Skyhawk

The TSSAA should step in and set standards for hosting district tournaments. I realize that there are "haves" and "have nots" in every district, but the rotation of tournaments to unsafe, and ungroomed facilities for tournament play is ridiculous. This may be difficult in some small A districts where the facilities might not be as good all the way around, but most districts have a marquee field or multiple marquee fields. The field and facilites, including unmended fences, protruding objects, poor field maintenance, unacceptable playing conditions etc. should not ever come into play in a tournament situation. In basketball, the best gym hosts the tournament year in and year out, why should this be any different for baseball. In the district, you should have a tarp, regulation bullpens and a facility that will not have the potential to effect play. I have a problem with this, because it is happening this year, specifically in several class A districts. What makes it worse is that these facilities will not make improvements prior to hosting the tournament, which should be an honor, not a headache.

Last time I checked a public school's enrollment, included special education students, and the wonderful "no child left behind" program, the difference is that a public school gets the hand that it is dealt, whomever lives in that zone. USJ needs to get over the whining, it is supposed to be an academic institution, not everybody can get in, thus the multiplier makes sense. The thing is, that what you have been whining about, is not winning or losing, but having to compete every time you go on the court or field, instead of running over other teams from schools in A, which have less athletes. Good Luck next season, you have great coaches, and now they will get tested every week, is that not what makes a coach.

Saint Jude Classic: Revised Schedule (Friday Rained Out) 10:00 a.m. Henry County vs. Obion County Central 12:00 p.m. Dresden vs. Winner Obion/Henry County (Championship) 2:00 p.m. Huntingdon vs. Loser Obion/Henry County 4:00 p.m. Humboldt vs. Murray KY * Games will be played with 2 Hour time limit, minimum 5 innings, no inning can start after time limit. * All Tournament Team will be announced following the 12:00 championship game.

The following is the updated Schedule for the Saint Jude Classic in Dresden, March 30th-April 2nd: Wednesday, March 30th 4:00 Obion Central vs. Murray KY 6:30 Humboldt vs. Dresden Thursday, March 31st 4:00 Henry County vs. Murray KY 6:30 Dresden vs. Huntingdon Friday, April 1st 4:00 Humboldt vs. Huntingdon 6:30 Obion Central vs. Henry County Saturday, April 2nd 12:00 Pool A 3 vs. Pool B 3 2:30 Pool A 2 vs. Pool B 2 5:00 Pool A 1 vs. Pool B 1

Which would be the best, searching for opinions here: District Tournament/Double Elimination Regional Playoff (Best of Three) Regional Championship (Best of Three) Sectional Playoff (Best of Three) OR District Tournament/Double Elimination Regional Tournament/Double Elimination (Four Teams) Sectional Series (Best of Three)

Alternate Response: Until those of you who coach baseball step up to the plate, we will not change. Our system currently is inappropriate, and all of you know that this is true. Yet, as assistant coaches in major sports no one wants to make the "Big Dogs" mad. Think about this, only four states have spring football, and we are one of them. You know that you are interrupting spring football. Likewise, Basketball can go at it all summer, and in the middle of the season you all hit he "DEAD PERIOD" and cannot coach your baseball team. Talk about the TBCA, but until we unite to solve the problem, do not summons the group on my post. Until varsity baseball reaches the stature that it deserves in this state, we should all work to reach this level. I hope that some of you are "fired up," because if you are not we will stay in the same position that we currently hold.

Amen, Brother, IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE, but once again the key factor is the $$$$ signs, and that is the central factor. Our regional and sectional playoff system for baseball is one of the weakest in the country. NOT VERY GOOD FOR A SOUTHERN STATE.

At this point, some teams have lost that should not have. Lets open this up for comment. If you do not comment, then you are in the "let's play basketball all year, and the we can't get in the way of Football crowd. Let us reflect: Double elimination Districts, Four Team Double Elimination Regionals, and best of three, Sectionals, with rotation of region for the third game. It is more than fair, but the baseball people in this state are scared to stand up to the Basketball and Football crowd. Some of you are in question, but when you get upset in one sectional game you will jump on this. IT IS TIME TO UPGRADE THE BASEBALL PLAYOOFF SYESTEM.

Some players have earned the right to be hit, get off the plate or get over it. We have coaches that put players on the plate intentionally, sorry that they cannot hit. Until the TSSAA enforces the full batters box, that is used by college and pro, the umpires will never know. We use the full box, batters and catchers and it discourages kids on the plate. People deserved to be struck in the box, however, due to the rules they are not " in the box." get over it.

If baseball made money for the TSSAA, this would be the tournament plan, or even more games. This could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. But, unitl that happens, this is food for thought. 1) All District Tournaments should be Double-Elimination 2) Four Team Regional Double Elimination Tournaments 3) Sectionals: Best of Three, Rotating Final Home Game between Regions 4) State Tournament, the same. As it is now, and the way the game is played, its not fair to have some good teams fall early in a single elimination format.

