60 teams will be in play this weekend for USSSA as their spring tournament schedule starts to really ramp up this weekend. Some of the best teams in the state, particularly from the Charlotte area will be in action this weekend. For a February tournament of “scrimmages”, there are some absolutely loaded fields. Take a look at our preview for this upcoming weekend’s USSSA action.
Charlotte
8u
Although none of our top 10 are in the field this weekend in Charlotte, this age group highlights the excitement we see in this age group as a whole. The Venom Stars, Weddington Wolves, and Elite 9 will play in a 3 team round robin format.
9u
The 9u field is a huge, 15 team field. 9u #4 Piedmont Panthers will look to build on an impressive 23-1 record from this past fall that earned them the #4 ranking in our final fall rankings. They’ll get their spring started with an excellent Team 24 Gamecocks – Ashley (SC) team as well as the Cherryville Shooters on Saturday. They’ll follow that up with games against the LKN Hurricanes – Mann and SBA Canes – Simmons on Sunday.
10u
(Admin note: We incorrectly listed 10 #2 SBA Canes – Marconi as participating in this field in our initial post. It was a different SBA Canes 10u team who played this past weekend in the USSSA umpire training/scrimmage event). #5 Carolina Havoc will also be in the 10u field on Sunday only. They’ll face the Carolina Bullfrogs and the Carolina Spinners on Sunday.
11u
The 11u age division features 14 teams and multiple top 20 teams. The age group will be lead by #7 Carolina Blue Sox as the top ranked team in the field. The Blue Sox will face off against #15 Weddington Warriors and the Lake Norman Hurricanes on Saturday and Copperheads – Russ and SBA Canes Red on Sunday. #9 SBA Canes – Erwin are also in the 11u field in Charlotte this weekend. The Canes will face the Carolina Athletics and Ultimate Performance on Saturday. They’ll follow that up with games against Carolina Blue Mizuno and #15 Weddington Warriors on Sunday. In addition to their games against the Blue Sox and the Canes, the Warriors will face the Charlotte Nationals on Saturday and Carolina Blue Mizuno on Sunday. For a February tournament, this is a loaded age group. Carolina Athletics should be an interesting team to watch this spring as they were in and out of our top 20 during the fall. They’ll get their chance to make a statement early in this spring season with their game against the Canes, as well as games against Copperheads – Russ, Ultimate Performance, and the Charlotte Nationals this weekend.
12u
12u #2 Minion will look to start their spring season off this weekend in Charlotte. On Saturday they’ll face Ultimate Performance, and 11u #1 SBA Canes – Ross, who fresh off their semi-final performance in the USSSA President’s Day Super NIT in Florida this past weekend, will be playing up in the 12u age group this weekend in Charlotte. This match-up of Minion and SBA Canes – Ross should be one of the more intriguing games in the entire state of North Carolina this weekend. On Sunday, Minion will face WCWAA and OTK. In addition to their showdown against Minion, the Canes will face WCWAA on Saturday, and Carolina Prime and Athlete’s Warehouse on Sunday.
Town Creek
8u
Although none of our top 10 are in the 8u field this weekend, the Leland Lugnuts are a team to keep an eye on as they were in and out of our top 10 during the fall. They’ll face off against the Wilmington Whitecaps and the Ogden Hurricanes in a three team round robin format this weekend.
10u
The 10u age group will feature #9 Port City Rebels, who will face the Coastal Cyclones and Elizabethtown Express on Sunday. There are 5 teams total in this field, and although Port City is the headliner, there are several quality teams including the Express, the Wilmington Wahoo, Dirtbags Coastal and the Coastal Cyclones who could make statements this weekend.
11u
None of our top 20 are in the 11u field this weekend. Brunswick Core and Pirates Elite will play a double-header in this two team field.