DugoutDad

Add to the list: Heritage: Justin Purkey, Matt Johnson, Zack Goodson Maryville: Cade Thompson, Andrew Clement Wm Blount: Trey Burstrom, Bryan Crosby, Daniel Holden Rookie of the Year: Dawson Halliday, Bearden Best Pitcher: Ryan Holland, South Doyle Best Offense: Cody Hawn, South Doyle MVP: Tony Delmonico, Farragut Co-Coaches: Matt Buckner, Bearden & Tommy Pharr, Farragut

Heritage defeated Bearden 3-2 in the early game in the D4-AAA tournament at Farragut. It was a hard-fought contest with good pitching on both sides. Bearden was down 3-0 in the B7, when with 2 outs, Kendale Roach hit a 2R HR to draw close. But that was it. Zack Goodson's RBI double off the wall in the T7 proved to be the game-winner. In the nightcap, South Doyle eliminated Heritage 13-2 in 6 innings. Lance McClain pitched for SD and pretty well handcuffed the Mountaineers with 3 total hits. The Cherokees hit the ball well, with CHawn's 4 RBI on a 2R HR and 2R double; RHolland a 2R HR; and CSmith a game-ending 3R HR. The Cherokees had 7 extra-base hits. SD plays Farragut at 5pm tomorrow at the Ballpark at Farragut for the D4 AAA Championship. If necessary, a 2nd game would be played at 7:30.

Unless something has changed this year (and I don't think it has), there won't be any "crossover" between districts at this point in post-season play. It may have been posted elsewhere, that Farragut will host the 1 vs. 8, 4 vs. 5 seeds; and either South Doyle or Bearden would host the 2 vs. 7, and 3 vs. 6 seeds. Those are the first round games, then losers in each half play, as well as the winners in each half; the "standing winner" plays the surviving "loser", and that winner moves on to the District championship game. At least in D4AAA, the tournament will start at Farragut on Friday, May 6. The coaches meeting is scheduled for next Thursday, I think, when all will be settled.

I'm sure the District coaches will meet sometime next week to iron out exactly where everyone will be for the tournament -- so until that happens, all is speculation. However, based on past years, and on what I was told last night, I believe the D4AAA tournament will begin at Farragut and either SD/Bearden on Friday, May 6. The early game would be FHS vs. #8 seed; second game would be #4 vs #5. The next games would be Monday (loser's bracket), then Tuesday. Now, if the tournament format has changed, who knows?

It was good to see you, Bizazz, at the Ballpark last night. Thanks for coming by. Just to add to Bizazz's excellent recap. The linescore was like this: SD 1 4 0 FHS 3 7 2 SD 3B Cody Haun got the first hit off Tony in the T1st with long bomb over the scoreboard in RC. The other hit before the T7 was a double off the wall in left -- can't remember who, though. While they battled, the FHS hitters were kept off balance most of the night. McClain seemed to be pitching more to spots, than trying to blow it by 'em. Clay Ivy drove in the first Admiral run in the B2nd, then another came in the B3rd --can't remember who. C Ty Nelson hit an oppo HR in the B5th for a big insurance run. The T7th sequence: single, walk, K, K-looking, single (loading the bases), then K.

Challenger made a brief visit to the FHS Ballpark Skybox just before game time. Talk about awesome!! He's an extremely handsome bird, with piercing golden yellow eyes. We were close enough to touch him, but didn't dare. Your favorite PA announcer was able to read the following: "Challenger is a non-releasable Bald Eagle cared for by the non-profit American Eagle Foundation headquartered at Dollywood. He is named in honor of the space shuttle crew. Challenger was blown from a wild nest as a baby during a storm, and was hand raised by the people who rescued him. Unfortunately, he experienced too much human contact at a very young age and became "human socialized." As a result, Challenger thinks he's a person and cannot survive on his own in the wild." It was a great experience!! And oh, about baseball: I noticed Wm Blount took one from South-Doyle last night. That puts FHS ahead in the loss column in D4-AAA. That 4/27 date at the Ballpark at Farragut looms large. Should be a great one.

A good game for the Ads tonight. Tony Delmonico carried a no-no into the 6th, I think, and collected a complete game 7-0 one hitter. A very nice pitching performance, mixing speeds and locations to keep the Bulldog hitters off balance. TD was supported by some solid defense behind him, including some nice plays by Barton Ivy (2b), Riley Jennings (SS), and Matt Ramsey (3b). Cody Brown hit a 3 run bomb. There was a very nice-sized crowd at the Ballpark to enjoy the game, and witnessed a singular event with a visit by Challenger, the bald eagle. Challenger circled the infield during the National Anthem. It was an electric experience. Challenger can be seen at the American Eagle Foundation, headquarted at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN. www.eagles.org

The Bearden at Farragut game is a 6:00 start. Come on by the Ballpark at Farragut for some good high school baseball in a district tournament atmosphere. It should be a good one.

Revising that last post -- Still working with all the sites -- May try to start up around noon at Farragut and UT today.

Results I have so far: @Lindsey Nelson, UT Farragut 13 Morristown West 3 Webb 4 William Blount 1 Farragut 8 Knox Halls 3, game called in 4th @Bearden Dobbyns Bennett 11 Maryville 1 (D-B 5 HR) Bearden 5 Baylor 4 (Thursday games scheduled at Farragut were rained out and moved to Bearden. Some re-pairing was done to accommodate a couple of teams' needs.) From what I understand at this point, with all the rain last night, most likely the early games scheduled at UT and Farragut are washed out. The most likely earliest start is around 2:30. Not sure about rescheduling at this point. As soon as better information is available, we'll try to get it out.

