10u
Both #1 SBA Futures and #2 SBA Nationals will be in Atlanta this weekend for the Spring Super NIT. Both teams were semifinalists in this event in 2018, with both looking to improve upon their 2018 performances. The SBA Futures are in pool D and will take on the MCBC Hit Dogs (MI) and All American Arsenal (GA) in pool play. The Hit Dogs finished #1 in the 2018 USSSA National 9u Major Power Rankings (one spot ahead of the SBA Futures - then the Park Sharon Nationals), so this will be a tough test for the Futures right out of the gate. The All American Arsenal finished 40-14 in 2018 and should be another good test for the Futures. The Nationals are in pool C and will face off against the Detroit Bees (MI) and Velo Baseball (GA) in their pool play games. The Bees posted an 11-19 overall record in USSSA play last year against some pretty stiff competition, while Velo Baseball appears to be a relatively new team this year and posted a 5-0-1 record this past fall, and a 1-1-1 record this spring.
Last year's 9u champion, Force Baseball Academy - Griffin (GA) will be back to defend their crown, and the other finalist from the 2018 9u Majors division, the East Cobb Astros, will also be back this year. In perhaps a bit of coincidental scheduling, Force Baseball and the Astros will be in the same pool (E), but will not have to face one another in pool play as their are 4 teams in this pool with each team only playing two pool play games. The Beehive Stars Scout, who are currently #24 in the USSSA National 10u Power Rankings will also be in action this weekend, playing out of pool B.
Our predicted champion: SBA Futures
11u
NC #2 Canes Baseball NC - Foster and #4 Rawlings Prospects NC will both be playing in the 11u Majors division in Atlanta this year. The Canes, who are the defending Atlanta Spring Super NIT champion, are in pool G and will go against The Club Red (GA) and the East Cobb Astros White (GA) in their pool play games. Both of the Canes' opponents will have a leg up in terms of experience this spring, as the Club Red already have 7 games under their belts this spring, while the East Cobb Astros White are already 10-1-1 in the early Spring 2019 season, after going 8-3-1 this past fall. The Prospects, playing out of Pool D, will have to content with the East Cobb Astros Orange (GA) and the Southern Nationals (GA) in their two pool play games on Saturday. East Cobb Astros Orange is one of the best teams in Georgia, and is already 9-1-2 this spring and currently ranked #24 in the USSSA National 11u Power Rankings and #6 in Perfect Game's 11u National top 100. In addition, they are already qualified for the USSSA Demarini Elite World Series, having won the President's Day Super NIT in Orange Beach, Alabama in February.
The 11u Majors division will also feature Perfect Game's national #13 East Cobb Astros Navy (GA), #28 FCA BlueClaws - Hannah (FL), #41 Crusaders Baseball (TN), #46 Showcase Baseball - Howze (GA), #57 Motor City Hit Dogs (MI), #79 5 star National Elite (GA), #84 Georgia Jackets, and South Carolina #2 PRO Select. East Cobb Astros Navy and the Hit Dogs will both play in pool E and take one another as well as Comanche Baseball in pool play. FCA - Hannah and the Georgia Jackets will play along side Mizuno ATL in pool A, while the Crusaders will face off against the Georgia Bandits and the Sandy Plains Prowlers (GA) in pool B. Showcase Baseball - Howze will face the EWA Warriors (TN) and the Knoxville Stars (TN) in pool C, while PRO Select, 5 Star National Elite, and Meridian will go at it in pool F.
Our predicted champion: Canes Baseball NC - Foster