8u Arkansas Machine Pitch Home: My Site News

Here we are leading into the first round of ASA District tournaments around the state of Arkansas and some things are more cloudy than they ever have been. There is little argument that 1 and 2 in the state are Magic Softball and Thunder Black. Thunder Blue is essentially an undisputable number 3, having lost only to Thunder Black and Magic all season. Rounding out the elite of 8u A Class teams leaves Petit Jean and Lil Attitudes.

The next tier is where the waters get cloudy. The Wildkatz of Stuttgart, with an impressive tournament win in Cabot this weekend, placed themselves in the B grouping. Joining with them are the 2nd year Benton Wildcats, Salem Overdrive and Cabot Aftershock. Then you have your "bubble" B/C teams of Bald Knob Diamond Dawgs, Vilonia Hot Shots and Y2K Extreme.

For information on tournaments, don't hesitate to write me at ecciLR@aol.com or you can check at www.arasa.org, www.registerasa.com and www.usssa.com. Lastly, if you want on the weekly email list, email me at the same address above.

June 1, 2009 Poll 

A
 1. Thunder 2000 Black
 2. Magic Softball
 3. Thunder 2000 Blue
 4. Attitudes
 5. PJSB Lady Bandits
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 6. Wildcatz
 7. Zero Tolerance
 8. Benton Wildcats
 9. S.W.A.T.
11. Aftershock
12. Salem Overdrive
13. Bismarck Base Burnerz
C/Rec----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Diamond Dawgs (Bald Knob)
15. Y2K Extreme
16. Vilonia Hot Shots
17. Genesis
18. Twin City Aces (Texarkana)
19. AR Razorbabes
20. Pink Panther (Benton)
21. Quitman Kaos

22. Mountain View Sting
23. Ft. Smith Boom
24. Haze
25. Maumelle Diamonds
26. Mountainburg Crushers
27. Craze
28. Clinton Shockwave

29. Sherwood Heartbreakers
30. Van Buren Lil Dynamites
31. Bradco Diamond Divas
32. Sherwood Dragons
33. Lil Bumblebees
34. Concord Pirates - Cornett
35. Cabot Lil Panthers
36. Bryant Hot Shots

37. Cabot Pink Sox
38. Vilonia Shockwave
39. Paragould Red Hots
40. Seamsplitterz
41. Lil Wreckers
42. Haskell Rockers
43. Bryant Sparks
44. Glitter Hitters

44. Sherwood S.W.A.T.
45. Jacksonville Diamond Dolls
46. DeQueen Pink Panthers
47. Nashville Hot Shots
48. Salem Strikers
49. Lonoke Purple Haze
50. Concord - Roark
51. Horatio Lil Lions
52. McCrory Lightning
53. Texarkana Hurricanes
54. Mineral Springs Angels

Nothing much happened in Week 4 and Week 5 was curtailed by rain but enough has transpired ...

Tuesday, April 7
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 6, 2009

Sunshine and clear skies were welcome for Week 3 in 8u Arkansas softball. It sure beat ...

Sunday, March 29
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF MARCH 30, 2009

Week 2 in 8u Arkansas softball was one of the most miserable I can remember. No, I'm not referring ...

Monday, March 23
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF MARCH 23, 2009

The season officially got underway in Arkansas this past weekend with 7 teams playing in Bryant. ...

Monday, February 23
8u MP Preseason Poll

This has been a great topic of conversation and I've enjoyed talking to all of the coaches ...

Monday, February 23
ARKANSAS ASA ADOPTS REVISED MACHINE PITCH RULES EFFECTIVE MARCH 2009
Arkansas ASA has adopted a revised set of rules for machine pitch play (8u and 10u) effective immediately.

Monday, April 28
8U MACHINE PITCH POLL FOR WEEK OF APRIL 28, 2008

Tuesday, April 22
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 21, 2008

Two weeks of tournaments have gone by since the last update. Not a lot of change at the top ...

Sunday, April 6
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 7, 2008

Tournament #2 is in the books as Xtreme Sports Complex hosted 8s. The full brackets and ...