If baseball made money for the TSSAA, this would be the tournament plan, or even more games. This could be completed in a reasonable amount of time. But, unitl that happens, this is food for thought. 1) All District Tournaments should be Double-Elimination 2) Four Team Regional Double Elimination Tournaments 3) Sectionals: Best of Three, Rotating Final Home Game between Regions 4) State Tournament, the same. As it is now, and the way the game is played, its not fair to have some good teams fall early in a single elimination format.

As a person who has never had the opportunity to play Lacrosse, a baseball coach, and former college baseball player, I must say that I love watching the game of Lacrosse, and given the opportunity would have enjoyed playing. For all of you out there playing and coaching the game, best wishes on a bright futuere. I hope that it catches on.

Do they actually have an English department at Dyer County High School?

Not even a tarp can stop the dredded "SNOW OUT." Snow takes days to leave the ground, and it never dries out. Who is going to play today, Northwest Tennessee is done, and you can't even do work on the yard at home. What shall we do?

Coach Harrell, is a very good coach, with a good deal of outside pressure, if he did resign, NORTHSIDE is Done,

I am glad that Coach Ozment and Coach Spaulding do not teach in the English department at Dyer County. If they did, the guys posting on the board would be running for the next three weeks.

Alpha Tau Omega/Saint Jude Classic Day 1: Henry Co. 5 Huntingdon 4 (12 Innings) Dresden 10 Gibson Co. 7 Day 2: Henry Co. 6 Obion Co. 1 Dyer Co. 11 Gibson Co. 1 Day 3: Huntingdon 8 Obion Co. 6 Dyer Co. 11 Dresden 0 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday's Games: Finals 12:00 Huntingdon 6 Gibson County 5 2:30 Obion County 11 Dresden 1 5:00 Henry County 7 Dyer County 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good Crowds throughout the tournament, thanks to everyone for supporting their teams, and for supporting the Saint Jude Baseball Classic, and the Brothers of Alpha Tau Omega as they continue to work throughout the year supporting the Hospital. The Chapter finished out its fundraising for 2004, with $90,000 raised, and the money raised from this tournament not yet added. Thanks again, and we hope everyone enjoyed the tournament.

Correction on Tournament Games: March 25th: 4:00 Obion County Central v. Henry County March 26th 4:00 Obion County Central v. Huntingdon * These where reversed in the earlier post, the above is correct. Saturday's Games where changed from the original schedule. 12:00 2:30 5:00 are the correct times. Sorry About the Confusion

Day 1: Alpha Tau Omega/Saint Jude Classic Pool A: Dresden, Dyer County, Gibson County Pool B: Henry County, Huntingdon, Obion County Central Henry County 5 Huntingdon 4 (12 Innings) Dresden 10 Gibson County 7 Day 2: March 25th 4:00 Obion County Central v. Huntingdon 6:30 Dyer County v. Gibson County Day 3: March 26th 4:00 Obion County Central v. Henry Co. 6:30 Dresden v. Dyer County Day 4: March 27th 12:00 Pool A 3 v. Pool B 3 2:30 Pool A 2 v. Pool B 2 5:00 Pool A 1 v. Pool B 1

Dresden Lions 16th- Dresden 7 Bradford 3 18th- Dresden 3 Lake Co. 2 (8) 19th- Dresden 7 Westview 4

Class A West: Just wanted to know how close these predictions are for 2004 Season: D13- Huntingdon, West Carroll, Bruceton, Clarksburg, Big Sandy D 14- JCS, USJ, Adamsville, Fayette Aca., Trinity, Middleton, Scotts Hill D 15- Dresden, South Fulton, Gleason, Greenfield D 16- Peabody, Halls, Lake County, Bradford - Please share any thoughts predictions etc., and what players will have the strongest impact on Class A in the West.

Cannon Whitby, Obion Co. Central, University of Arkansas Whitby is still the All-Time leading scorer in Tennessee, and the three point line had not come into play yet. If he had played with the three point line you could have added about 2,000 points to the record.

Now that they have revamped the format to accomodate JCS, maybe the Eagles will make it to the championship so that they can lose to USJ, just one more time in a season. I'm for Columbia Academy and USJ. Perhaps someday a public school will actually have a chance to play in a championship, but not this year.

There are schools in this state that take baseball seriously, its just sad that most of them are AAA or private schools. In AA, there are schools that take baseball seriously, but they are few and far between. In A it gets even worse. Something must be done for the good of baseball in the state of Tennessee. We must as "baseball people" rise up, and stop the tyranny of the Football and Basketball world. Until we all work together to improve the image of baseball in the state of Tennessee, we will not reach the level of the other SEC feeder states. If you haven't been to Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas or Florida you don't know what I'm talking about. They put money in their facilities, and allow baseball to thrive as a major sport. We can get to this level in Tennessee, but we as "baseball people" must all work together. Please, give suggestions to improve the image of baseball, if you want to post and be "smart" and say we don't have a problem, then you better back it up, because the info. is in my favor on this.

Dresden 2000-2002 3 wins/ All against Bradford Dresden 2003 4 wins/ Bradford twice, West Carroll twice Losses: Milan, Gibson Co., Halls, West Carroll & Lake Co. all fairly respectable teams. Also consider this, even as weak as Dresden has been over the past three years, they have still kept a majority of their schedule in AA, not too many weak A teams will do this.