Quick synopsis: FHS jumped out to 4-1 lead early on some timely hitting by Delmonico and Eskew. WB scored 7 in the top 3rd on strength of 2, 3 run HR by Best and Crosby. FHS regained the lead late by virtue of getting the bases loaded by BBs and HBP, and then scoring them on timely hitting and WB defensive mistakes. Snyder, Tenley(3), and Best(6) pitched for WB; Heyming, Joseph (3, W), and Delmonico (7, S) for FHS. Riley Jennings also hit a bomb for FHS in B6 for an insurance run.

Just trying to give Hozr an assist: I think the correct Friday schedule for Goodpasture should be: 4:45 vs. Brentwood @ UT 7:30 vs. Maryville @ Knox Halls The 7:15 vs. Webb at Bearden should be "Webb vs. Soddy Daisy." With a 2 hour time limit, the Goodpasture folks would have at least 45 minutes to get up to Halls. Shouldn't be a problem. thumb

It's really too bad the weather has affected the tournament so much. I'm sure Mr. Limbaugh and Coach Powers are doing all they can to reschedule the games for the greatest benefit of the teams involved. Let's give 'em a chance to see what tomorrow's weather brings.

Just saw this from David Limbaugh over on TBCA.org: "As of 12:00noon Friday, games are still ON at all sites but 7-Oaks, Lebanon and Lavergne. Those games are being rescheduled, perhaps somewhere else TODAY - so coaches, please call 615-545-2352 for latest updates. for more, please see http://www.riverdalewarriors.com/baseball/...ng-classic.html Thank You David Limbaugh www.riverdalewarriors.com Last edited by davidlimbaugh on Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:08 pm; edited 1 time in total Hopefully, affected teams will get the update.

DHeat, good description of last night's game. Tried to correct some names. thumb

Disclaimer: Even tho I was in the "Skybox," this is all from memory. Catapano pitched 6 innings for the Admirals, and Joseph finished up in the 7th. Catapano's line: 4H, 2R, 2ER, 10K, 0BB. Both runs were first-pitch HR. Farragut responded to a first-inning leadoff homer by McMinn Co, with 4 runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st. Eskew homered for the Admirals. He later homered again. Cody Brown hit well, as did Tony Delmonico. There were several others that contributed to a 10 or 12 hit attack. Defensively, the Ads looked solid in the field, with only 1 throwing error. Good tests for the Admirals later this week at West on Wednesday, and at home vs. Collierville on Saturday.

Bizazz, I suspect many of the "student" posters were as you say, posting during some kind of classtime. Many of the Farragut posters are "gone" by graduation. Some of the rest of us "hangers-on" are waiting for the free in-season CoachT access time!! I paid my subscription last year, so I'm still here!!

RTR: They've doubled my pay for this year :>) so I'll be back in the Farragut Skybox again this year. I'm sending you an email with my cell number. I think I still have yours programmed in my phone.

Since I was able to make all the FHS fall scrimmages except for the "World Series" final, I'll give my 2 cents -- Pitching seems to be OK. FHS has employed a new workout program that has improved arm speed across the board. Some guys are throwing 10% faster than at school's start. Catapano will be the front line... Heyming, Steben, Delmonico, Joseph, Powell, Cheek, and Duke will give plenty of quality innings. Maybe not as strong overall as the last 2 years, but still plenty capable. Catching in good "hands" with Reynolds, Nelson, and Judkins. Infield is set with Brown, Delmonico, BIvy, Jennings, Powell, Bentley, Heyming, Hebbeler. Brown had minor knee surgery this fall, but should be OK by spring. Griffin is very capable at 3B, P, and C. Outfield will see competition among CIvy, Eskew, Powell, Duke, Cheek, Heyming. In fall play, scrimmages were weekly... pitching dominated. When games came more often, hitting seemed to come around. Look for the Admirals to be strong District contenders again. May not be able to run the table like the last 2 years, but should still be fairly strong. It will be fun!!

I saw Coach Pharr at the Ballpark at Farragut (where else?) yesterday afternoon -- he said Kyle's start was pushed back to Sunday night. I'm glad we didn't waste a drive over to Elizabethton. All the "moving in" activity of Saturday left us pretty well worn out. Kyle had another good outing last night.... http://www.starhq.com/ is the link for the Elizabethton newspaper. I looked at the Rochester Redwings link. It indeed was a good read. Wonder how a native East Tennessean will make it way Up Yonder in New York? :>)

The E-Twins have a fairly complete website where we can keep up with Kyle's progress: http://www.elizabethtontwins.com/ I'll be in Johnson City helping my older son move in for the fall semester at ETSU. We may just slide over and take in the game. I'll have to sweet-talk the missus into it.

HV & Bizazz: Thanks for passing the word on Kyle. I'm sure his family is excited to have him closer to home. It's good to see one of our Admirals being successful at that level.

Grad: Looks like a pretty good start!! What are the thoughts for this website? Is devoted to HS baseball, amateur baseball, youth baseball, or some combination of all? Have you looked at the GNABA and SANDLOTT websites? You can get some good ideas there, as well as the HSBASEBALLWEB.com site. Good luck with it!!

Holy smoke!! What a horrendous tragedy!! The level of educational reductions in Hamilton Co. are incredible, not to mention the reduction to athletics. Makes one wonder if there's a way to send some of the millions in TN lottery money to help offset some of that.

Well, it makes one wonder how the voting is conducted. After a national runner-up finish in 2003, and finishing the 2004 season as the second-ranked team, the Admirals were placed at number 3 in the final Baseball America poll. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagu...004final50.html The Admirals should still be proud, and know they have brought national recognition to Tennessee HS baseball in general, and East TN baseball in particular. I think another banner is needed in the Admiral batting cage!!