To answer the last question, no, I had no involvement with the Pasadenapreps website.

I do not feel I said "nasty things" to softball fans other than "give this discussion a rest!!!!" It is the proverbial dead horse that has been beaten into the ground.

Goteamgo,

All you do is say nasty things to me and other softball fans. I am not sure what is so bad about the discussion. It was a disagreement, that both Scott and I discussed for too long becase we are both hardheaded and because he doesn't want to admit I am right (just kidding).

As if there is a certain type of parent whose kids play softball. Believe me we are all really bummed that you won't be coming by. Are you the same guy who started the pasadenapreps blog last year?

If this blog is any indication of the type of parents who show up to watch softball games I will make it a point never to attend a softball game. It makes the psycho Little League parents look sane.

If you are trying to build a fan base by telling others how wonderful softball is, it is not working.

I got a $20 that says the horse is not dead.

Can't you two play nice? Bottom line: Parada is a better pitcher than BOTH Ferri AND Ellingsworth. The comment that she would have had to scratch out a couple of wins in the Mission League is just WRONG. If Ferri benefited from having 2 other ALL area players why didn't they at least make the playoffs?

Ellingsworth should have been 1st team utility. Ferri was a second teamer at best with her win-loss record. She gave up 15 HITS to CV?. You are overrating the Mission League.

Still can't get my head around how you completely left off the Prep League player of the year: Amy V.?? Lets move on.

And a higher ERA as well as run support. Are you seriously trying to compare high school softball to MLB? I have never seen a MLB pitcher moved to first base because that is his best position. Apples and Oranges, please lose the comparison.

You do realize, I hope, that we should really flip over the dead horse if we are going to beat it some more.

I really do not want to talk about the individuals anymore, but could you start another thread before you go that asks who is playing Travel Ball and for what teams and how they are doing? And if there are any college commitments,because the recruiting is in full action.

And like I said, Major League pitchers are famous for working five innings and leaving it up to the setup man and closer. Temple City had the benefit of two pitchers, but Ellingsworth had the league's best record.

I am but you always leave me something to respond to so I will.

You speak with forked tongue. SP wasn't the only ones to lose to La Canada, they were a much improved team, but in the end when it counted SP got it done. TC also lost to La Canada. These are league rivalries.

My point about Ellingsworth was that they took her out in the middle of games because she became more valuable as a first baseman. That is what made her a utility player. So your response is glib.

And she also lost to La Canada, which you said was horrible. The fact is, Ellingsworth's record was better than Parada's and they pitched in the same league. Your part-time pitcher remark made sense. How many more wins would she have had if she pitched more. And I implied the RHL was weak this year. Not as a whole (kind of goes with the down year remarks). The RHL is the only league with all SGV teams, so its going to get more play. Keppel and Alhambra were the other solid public schools and Arcadia got better as the year progressed. I thought you were done ranting?

Scott,

You keep saying or implying that the RHL is a weak, down league but they were perennially at the top of your (Keith's) poll, (and he is the one who picked the All Area team.) The area is relatively weak compared to other places such as the formentioned Valecia, Hart,... But you don't seem to be aware that in the last five years and for the next couple of years the RHL is the league that is by far putting more players into D1 softball than any other league, and that is because of a greater commitment by certain kids. And Parada is a large part of that, even though she is going to a D2 team, they won the D2 National Championship last year.

I should also point out again that my complaint about your selections is very
specific: that Parada should have been the 1st team pitcher and Ellingsworth should have been the utility because that is what she was. I absolutely do not disagree with Ferri being there, but when you speak in terms of records being the reason why she wasn't there, I cannot help but bring up the Ferri issue. I was the one, early on, who fought for Ferri to get respect and I was called biased in that situation. You also don't at all respect the fact that TC and SP had the toughest non-league schedules out of any team in the area, easily.

Lets talk a little about the Mission League. Correct, historically a pretty good league, but not head and heels above RHL. One common game I can see is that SP beat Savanna 1-0 and Notre Dame was mercied by them 13-3. That doesn't mean everything but it does mean something.

chkyrslf: I never did a softball poll, that was Keith Lair. As far as Sacred Heart, they weren't a very good team this year. Ferri, however, was a very good pitcher. To be voted in that league as co-MVP, she did something right.

Scott,

That being said you realize the strength of Alverno's league, don't you? And the quality teams they LOST to? A loss is a loss, right?

Your logic is aschewed, Im sorry.

By the way your last poll of the year had TC first, Alverno second and SP third and Sacred Heart last in line. And the last poll last year had Arcadia first TC second and SP third and Sacred Heart not in the picture. How does that logic work with your current logicabout the RHL being a not so good league? Obviously the best in the area.

