govols10

Blackman can't wait for the rain not to be an equalizer... warriors will rock blackman?????????????????...Thanks for the bulletin board material! you'll be like "warrior82dad" who will disappear if it does not happen...he seemed to forget how ugly he said it was going to be on friday with riverdale crushing blackman... at the first of the season everyone said we won because we did not play anyone... then we lose to oakland and it's said ...see i told you so...you're over rated then we beat brentwood and were lucky... then we beat riverdale and it's because of the mud... IF (and i really mean IF) WE BEAT YOU in a couple of weeks it will be because Coach A (who is a GREAT COACH) broke his toe, or Bobby Wells gave us his defensive game plan, or because we played the game at blackman, or because we've seen the Wing T two weeks earlier, or because the WingT can't win it all at this level, or because you did not throw enough, but from folks like you (not other great riverdale posters) it would never be because we were the better team that night...by the way...this is called EXCUSES! the sliding across the field was in no way an afront to your team...it was simply spontaneous joy from winning their first district championship...i actually talked to coach A and several of your coaches as it was going on-we sort of looked around like...wow...this is crazy with the field the way it was...pretty typical in big games like this whether in high school or college...and if the game would have been at blackman...the same thing would have happened!!!...matter of fact, years ago, ECU beat southern Miss. at their place 13-6 so we could be bowl eligible at 8-3 and the field was just like it was at riverdale...and we all did some serious sliding...it's actually pretty fun... if yall had won at our place...ya'll would have done the same thing...and it would have been understandable...and it sure did not hurt the field...not sure how yall are going to play on it next week...but that is another subject... by the way...i was told by several of our players that your players were class acts...no junk talking...just good hard football playing...during and after the game...this is even harder to do after a tough loss like this... The fact of the matter is...these are two really good football teams...and it is highly unlikely that either one will ROCK the other... when oakland beat us...i just said, great, great job oakland and described a few of their strengths and our weaknesses for the game... i know it's hard to lose, weve done it for years but it is sometimes harder to hate losing and yet lose with class...your players did it on friday...maybe they can help you do the same... PBD This is only the 2nd time I have posted on the football board because baseball is our sport but I wanted to point out a couple of things from what I thought was a good high school football game in the worst conditions possible. 1) I enjoy your posts because you usually make sense and are objective. I wish more posters in all sports were objective as it would make for much better discussions. I do not agree with your comments on the field. Celebrating is one thing but tearing up a field with more games to play is not ok. The cost of repair should be shared by both schools AND the coaches should know where the lines should be drawn on celebration and destruction. Many people that I was standing around after the game felt the same way - celebrate as we would expect you too but don't destroy. We would feel the same way if it were our kids doing that to your field. 2) It troubles me to see the handfull of fans on both sides that are making this such a nasty message board. Bottom line there are good people and good kids at both schools and both teams are having good seasons. That is nothing but positive for Rutherford County. The Farrgut baseball program is hated by much of the entire state not because of their talent but because of a few fans that are so obnoxious that it brings negativety to the entire program. Both sides should keep that in mind as it is a reflection on their programs before they start posting stupid things. 3) Your son was a stud and a difference maker. I hope he is a senior. 4) The real travesty in all of this is how screwed up the brackets are for the playoffs. I can't beleive they have all of the Rutherford county schools knocking each other out before the semi - finals. Very poor system.

strikes get hit out of the park And balls become walks which leads to more trouble. We played 4 years of travel ball with him. Hard to find a more composed kid regardless of the situation. Nothing ever rattled him on the mound!!

It is going to be a competitive spring. The 3 game series in 7AAA will be awesome and will really test the depth of each teams pitching. The team that is the deepest in pitching will have the advantage with this new format. There are great teams throughout the state!! I can't wait until spring - it is going to be a long winter!!!! Of course all of this is just my opinion.

I do not generally post on the football site because we are more baseball centered but what a game last night. One of the best high school football games I have seen in a long time - I missed last weeks Oakland game so I am sure it was just as exciting. Great effort by both teams. I spoke to a Farragut fan after the game and they could not have been more pleasant and complimentary. The Farragut student section was supporting their team to the end and the players and fans were great. Hat's off to both teams. Well played by both teams on the field and in the stands.

I have been following this thread and it is an excellent topic. There have been many valid points (arguements) for both positions. This seems to be becoming a heated issue and I hear more and more people talking about this the past few years. Since this is based on opinion and this forum is to give opinions then I will give mine: There is not one right answer. You can line up 100 people and have 50 on each side of this arguement and in most cases (not all) they will have valid points that are correct. It all depends on the opportunties, the program the high school runs in summer, what the they are trying to accomplish, the talent level of the player. More and more high schools are starting to have summer programs of some type. Most have different approaches to it. I have spoken to coaches that want thier good players that have a chance to get to the next level go play on competitive travel teams so they can get more innings and develop the younger or less skilled players which makes thier team better in two ways - 1) by having the good players get better with tough competition 2) more individual time with younger and less developed kids to make them better. Other coaches keep the team together yet allow thier good players go to competitive tournaments if given a chance. Every situation is different therefore there is no one answer. If a kid is moving from 3rd to short stop because of a team need on his high school then he needs to be with his high school to develop that skill and chemistry. If a kid is a good pitcher and has a chance to get to the next level as a pitcher only then go face the best bats you can to test yourself and get better which will in turn make your high school team better. If your high school is playing those same teams and a tough summer schedule then that is the best of both worlds. The high school program that only plays other high schools is just an extension of the regular season and you don't gain anything from that (in my opinion). As for the money - that is a family choice. If a family wants to travel then that is thier choice - say what you want about having to do it but you do have a choice and if you choose to do it then shut up about money. East Cobb charges a fee just to try out and then goes up from there (or at least they use to). Would they have paid for college over the years, probably BUT there are so many other things that go along with that than just money. Our family vacations were wrapped around baseball and the time we spend on the road as a family are memories my wife and I and my kids will have long past baseball. That has been our choice and I would not do anything differnt.

