JohnnyT60

Lamar is on it's way back. AFA just changed its name to NAFA I'll send extra gatorade with Justin. ;D

I cannot believe coaches behaving like that! :

Here are the qualifiers. TEXAS BLAZE GOLD G.T. Shockers Gold Katy Heat Gold Texas Express Gold Texas Fusion Gold (Maloney) TX Magic Gold

With the turnout, this date seems to be a good one to attrect teams, maybe we could put one on this time next year and run it locally. We will have to see. It was good to see a tournament this size in Beaumont, just disappointing to see how poorly it was run, and very disappointing to see no one at the helm at all the last day.

Congrats John, y'all had a really good run.

There were obviously a lot of problems with this tournament and the danger is that it will reflect poorly on Beaumont for the future. I believe Rusty tried but was way over his head, and needed to solicit much more help much earlier. Some kids did get to play, but many were unhappy with their experience and that could hurt the efforts of those who follow to try to give a tournament in Beaumont.

A big congrats to Trout, who did a great job of putting this team together. Way to follow up a state championship with a trip to Gold Nationals. Also Jess has done a great job and will make an outstanding High School coach someday.

Yes, Orange Crush had a great showing as well. This area was really well represented.

Just got a phone call and the Shockers won this afternoon and qualify for Gold Nationals!

If the Shockers when their first game tomorrow they will be one of four undefeated teams. That means they can finish no worse that T-5, if that is the case they would be qualified because this tourney has six berths.

Good Luck to Crush and Shockers, both playing on Sunday. Remember JH, when we just wanted to make it to Sunday. Seems like a long time ago.... oh that's because it was! ;D

GT Shockers have beaten Alvin No Fear, Texas Peppers, and CC Elite and play Texas Blaze tomorrow. Way to go girls!

Thanks for the update Poppa.

While I hope this tournament is very successful. I don't have a problem with BHBlue or DaMan voicing their concerns about conditions for umpires, they were probabaly instrumental in getting changes instituted. These two guys are some of the class guys in the profession and I have the utmost respect for them. I don't really know Rusty, but I take him for his word and I think he is really trying to make a good tournament. I believe This tournament and some very good umpires got off on the wrong foot because of the originally anounced provisions for the umpires. It looks like these have been handled and I hope we have a very good tournament. Let's keep it civil and respect each others opinions.

DaMan, a lot of those issues seem to be resolved now. As far as water coolers, our kids would never drink out of them anyway, so we always bought bottled water and drinks. I understand you and W's concerns over those issues, but I really hope this tournament goes off well. Maybe it was just a matter of getting off on the wrong foot. Now he will have the opportunity to show that he is good for his word.

I hope it goes well, for everyone involved. With Bmt losing the national we need something to fill that void.

I would like this to be successful as well, but to suggest any umpire to do 10 games in this heat is absurd.

I believe the GT Shockers and Orange Crush are going. I looked at the Fort Worth ASA site and apparently they will not be posting the bracket. Houston Metro did agreat job of keeping theirs updated for the territorial.

I'll have what he's having!!! Coming out of the woodwork? So that's where the good umpires have been hiding. 10 games a day? See how sharp these "woodwork-coming-out-of" umpires are about game 7 or 8. No thanks. 2 king beds in one room? What hotel have you been staying at? Maybe cavorting with bureaucrats has it's perks. Sometimes it's best to stick with whatever it is you know and avoid the embarrassment of speaking out of turn. I personally have no beef with this tournament or it's directors. When the terms of the original deal came out, I, like many other umpires, committed to work elsewhere. It's as simple as that. BTW, can you expand on your "understanding" of this "Big National Fall JUCO Open" you mentioned? What's the matter, you can't go 13-14 hours a day anymore? :

Your son? Not anymore!!

I agree with almost everything you say, I just gotta meet that umpire that is doing 30-games.

That's what y'all keep saying, but it looks Purple to me. Pleassssse it was a changeup, and your little darling has already admitted to sticking her elbow out there. HaHaHa

Sounds as if some folks are judging before it happens. I hope this goes off well, would be great for the kids in this area. Not too late to get the empiring stuff taken care of and settled. Let's try not to sink the ship before she sails.

Lauren is a great kid, and it has been special to know her. As good of a player as she, she is even a better person. I always wish her the best of luck, except for just a few games a year. I always thought she looked good in purple!! Does she still have her purple uhhh indigo car?

That's why I hate the eteamz board, people get on their and throw darts all of the time. Sounds like they tried to play some kids that were not on the roster, regardless of the age, that's always been against the rules. Sounds like a rivalry brewing though.