ballisticswizard

I haven't seen Hardin Valley play yet. I hear they are very young. The coach is a former college coach in VA, so I'm sure he knows his stuff. It may take a few years, but I can see great things coming out of that program. School is in a good area with some of the best competition in the state down the road.

Mavs will be back in the Boro if they remain blue collar. There is too much talent in that program for those young men not to make it back. With the Mavs what you see is what you get, nothing fancy just good hard baseball. They return some tough pitchers with another year under their belt, led by future TN Tech hurler Nick Price; and they got a crafty left hander returning in Eric York who recently signed with Roane State. Price has a good highschool fastball, sharp slider, and change that has good movement with same fastball armaction. If he continues to develop his command he has tons of potential. York is a crafty southpaw with good command and movement on his ball. He can throw 3 pitches for strikes at anytime. He will throw 3-2 curveballs with regularity, and believes in it. Other returning pitchers include Riggs, who will chew up some innings this year, as well as a couple of Sophomores that should be developing into good pitchers. The batting order and defensive alignment have a few holes to be filled after graduating some key players. Returning you have Rorex MTSU signee, great speed on the bases, has some pop in his bat, has good footwork at SS and plays solid defense. York is another with good speed and good baseball instincts, he gets incredible jumps on the ball in the outfield, plays solid defense, hits for average plays small ball very well. In the middle you have Foster, Pack, and Ellis, that all provide substantial power with excellent RBI production. I can see Foster bouncing from 3rd to dish duty, Pack at 3rd or 1st and Ellis at 1st. They have a solid nucleus returning, with some younger guys that need to step in and make routine things happen. The only team that is capable of keeping AC out of the Boro is AC. On that note you have a young but seasoned coaching staff that are intense, motivational and have a good feel for what it takes to be successful. Coaches Downs, Russell, and Boynton will have the Mavs ready to go in 2009, AC returns.

It was NOT a great game. Catholic should have won in 3, but hopefully the coaches learned a little lesson about letting the girls play. They have to know that everyone is trying to beat us because we are the defending district champions.

 

It is extremely unfair to make the visiting teams play in the small gym instead of the big gym. Also, the students were right next to the court and were allowed to stand and yell.

KCmama why don't you cry a little bit. Get tough! "We didn't win because the coaches didn't let the girls play, and the gym was too small, or the fans were allowed to stand and yell." Are you kiddding me? Maybe the reason KC lost was they were not as good a team as SMHS, or maybe the girls on the team have the same weak attitude as you. Competition is fierce, and what seperates a champ from mediocrity is the ability to thrive in that pressure. I believe you predicted a big win down there, obviously you need to stop jumping to assumptions about your competition. Oh and this thing about KC and SMHS being the best in East TN. (Please your making me laugh) What about another team in your district like AC. Last year you guys won the district but AC sent you guys packing like whipped puppies at the tourney. You might have to get past those girls if you want a shot at the title. By the way AC came back from being down a game to SMHS to beat them in five. From what I have read SMHS, and AC are close at the top with you guys coming 3rd. By the way AC has been to the state tourney 10 years in a row. I say congrats to the ladies at Stone great job. Good luck in the rest of your season. I believe you will be contenders in the state tourney this year. You know your doing something right; when KC is losing and complaining.

Alright baseball fans who wins this battle? It will be a close hard fought game.

Ballisticswizard, I found your comments about Catholic to not only be off topic, but rambling, unsupported, and bitter-sounding. I'll simply go in order.

 

1.Yes kids at Catholic have money. I would say this is because their parents work very hard for it and simply want their kids to do well in life. However, if you knew what you were talking about and took a closer look, I believe that you'd find that a good proportion of the school is much like you and me(Yes I said me. Alas I was not blessed with a BMW for my 16th birthday). In fact, many kids at the school go for free because they cannot afford the tuition.

