EC Bullets - Schnute claim top spot in US Rankings 18u final poll for 2018

US Club Rankings, widely appreciated as the most valid and inclusive rankings platform in the sport of softball, is assembled by using tournament finishes from all governing bodies, polls of coaches and college placement information. Here's a look at the 18u Top 10; you can see the entire breakdown HERE: 

1)     East Cobb Bullets – Schnute – Coach Greg Schnute
Congratulations to the EC Bullets and Greg Schnute for grabbing the US Club Rankings No. 1 spot for the 2018 FINAL National Rankings at 18 & Under!  This legacy program has been a force for 22 years, steadily climbing the rankings and have reached the pinnacle from their efforts this season.

The EC Bullets have been making themselves known nationally since we began the US Club Rankings in 2012.  They were often seen in the Top 10 during the Colorado 4th of July IDT event as well as PGF, the JO Cup and TC/USA Nationals.  In 2016 they boasted their first “National Title” at the JO Cup in Southern California, then again hoisted a championship trophy at the 2018 TC/USA Nationals – that all led to a first place National Points System ranking, which is based upon on-field performance.

With a reputation for excellence on the field in the Southeast, the EC Bullets class of 2018 will be making an impact populating teams in the SEC and ACC conferences on rosters such as Florida, University of South Carolina and Duke.  The 2019 class that will anchor the team will follow in the same fashion with commits to Mississippi State, Alabama, Tennessee, Notre Dame and national champion Florida State.  This team will be casting a shadow in championship brackets for years to come.

2)     Orange County Batbusters – Coach Mike Stith
The Orange County Batbusters have been around for over 30 years and is a recognized name across the nation.  Gary Haning, founder of the organization, made a great choice in asking Mike Stith to carry on the legacy of the organization’s flagship team.

The Batbusters are no strangers to the top of the podium and took home the IDT Championship in 2018 and 2nd place at the PGF National Tournament.  Former OC Batbusters can be seen throughout the country on college rosters such as Oklahoma, Arizona, Oregon, Washington and all the way to the East Coast at Florida.  There is no shortage in talent in years to come as the 2020 and 2021 class is just as strong as the seniors leading the team next season. With a tradition so rich the OC Batbusters name will stay recognizable and even feared in 2019 and beyond.

3)     So Cal Athletics – Coach Bruce Richardson
The So Cal Athletics – Richardson is rarely found outside the Top 5 in any national tournament; that has been reflected in the US Club Rankings as they were the No. 1 team in 2017 before dropping slightly in 2018.  Since 2010 the So Cal Athletics have taken home the national title for PGF a record five times and continue to be a force when it counts.

You can see 2018 grads on rosters nationwide (Florida Gulf Coast, North Dakota State, Bryant University, Bucknell, West Point and UCLA), proving that teams can assemble great talent with chemistry and still get it done on the field even though they are not all power conference players.  The class on deck in 2019 will lead their last summer before heading to Cal, LSU, Arizona State, Oregon State, Stanford and Notre Dame to continue their careers.  There is no doubt the legacy as a formidable opponent will continue wherever they go.

4)     Corona Angels – Coach Marty Tyson
Ever present in the Top 10 are the Corona Angels – Tyson.  Being considered the youngster organization compared to other So Cal staples, they have stayed in the hunt after being named the Top Team in 2015 and are still a force nationally.  A 9th place finish at the IDT and 3rd at the PGF National tournament keeps them towards the top of the competitive field of teams.

Check out the big conferences all over the country to see Angels on the field, particularly at Louisville, Nebraska, Duke, Ohio State, Stanford, Wisconsin, Washington and UCLA.  With the feeder teams, Marty Tyson will continue to see success on the field and compete for national titles every year.

5)     Texas Bombers Gold – Coach Scott Smith
You can always find the Texas Bombers at the ballpark, usually toward the conclusion in the Top 25, and also from their unmistakable uniforms honoring the United States military. The Bombers try to embody a militaristic precision on the field and play the game with talent and respect.  Their finishes at the Fireworks Power Pools (fifth) and TC/USA Nationals (second) took them from No. 8 last year to No. 5 in the blink of an eye.