Monday, March 17
8U MACHINE PITCH RANKINGS FOR WEEK OF MARCH 17, 2008

Sunday, March 2
2008 8u MACHINE PITCH PRE-SEASON POLL

Monday, August 27
2007 Arkanasa ASA State Results - All Groups and Classirfications

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Wednesday, July 18
8u MACHINE PITCH FINAL RANKINGS 2007

Under revision



 1. Fort Smith Boom - ASA District 8 Champion / ASA A State Champion
 2. Arkansas XTreme - ASA District 10 Co-Champion / USSSA State Champion
 3. The Ride (from Centtral Arkansas) - ASA District 10 Co-Champion / ASA State A Runner-Up
 4. Arkansas Wildfire (Prescott) - ASA District 7 Champion / USSSA A Runner-Up
 5. Blue Thunder - ASA District 9 Champion
 6. Cabot Stingers - ASA District 3 Champion
 7. Clinton Queen Bees - ASA B State Champion
 8. Crossfire (Benton) - ASA District 9 Runner-Up
 9. Razzle Dazzle - ASA District 6 Champion / ASA B State Runner-Up
10. Jonesboro Hot Shots - ASA District 1 Champion

11. Southland Heat - ASA District 4 Champion
12. Quitman Total Chaos
13. Bryant Kool Katz
14. Morrilton Small Stars
15. Benton Slammers
16. Girl Power
17. Zero Tolerance - ASA District 6 Runner-Up / ASA C State Champion
18. DeQueen Little Lady Bandits - ASA District 7 Runner-Up / ASA C State Runner-Up
19. Pink Dynamite - USSSA C State Champion
20. Harrison Diamond Dolls - ASA District 12 Champion

21. Russellville Crushers
22. Beebe Blast 99 - ASA Distrct 3 Runner-Up
23. Ace Express
24. Bentonville Lady Tigers
25. Scranton Lady Diamonds
26. Monster Softball - ASA District 9 C Champion
27. Renegades 99 - USSSA C State Runner-Up
28. NEA Fusion
29. Nashville Sassy Chicks
30. Jonesboro Diamond Dolls

31. Rose Bud Heat
32. Dirt Devils
33. Rison Firecrackers - ASA District 4 Runner-Up
34. Benton Red Storm
35. Blytheville Firecrackers - ASA District 1 Runner-Up
36. Maumelle Diamonds
37. Cabot Thunder
38. Siloam Springs Hurricanes
39. Mt. View Stingers
40. Manpower

41. Wonderview Daredevils 
42. Hector Lady Wildcats
43. Lil' Angels
44. Lakewood Diamonds
45. Bratz
46. XSNRG
47. Lonoke Lightning
48. Little Hot Stix
49. Vilonia Highlights
50. Sherwood Heartbreakers

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Tuesday, July 11
2006 ASA STATE TOURNEY C BRACKETS
Class C 8u Machine Pitch

1. Fort Smith Boom
2. Cabot Stingers
3. Hot Springs Noise
4. Malvern Hot Shots

With 27 teams, you knew there would be quite a diverse field in C class and indeed there was. The teams advancing on Friday night went pretty much as expected. However, Saturday was an entirely different story. The Cabot Stingers upset the Class C D-10 champions Girl Power out of Clarksville and the Bee Branch Lil Hornets defeated the Heber Springs Kool Katz. The order of the day for C class was to stay out of the loser's bracket and out of the heat!

As the 3rd round 3:30 games approached, the Bryant Kool Kats drew the Sheridan Knockouts. This was a game won by the Knockouts in a tie-breaker. Cabot advanced a very tough South Side Lil Hornets team. As a side note, I've just got to say that Clark Gammon and his bunch was a great group to visit with during the game. Mena fell to the Hot Shots and the Fort Smith Boom (2005 6u State Champions, 2006 8u USSSA state runner up) easily defeated the Hot Springs Noise.

By this time 23 teams had to be sorted in the loser's bracket. Notable matchups and games included Lil Nitro (defeated by the Hornets in the first round) winning 4 in a row only to fall to the Hornets again for elimination. Girl Power lasted until the 3rd game to fall to the Lil Hornets.