Personal? You do realize the Mission League is a very tough league? It's about the strength of the league, not a knock on her. RHL was down. And thanks chk.

Scott,

Goodbye and Good Luck in New Mexico.

chky

Wait,

you are talking about respect to me and say those things about Parada? Sounds personal me.

chk, since you note that there are different division (which I've covered just about every one of them) and they are still kids, maybe you can refrain, when I'm gone, on badmouthing every program other than South Pasadena. Read your post about La Canada and you'll know what I mean. I have never done that, you have. And maybe you should give Ellingsworth some respect before you advise me on respect. The Valencia reference merely pointed to the fact that there is a whole other level out there and I know the difference between them having covered all levels. And you don't think Ferri should be there at Parada's expense? Parada had nine losses this season. Ferri's record may have been worse, but she was the best pitcher in the Mission League (higher division). Put Parada in the Mission League and she'd have to scratch just to get a couple of wins. Ferri would dominate in the RHL. She kept a subpar team in games. How else would she get part of the MVP in that league? I'm sorry, although I like Parada a lot, nine losses is not a great year. And it's not like she rolled through the RHL.

Scott,

You obviously do not read a single word that I actually write. I imagine that you must start to read my posts and then drift off into anger and make up the rest in your mind.

I have stood up for many players on many teams and I will continue to do that. And I am a fan of the area players and I will continue to be that as well. Hopefully I have to do less standing up after you are gone.

I had finshed speaking my peace about this subject a while back and I will cut it off now.

But after hearing your reminiscing about your old Valencia days. I would like to say that it is a good thing for you that you are going to D1. Obviously the level of play in this area is not up to your standards, but next time you come around understand that different divisions have different levels of play but they are still kids competing and they deserve an equal amount of respect.

details details details

Anon: I don't recall your post, but let's face it. If you're talking about Ferri, put her in the RHL and she could've gone undefeated. Her record didn't matter, especially since she was named the co-MVP of a much tougher league. Parada and Ellingsworth were in the same league and Ellingsworth had a much better record. Nothing hypocritical about that one.

chkyrslf, every "big" RHL game I attended this season was riddled with errors. If that's not the recipe for a down year, I don't know what is. Maybe my problem was that I watch games with a critical eye after covering the likes of Valencia, Hart and Saugus for so many seasons. I was used to watching 1-0 games where pitching and defense dominated. Pitching is strong here, but the defense was lacking in the RHL this season. If you want to call it a banner year, I respect that. Part-time pitcher or not, Ellingsworth's record was far better than Parada's. And the fact that she's a part-time pitcher, as you say, makes it an even better choice because her record would've been even better as a full-time pitcher. And in terms of your hate for La Canada, or anyone other than South Pas, I can't help that, but I'm impartial.

Scott,

No, my argument is that Ellingsworth was only a part time pitcher, and she should have been a utility player in the awards, because that is what she was. Simple, I have said it 27 times. Two posts ago you said she got injured and the other girl started coming in toward the end of the year in relief. That, like I said in the previous post, is 100% completely wrong.

And how can you say records don't lie? That is the most hypocritical statement I have ever heard. You gave an All Area to a pitcher with a 9-11 record. So her record lies but Parada's doesn't? She gets an award for keeping them close? Come on man. You speak with forked toungue. I do think Ferri should be there,but not at Parada's expense,at least the record lie should apply there too.

And had you gone to the last game that LaCanada lost to San Marino you would have seen a team in disarray with the parents out of control and the wheels completely off and the team not hitting at all. It had nothing to do with the pitcher. I would say that either Bob Ellingsworth again or the coach from Arcadia should get the award for finishing strong. That is what really counts. Also, you said it yourself, he got TWO fresmen pitchers by none of his doing, and then they lose one and the team goes to hell in a handbasket, great coaching.

First of all, and I am even getting sick of saying it, you made that stupid "down year" comment BEFORE the season even started. And yeah, you weren't the only one to call it a down year, I am sure plenty of people from Arcadia and Monrovia that said the same thing.

The only thing that is closed about this case is your mind.

Pressure and disregard create bad decision making, and you know exactly what I am talking about.

Records don’t lie, case closed? Scott that logic seems to be somewhat hypocritical coming from you. That was the same logic I used to make my point on another tread and you told me I was wrong.

chkyrslf, your argument is how Parada should've beaten out Ellingsworth. First off, Keith was the man who mainly picked the teams and I agreed. Second, records don't lie. Ellingsworth had a better record, case closed. Finally, I wasn't the only one to call it a down year. By the way, who would you have given the Coach of the Year to? Mathews had the biggest turnaround with a pair of freshmen pitchers, including the No. 1 pitcher who sat out the second half of the season due to injury. No brainer in my book after what that team did last season.