If this is a showcase designed to get visibility for the best players in each region then there should be a feedback process for the kids that do not make it. Each kid trying out should have been evaluated by some type of process - hitting, running, fielding, throwing, etc... that evaluation should be made available to the player that was not chosen and/or coach so that they understand what they need to improve on to get to the next level. Not getting any feedback or informaiton through this process is not helping the kids that did not make the team get better to reach their goals.

How is this team selected? What is the criteria and what class is the target group?

Excellent post. Thank you for this detailed report. Good stuff!!!

Let's try this again: Great season!! Congratulations to all state participants. Now that the season is in the books, what are the thoughts of next year? What teams will be favorites and what players will be ones to watch. Any players coming up to keep an eye on? If you are going to debate any certain game or plays from this past year then please make your own topic. This is to have a discussion on the future and not the past. Please stay on task and highlight teams and players that will be ones to watch for next year. The summer is a perfect time to watch players during summer leagues and I would like to know who are some to look for on the diamond.

Great season!! Congratulations to all state participants. Now that the season is in the books, what are the thoughts of next year? What teams will be favorites and what players will be ones to watch. Any players coming up to keep an eye on?

That is a great idea. A 3 game series would provide a true test of team depth - especially pitching.

Thank you David. Does that mean there will only be 6 teams in the district next year? If so - does each team play 4 times or just fewer district games? How will that work?

Would you mind listing how the districts will be grouped next year?

Great discussion on this topic and one that is a hotly debated subject. Here are some thoughts based on discussions I have had at many ball parks and with a few former MLB pitchers regarding this. 1) Innings really mean very little - number of pitches are what matters. This defies all pitching rules including most travel ball tournaments which are all based on # of innings. Walks AND srikeouts leads to high pitch counts. I have seen kids go 6 innings and throw under 60 pitches and then I have seen kids throw 60 pitches in 2 innings. You have to count pitches and not depend on innings to keep arms healthy. 2) This will surprise some as it did me and took some time for me to believe: If a curve ball is taught properly and thrown properly then it does not hurt the arm. An improper curve call and a slider both will destroy a young arm. Most injuries from curve balls are due to throwing it incorrectly which is common for young pitchers that are learning to throw a spinner. 3) The curve ball is the most overused pitch at the high school and below levels and the changeup is the most underused. The best off speed pitch - especially for a hard fastball pitcher - is the changeup. This is especially true if the kids learn to throw a circle change. The arm movements are the same as the fast ball which creates more deception to hitters plus you get movement with a well developed circle change. The changeup does not hurt the arm. 4) Conditioning is as important to healthy arms as any other factor. There is more information and awareness regarding maintaining healthy arms than ever before. If you have a son that is a pitcher then research and read as much as you can. The coaches make the game decisions but the parents can do several things at home to help with keeping arms healthy and strong.

Riverdale and BGA

Where does he play? What class is he in? How old is he?

What are his plans for next year? College or the draft? If college - who are the leading choices?

Great addition. I have not heard of Jordan Cooper before. Where does he play summer ball?

Here are the best parks I have seen in the middle Tn area: BGA Riverdale Oakland

Excellent post and I could not agree more. I have heard this subject debated often and good arguments to support both sides. Take away the athletic benefits of being held back and I would agree that boys need an extra year of maturity in academics to make them better prepared for college.

Does not matter to me. My only point is that I have seen several posts that have used a players current class to support thier argument for why one player should be better than another - this only tells a portion of the story. If a pitcher is a 16 year old sophmore or a 16 year old junior then the class they are in is not relevant as they are equal in physical development. I have never seen Pfeifer pitch but do not doubt the many posts that say he is a dominate force. He may very well be the best pitcher but saying he is a better pitcher than Watson because he is a sophmore and Watson is a junior with similar success is not a valid arguement as they are the same age. I wish both much success and I am sure we will see both play at the next level.

I understand that Carter Watson is a young junior - how old is Phiefer?

Who is going to be the #2 at Oakland this year?

Excellent discussion point - is there an advantage to holding a kid back if they have a late spring or summer birthday? I have heard arguments on both sides with excellent points to support each position. It is my opinion that this effects the pitcher maturity/performance more than any other position. Thoughts?

Ward is an excellent player. Good fundamentals, smart, good bat, great arm and 3 year starter at 3rd. In addition to his baseball skills he is a fantastic kid and excels in the class room.