 

2.Yes, Catholic has a very nice field. It is even more amazing from my standpoint, because I remember when it terrible. Yet again, a closer look would reveal that all the great facilities for their baseball program came from hard work and sweat. The green monster was built as a result of countless fundraisers and was actually put up and secured by the team (Yes, the ditches were dug, the wall was placed, and every other aspect was done by players and coaches). But in case your not a fan of raising your own money through fundraisers, I'm sure we can contact local government officials and see if they will provide welfare for baseball programs from now on.

 

3. As for Catholic thinking that they are the cream of the crop, I have two responses. Just like any school, there are kids at Catholic that may think they are better than others or have a big head about themselves. I would dare you to find a school where there was not. However, I would argue that as an institution, Catholic is indeed a very good school, or cream of the crop as you put it. The facilities are nice (also built with fundraised money), the teachers are caring and talented (a product of their hardwork, not money), and of the 99% that graduate, most go on to attend college (money helps this, but keep in mind that you must have the scores to be accepted).

 

4. You state that we think that we are better than everyone else, because we pay tuition and have some money. Has someone explicitly told you this, or have you developed this concept in your head because Catholic kids wear polo shirts, part their hair, and enjoy life?

 

I will agree with you on a few things though. Money can certainly not buy championships. If it could, then none of us would win anything considering other school in the area have much more money than Catholic. Additionally, I totally agree that you have to earn your way in the world. I would say that the priviledge that kids at Catholic experience is a product of their parents earnings their way. We cannot blame someone who was born into a good situation for taking advantage of it. I wish we all could live that well. Finally, I find it funny that you quoted Elbert Hubbard on a baseball post. I would say that since he lived mostly in the 1800's and was a literary figure known for his intellectual arguments that his comment has nothing to do with baseball (in context of course). Regardless, I would say that Catholic kids do cash in on their experience, seeing as how most graduates go to college, excell, and become successful. Even more interesting is that you chose an author that is known in large part for his biographies of other great writers (about 180). Maybe you should have chosen someone who has more original things to say like Cormack McCarthy. I believe Hubbard would agree that he cashed in on his experiences, considering that McCarthy's inspiration comes largely from his experiences in life. McCarthy is a Pulitzer Prize winner for The Road and might be more well known for the novel No Country For Old Men. I bet old Elbert might have even written a biography for Cormack had he been alive. Oh and by the way...did I mention that Cormack McCarthy was a Knoxville Catholic graduate?

My comments weren't off topic, I didn't ramble I was very clear and concise, my statements are supported by facts, and believe me I'm not bitter, there is nothing to be bitter about since the "Irish Legacy" hasn't made it out of district. My comments were directly about baseball, nothing more. Not education and Cormack blah, blah, blah! This is a baseball post.

1.) Catholic kids do not have money their parents do. Yes I'm sure some of them work hard for their money. I'm not discussing the parents work ethic. I'm discussing the baseball programs work ethic. I have watched all the players at Catholic, I have even coached a few of them in the past, I played college ball with a catholic alumni, and summer ball with another catholic alumni. Both of them felt pretty strong about the attitude at Catholic. They both believed that the majority of the school was snobby, because it was private. So my comments are supported by facts from what I have seen and from what I have heard from former Catholic players.

2.) I agree Catholic has a beautiful field won't argue that. However, at Catholic outside appearances are everything. If the program put the same work ethic into hitting, pitching and fielding, as they do fundraising and facility management then their team would win more. As a former player I can tell you that the best players and programs have the intangibles, they have things that you can't build out of concrete or with money. There are funds at KCHS that don't exist for public schools, money from the Catholic Church for example. So not necessarily all of the money is fundraised, according to my former teammates as well as parents whos children use to play there.

3.) I don't have a problem with a player or players thinking they are the cream of the crop, however they have to back it up on the field, not in fundraising. Again I am not talking about the education, I am talking about the sports programs, baseball in particular. Why doesn't Catholic play in DII or some other private school classification? Because they would get stomped into a mudhole. You can't argue that as a private school Catholic doesn't recruit, maybe not directly through coaches, but it goes on. And don't give me this garbage about playing up a division with a multiplier. If I can hand pick my team I would be able to play up a division and compete to. I just think that its laughable that Catholic is slowly losing its chances to win a state title especially after the reclassification. Hey if your a private school then play in the private school division. If you want your kid to play for a AA state championship then Catholic isn't the place to go. Maybe they should go to a school that teaches pitchers how to make a throw from the mound to home or a second basebman how to field routine groundballs, and maybe send their coaches to the rules meeting so they are informed about ground rule doubles.

