Current schedule will very likely result in some teams only playing 4 games. I think you need to set this up the same way you did the "Mens 65+ Silver Division 5 teams" for the recent 6/8-6/9 tournament in Elk Grove.
38softball ... I don't recall writing a schedule for any SSUSA tournament in Elk Grove on June 8-9 (which was a Monday/Tuesday) ... Regardless, in a 5-team event, one team will play only four, and the same is potentially true for a second team, but only if they are the #1 Seed, get the bye, then go 0-2 in bracket ... Just checked the tournament page, and no mention is made of a five-game-guarantee ... That would have surprised me, since the non-TOC qualifiers I schedule, such as Glen Burnie and Indy, are all 4-game-guarantee ...
But on a technical approach, it's a pretty simple analysis ... There are 51 teams playing in two overlapping sessions over four days on one 4-field complex ... There are 144 potential game slots ... The games demand for the current 4-game-guarantee format requires 142 games ... The two "open" game slots are at 5:00 PM Thursday (Field #3) and 6:30 PM Friday (Field #2) ... Please take a look at the Master Grid and let me know how you would fit the extra 26 games that would be required for a 5-game-guarantee into those two game slots ... Good luck, and enjoy a marvelous tournament location at San Clemente (I'm out for Lansing at 5:55 AM tomorrow, but there's no beach there!) ...
Neck10, close the gate. Dave thinks that there is no beach near Lansing. The entire state is surrounded by water and has some beautiful beaches. I am more familiar with the west side. When we would leave tournaments in the area, Coachie and I would drive to South Haven and enjoy the beach (hint to husbands wanting to do something with your lady after the tournament). The lake perch is awesome. There also are no creatures in Lake Michigan that can eat you that we are aware of. Michigan is a beautiful state. Dave, you and I are just too used to working and playing in softball dirt.
You should let teams know that this not a 5 game guarantee, Then you would not have to worry about having to many games to schedule. $395 for 4 games is crazy. If i would have known we could have spent our money elsewhere.
Have Bat Will Travel ... This 4-game-guarantee event at a $395 entry fee ($98.75/game) is actually slightly less expensive than the typical TOC Qualifier type 5-game-guarantee tourney at $525 ($105.00/game) ... For future reference, you will be very close to 100% accurate if you assume that any Non-TOC-Qualifier event will be a four-game-guarantee, because none come to mind that aren't ... If there comes a time when one may be a 5-game type, we'll let you know ... Good luck and enjoy San Clemente! ...
I live in San Clemente and have played in this tourney and at this complex. It's a good experience...
There are many good places to eat whether it be fast food or a great meal with ambiance.
Board 'n Brew is a good place for lunch as is Z Pizza... both are located within 2 miles of fields. There are the other franchise types as well... Carl's, Taco Bell, etc.
Riders Club, on Coast Hwy, has a great burger, limited parking though.
If you're looking for something nicer, send me an email @ awtgroupsc@aol.com.
Almost all of the non franchise places have micro brews of many types.
Bob Woodroof
Gentlemen,
First things first everyone. Let's stop blaming Dave and the SSUSA Staff. Dave had nothing to do with this tournament, except to fix what was originally a terrible scheduling by Top Gun. I will refrain from using anyone's names here. SSUSA lets the Top Gun organization run these tournaments, so that is their only hand in this.
In the past, the quality of this tournament was a D. I did not give it an F, because the fields are very nice. I could explain my position why, but that is the past and over and I did that back then. I will stick to the subject matter at hand. Originally for this year, teams and managers were told that this would be a 5 game guarantee, then it was changed to a 4 game guarantee all of a sudden. Originally for this year, teams and managers were told that this would be a 3 day event. That was just false from day one, because this was never a 3 day event, but a 2 1/2 day event, and again, too many teams allowed to enter. Now, if you look at the tournament details on this tournament, it says nothing. How convenient. At least, I cannot see anything. You can ask some teams and managers what it did say and what they were assured. That is the short version about the tournament.
20-20 hind sight, well come on guys. I preached to my teams that I am agreeable to enter whatever tournament they would like during the year, but I am not in favor of a Top Gun run tournament. Not to say that some do turn out OK, but it would be best that SSUSA runs them. The old saying, try it once, be hesitant a 2nd time, and the 3rd time, shame on us. Half the guys want to go and the other half has short-term memory. Both halves are complaining now, as to why did we do this again. LOL! Live and learn.
Sorry that this has happened to teams that were totally unaware. This is my 3rd year at this tournament, so shame on us, but it is finally the last. I know that I will get 5 games in this week, because I am playing on 2 different teams. Now that is the way to buck the system.
Andy Smith,
65 Major/60 Major Plus
You are correct Duke, this is all on Top Gun. They decided to have more teams and then realized there is a problem.
5 game guarantee and no under the lights, you see how that turned out.
My 2 cents...
Every tournament has its "issues".. its impossible to make everyone happy, BUT, at the same time, this is the ONLY SSUSA event in Orange County at this point.
Its in a good location during the heat of summer where we could be playing in Hemet.
As far as cost, ASA and USSSA charge almost as much for 3 GG events in Southern California.
I also know for what the City of San Clemente charges for those fields.... its one of the more expensive venues in Orange County.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on the running of this event, just wanted to add mine.
