Looking for low-key local "travel" softball in Sterling/Herndon/Great Falls/Ashburn

[Anonymous]

DD is one of the better, more invested players on her mediocre rec team and is just looking for a slightly elevated experience. Not looking for anything crazy intense, not trying to play in college, not looking to travel far distances for tournaments. Just looking for kids with experience who care about the game, and a team that isn't forced to take kids who have never played as the rec teams do (a big gripe of hers.) She's currently 12U and will be for one more school year, then will have to move up.

So far I've found:
Great Falls Sharks
Great Falls Flames
Herndon Rogue

I can't tell the differences or if any of these will even be holding tryouts this summer. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Anonymous]

The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

I would recommend going to the Shooting Stars tryouts, but candidly it sounds like your player doesn't have much of a chance to make their teams.

Agree about Flames. HRYS Glory is another option, if they're still a thing. You need to look probably at the C teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

I would recommend going to the Shooting Stars tryouts, but candidly it sounds like your player doesn't have much of a chance to make their teams.

Agree about Flames. HRYS Glory is another option, if they're still a thing. You need to look probably at the C teams.

HRYS Glory is now Rogue. Their current 12U team is moving to 14u, but there will be a new 12u team. Tryouts are posted. That and Flames will be pretty low-key. Sharks, too, though that will be primarily a 2012 team, so not sure if they plan to try to be fully 11u.

Shooting Stars as it currently stands would likely be too intense/high level, but that will change with the folding of Comets into SS. There will be C teams in SS now and I suspect there will be two 12C teams this coming year, likely an 11C and a (true) 12C team, though it all depends on who shows up to tryouts. Definitely go to Shooting Stars tryouts and at least explore that option. It is a great organization.

Stingrays, based in Fairfax may also be a good option. They tend to have two 12u teams, typically a B team and a C team. They carry large rosters so it is not a big deal if you can't make a tournament to two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

I would recommend going to the Shooting Stars tryouts, but candidly it sounds like your player doesn't have much of a chance to make their teams.

Agree about Flames. HRYS Glory is another option, if they're still a thing. You need to look probably at the C teams.

HRYS Glory is now Rogue. Their current 12U team is moving to 14u, but there will be a new 12u team. Tryouts are posted. That and Flames will be pretty low-key. Sharks, too, though that will be primarily a 2012 team, so not sure if they plan to try to be fully 11u.

Shooting Stars as it currently stands would likely be too intense/high level, but that will change with the folding of Comets into SS. There will be C teams in SS now and I suspect there will be two 12C teams this coming year, likely an 11C and a (true) 12C team, though it all depends on who shows up to tryouts. Definitely go to Shooting Stars tryouts and at least explore that option. It is a great organization.

Stingrays, based in Fairfax may also be a good option. They tend to have two 12u teams, typically a B team and a C team. They carry large rosters so it is not a big deal if you can't make a tournament to two.

Shooting Stars have taken a step back in prestige in recent years. They once were aiming to be a regional power but the absorption of the Comets program (which was their "minor leagues") under the brand does cause some dilution.

There's going to be a lot of shifting this summer, I think. Loudoun Liberty and Loudoun Inferno organizations look like they're imploding or hanging on by the skin of their teeth. I think Glory is starting a new 12U team. Tri-State Thunder and East Coast Bullets are making inroads into Northern Virginia, although I think the talent dilution may affect them, too. Even the Shamrocks are expanding, probably too fast.

Gonna be interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

I would recommend going to the Shooting Stars tryouts, but candidly it sounds like your player doesn't have much of a chance to make their teams.

Agree about Flames. HRYS Glory is another option, if they're still a thing. You need to look probably at the C teams.

HRYS Glory is now Rogue. Their current 12U team is moving to 14u, but there will be a new 12u team. Tryouts are posted. That and Flames will be pretty low-key. Sharks, too, though that will be primarily a 2012 team, so not sure if they plan to try to be fully 11u.

