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Thanks sir
There is an incredible disparity between the top and bottom softball teams everywhere...more so in softball than any other sport.As I peruse the RPI rankings looking at each conference it just shocks me at some of the schools that didn’t field a girls softball team or have only played just a few games.
Like the MIdstate Conference who has 2 teams in the top 10 and yet Reidsville and N. Forsyth don’t have a team and TW Andrews has only played a handful of games.
There is several other teams in other conferences that have played only 5 or 6 games to date.
Surprised to see CSD didn’t field a team either.
Just noticed as well…in my own conference!!…the CVAC….that Newton Conover has only scheduled conference games…that’s it!…just playing the conference.
Go figure!
Aw man… at least the one in Randolph beat ER…Blown away that (4) 2a teams are ranked in the top 8 of the overall Max Preps state softball rankings.
1. SW Randolph
2. McMichael
5. West Stanly
8. West Wilkes
I see an entertaining playoff ahead with these 2a power houses.
Good grief!
In many of these cities softball is either a recreational sport with coach pitch until about 10-12 years old or doesn't exist at all. Softball is 90% pitching and catching. The city kids do not have the skills once they hit middle school to keep up with the county schools and travel ball kids. The pitching in most of these places listed is terrible. These kids get used to losing 15-0 and going to McDonalds to eat and laugh it off.There is an incredible disparity between the top and bottom softball teams everywhere...more so in softball than any other sport.
It also seems that schools with strong basketball or track programs absolutely stink at softball, and at many of those schools, softball is an afterthought.
One prime example is Albemarle High School. AHS is loaded with female athletes (just check their basketball records the past few years). And they are located right in the center of softball-crazy Stanly County -- South Stanly won the 2022 1A state softball championship, West Stanly won the 2022 2A state softball championship, and North Stanly and Gray Stone Day are both very competitive.
But despite this, Albemarle struggles each year to field a team. And when they do, it's 9 or 10 girls who have never picked up a bat outside of PE class. Every game is a 15-0, 3-inning affair, except when they have to forfeit because a couple of players missed school that day.
The local parks and recreation department has tried to build interest in youth girls softball, but parents just don't seem to give a hoot and won't sign their girls up. Albemarle Middle School fields a team but their players are already 3-4 years behind those in the rest of the county since they haven't played youth softball, so it seems to be the "same old-same old" every year.
Other schools that have plenty of female athletes, and are similar in situation to Albemarle seem to be in the same boat. For example, check out the records of softball teams at schools like Concord, Monroe, Salisbury, Thomasville, Lexington, etc., and you'll see the same circumstances. Rocky River High, a 4A school in Mint Hill, has no team this season. Julius Chambers was a 4A basketball powerhouse, but they are a weakling in softball. Same at A.L. Brown, West Charlotte, Harding, Olympic, R.J. Reynolds, Parkland. I'm sure there are others, but you see my point.
What's the solution? It starts with getting the youngsters to playing early on, but how do you get them interested in softball when parents don't support that sport? It has to be very frustrating if a parent has a girl who loves softball but may not get to play at the high school level because her school either doesn't support the sport or can't field a team due to community and student apathy.
Cougars did best Wildcats 2-0 with a full compliment on hand so now I’m a believer…Aw man… at least the one in Randolph beat ER…
Not saying the Wildcats were down two starters…
Not saying that at all…
Actually hoping Cougars do well.