Scott,

Ok lets talk about detail, You say that Ellingsworth became injured and the reliever started coming in down the stretch. Here is reality, from the very first game of the year TC employed the same strategy, pitching Ellingsworth until she started to get rocked and then switch her out usually in the 3rd or 4th inning. Then she would move to first base, her natural position. She only pitched one complete game that they lost that the other girl was not available for and they lost, oddly enough in the last two innings by giving up three runs....hmm. Outside of that she mostly pitched 3-4 innings max. She was a very good utility player on a well coached team. This info comes from their statistics.

Second of all, to hold Parada accountable for the SP lossess to La Canada was liking blaming FDNY for 9/11. She had no defensive help in that second game whatsoever. The team as a whole became much more efficient down the stretch as the other teams in the league waned. SP's only problem at the end of the year was that they faced North in the playoffs whos whole team just so happens to be the travel team Mizuno Pride. But who really cares because you were no longer paying attention at that point. The spoils should go to the teams that finish strong. I also don't know if I would give the Coach of the year award to one of the biggest foldds at the end of the year by LaCanada.

I have seen Jordan Taylor pitch many times and you are right, there is no comparison between her and any of the pitchers in our area. It is a different level.

First of all, I never argued against Ferri, I am a big fan of hers and think that she is the only pitcher in our area that will eventually pitch D1 ball. I think I once argued with someone else comparing Parada's finish with Ferri's to prove that point, otherwise my argument from the beginning was that Ellingsworth was a true utility player and should have been put in as that and Parada was easily the second best pitcher in the area.

Now as far as Rodriguez goes, I watched her pitch for Arcadia several times as well as with her club team Rage. She was not recruited for several reasons and landed where she landed for several reasons. She is a abulldog, but never proved herself to be a great teammate, which to me in softball ends up being the most important thing.

And as far as your insulting down year comment that you hold on to, why don't you go to New Mexico and make that your first comment coming out of the gate and see how the local fans go with that.

This year our area had twice as many CIF wins as last year, and three times as many than in the last three years, how does that justify your comments?

chkyrslf, starters in Major League baseball rarely make it past the fifth or sixth inning, but they get credited for a win. Ellingsworth had a better record, plain and simple. And she got injured while pitching. That had something to do with the reliever coming in down the stretch. Softball is about pitching. If you have two quality pitchers, you use them. South Pas had one. Parada didn't look good in a game I witnessed against La Canada (a loss). In softball, nine losses is not a good mark, no matter who the competition is. Your first argument was that we picked Ferri over Parada and you changed after the fact that she was picked as co-MVP in the Mission League (much tougher than the Rio Hondo League) was pointed out. The fact is, the league was weak this year (down season) and she mopped up wins against some weak schools. Is she a solid pitcher, of course, but I covered Valencia's Jordan Taylor, who went 31-4 with a 0.76 ERA and 279 strikeouts as a freshman this season at the University of Michigan. Having said that, I can tell you with clarity (by paying attention) that there is nobody in the San Gabriel Valley (Tribune, Star-News or Whittier) that comes close to Taylor. In fact, I still say that Jenna Rodriguez was a more dominant pitcher as a senior than Nichole. But what do I know, I've only covered high school softball (mainly Division I and II prior to coming over here) for eight seasons.

Scott,

Ellingsworth never had to finish a single game. TC went to a closer every game. She never had to face batters the third time. Kaitlin is certainly an All Area player and a candidate for player of the year, but she cannot hold a candle to Parada as a pitcher. Just as I thought, you gave no creadence to the type of teams (D1, D2, D3, D4) that Parada faced early after losing a D1 catcher to South Carolina then coming back and going 10-3 in her last 13 games and ultimately losing to the CIF champs after only giving up four infield hits along with errors. Ellingsworth should have been named either player of the year or 1st team All Area in the Utility position, that is an easy call unless there are other motives. The take on TC all year was that if "they had the pitching" they would be a great team, because of their wide range of talent.

This all points to the attention to detail that you lacked all year with your coverage. You were forced to pay attention early but you stopped paying attention at the end of the year. Sorry, but it was a mistake. Parada's 4 year numbers and skill in the RHL were unprecedented and will not be matched for years to come.

chkyrslf: Ellingsworth over Parada was an easy choice. 11-3 was much better than 12-9.

