sportfan1

I heard the softball coach at Ripley High School resigned right after they were eliminated from district play. Too bad, that school has had 3 different coaches in the past 4 years. Here's hoping they find a coach that will stay with the team for a while.

Where can you go to find stats on game? Checked the Jackson Sun, but didn't give stats.

Any comments on who was chosen and who was left out?

Who is it and what school did he play at?

The Jackson Sun

I saw in the paper that the 2nd Annual High School All-Star game was set for 6/9/09 at Pringles Park. Any idea who the 20 seniors are from West Tennessee are who are playing in this game?

Can you tell me where to find the bracket for the District 14AA tournament to be held in Brownsville, Tennessee? I can't seem to find it anywhere, and I don't think our coach has gotten it yet either.

Why are they not playing?

I agree with you. My daughter's biggest problem is that the varsity softball players will not cheer for them or even stay with the team when the JV team is playing. However, the JV team is expected to endlessly cheer for the varsity. They all are on the team--some just play more than others do. I hope this changes, but it hasn't in the number of years I've watched softball.

My daughter is a sophomore and apparently a JV player only. I plan on being at every game the "team" plays, because she is a member of the team. I had this philosophy when my son played baseball in high school. From the time he was a freshman until he graduated, I was at almost all of the games. I want my kids to know that I support THEM no matter what they do--whether it being cheering in the dugout or playing on the field. I wish more parents would feel this way. I feel the same way when it comes to booster club meetings, working fundraisers, etc. There are some parents that don't want to help unless their kid plays and then when their kid plays, they don't want to miss anything. Every parent needs to support their child no matter what he/she does.

The girl who plays shortstop at Ripley is Mercedes Norfolk. She is an awesome player! Her older brother, Khayyan, is playing baseball his second year at Jackson State Community College and has signed to play for the VOLS next year. Both are excellent players!!

Dyer County looked good in its scrimmage game last night against Ripley. They hit the ball well off of the same pitcher that won the game last year in the district tournament.

I have been for many years an observer and follower of RHS baseball. Simply love the game! Always want the program to do well. I heard Messer was assistant coach at Rosemark. Maybe you should again find out what the real facts are as far as why he was not rehired instead of trying to lay the blame on parents and/or their kids. It must be easy to say that's the reason he was not rehired. Keeps everything else quiet, doesn't it?

You've got to be kidding about Messer, right? The team went to state with lots of help, and you can't say it was all on account of the coach. The players are the ones that play the game. There may have been a few other reasons why the coach wasn't rehired--maybe you should check on those reasons first before you call anyone stupid. If he was such a great coach last year, how come he isn't coaching this year? I think Ripley's going to do great with this new coach, Pepper. He's got a number of seniors that should help him be successful.

You have some of your facts wrong. Did you know he wasn't rehired because of teaching and not baseball? I hope that everyone can agree that the most important job a teacher has is to teach. If you put athletics or anything else above that, you are wrong. This isn't the first time a teacher who is not tenured has not been rehired. I dare say it won't be the last. I'm wondering if you want to get involved in all those other situations. Again, people who don't know the facts really should LET IT GO!!

Walkoff, I've just responded to another one of your posts. What a joke! You think it's about his "teaching style". You are more pathetic than I thought you were. You do know that this teacher has been let go from 2 other schools. Do you have a clue what that was about? Get your facts straight before you start spouting off at the mouth.

My, my, my. I enjoyed looking at all of your other posts. Obviously, you are someone who loves to jump in situations that you don't know anything about. You are what I'd call a S--- stirrer. I again would tell EVERYONE that doesn't know this situation to keep their mouth shut. There are a number of things going on in the background that are better left unspoken. It would be for all concerned, including the coach.

You just don't seem to get it, do you? You don't have a clue what all has happened here in Ripley. I will tell you this, if you are big enough to post your name, I'm sure there are a few people here to contact you and let you know exactly what's gone on here. How can you possibly state that "parents are one of the biggest problems with the youth today". Have you lost your mind? You obviously don't have kids and haven't listened to what most educators, preachers, and counselors say when they encourage parents to be involved in their child's life. This is all I hear nowdays that not enough parents are involved with their kids in any aspect. I take great offense to your remarks, and I don't have a kid playing. Let me say this, perhaps the reason you aren't coaching is because of this attitude. I certainly wouldn't want my child coached by you or taught by you, as you can't even spell succeed!! Perhaps you ought to take up another profession.

You know, it is easy for people who DON'T know the situation in Ripley to sit back and jump on a bandwagon. Again, he wasn't rehired because of teaching--not coaching. Unless you've seen everything that's happened here in Ripley, you really should keep your posts to yourself!

As I understand it, Messer was not REHIRED. He didn't have tenture. I also understand that it didn't have anything to do with coaching. I'm wondering if all of the people that have jumped on his bandwagon have ever been in his classroom or seen that part of it. You know, I would think the teaching part would be most important and then coaching second. As a parent of a small child, I think that would be more important.

Did Brighton make it out of district?

One thing's for sure, if Bridges were to come back, everyone would be treated the same--no favorites on the team. I've been hearing lots of things. I heard the coach pitched a kid 7 innings last Friday night and then turned around and pitched him again on Saturday for one inning, and then two additional innings on Mondays. Doing something like that can hurt a kid's arm. I don't know any of this to be certain, as I was not at any of those games, but there were a number of people talking from Halls that said it was true.

I hope the Ripley Tigers are able to pull together and make a run in the tournament. Things have gotten so bad, some kids wanted the coach to stay and others are glad he's leaving. If ever there was a team divided, Ripley is that team. They have a lot of talent on that team, and I wish them all the luck in the world. GO TIGERS!!

Anxious to see the kid from Ripley pitch. He got hurt last year during the game with USJ in Jackson and had to have surgery on his knee in the summer. Let's hope for a good game with no injuries for either team!!