Solo-mon 2

Congratulations to Coach Norman on a Great Coaching Career!!! Also Congrats to Kyle on his opportunity!!! Seymour has had stability in the Baseball Coaching Dept....Bruce Wilson, then Greg Clark, Then Scott Norman. I can't remember the coach that was there just a year or so during Scott's break. All these Coaches are Great Men and outstanding examples for their players! I hope Kyle will continue the success!!

After looking thru all the posts, I found it hard to believe that no one mentioned Sevier County and the HUMP. You could only see the top of the players on the other side of the field. I haven't seen the field this year yet, but I am pretty sure it will not be as bad since they now have turf. Maryville was tough for one reason of the short fence that was just a yard or 2 past the back line of the end zone next to the school. I actually know this first hand, got lucky I did not hit where a post was.

Umpires are a part of the game, BUT the best Umps are the ones you hardly know are there. There are too many Umps that show up to the field with a chip on their shoulder and let that carry over to the game. From the comment in the original post on this thread, it seems the umps came to the field already upset that there were just 2 umps and not 3. Umps that chase a coach or player in the dugout or outside are just looking to cause problems and should be reprimanded by their association. There are some very good umps out there, but ones like these seem to get all the attention and make them look bad. The good umps don't really want to work with the bad umps either. They know there is an issue when you have a ump thinks they are the CONTROLLING Factor in the game. The Umps need to have a grading system where both coaches get to add input after the game. This grading system should be the determining factor for post season. It should also be a determining factor on pay scale for a game. This would make the Umps be accountable for their actions. Higher grade umps would make more. Just my 2 cents.

Just looking thru this post & had to give a shout out to Andrew Lee & what he is doing at UT so far this season!

People can say what they want, but stealing signals is part of the game. That is the reasons that SIGNALS are called and not just holding up 1 for fb and 2 for curve for everyone to see. Base runners try to steal the catcher's signals, coaches try to steal the opposing coach's signals..... The only thing that I disagree with is the way the Parent handled it. I have stolen the signals of other teams and went and told our coach. Then you have a indicator for the batter to let them know what is coming...say their # for curve, name for FB. You see baserunners touching 1 hand to helmet for FB and 2 for curve on most any team when they figure it out. I dont agree with yelling it out, I would want to be able to tip my players off for as long as I could. It then is the responsibility for the other coach to change what he is doing, mix the signals, change them.... Some guys I played with did not want to know what was coming because if you were wrong, they were fooled. This is just my 2 cents...I know that others will not agree.

Game 2 played Wed SCHS 9 JCHS 5 Hearing from friend at JCHS, last couple of innings wheels fell off for JCHS with errors after building 5 - 1 lead. Weather played a factor. Looking at scores.... SCHS, SD, Mo West, JCHS and Seymour seem to be standing out. BIG sweep for SCHS to take early advantage

Sevier Co 1 Jeff Co 0

CONGRATS to Bearden on making the Title Game! I feel for whoever gets this job! It will be hard to follow this!

This has got my interest now. Traywick did turn in his resignation. I have heard that he did apply or was talk to about the Bearden job. He is a PE teacher. He interviewed when the job was open before. He helped turn the Sevier Co program around, no doubt! He had a real good talented class go thru that graduated in 2010 that helped tremendously! This opened the doors for others to want to go to SC where they previously went to other schools in the county to play baseball. You build it (or win) and they will come! He works very hard at his job and puts in the time needed to succeed! It would be interesting to see how the Bearden players and parents mesh with Coach T. He is VERY competitive and is one of those coaches that you either like him or hate him! I personally appreciated him and his work at SC and I wish Him the BEST if he does go this route! When does Bearden play this week? If they win the 1st game, it will be at least another week until they announce who got the job, right?

Prayers sent from Sevier Co!

I agree that they made too big of a jump. I am "Old School" for hit and run, squeeze plays, bunting to move runners, fielders being able to make plays....BUT one has to realize that these players are used to hitting for high averages, lots of home runs, lots of gap shots.... Anyone that has played the game knows that there is a large mental part of the game. If you go to the plate thinking you are going to struggle to get a hit...you probably will not get a hit. If you think the bat you are swinging is "dead", you are not as confident & it will show. The averages will drop, it happened already in college ball, it could be worse on the high school level. The High School coaches are going to have to recognize & see this to try to help players cope with a .250 to .300 average when they are used to .400. Slumps happen to everyone, there could be many more this year with players struggling. Last year, I saw the difference in the first games my son played...the team they played had already played 10 games, their outfield played shallow and their pitchers grooved a lot of pitches to let them see just how far they could hit it. On the other hand his team played normal and the pitchers nibbled at the corners. It was not pretty. They were beat pretty soundly. Speed of the outfield will play a big part of the games. The sound of the bats are different also. Teams that adjust early will have an upper hand.

SC 24 HV 21 final

Not trying to jump in too deep, but after reading all the posts, I thought of some things that have not been said so far... 1) I agree that most umpires do put a lot of time in to what they are doing so they can do their best, and money was getting to be an issue with high gas prices. One thing though, I don't think many people have gotten raises at their jobs recently. It seems with the current economy, every company is tightening their belts. Umpiring is no different in my opinion. Also the "bad" umpires do seem to be more frequent these days. 2) As far as the smaller schools raising more money, THEY ALREADY HAVE TO BECAUSE OF THE BAT CHANGES. Everyone has to go out and buy a BBCOR bat now. No more hand-me-downs. This has not been addressed at all in the money situation that is facing ALL schools. Most of the bat companies have set their prices high. $200 gets you a bat that I would not have wanted to use in 1986. 3) I read the outburst and the apology that TNIrish posted at the start. I understand the years that he has put in from reading his posts, but how quick was he to jump?!?!!! This is what a lot of parents, coaches and spectators see more often. A quick hateful outburst a lot of times because of "rabbit ears". If a Ump comes to the field with a CHIP or is just waiting on the first thing to be said so he can show he is in charge, this is not right! Also if the UMP thinks he KNOWS EVERYTHING, this is not right, I have always told my players that I have coached that the day you know EVERYTHING about the game, is the day you need to hang the spikes up. There is always something that can catch you off guard or out of the norm that usually occurs. Even with the apology, it proved the point of those who have voiced seeing this type of umpiring. You are out in front of everyone and everyone can see your actions, it is part of the game also! I have respect and sympathy for those umps that do their best. I know that there is going to be some happy and some mad at every close call. Even though you don't hear it very often, thank you!

Jeff Co 10 Sevier Co 0 Jeff advances to 2AAA championship & regions. Congrats to the Patriots.

Sevier Co beat Mo East, score? Sevier Co @ Jeff Co tonight & has to beat them twice. Go Smoky Bears!!!!