In the old adage of knowing the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, Chris and Misty Lee's Morrilton Havoc were on the mat and out against the Heber Kool Katz. However, due to Heber's inability to kill 20 seconds, Havoc gained new life with an extra inning and then defeated Heber in a tough loss. Havoc then faced the D-10 C runner up Arkansas Bulldogs (Plummerville). With time expired, Havoc was the home team in a tie ballgame. Havoc's leadoff batter laced a ball to left field and ended up at 3rd. With the winning run at 3rd and no one out though, Havoc could not get the key hit to score the run. Given new life, the Bulldogs rallied for 5 in the top of the extra frame for the victory. Mena, D-6 champs, the took on the Bulldogs to eliminate Plummerville.

Back to the winner's bracket on Saturday night and approaching 10 p.m., Boom lowered the boom on the Hot Shots. The Sheridan Knockouts took a 9-2 lead into the 3rd inning against Cabot only to see the Stingers chip away the next 2 innings. With time expired the Knockouts took a 4 run lead into the bottom of the 6th. After the first Cabot batter struck out, the Stingers rallied for 4 to tie forcing a tie-breaker. After Sheridan scored 2 in the top of the 7th, Cabot rallied for 3 more to pull out the win and advance against Boom.

For all of the excitement and great weather on Saturday and Saturday night, Sunday was to be a test of endurance and the best defenses would prevail. With the combination of the heat and less than stellar defense, the Stingers committed 14 errors and still managed to lose to Boom by 6. Cabot awaited the winner of the Hot Springs Noise (who had defeated the Knockouts at 1:30 a.m. the night before) and Hot Shots (who had downed the Lil Hornets in their 4th game of the day around 1:00 a.m.). The Noise prevailed. Playing back to back in the heat, the Noise battled the Stingers to a tie as time expired. The Stingers, as home team, rallied once again to win with no time on the clock and draw Boom again.

While the Stinger defense was much sharper, the offensive onslaught by Boom was overwhelming as Boom claimed the C Class title.

Tuesday, July 11
FINAL 2006 8U MACHINE PITCH STATE RANKINGS
I've had a lot of fun working on this this year and even more fun hearing back from the coaches and parents who have been following the site. Some have told me that even some of the girls follow this from week to week. If you want to be added to the list to know when updates are made, just email me at ecciLR@aol.com. I'd love to hear back from any of you that are planning to play Nationals. I know teams are looking pick up players or you may be a player looking for a team. FINAL 2006 STATE RANKINGS 1. Plummerville Bulldogs - D10 Champions, USSSA State runner up, ASA A State Champs 2. Arkansas Young Guns (Greenbrier) - D10 runner up, USSSA State Champs, ASA A 3rd 3. Scranton Lady Diamonds - D10, ASA A State runner up 4. Guy XTreme - D10, ASA A State 4th 5. Russellville Cyclones - D10, ASA B state runner up 6. Benton SuperStars - D9 Champions, ASA B State 3rd 7. Synergy - D3/D9 8. Fort Smith Gators - D8, ASA B State Champs 9. Beebe Blast '97 - D3 Champions, ASA B State 4th 10. Lakewood Hippi Chicks - D3 runner up 11. Benton Blast - D9 runner-up 12. Mount Vernon-Enola (MVE) Heat - D10 13. Texarkana Sports - D7 14. Texarkana XPlosion - D7 15. Fort Smith Lady Magic - D8 (slowpitch) 16. Ft Smith Boom - D8 (slowpitch) ASA C Champ, USSSA State runner up (coach pitch) 17. Cabot Stingers - D3, ASA C State runner up 18. Hot Springs Noise - D6, ASA C State 3rd 19. Sheridan Knockouts - D6 20. Malvern Hot Shots - D6 21. South Side LiL Hornets - D10 22. Girl Power '98 - D10 C Champions 23. 'Lil Nitro - D9 24. Mena Heat D7 Champions 25. Bryant Kool Katz - D9 26. Plummerville II (Arkansas Bulldogs) - D10 27. Dumas Katz - D4 Champions 28. Benton Vipers - D9 29. Bryant American Girls - D9 30. Vilonia Havoc - D10 31. Heber Springs Kool Katz - D3 32. Diamond Express - D9 33. Crossfire - D9 34. Morrilton Small Stars D10 35. Lil Dusters - D7 36. Hurricanes-Siloam Springs - D12 37. Lonoke Purple Fire - D3 38. Perryville Starz - D10 39. Maumelle Diamonds - D3 40. Tuff Suckers - D5 41. Harrison Lightning - D11 42. Mountain View Sting - D11 43. Silver Bullets-Siloam Springs - D12 44. Krazy Frogs - D8 45. Twin City Angels - D7* 46. Crossett - Salem - D5* 47. Dixie Diamonds - D9 48. Benton Hot Shots - D9 49. Lil' Angels - Salem - D9 50. American Beauties - Salem - D9 Coaches, please let me know of tourney results as you have them....ecciLR@aol.com Upcoming tournaments: July 14-16 USFA - State Tournament - Vilonia July 21- 23 ASA - National 8u Machine Pitch Tournament (NIT) - Russellville

