The 2014 NAFA World Series runs from Aug. 7-17 with five divisions of teams competing for championships at the Quad Cities of Illinois & Iowa. visit the NAFA Fastpitch for complete tournament information.

QUAD CITIES – Well, it’s nine days and counting before the top divisional teams – the AA & AA-Major’s – take to the ball diamonds at Green Valley Sports Complex and Rock Island Campbell Sports Complex to kick off the 2014 NAFA World Series in the fastpitch mecca of the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa.

I don’t know many of the teams or players personally, but I’m going to make a few predictions based upon past results and what I know about the teams. (See Printable Pool Play Bracket: AA : AA-M Pool Play)

Pool A: Maple Farm Equipment Bronx, Saskatchewan, Canada: 2013 A-Major champion. The question: Can they make the jump up in division and compete in the tough AA & AA-Major? I think so.

Pool B: Kelso Fastpitch of Kelso, Missouri. I appreciate the way this team has stuck together with a mostly local roster from the small town of Kelso (pop. about 600), located along the Missouri and Illinois border. This year marked the 30th Annual Kelso Klassic Tournament. (See photo gallery.

Pool C: Got to go with Topeka Toros. Always give everyone problems – from ISC to NAFA. Doesn’t seem to matter what division their opponent is rated, the Toros just pick up the sticks and gloves and say, “let’s get it on!”

Pool D: Black Gold, another Missouri team from the small town of Hermann (pop. 2,400) that has NAFA Hall of Fame pitcher Erik Steinbeck in the circle. Another of those (rare) teams comprised of a locally-grown roster.

Pool E: Winterset A’s (Iowa). Led by veteran manager Gary Christensen, the A’s took runner-up in last year’s NAFA AA-Major, losing 2-1 to the Kegel Black Knights of Fargo in the championship. Winterset will be tough again.

Pool F: J & B Painting of So. Calif. I don’t know anything about them, but I’m a So. Cal guy, so I’m picking them.

Pool play starts at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7th, with the final game scheduled for 9:15 p.m. The competition will determine the teams’ seeding into the AA and AA-Major divisions, which play Friday and Saturday.

If you want to see the best that the NAFA World Series has to offer in pitching, these are the teams to watch.

Printable Pool Play Bracket: AA : AA-M Pool Play