chuckm

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In high school ball, personal fouls are not automatic first downs. Only automatics are roughing the passer, roughing the kicker, roughing the snapper and defensive pass interference.

In most cases, the head-to-head record of the teams involved in the tie would be used. If all three finished tied, the coaches should have adopted a tie-breaking procedure prior to the season. In mos cases it would go to the team's record against the fourth-place team, then fifth and so one until the three-way tie is broken. Then you would break the next tie in the same manner.

I would say there are five teams in south central/southeast Tennessee, so it was decided that Quad 2 would be more of a southeast quad. Had to put Oak Ridge and Cookeville in there. Then looks like TSSAA picked Riverdale to go into 2 based on it being the southeastern-most school.

I just saw a story on www.t-g.com on the varsity and middle school play.

Rule doesn't change if the game/scrimmage has officials. TSSAA says "The TSSAA Heat policy will prohibit schools from practicing or competing when the heat index at the location of the activity is in excess of 104 degrees Fahrenheit."

Game story from DNJ.com DNJ: Blackman rallies past Coffee County

Siegel beats Blackman 4-1 to force if necessary game Thursday at 4 pm. Both 7-AAA brackets will have the if games at 4 p.m. Lebanon at Riverdale and Siegel at Blackman.

Siegel takes 3-1 lead after 5-1/2 innings. Blackman at plate in bottom of 6th.

Siegel has bases loaded in sixth and Blackman has changed pitchers. Still 1-1.

Heard there was a delay at Riverdale. Shooting at a hotel nearby and suspects ran toward Warrior Drive. Games may be back underway now. Link: http://www.dnj.com/article/20090504/NEWS01...rch+Street+Hojo

Players have always had to stay behind the line in the team area. It was like that when I played in the 80s and it's still like that today. As an official, it is a comfort that the sideline should be cleaner so you won't hit anyone. I think most officials respect what the reporters are doing. I always spoke with them during basketball and football games when I was behind the lens. When action came my way during football, I bailed and got out of the way. Never got run over. In softball, I hated when umpires started requiring the designated media area. I was told to leave more than once or had to stand in the dugout and be in everyone's way.

dnj.com reports today that Brandon Bassham will be leaving Middle Tennessee Christian to replace Chris Parker as head baseball coach at Cascade. Link: MTCS loses baseball coach to Cascade

How many pitchers throw for one team at a time? It takes guts to pick a 10-person team in a sport that plays 9 at a time.

I don't think I would consider Cookeville as Nashville area. The school is on the edge of The Tennessean's coverage area, and their coach probably didn't make it a habit of calling in their games to The Tennessean when they have The Herald-Citizen that's probably out there covering almost every game.

Last I checked, Cookeville was two-and-done in district tournament and advanced to region, and lost, because they won regular season. I don't believe Franklin or MBA advanced to the state tournament.

Chris will do fine with the umps. He knows as a coach when to come out and when not to. Umpires know when to expect the coach to come out, so they're expecting it too. He's had Rutherford umps at least twice a year since he's been playing in in same district as MTCS and Eagleville.

All-tournament team was eliminated when the tournament was enlarged to eight teams with the move to Memphis. One of the reasons was softball had an 8-team tournament and no all-tournament team, so baseball shouldn't have one either. I believe it would be extremely difficult to select an all-tournament team, as David suggested. Even if you let coaches select, there are still 4 teams they didn't see everyday. Media members, unless it's from a smaller school, wouldn't have the same reporter covering it. I know even for a 4-team tournament it is tough to pick an all-tournament team - by position - without leaving someone off.

From what I heard, assistant coach said to plate umpire as he went by that this guy would be hit by first pitch. Ump told him that they shouldn't do that because it would be automatic ejection and coach would be ejected. Second pitch hit batter, pitcher and head coach ejected. When coach tells umpire that he's going to get hit, it's pre-meditated and in retaliation. With that said, if you're going to throw at someone, don't tell the umpire you're going to do it.

Yes, if you played at Oakland during regular season. TSSAA runs the state tournament. I would be surprised if there are blue light specials. Tarp will be the charge of the umpires, who are from all over the state, not the home team, and the site coordinator is brought in to take care of on-field issues. The person at Oakland has not been with the school the past two years. Those hecklers you speak would be able to travel 2 or 3 miles to Siegel if they were playing there, so that doesn't erase an advantage. I haven't seen BGA use the advantage of playing at home the last two years give them a state title. The games are won on the field, not by what's going on outside the lines. The teams that advance to the championship round are most likely good enough that they don't even know what's going on in the stands. If Oakland - or anyone else for that matter - doesn't pitch, hit or field, a U-12 team could beat them.

Since going to the current spring fling format, Division II (CBHS, Briarcrest in Memphis, BGA in Murfreesboro) have played at their homefield each year. I'm not sure if any others have played on their home fields in Memphis. TSSAA decides which fields will host each class. AAA has been played each yeat at Oakland. Oakland would have played at home last year had it won its sectional game. This is most likely why Riverdale and Smyrna hasn't played home games since those schools hosted Class A and Class AA. What advantage does Oakland get for playing at home? They get to sleep at home? They would do that if they played at Siegel. They get to use indoor facility? Maybe, but TSSAA may control that once tournament begins. They get to use their clubhouse? OK, that's an advantage. They won't get to take batting practice on their field before the game, not allowed by TSSAA. They'll get the same 10 minutes of infield that whoever they play will have. Perhaps they know the mound, so they don't have to adjust to that. They know there is a slight rise in right field, so the rightfielder is used to that. If they start flipping on the blue lights and playing player songs, TSSAA may shut it down because that would be an advantage. There are college tournaments played at home sites every year. Playing at home didn't help Cumberland advance to the NAIA World Series this year, they lost in best-of-three series. If this was basketball, I would agree that it could be an advantage. But in baseball, you still have to throw the ball, hit the ball and catch the ball. If you don't accomplish those three things, you could be playing in a Little League park and you're still not going to win.

If you move Oakland elsewhere, who's going to man the concessions, gates, work the fields. Everyone wants to go watch them play, not stay at home and work. Nothing is perfect, but you still have to hit the ball and catch the ball to win the game. Where you play at this point of he year doesn't affect that. Also, if MTCS had been fortunate to advance, they would have most likely played at home too.

Isn't he at Webb? It's a shame for the Eagleville kids. Tough to build and maintain a program when you'll have your fourth head coach in four years. Congrats to both coaches on their new positions.

OK. I'll bite. Where is Hardin Valley? I've heard of Hardin County and Walker Valley, but not Hardin Valley. Is it a new school?

Oakland wins in 7th. Link: http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?A...SPORTS/80506027