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No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by MSN on August 12, 2025, 6:35 pm

The top 18U Softball Club Rankings. (Softball America Staff.)

1. Aces Fastpitch
2. Arizona Rising
3. Texas Bombers
4. OC Batbusters Stith
5. Birmingham Thunderbolts
6. Georgia Impact
7. Texas Glory
8. Select Fastpitch
9. Tampa Mustangs
10. Athletics Mercado

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Consistency on August 14, 2025, 8:21 am, in reply to "No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Obviously all these teams listed as well as the Bandits have something in common. All have a solid foundation and continue year after year. Even what might be a considered a "down year" is still pretty damn good.

As far as local teams trying to be something, they are lacking the foundation and leadership that teams like the Bandits, Chill, IMG, IP have had for years. Indiana Batbusters might have a solid 18u team this year, but what is there to continue building something behind them?

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Evaluating on August 15, 2025, 9:15 am, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Not sure the criteria used but Bandits had a disappointing 13th finish at PGF Nationals and probably caused the fall from grace.
I seen the Bandits had top 10 finishes at 10, 12, 14 and 16u.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Overrated on August 17, 2025, 3:44 am, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Overrated teams —- cocky players and program. And no my daughter was not cut from their teams .

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by @overrated on August 17, 2025, 2:21 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Who does your daughter play for then?

Which other team or organization from this area had top 10 finishes in 4 of the 5 age groups?

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Answer @@overrated on August 17, 2025, 9:40 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

probably, all the teams on the list.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by @overrated on August 17, 2025, 11:44 am, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Woo woo woo woo woo

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Batbuster’s on August 13, 2025, 7:57 pm, in reply to "No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Shippen out of Indiana will be a solid team.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by @Batbuster's on August 14, 2025, 1:08 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Maybe in Michigan City or Imagination Glen.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by @@Batbuster's on August 16, 2025, 12:44 am, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Don't forget Warsaw and Cedar Lake

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Not their year on August 13, 2025, 4:37 pm, in reply to "No Love for the 18U Bandits "

I agree with some of the other responses. Neither 18u team deserves to be in the top 10. Yes, the teams are still very good at softball just not top 10 deserving.

You either have the pitching or you don't. Don't expect the upcoming 18u teams to be in the top either. Same issue, missing the superstar pitcher or pitchers.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Help me understand on August 13, 2025, 11:52 am, in reply to "No Love for the 18U Bandits "

It has zero to do with love. The Bandits 18U Stone and Conroy didn’t have a top 10 summer. It was good but not top 10. The 10 teams listed are exceptional. They all finished Top 10 at PGF or Alliance. While the Bandits are really good year in and year out they are not always top 10. Nebraska Gold was 15 and Top Gun 11 on the Softball America list. They only listed the top 15.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by @Help Me on August 13, 2025, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

It's hard to stay on top. If all you do is travel to tournaments, you have a lot of options if you're a top talent. I guess the secondary question is, did all the kids get recruited at their potential? You're there to win, but the collegiate career is close second.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Different #1 on August 13, 2025, 2:43 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

If you're playing those type of schedules, with the cost of being competitive at that level (lessons, team fees, etc.) then a collegiate career better be your #1 objective!

If not, then you should be playing at a less rigorous and expensive level just for the love of the game.

Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits

Posted by Haha on August 20, 2025, 1:37 pm, in reply to "Re: No Love for the 18U Bandits "

Once I seen 2 posts saying IN Batbuster 18u or shippen was gonna be good, I stopped reading 😂

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