4.) Hey I wear polo shirts and dockers, but I don't act like a snobby arrogant crybaby. Its all in how you control your attitude. When good teams lose they don't whine about umps, and this and that. Good teams learn from mistakes and get better. When I quoted Hubbard I meant just that. "A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience." Catholic players and coaches haven't learned how to overcome true adversity in baseball. And who gives a flying flip about Cormack McCarthy I don't care where he went to school, could hit and 0-2 curve in the dirt? All schools have people who excel when they graduate, and those who deteriorate. The difference is that you seem to believe that it doesn't happen at KCHS.

I'm glad you agree about money not winning championships. Maybe you should tell your players and coaches. Its hard to be objective when your tied close to a program. If you could step back and look you might see reality instead of the mirage your spewing out all over this post. Pack a lunch and get back to me.

Well 2 years ago was a different team, they have obviously lost quite a few of the players that got them there. Byrge, Pack, the 2nd baseman (can't remember his name) and the 2 gwinn boys. I just think this year the Irish will prevail in the district. From what I remember last year Seymour tagged the ace Byrge, for 6 or 7, AC put up 1. State champion caliber teams win those games, hey I'm not saying AC hasn't been good, or isn't good, I just think this year there number is up in the district. I think it means more to KCHS because they haven't been there. I mean even the 2nd game between AC and KCHS the umps screwed up that call on the ground rule double, if that call is made the right way KCHS sweeps AC, and we aren't having this discussion.

Well Duh! Of course its a different team it was 2 years ago. Bottom line is that AC has reloaded from last year and the year before. I mean from top to bottom AC is solid. How many highschool teams could go through that many coaching changes in less than a year and still leave everyone behind in the district. That not only says something about the caliber of players, but it also shows what type of men are raised in Anderson County. Those boys are tough, and gritty. Simple Fact of the matter is that the numbers speak for themselves. In the past 3 years how many district games has AC lost, how many times has AC gotten out of the district? Answer the same questions for Sullivan and his boys. You can't even compare AC and Catholic in post season accolades. Whats funny about the whole thing is that Catholic is a private school. They have the money, they have the nice field, they think they are the cream of the crop, they think they are better than everyone else, and why? Because they pay tuition, or have more money at their school. Bottom line money can't buy you a Championship. You have to earn your way in the world, especially on the diamond. So don't cry about umps, and use that as an excuse for failure. And yes Seymour did beat AC last year it was certainly not the game I anticipated as a fan, but hey its baseball. At least AC can say they have gotten there. As far as it meaning more to Catholic we'll just have to see. When I think of Catholic I think of what Elbert Hubbard said "A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience."

Tournament Predicted Results

I see a repeat similar to last year with AC and Loudon dueling it out at the top. With Catholic, CAK and the rest falling in behind.

1.) AC will be first, they are a blue collar team that seems to go to work everyday like they are punching a time clock. Good hitting, solid defense, and dominating pitchers when they throw strikes! White, Farmer, York and Price have dominating stuff when they are ahead in the count. Rorex and York have great speed and are disciplined at the plate. Farmer, Foster, White, Pack and Ellis have pop in their bats, all have deep threat potential. Young, but good aggressive coaching staff. Keys to win: AC can't relax!

2.) Loudon is a perennial power in District 4AA, however in the past 3 years seem to be one step behind AC. They are a gritty solid all round group. Crafty pitching, stubborn defense, and they put the ball in play, they have a couple of power threats, but if you can beat those guys you have a chance to win. Coach Thompsons bunch is always tough and ready to play with a never quit attitude. Hey the guy has been there since the inception of the program, he knows how to win so do his teams. Keys to win: Find another gear, kick it in overdrive to get past AC!

