govols10

Does anyone know what time they will start selling tickets?

oakland got it pretty easy...mt juliet is not very good, but riverdale has it good for this week, coffee co. was killed by cookeville who riverdale handled. in rd. 2 the rain wont be an equalizer and the warriors will rock blackman. we'll remember them sliding across the wet field after the game. coach a knows what he's doing and revenge will be sweet. let's go warriors.

 

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.

Johnnie Mitchell - Stewarts Creek Middle School. Is a bulldog and throws strikes.

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.

2009 Sunbelt Team:

 

Bennett, Ethan Farragut

Daily, Tyler Collierville

Davis, Mike Hardin Co.

Deaton, Luke Bartlett

Delmonico, Nick Farragut

Forrest, Nathan Harpeth

Freeman, Clint Davy Crockett

Gross, Ethan Mt. Juliet

Hansen, Robert Beech

Keeton, Kendall Columbia Central

Kemp, Tony Centenial

Lee, Josh Independence

Marconcini, Chris BGA

Mitchell, Ross Blackman

Morton, Taylor Bartlett

Phifer, Phillip Farragut

Smith, England BGA

Tubbs, Tucker Collierville

Watson, Carter Siegel

Williams, Nick Farragut

 

Preston Ozment Head Coach Dyer County

Robbie Bennet Asst. Coach Heritage HS

Chris Parker Asst. Coach Blackman HS

Eric Fruechtemyer Asst. Coach Nashville Christian

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

I will talk about Knox Co since those are the teams i am most familar with. Farragut will be Farragut. Huge losses with Powell, Stallings, Cooper. But next year still looks favorable. Strong pitching from both sides of plate with Pfeifer(L) and Williams ?®. Big sticks in the middle with Williams, Bennett, Delmonico. Not sure how deep in pitching they are or how strong defensively they will be. But that being said, they have to favs to repeat as district champs.

 

Bearden lost most of their starters and two quality arms in Copeland and Potter. Pitching will be a huge question mark and Hullett, Stallings, Keene must step up. I have heard its a small Jr class, so they may slip back in the pack a little. Best i can tell, have to replace entire infield and catcher. But give Buckner credit, he figures out a way to be in the hunt.

 

South Doyle will ride Kirkland. Probably best hitter in this end of state in several years. Above average pitcher. If they can find a solid number two, they will give people fits.

 

Sevier County. I am totally impressed with the turnaround and progress Traywick has made at SC. I think these guys will be really dangerous next year.

 

Powell returns the nucleus of a team that won the district championship. Strong lefty on the mound, solid defense up the middle. If they can hit even a little this team will repeat as district champs.

 

Halls is a total question mark. Halls athletics is seemingly in a tailspin. Football was highly touted last year, and finished with a horrendous record. Baseball was supposed to make people forget football and they were awful during regular season. They did make a nice run in district tournament. Lost good senior class including Wallace who controled the game from behind the plate. McConkey will have to step up and provide leadership. Can Burton be "the guy" on the mound?

 

Central, nice run in 2009, probably middle of pack in 2010.

 

Knox Catholic appears to be positioned to compete in their new district. Lost Irwin as their number one, but Anders returns and is a better pitcher. Not sure who will replace Irwin's big bat in middle of order. Below average team defensively all year, and appears upcoming players average like departing players. One thing Catholic did do well in 2009 was hit. Can Sullivan get an average team hot at right time two years in row?

 

CAK. Rode Kolinsky hard all year. I don't see them being competitive in 2010.

 

West. How many sub .500 years can West have? I think the Travis kid is special behind the plate. not enough pitching, not enough hitting. Another long year on Southerland Ave.

 

Just the rambles of a casual observer. Any body else weigh in on Knox teams?

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?

Right now it looks like just home and away for 5 weeks for 10 games. I am lobbying for home away away or away home home 3 game series with if flip-flopping the next year for 15 district games.

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

In 7AAA we lose our east coast swing, Cookeville, Lebanon, Warren Co and White Co.

 

We pick up the Norse division, Lavergne and Smyrna

 

I think Lebanon goes to 9AAA with my Mt Juliet and Hendersonville friends and Cookeville, Warren Co and White Co picks up Coffee Co and Cumberland co and forms 5(?)AAA

 

7AAA next year is a Rutherford County district. Short road trips.

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?

http://www.riverdalewarriors.com/baseball/standings.pdf

 

has been updated.

 

Good luck to Blackman and Lebanon next week! I hope to see ya play each other in the finals at MTSU in a couple of weeks - I'll be your DJ /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

 

I will miss seeing my friends at Cookeville, Lebanon, Warren County and White County. I hope we can stay in touch (all of ya are coming to next year's Warrior Spring Rainbow Classic???)

 

Brent, thanks for all your help this year! Lebanon, thank you for the kind words at your senior day this year.

 

Yours in baseball,

 

David

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

i dont know about this year but i would look out for casey pope in a couple years

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

Cooper was with the Brentwood A's last summer. From what I have been told, if he is around this summer, he will have to play legion ball.

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

Best Senior in State of Tenn. this year is Jordan Cooper from Shelbyville. Signed with UK.

Rankded 41st in pre draft ranking for 2009 draft. Here is link. Look for your favorite players.

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index...ame%3dlaw_keith

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

I agree, I only asked how old he was to prove a point of a boys physical development. I'm sure. by reading all the posts, that he is a really good player, but the age is a bigger factor than what class they are in. My son is a junior and won't be 17 until April and he's a standout on his high school and summer teams. If we had it all to do over we would have held him back when he was younger due to his birthdate. He has always had to play against older players which has it's advantages also, but if he were still a sophmore he would be considered outstanding in his class. I believe that boys need the extra months/year academically to go into college. Most boys are physically ready but could use a little more time to mature. With that said, I wish him the best and hope to see him play in the bigs one day!

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.

I agree, I only asked how old he was to prove a point of a boys physical development. I'm sure. by reading all the posts, that he is a really good player, but the age is a bigger factor than what class they are in. My son is a junior and won't be 17 until April and he's a standout on his high school and summer teams. If we had it all to do over we would have held him back when he was younger due to his birthdate. He has always had to play against older players which has it's advantages also, but if he were still a sophmore he would be considered outstanding in his class. I believe that boys need the extra months/year academically to go into college. Most boys are physically ready but could use a little more time to mature. With that said, I wish him the best and hope to see him play in the bigs one day!

[/quote

 

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.

Pfeifer's 16. Is that too old for your liking?

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 he is a freshman, but what is his age?

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

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