tiger1

The new coach at Ripley is Chris Messer. Bridges is just the principal. Ripley beat Rossville 3-0 lastnight. Zach Lewis threw a perfect game. He had 10 or 11 strikeouts. However, Ripley struggled a little at the plate. They left about 8 to 10 runners on base. But it was a good win.

yeah, he has the potential to be really good and could possibly be the number 1 guy i believe, but from watching them in practice and knowing the kid, he needs to improve his work ethic. He has good velocity and good stuff. I know that he could help Ripley a lot if he keeps his mind right. Ripley's catcher is something to see. He is hard nose and is very talented. Has a great arm and is a wall behing the plate. I think he needs to imporve on his hitting, but he has a bright future ahead of him as long as he keeps working at it.

How do you think this district will end up?

yes, Ripley lost a couple key players. ( Wade Vandergriff and Khyyan Norfork and Allan Hargett). This year, I believe they have 3 seniors and 9 or 10 Juniors. I think they're starting 2 Seniors, 4 Juniors and 2 Sophomores. I think the other Senior may just pitch. I think it depends on if he is healthy enough to play other positions. I know he had surgery this past year on his leg so hopefully he will be ready to go. I know they will have to play hard every game and do all they can to score runs. Last year they depended on Khyyan and Wade to carry them. This year they are looking for someone to step in to that role. They scrimmaged Halls yesterday and won 6-0, but Ripley's hitting didn't look good. Pitching and Defense was solid, but hitting needs much work.

I understand what you're saying. I know that Coach Bridges was a great coach and yes he does have the record to show it. I am just saying that Coach Messer would like to get teams in the schuh tournament like Bartlet, Briarcrest, some of those good Memphis teams or Huntingdon, or Dyer County. He is just wanting to play the best competition he can to better prepare his team. I did not mean for my last reply to sound like Coach Bridges wasn't a good coach or that he didn't know what he was doing. I respect him as well as Rod and Carolyn Schuh.

Chris Messer knows that it's a weak tournament. He is wanting to get better teams to play in the Aaron Schuh Tournament, but the teams he asked to play in it were already scheduled for the Northside tournament. Next year is he going to try to get better teams. He wants the tournament to be a great one and one that is filled with good teams. He wants to get it back to how it used to be with good competition. He is making a change at Ripley and he is trying to do something that hasn't been done in the last few years and that is playing better teams so he can prepare his team for District. I look forward to seeing him coach and seeing what he is doing with this team. I know many people think since Coach Bridges is gone that Chris is not going to do well. I hope he proves everyone worng.