12u rankings

Well take your shot at the 1-20 rankings. It may start a healthy discussion.

Let’s all take a step back and honestly say that the end of year rankings mean nothing this year. At 13U the playing field is leveled as these boys become men and play on the big field. Hits that we’re home runs this week, are pop up outs starting August 1. Players that don’t play the base correctly with runners sliding go from saying ow 🤕 to having blood and scars.

You must also take in to account that at 13U more players begin to move from one team to another more than years prior. But here’s what Observations I see going forward based on Gamechanger, rumor mills and watching teams play against my son’s team since 9U.

API- There’s been rumors that API has lost their #1 player to Gambrills, same said player pitched against Gambrills and held one of the best hitting teams in the state in check for the most part for 4 innings, before the giving the ball to someone else and the wheels fell off. If this is in fact true, API takes huge step back, if they don’t grab a new bunch of players in try outs. Seems that API gets more and more players as kids get older.

Hcyp- lost to Olney bucks, then beat Elkridge A team twice. Just don’t know what team you will see.

Word is RBA lost a kid to Olney, and Olney is already #1 in the state, and has been since 9U. Olney will be #1 til someone can beat them more than 1 time. Especially with them adding a Kid last fall who was playing up the year prior giving them more depth at pitching, hitting and plays multiple positions, seen the boy play and he’s a legit baller. Not sure on the talent of kid coming from RBA but if your good enough to make RBA and Olney your good. Tommy Rey has done a great job keeping this team together and building his power house. Team has only played 6 games so far and only loss was to Long Island Body Armour and was winning until the bottom of the 5th, and that team is ranked 38th nationally by travel baseball rankings.

If motley crew stays together, they have some really talented kids, and are coached well By a coach that’s not a Dad!! Seems to be a great role model and plays the game the right way. Motley has some really good arms 1-3 but then there’s a severe drop off; so if they add pitching they will be a tough team to beat. Their catcher may be one of the top 3 in the state at 12u rising 13U, talked to a parent from another team who said they watched the kid hit 3 shots over 300 feet at SATB.

The rankings need to give a better look to the eastern shore of Maryland and the Mid Atlantic Shockers Gaylor, Shockers “B” team who lost to NJ Axemen by 1) and Delmarva Aces East. Shockers “B” team catcher is an absolute beast at all aspects behind the plate. These 3 don’t get the respect they deserve. Even with Shockers (Gaylor) loosing to Gambrills 10-2, they were 49-3 last year. That’s a real tough number to beat.

Also jumping into contention is the Garret Timber Rattlers and Edgemere Elite. These 2 have came onto the Maryland Travel Scene with a boom, and are legit teams. No team can see them on the schedule after their draw and expect to get through easy. Elite lost to VA stars and API in the USSSA tournament, but have beat teams like SJ young Gunz, Rip city and have easily beaten Delmarva Aces 3 Times now.

Elkridge has played 1 tournament at 12U this year winning it and then jumped straight to the 90, and have lost a fair share of games but mainly to current 13 rising 14u teams.

Rba has been consistent as usual picking up a lefty from API mid season and the kid is a solid baller; who definitely seems to of fit right in. Lost 1 player to Olney for 13U but since they were Manchester they have been one of the most sound teams in Maryland, on both sides of the ball. Clbutty quiet ran team with a great coach.

Lakeshore seems to of had a tough season, loosing several kids but also adding a good ball player from Elkridge mid season. Team has been in the top 5 in Maryland since 9U. Maybe a rough season is what they needed to get the competitive flow back. Team has always hit, bunted and pitched well; and has always been known for being loud and outspoken. This season seems different, maybe the loss of several players hurt the cohesiveness. What ever the reason for the rough season they have drop in the rankings as they sit at 4-7 and 2 on game changer but also don’t have 2 losses to API on game changer. No matter their records no team can ever take this team light, because if you do they will have the curly W. This team also comes from behind more than any team I’ve ever seen. These kids definitely fight til the last out.

Calvert Tide- Same story different year. Same group of players since 9U and are always in the mix. They definitely have played a very competitive schedule, and will be better for it in the long run. Some of the clbuttiest and best coaches in the age division.

Hickory- Same story as Tide. Team doesn’t seem to of changed much over the years. Word is they are converting to US Elite, which I’m sure will pull some kids away from Motley Crew and Maryland Orioles. Have a great second baseman who is always a baller. Team beat Gambrills by 1 run, and went on to win HCYP Tournament. No reason to rank them next year as most of the team will be US Elite. Watch out for their catcher. He’s a true leader behind the dish, has a cannon, blocks well and a great hitter. Pitching is decent but nothing over powering.

Gambrills- Seems to be the team to beat and hate on this year. Easy for people to hate on a team that has a 22-2-1 record. They have only lost to Hickory by 1 run, NJ Axemen Elite by 1 who is nationally ranked 60th by perfect game. They also beat Bergen Crush who is nationally ranked 80th by perfect game, and faced Bergen’s ace that game speaking to others in the baseball community. If Gambrills actually grabs API’s #1, this makes them a true contender for number #1 in the state, adding another power bat and hard thrower on the mound. They also just beat Mid Atlantic Shockers 10-2 in the championship at SATB, tied Motley Crew in pool play with Motley bringing in a stud of a pitcher from New York based on previous posts, and then beating them 13-4 on Sunday elimination day.

Rankings should be fun next year, and looking forward to watching how these ball players adapt to the 90 foot field.

Best of luck to all!

Brian my apologies, just going on the info received which is 3rd hand at least. The baseball community is only so big and word travels, but had no clue that you guys had let the kid go, just that Olney had added a kid that was previously on your team.

Have you guys added anyone else for next year?

Best of luck to you and your team.

Don’t know what it is but seems the Tide always plays great baseball against Olney. Pulled it out tonight 8-6

LakeShore and HCYP Blue play in a 13u tourney it looks like. They play each other at 1 today, maybe a good game? It won’t be like a tide vs Olney game but who knows. 🤷‍♂️

Can’t some one get me the best top 10 12u rankings please

Bottom line Olney lost twice in a weekend to Tide and then to Lakeshore Graysox. Maybe they aren’t #1 any more.