

SP players, coaches, and fans have a lot of respect for all of the teams they have played this year.

Pas prep,

I said Maranantha but I meant Mayfield, yes Mayfield is leading the Prep league.

I am no huge LaSalle fan but to compare any prep league softball team with any of the other surrounding laegues is a mistake this year. Maybe they will be better next year, Im not sure, but it is near comedy to compare them with the rest of the teams in the "top 10."

And I looked at La Salles league games of which they are 0-4 and they are against teams that Poly wouldn't even dream of scheduling right now, Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery,... and if those game were against Prep League level teams their record would be 11-8 not 7-12. They are playing a MUCH higher level of competition in league than all of the Prep League teams.

And, until you get that pitcher or whatever necessary threat back (and La Salle's pitching is in nowhere near the shape that Poly's is in) you cannot claim competetiveness. Poly didn't just lose to La Salle, they got beat 18-6.

I am not sure who you are, but SP lost to Monrovia 3-2 yesterday and was leading 2-0 until the very last out of the game and will either be 2nd or 3rd in the toughest division in softball in this area the RHL.

What have SP fans done to you? Are you bitter about something?

The south pas parents are unusually quiet these days...there's still a chance you can make it to CIF...

Anonymous/chkyrslf….so let me see if I understand. If a Prep League school happens to have an outstanding pitcher that gets them to the finals it doesn’t mean anything because it’s a Prep League school? That’s the same as saying any time a team has a dominant player lead them to victory the success means nothing because it happened to be led by a great player. Using that logic, La Salle’s title last year was a fluke because it was fueled by the dominant pitching of Amanda Doeppel. Is that what you’re saying? What has happened to La Salle since she graduated in 2006? ... it ain't pretty!!!

In the rankings, #6, #7, #8, and #9 would lose to any of the Pacific, Mission, or Rio Hondo League teams 99 out of 100 times.

P.S., What has happened to Flintridge Sacred Heart ... especially with that pitcher???

I agree, the "senior" thing makes little to no difference. Unless of coarse you are in a relatively uncompetitive league with virtually no players that play a competitive level of softball outside of high school ... case in point, the Prep League. Poly wouldn't beat La Canada ... but why all the fuss about rankings anyway. Do the rankings really mean anything anyway?

As far as the Flintridge Prep in 2005. That is not a valid example to site as an indicator that the Prep League is competitve. In 2005 Flintridge Prep had an exceptionally elite pitcher (and a very good catcher too). They single handedly carried that team. What has happened to Frintridge Prep. since they graduated in 2005 ... it ain't pretty!!!

PS, Maranatha isn't in the Prep League, however, with respect to the current level of softball play with Maranatha, they are similar to the Prep League teams.

Chkyrslf…You make some very good observations about Poly. But I think you need to give the Prep League some slack or maybe just do some research before trashing an entire league. And Maranatha isn’t even in the Prep League much less leading it. And if you follow this link you will see that Flintridge Prep advanced to the D5 Finals in 2005 and lost 3-2 to Pomona Catholic. The Prep League is especially strong in girl’s sports; it competes at D3 in soccer and had the CIF Champion in Volleyball this season. Take a look at the divisions La Salle’s girls compete in and compare them to the CIF divisions of Prep League teams and you might be surprised at which is facing a higher level of competition.

In softball, whether a team has a high percentage of seniors seldom is an advantage. It all comes down to high level competitive experience. Anybody that knows anything will tell you an 18U-Gold player who is a 15 or 16 year old high school freshman or sophomore is way more valuable than any high school senior. Typically the only seniors that are difference-makers are the ones who were the most valued players on their high school team when they were freshman or sophomores.

There is no real comparison right now between La Salle and Poly. La Salle is a much better team. Their record reflects the difficulty of their schedule. Poly has beaten no one of any quality whatsoever and the ones they did, they lost in not so close games. That is the problem with the polls. They do not look at quality of opponents. Poly is clearly a darling of the paper. By the way, according to Maxpreps , Poly is not leading the Prep League, Maranantha is. And my goodness, what a group of terrible teams in that Prep League, take a look at it. If they do not win that league, they should never be ranked again.

Also you make it seem like Poly lost to FPrep a long time ago and they have since matured. That was three games ago. That is a quick maturation process.

PS:
I don't think La Salle should be ranked either.

poly is leading the prep league - poly has gotten better as the young players matured - they will redeem the lose to prep and would handle Marananth and La Salle now. BY the way by your twisted logic Pasadena should be ahead of Saint Francis in baseball. Just not your year La Salle and Maranantha and wont be for the next 4 - Poly has no seniors - 2 juniors and one sophmore and 8 freshman - and a great incoming freshman class - get use to it.

If we went just by head to head then Monrovia would be ahead of Poly in baseball. It seemed pretty simple to me. An 8-7 record is still better than 7-12 (La Salle), 6-11 (Maranatha) and 5-8 (Flintridge Prep).

Come on, Poly in the top ten? You got to be kidding... Didn't they lose to Prep last week? I think Maranantha even mercied them? LaSalle would kill them even in a down year...
They play in the weakest league around. Heck, They aren't even leading the prep league! Must have a lot of subscribers?

Come on, Poly in the top ten? You got to be kidding... Didn't they lose to Prep last week? I think Maranantha even mercied them? LaSalle would kill them even in a down year...
They play in the weakest league around. Heck, They aren't even leading the prep league! Must have a lot of subscribers?