The Bombers players have populated college rosters in and outside of Texas including Texas A&M, LSU, University of Houston, Auburn, Harvard, Northwestern and national champion Florida State.  The 2019 and beyond grads are hoping to continue the tradition and the pursuit for the top spot in the nation before embarking on a college career.
 
6)     Texas Glory – Coach Kevin Shelton
Another organization from the Lone Star State, the Texas Glory has been a fixture in the Top 10 and has for the second year in a row landed at No. 6.  Each year, dominant finishes in the Fireworks Power Pool and a 2018 USA Elite Select title have led to their continued success.

Texas Glory players are landing on college rosters wherever you look.  From Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana Lafayette, LSU, Texas A&M to North Texas, Northwestern State and Harding, Glory players are impacting the rosters while bringing their winning tradition and hard work with them.  They will continue to be a contender at a national level down the road.

7)     Aces Express – Coach Dave McCorkle
With an organizational motto of “Attitude and Effort” it’s no wonder the Aces Express teams have been on the rise.  With a club best 3rd place finish in the Fireworks Power Pools and another 3rd place finish in the TC/USA Nationals, Dave McCorkle has a Texas program worth watching.  Making the jump from No. 9 to No. 7 embodies the word effort, and the respect for the game shows attitude is in fact controllable.

The 2019 roster is hungry to keep improving their standing, and most of them are finding homes in Texas for their college career.  Texas A&M, Corpus Christi, Stephen F Austin and UT San Antonio to name a few will be gaining players who know what it is to work hard to help programs grow.  “Attitude and Effort” remains not only a team motto but a statement worthy of future champions.

8)     Georgia Impact Premier – Coach Patrick Lewis
New to the Top 10, the Georgia Impact Premier entered with a BANG, taking 2nd place at the IDT then following it up with a PGF Premier National title after taking 5th in the TC/USA Nationals in 2018.  This team has put in the work in the past few years to get where they are today. With a great system of teams in the Georgia Impact organization, they have been able to put their stamp with a national powerhouse.

A few of the Patrick Lewis’ players will be gracing the ranks of the SEC including Alabama and LSU; most will stay in the Southeast to contribute to other college’s success like Georgia State, Kennesaw State, East Tennessee and Florida Gulf Coast.  The 2019 class will be branching out even further with players headed to Michigan, Utah, Colorado State and some again staying closer to home to play at Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern.  This may be the first time they broke into the Top 10, but with their winning tradition rolling, it will not be the last.

9)     Firecrackers Brashear – Coach Sean Brashear
The Firecrackers name is no stranger to the Top 10, but Sean Brashear has blazed a trail to the No. 9 spot in spectacular fashion.  Blowing through the competition at the Fireworks Power Pool (walking away with a championship) and making a run finishing 5th at PGF this team was just plain fun to watch.  With what seems like a never-ending bench, the pitching staff was able to stay fresh and crisp during long events, and the hitters are relentless from top to bottom giving opponents no time to breathe.  That is why the team made a huge jump from No. 23, leaving a lot of teams in the wake of their success.

Watch for the 2018 grads from Firecrackers Brashear at Fullerton and Stanford and the 2019 class close behind at Fullerton, Loyola Marymount, Illinois, Tennessee, CSUSN and Purdue.  This up-and-coming team will be putting out more talent to college rosters in the future since Sean is grooming 16U, 14U and 12U teams with the same winning attitude.

10)  Scrap Yard Internationals – Coaches Todd Leach and Connie May
It is not often teams combine to become stronger, but that is exactly what happened when Sudden Impact Gold and the Scrap Yard Dawgs merged to form the Scrap Yard Internationals for the 2018 season.  Each team on its own was Top-20 level, but when they combined the talent of the players and coaching, it rattled the rankings. The team made a run at the Fireworks in the Power Pools for a 9th place finish then took home 3rd at the TC/USA Nationals to help grab a spot in our Top 10.

Their future is looking just as bright with players in the 2019, 2020 classes heading to Texas A&M, UT – Arlington, Seton Hall, Wisconsin, Texas, Nebraska, Louisiana Lafayette, LSU and Baylor.  This Houston-based united front has a lot to look forward to with two organizations to feed the Scrap Yard Internationals team for a great run toward the top in the coming years.