Thursday, July 14
8u END OF SEASON POLL
Week of July 11
FINAL POLL

1. Vilonia Slammers
2. Greenbrier Causin' Panic
3. Fordyce Bad Company
4. Vilonia Dixie Stix
5. Morrilton Fear Factor
6. Sheridan Knockouts
7. MVE Heat
8. Cabot Lil' Panthers
9. Morrilton Xplosion
10. Guy Mighty T-Birds
11. Russellville Cyclones
12. Lonoke Lightning
13. Kremers Masonry
14. South Arkansas Storm
15. Benton SuperStars

Coaches, PLEASE email me your contact information. How many are interested in fall ball for 8's and 10's? We're wanting to plan in Cabot for tournaments this fall and Spring 2006!!

Monday, June 27
FINAL 8u WEEKLY POLL (PRE-ASA/USSSA STATE)
Week of June 27, 2005
Final poll before state tournaments.
USSA State 8u tourney in Jacksonville this ...

Monday, July 10
2006 ASA STATE TOURNEY A/B BRACKETS
Here is the order of finish for the ASA 2006 Machine Pitch State tournament:

Class A 8u Machine Pitch

1. Plummerville Bulldogs
2. Scranton Lady Diamonds
3. Arkansas Young Guns
4. Guy XTreme

Class B 8u Machine Pitch

1. Fort Smith Gators
2. Russellville Cyclones
3. Benton SuperStars
4. Beebe Blast

The A/B brackets provided plenty of plenty of upsets. With a stacked field featuring 11 of the best teams in the state, the underdog Russellville Cyclones defeated the slowpitch Fort Smith Gators in the opening round, coming from behind in the home half of the last inning to pull it out. Friday night provided another upset as the Benton SuperStars, who never really got on track for the weekend, went down to the Guy XTreme.

It was a rough weekend for Wes Sullivan's Lakewood Hippie Chicks. They fell to the Scranton Lady Diamonds in the opening round and then dropped their next two to the Gators to finish at 0-3. According to Sullivan, 'the Gators are one of the most athletic teams we have faced this season.'

The second round of A/B began to sort of A from B as the Lady Diamonds moved past XTreme and Young Guns (USSSA state champs and D-10 runner up) and Plummerville (USSSA state runner up and D-10 champs) battled again. Plummerville came away with the win as Steve Lasley's bunch dropped to the bottom bracket.

After playing their way through the winner's bracket, Plummerville faced the Lady Diamonds in the finals. The Diamonds defeated Plummerville only to see the Bulldogs rally past the Young Guns a second time and then defeating Scranton in back to back games to claim the A Class title.

In B class, the Cyclones could not repeat Friday's night magic over the Gators as Fort Smith defeated Lori Eshnaur's team for the B Class title.

We congratulate all of these teams on their seasons and some exciting ball!

8u A/B Bracket