3.) Catholic will finish 3rd in the Shadows of AC, and Loudon. They are a solid group of players with tough pitching, and good hitting offense. They execute bunts, hit and runs, hit behind the runner etc. However their defense will let them down, they tend to kick it around a bit. Can't make throws from pitchers mound to homeplate!!!! Irwin is tough with some zip on his ball, good slider/curve, different arm angle and delivery than most pitchers, he will have to be crafty to lead this group to the top. Sullivan is a fundamental coach, perhaps too fundamental in that he is too easy to read. Plays small ball well, but often takes the bat out of his hitters hands to bunt, this isn't the Big Leagues, let em swing. Good group with potential. Keys to win: Mental Toughness lacks with the Irish, they look pretty so does their field, but baseball is a gritty game, you gotta have grit.

4.) CAK

5.) Kingston

6.) Stone Memorial

7.) Scott

First of all, I thought the topic was about Pigeon Forge beating Farragut. If you want to argue about Farragut, Science Hill, and Bearden start another thread, and butt out of this one!

Fact: PF beat FHS.

Fact: This was an upset.

Fact: FHS has a better team.

Fact: Just not on that day.

I mean come on, Appalachian State beat Michigan, the 1980 U.S. Hockey team won the gold, the Yankees with the highest payroll in baseball history hasn't won a World Series in awhile. Point is upsets are what make sports exciting, thats why as a former player we compete. I don't care if I'm playing Farragut, Pigeon Forge, or the Yankees. However because of the upset, that doesn't mean Appalachian State has a better program than Michigan, or the 1980 Hockey Team has a more storied history than the Russians, nor does PF equate to Farragut. Equating them is like saying a SO. Conference program, is as good game in and game out as an SEC team. I mean its Pigeon Forge, I hear Pigeon Forge, I think Dollywood not baseball, I think Farragut I think state baseball POWERHOUSE!

I tip my cap to PF. But in the scheme of TN high school baseball it doesn't mean all that much. PF will maybe make it past region play, and FHS will probably win the AAA state title. So does it really matter?

District 4AA Predictions

I see a repeat similar to last year with AC and Loudon dueling it out at the top. With Catholic, CAK and the rest falling in behind.

1.) AC will be first, they are a blue collar team that seems to go to work everyday like they are punching a time clock. Good hitting, solid defense, and dominating pitchers when they throw strikes! White, Farmer, York and Price have dominating stuff when they are ahead in the count. Rorex and York have great speed and are disciplined at the plate. Farmer, Foster, White, Pack and Ellis have pop in their bats, all have deep threat potential. Young, but good aggressive coaching staff. Keys to win: AC can't relax!

2.) Loudon is a perennial power in District 4AA, however in the past 3 years seem to be one step behind AC. They are a gritty solid all round group. Crafty pitching, stubborn defense, and they put the ball in play, they have a couple of power threats, but if you can beat those guys you have a chance to win. Coach Thompsons bunch is always tough and ready to play with a never quit attitude. Hey the guy has been there since the inception of the program, he knows how to win so do his teams. Keys to win: Find another gear, kick it in overdrive to get past AC!

3.) Catholic will finish 3rd in the Shadows of AC, and Loudon. They are a solid group of players with tough pitching, and good hitting offense. They execute bunts, hit and runs, hit behind the runner etc. However their defense will let them down, they tend to kick it around a bit. Can't make throws from pitchers mound to homeplate!!!! Irwin is tough with some zip on his ball, good slider/curve, different arm angle and delivery than most pitchers, he will have to be crafty to lead this group to the top. Sullivan is a fundamental coach, perhaps too fundamental in that he is too easy to read. Plays small ball well, but often takes the bat out of his hitters hands to bunt, this isn't the Big Leagues, let em swing. Good group with potential. Keys to win: Mental Toughness lacks with the Irish, they look pretty so does their field, but baseball is a gritty game, you gotta have grit.

4.) CAK

5.) Kingston

6.) Stone Memorial

7.) Scott

Anderson County vs. William Blount, who comes out on top?