MrSoftball

Coach Meadors was at Tech until 1986.

I don't know what you are smoking, but it must be good stuff. Coach West is still the coach at MHS.

Christina Cassetty, Jackson County High School - Sewanee

Trousdale County should play all 8A opponents in all sports in which they participate, if Mr. Satterfield has made that call, then he has made a very poor and shortsighted decision in my opinion. As for GeorgeBailey's comment about Jackson County and concession stands, no one in the Jackson County softball program has told you or any other school that they could not bring their own food.

Got to know Coach Linder in the last few years thru softball. A good man gone too soon.

I have now seen the "other three" teams in this district (H2Otown, RBS, and TC) in person, and I think 8A is in for some interesting battles this season. I have not seen the private school or G'ville in person, but I am hearing G'ville isn't as strong as they were last year (a couple of early box scores would seem to indicate that as well), so 2nd place could be up for grabs.

I offered my opinion after seeing an RBS scrimmage. After having watched them in a "real" game, I would still say that they are not as strong as they have historically been, but they are also not "waaay down" as I first opined. Coach Porter is a good coach and RBS will battle everyone they play, they just may not have enough guns this year. I saw H2Otown Saturday, and they have at least 1 fairly strong pitcher. I thought they were fundamentally sound as well, so I think they will finish a strong 3rd.

I keep stats for the preseason, but I do not count it in my season totals. Once the season starts, I include all stats up to and including post season tournaments.

Gordonsville and the Private School will battle it out again this year. I hear H2Otown is pretty decent as well, but I will know more after I see them this weekend. RBS is waaay down this year (sorry Swanson), I think they battle with Trousdale for cellar dweller status this season.

CHS - 38 JCHS - 47

CHS 69 JCHS 59

Jackson County took home the district 7A title last night winning at Clay County 9-3 to complete a perfect 8-0 district record. This marks the 1st district title in JCHS history (JCHS shared the regular season title with Clay County last year). The girls, parents, and coaches are working hard to build a quality program, and this is the first step in a long process. Final 7A standings: JCHS 8-0 Clay Co 6-2 Pickett Co 3-5 Monterey 2-6 Clarkrange 1-7

I don't know in what tournament G-ville played MJ, but the Duff tournament isn't until this weekend, so it wasn't in the Duff. Gordonsville has a very good team this year, quite possibly good enough to compete in the Spring Fling. The problem will be getting by one of the Chattanooga teams in the sub-state.

I have not seen FCS, and can't comment on them but I can tell you that Gordonsville looks VERY good this year. Their lineup can hit the ball hard from top to bottom, and they have solid pitching as well. I think G'ville wins 8A, wins Region 4, and takes a trip to the Spring Fling this year.

Jackson County beat Clay County 5-0 tonight, first game for both teams. 1 run game until the bottom of the 6th. It's a long way until the end of the season, but for now there is a new king of the 8A mountain. Both of these teams have really good young pitchers that just need a little defensive help behind them.

I think you are speaking about district 7A, not 9A. As for Clay County winning the district, they split the regular season championship with Jackson County last year, and the district should come down to those two teams again this year. You are on the money with your assessment of the state of softball in this district otherwise, very few girls in this area grow up dreaming of playing softball. The two teams that make it out of this district come tournament time will indeed face an uphill battle in the region, Friendship Christian is always good and Gordonsville will be very tough this year as well. Your reasons listed are very true: No history and therefore little local support; what few girls that do play travel ball in this district have to go to Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga; teams do have to play in tournaments and coaches do have to go to clinics. Interestingly enough, there is a player in this district that has signed with a D1 school, so there is some potential for good players, but it takes motivated players and parents and lots of sacrifice.

The last two berths should be very interesting. IMO there isn't a lot of difference in the next 6 or 7 14U teams (Worth 95, Diamonds, Illusion, Explosion, Firebirds, Valley Thunder, Silver Eagles in no particular order). I have seen all of them play really well, and I have seen them all play pretty poorly.

My DD's pitching coach thinks that the additional 3 feet will be good for movement pitchers/pitches, but will hurt the pitchers that have always gotten by on throwing hard. As for the change in middle school, I can see both sides of the argument. 3ft is a huge increase for a 12yr old, especially since their body may not have matured yet and they therefore lack the strength to consistently pitch from that distance. That having been said, I was not looking forward to my DD pitching on a HS field that had an additional rubber 3ft in front of the one she would be pitching from. Her fastball stride will be over the 40ft rubber, but her shorter stride for other pitches puts her plant foot right on the 40ft rubber. From that standpoint I am glad the distances will be uniform.

My DD threw from 43 feet the other day just to get a feel for it, I don't think it will be a huge adjustment. The movement pitches (curves, drop balls, screw balls, etc) will need to be adjusted, but otherwise should make the game more interesting. I think we will see 16U at 43ft for all travel ball (and metal cleats as well), it will be interesting to see what the sanctioning bodies do with 14U.

It looks like the TSSAA Board doesn't meet again until August 17th.

NFHS has officially adopted 43 feet as the pitching distance beginning in the 2010-2011 season. States may go to the new pitching distance this year if they so choose. It will be interesting to see which (if not all) of the sanctioning bodies change their rules to match up with NFHS. I would hope they go to 43 feet for 14U and up. See the following link: NFCA Press Release

Not all girls who play summer ball have the opportunity to play at a great SB school, and so they can (and sometimes do) develop bad habits during school ball. The pitching and overall competition they see on a day-to-day basis in school ball might not be better than "C" class ball during the summer, and playing with and against lesser talents is a sure way to develop bad habits. And this doesn't even take into account a school coach who wants to "tinker" with a girls mechanics. Fortunately for us, our school coach realizes that my DD has great hitting and pitching instructors and plays for a good summer organization, so our coach gives my DD little or no instruction related to her swing or her pitching. I wish that were the case for everyone that isn't in a great school ball situation.

Congratulations to Coach West and his boys. Adam is a fine coach and a good man. I wish for nothing but the best for him and his Wildcats the rest of the year.

I think your top 4 teams are pretty accurate, but I am not sure you have the order correct. Monterey has some talented players returning, but with a new (unproven) coach. I think they will miss coach Stevens. Clay County will be tough to beat, they should be the odds on favorite to win the district. RBS has a solid program and coach. I think Jackson County will surprise some folks this year. Taylor Adkins being in the circle will certainly help them. I think they may be the surprise of the district and could easily finish 2nd behind CC.

IMO, if they change HS to 43' then they should change 14U to 43' as well. There are too many small schools with FR/SO pitchers that would be swapping back to 40' when they travel/play during the summer.