Shooting Stars as it currently stands would likely be too intense/high level, but that will change with the folding of Comets into SS. There will be C teams in SS now and I suspect there will be two 12C teams this coming year, likely an 11C and a (true) 12C team, though it all depends on who shows up to tryouts. Definitely go to Shooting Stars tryouts and at least explore that option. It is a great organization.

Stingrays, based in Fairfax may also be a good option. They tend to have two 12u teams, typically a B team and a C team. They carry large rosters so it is not a big deal if you can't make a tournament to two.

Shooting Stars have taken a step back in prestige in recent years. They once were aiming to be a regional power but the absorption of the Comets program (which was their "minor leagues") under the brand does cause some dilution.

There's going to be a lot of shifting this summer, I think. Loudoun Liberty and Loudoun Inferno organizations look like they're imploding or hanging on by the skin of their teeth. I think Glory is starting a new 12U team. Tri-State Thunder and East Coast Bullets are making inroads into Northern Virginia, although I think the talent dilution may affect them, too. Even the Shamrocks are expanding, probably too fast.

Gonna be interesting.

PP above you and agree with all of this. The real problem is too much talent dilution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Falls Sharks have a very good 12u team that consists of 2010 birth years and will move to 14u in the fall. They also have a 10u team with primarily 2012-2013 birth years that will be moving to 12u in the fall.

The Great Falls Flames have only 2011 birth year players and will be staying in 12u for another year.

VA Rogue (HRYS) primarily has 2010 players on their 12u roster. I'm not sure what their plan is for next year.

If you have a 2011 player who will be playing 12u another season, Great Falls Flames is probably the best fit.

I would reach out to the individual teams to learn more about if/when tryouts will happen. Most teams will have tryouts in July.

Thanks, will do. Someone on another thread mentioned Ashburn Comets, but when I go to their website it says they are merging with Ashburn Shooting Stars this fall. Is Shooting Stars too intense for what I am looking for or will they have different level teams? Any guesses? Thanks for your input.

I would recommend going to the Shooting Stars tryouts, but candidly it sounds like your player doesn't have much of a chance to make their teams.

Agree about Flames. HRYS Glory is another option, if they're still a thing. You need to look probably at the C teams.

HRYS Glory is now Rogue. Their current 12U team is moving to 14u, but there will be a new 12u team. Tryouts are posted. That and Flames will be pretty low-key. Sharks, too, though that will be primarily a 2012 team, so not sure if they plan to try to be fully 11u.

Shooting Stars as it currently stands would likely be too intense/high level, but that will change with the folding of Comets into SS. There will be C teams in SS now and I suspect there will be two 12C teams this coming year, likely an 11C and a (true) 12C team, though it all depends on who shows up to tryouts. Definitely go to Shooting Stars tryouts and at least explore that option. It is a great organization.

Stingrays, based in Fairfax may also be a good option. They tend to have two 12u teams, typically a B team and a C team. They carry large rosters so it is not a big deal if you can't make a tournament to two.

Shooting Stars have taken a step back in prestige in recent years. They once were aiming to be a regional power but the absorption of the Comets program (which was their "minor leagues") under the brand does cause some dilution.

There's going to be a lot of shifting this summer, I think. Loudoun Liberty and Loudoun Inferno organizations look like they're imploding or hanging on by the skin of their teeth. I think Glory is starting a new 12U team. Tri-State Thunder and East Coast Bullets are making inroads into Northern Virginia, although I think the talent dilution may affect them, too. Even the Shamrocks are expanding, probably too fast.

Gonna be interesting.

For every organization, your experience comes down to the coach of your particular team. My DD was on one of the teams at an organization considered top tier with coaches everyone raved about. They didn’t teach girls anything. Basically hit balls at them during practice and expected them to learn new skills in private lessons. And they had horrible in game management. Many of these top organizations collect already good players and do not develop their own good players.