The U-19 tournament was a great display of high school lacrosse talent at it finest. The Baltimore Crabs won there second straight championship and did it in convincing fashion. They overmatched many defenses using their talented depth to out play every team they faced.

The Crabs showed a level of teamwork that is usually uncommon at the Shootout. They played great team lacrosse, and really set them selves apart from the rest of the field. Baltimore was stifled in the semifinals by a gifted Ohio team, and for all intents and purposes that was the deciding game of the U-19 tournament. Ohio was the only team with a defense capable of slowing down the slew of NCAA DI players that filled out the Baltimore roster.

The big surprise of the boy's tournament was the squad from Arizona. While not actually being made up of very many Arizona players, they did a great job of getting everything out of their players. Arizona certainly made a case for having one of the best face-off groups to come through the tournament in some time. But despite all their talent they ran into a Crabs team that was on a hot streak.

From the rest of the field Idaho was clearly the biggest up and comer. The 7th year team fought their way into the championship bracket for the first time. It was good to see this team finally fulfilling the potential they had for the last year or two.

The Idaho coach, Blake Gaudet was very pleased with the way his team preformed, ending with a 2-2 record. "This was the first group of kids that had been playing together since the U15 level" Gaudet pointed out. "This wasn't the most talented group we've brought to the tournament, but they are the best 'team' we've had" Gaudet said. Look for Idaho to be back with a strong team in 2008, along with the usual suspects for next years U19 tournament.

Even though there was a slightly smaller field than in years past for the Dr. Tom Watts Memorial U-19 Tournament, the competition was still top notch. There was a high brand of lacrosse on exhibited from all teams, and a level of competitiveness that was a treat to watch.