goosevol

I thought they looked good. Cisson runs the ball hard then Kyron, Drake and Tyler gives them big play potential. I watched Kingston last night. Offensively, they scored on five of six possessions. One position ended in a fumble. Brody Roberts rushed for 113 yards on 11 carries with 2 TDs. Ott completed 4 of 9 passes for roughly 100 yards with 2 TDs and 0 picks. Defensively, opened with two three-and-outs then Meigs scored on three of their final four drives with one drive ending inside the 20 on a fumble. The trouble on defense to me looked like they were trying to play a lot of people and some of the guys aren't ready, but they're going to need to play more people when it's hot or when they get injuries.

There were 47 at picture day yesterday and they said one was missing so it looks like 48.

Freels had a great scrimmage yesterday for Rockwood. Two sacks, maybe three (I missed who got up from one), two TDs reciving, one TD rushing, one INT and one FR. As far as Kingston, I don't know what's in store this season, but I know the coaches are working their tails off and the kids are stepping up to the challenge. It's still going to be weird not seeing Coach King on the sidelines.

I was there yesterday to watch Rockwood, but I liked what I saw from the Indians. They beat Rockwood 7-6 in their 10 plays against each other and I wouldn't be surprised if these teams butted heads somewhere in the playoffs. Rockwood and Oneida did suffer a couple of injuries. I saw one Oneida lineman with a knee and another Indian with a broke nose. Hopefully everybody will be okay this week. Good luck to the Indians this season.

What scrimmages are schedule for this week?

I agree. They were the favorites coming in and haven't disappointed anyone so far.

In Class A/AA/AAA there have been only five games where a pitcher has recorded double digit strikeouts through the games on Wednesday. Nunley from Soddy-Daisy has two of them with 16 and 15, Fadnek has two of them with 13 and 12, then a girl from Chester County had 10.

There are have been times in my career where someone has asked me why something wasn't covered and my reply has been "First I've heard of it". Never assume your local paper, tv or radion station know verything that's going on.

Not a bad week for Lindsey and the Lady Jackets. Good luck next week.

Great game tonight. I figured it would be close and high scoring, but I didn't think it would be 10-9. Both teams had to use three pitchers. NG went with their No. 2 (I guess he was the 2) and Rockwood knocked him out in the second then Bailey came on and pitched until the seventh when he ran out of gas. Adam Kirk pitched the final three innings and got the win. Breazeale started for Rockwood and hurt his arm/shoulder in the second inning. He pitched into the third but couldn't finish the inning with the arm/shoulder. Hopefully just a strain. Hagler came on and pitched into the sixth then Cofer came on and pitched the rest.

They're pretty much dominant. They're have been better teams in the district in years past, but they're clearly the best Class A school in East Tennessee this year. The have three aces and they can rip the baseball. Could make a run in Murfreesboro.

I don't know who would have won those, but that would have been some good baseball. Both teams were solid all the way around and expected to win every time out no matter who they played. The funny thing about the Harriman/Rockwood series is that there have been only a couple of years where they were even. Most of the time one was better and the other was a year away.

I said I think it was 2001, didn't say for a fact. I've watched thousands of games in my job over the years and it's hard to remember years right off the top of my head that's why I said I think it was 2001. As far as the Unaka/Washburn game, Unaka had only seven hits, they had nine runners reach base on walks that scored plus three batters were hit by pitches that scored. A total of 12 guys were hit by pitches or walked in the first two innings and all 12 scored. That to me is "Stinking it up". And yes Washburn only had two errors. So basically, nine guys reached base by making contact with the ball. If only nine guys reach safely from making contact then there's no way 19 runs should score in two innings.

I remember that 2004 game. Jason Eble pitched great for Harriman that day and there was one inning where Unaka hit a couple of slow rollers that turned into infield singles then I think the catcher came up with a single up the middle that proved to be the game winner. But that goes back to what someone said about avoiding the 9 or 10 Ks. Putting the ball in play will be huge today because strange things can happen. I think it was 2001 when Rockwood's Robert Gilmore threw a no-hitter in the sectional against University High and lost thanks to one bad inning with a walk or two, a hit batter and a huge dropped fly ball to right with two outs. How would you like to tell the grandkids the story of pitching a no-hitter and losing with a state tournament berth on the line.

The 2004 Harriman team was also very good. Lost only six games that season and three were to USJ, two in the state tournament. I think without USJ that they would have won the state.

The 2004 USJ squad crushed everybody on their way to the title. Their No. 9 hitter was a freshman that smashed two bombs, one was over a scoreboard in leftcenter that sit 20 feet above the 355-foot sign. Grace reminds of that team. Physically they are huge with only a couple of players that don't look like power hitters. USJ also had some great pitchers, one that became elible at the state tournament and made his first start against Harriman. He threw low 90s. I don't think Grace has anyone that throws that hard, but they have some above average arms that's for sure. As far as the getting their title stripped comment, that's a way for people to know which USJ team I was talking about. The Bruins that year were considered by many as one of the top two teams in the state in any classification, public or private. The other great team that year was Farragut with the Waldrop kid pitching that was a No. 1 draft pick if memory serves me. IMO I'd say that USJ team would beat Grace, but this Grace team reminds me of them and trust me that's a compliment.

Heaven's no. LOL.

Unaka might have put up 19 runs, but only had seven hits so it probably had as much to do with Washburn stinking up the joint as Unaka pounding the ball. At Grace yesterday, Grace scored 11 runs but had 15 or 16 hits in four innings. I think Rockwood had one error maybe two, not sure how one was ruled. But the key this time of year is not helping your opponent. At OS Tuesday, the Bobcats had plenty of base runners, but Rockwood didn't make any errors and made routine plays, which led to OS leaving 10 runners stranded. As far as Grace's bullpen, if you do knock out the starter, they won't actually go to the pen. They will bring in another of their 3 ace starters. That's why they're so dangerous, three arms better than anyone else in the region and a lineup that can crush it. They remind me of the 2004 USJ squad that whipped everybody in the state tournament before getting their title stripped a little later for playing ineligible players.

Grace probably rolls to another run rule victory. I imagine Rockwood and North Greene will be a pretty good game. Good luck to the Tigers.

At 40 feet, Fadnek would have 2,000 probably right now

Pankey's hard-nosed and will challenge his players to do their best in everything they do. I wish him the best.

You often don't see teams throw their ace in non district games and Oliver Springs has a pretty good ace in Cary Gann. Outside of Grace, Gann should keep any other team in the region in check. Not saying they'll be the No. 2 team in the east, but they have as good a shot as anybody in my opinion. Gann also missed a start the week they played Wartburg from a non throwing injury.

There was a parent in our area that used to give his daughter an assist in basketball even if the other player missed the shot. His reasoning was she should have made it. He'd also give assists on free throws. Needless to say his daughter led the team in assists. She had numbers that would make Magic Johnson jealous.

After tonight Kingston has 36 as a team. As of last Wednesday, Harriman's Haylee Goins had 13. I have seen her hit some absolute bombs this season.

I just looked at the stats and Wartburg was 3-22from beyond the arc. I said I thought the key for Wartburg was adjusting to the big gym and it looks like they never made the adjustment. They have a good chance to return next year and hopefully they'll get 'em a win.