Anon: If you would be so kind, please put a user name and E-mail from here on out. No, there won't be any writeups about the first-teamers. We're using the same format that has been used for other sports.

Scott,

Will there be any follow-up in the next few days where you give us a short write-up of each of these all-area players (at least first teamers)? A mini-profile on each of the 1st teamers along with a few factual individual player stats (Maxpreps stats are incomplete at best and very typically grossly overstated) would be interesting to read and would also probably answer many of the questions (rather than taking the assumed impressions of "area fan" as to who dominates a game).

Personally speaking, for the most part I agree with most of your 1st team selections. I'm sure disappointing for Parada and Gogreve who are both very good players, but no doubt some very tough calls had to be made for 1st teamers, but in those tough calls I agree with most of your ultimate 1st team selections.

Also, KC Matthews is the right choice this season as Coach of the Year too. He made a huge difference in that team and has had a very very positive impact on that program. That team vastly improved as compared to the most recent previous 4 or 5 seasons and this season they far exceeded expectations. Maybe some of that success has to do with the current status of the Rio Hondo league this season as compared to previous seasons, as was suggested in previous blog entries. Nonetheless, Matthews did a tremendous job this season and he has situated his team for real success in the future. Ellingsworth is a great Coach and was rightly the selection last year but he also has the benefit of a very talented squad. Other coaches have very good squads too and some very good players but their teams for some reason underperform and finish up way short of expectations.

Scott, job well done!!!

As for the comments of "area fan", it's pretty obvious that in your mind players from the team you support were slighted. Also, you suggest that the PSN selections were determined "by the non-stop 1 or 2 bloggers". Your comment is pretty funny because the softball blogs are OVERWHELMINGLY dominated by the countless number of entries from the same couple of bloggers who promote your team. Sometimes making justified comments, sometimes not ... nevertheless, I think the PSN got it right for the most part in the end.

One last comment, let's not go forward to justify why certain players weren't 1st team selections, by ripping down who was selected. It's certainly okay to debate, but don't promote some kids by slamming other kids!

Scott,

I would not question Ferri, but I certainly wouldn't put Ellingsworth ahead of Parada as a pitcher. Ellingsworth should have been in as a utility because that is how she played the season switching between pitcher and first base every game. There were some teams that should feel dissed, for instance, you clearly gave no credit to South Pas for finishing strong and claiming second in the RHL going to Big Bear and winning a CIF game (that this blog gave them no chance in) and losing in CIF to the CIF champs, but you give Alverno all the credit in the world for playing two tough teams all year in the regular season and losing to both of them. You put Parada on the second team? What? And you didn't even give Gogreve (the SS from South Pas) an honorable mention? Then you give coach of the year honors to a coach who loses six in a row at the end of the year? What is that? I do not, however, question any of the TC players selected, besides the placement of Ellingsworth as a pitcher instead of utility. You've got issues, Scott.

Good luck to Parada next year going to the D2 Champion Humboldt State along with the other seniors moving on to play college ball!

Area fan, that pitcher with seven losses just so happened to be the co-player of the year in the Mission League, which I would have to say is a notch ahead of the Rio Hondo. She kept her team in games. We saw a good number of Parada's game and, yes, she's good. But so were many pf the pitchers that we saw.

Although I disagree with chky about the overall coverage of softball this year ( I thought you did a good job) It does appear however that the many selections are based on political,financial (IE subscribers?)or other factors than actual MERIT.

How can Arcadia in a down year get FOUR girls (including the coach's sister)and TC get SIX players on? Now Grimes earned a first team selection. Barchan more likely a second teamer..

AND Parada on second team?? She is only a little behind Escamilla as far as dominating a game and head and shoulders above any other area pitcher...Were you swayed by the non-stop 1 or 2 bloggers ( My bet its the same guy using different computers). I guess persistence pays off?
FSH didn't even make the playoffs and they got a first team pitcher who lost 7 games and 2 second teamers???

And lastly the Coach of the year from a team that finished UNDER .500 and lost what 6 or 7 games in-a-row to end the year?

Hats off to those girls that missed your list but were (more) deserving none the less.

Check, in terms of lists, all three of our papers did the All-Area teams the same way.

Scott,

Below average job with selections. Where is the article that mentions each player's accomplishments? You didn't have one in baseball either. Come on. And, I do not know how you do not have Parada on the first team. Ellingsworth was a Utility player, she usually pitched half the game. She belonged there but not in the pitching position. Also your honorable mentions reflect your lack of detail in reporting the softball season.

Sorry to be critical, but I feel like it is fitting to the the approach you had all year. Look at last years article compared to this year. Unfortunately it was a down year in reporting softball at the Star News.