KenHawk

The discussion is about bunting with two outs, not two strikes. I often call a bunt with two stikes for a variety of reasons, even though a third strike foul off a bunt is a strikeout.

As a coach, I usually would not call a bunt with two outs. ( I won't say never, but can't remember ever doing it.) However, I have had a couple of players who bunted on their own. I've also had some players missread my signals, e.g. a player thought I gave bunt signal, but there was no indicator given, or, as happened recently, I gave the signal to bunt, then wiped it off, but the batter missed the wipe off. We coaches try hard to fool our opponents when we give signals, but, unfortunately, sometimes we fool our own players. Ken Hawkins Maryville Softball

Page 19 of the 2009 NFHS Softball Rule Book, Rule 2, Article 12; Tag-Ups "If a runner leaves a base too soon on a caught fly ball and returns to retag, this is considered a time play and not a force out. If the appeal is the third out, all runs scored by runners in advance of the appealed runner and scored before the legal appeal would count." Run counts.

Maryville's game with Morristown East on Monday, April 20th has been dropped. Maryville will play its makeup game with Bearden at Bearden at 7:30. Bearden will play its regularly scheduled game with Lenoir City before the Maryville game.

In fast pitch, it is a fair ball. In slow pitch, I believe the ball has to get out of the batter's box since no bunting is allowed and a ball still in the batter's box would be similar to a bunt. Of course, if the ball hits the batter in the box, it is a foul.

Redstitch, Bry is a very talented young player. I'm assuming you are a relative, and if you want to toot her horn a little, that is your perogative. However, with all due respect, I believe that your comments about Coach Dowlen's very unfortunate accident on he field were in poor taste. Mark is a personal friend of mine. We are all thankful that his injury wasn't more serious, but it was still a very scary blow to the temple. He is still recovering. I think you are only trying to make light of a serious situation, but if I were Mark, or one of the Heritage players or supporters, I would not find much humor in your remarks. Anyway, just something to think about. Ken Hawkins Maryville High Softball

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at William Blount on the 13th starting at 5:00.

UPDATE: Game has now been postponed due to field being too muddy, even though the weather is now sunny and warm.

Today's game (Wednesday) between Maryville and William Blount will now be played at Sandy Springs park instead of at William Blount as originally scheduled. Ken Hawkins

Two Maryville players have signed recently to play college softball. Camille Olvey has signed to play at Milligan College, and Brittany Monday has signed with Tennessee Weslyan. I believe that both girls will be successful at the collegiate level. Ken Hawkins Maryville

That certainly makes more sense. Thanks for correcting me. Congrats to Maryville for another opportunity to play in Murfreesboro. Also, kudos to the Greeneville QB. What a great player.

I beg to differ. If anything, I believe that the refs may have contributed to making the game as close as it was. I counted seven different times that Greeneville got away with holding, one time with an obvious facemask, and an offensive pass interference. Also, I thought Maryville recovered a fumble that was rulud down. Furthermore, the holding penalty on Maryville just before halftime that negated a first down was quite questionable. Even taking all of that into consideration, Maryville won quite convincingly 33-6.

Game will be played Wednesday at 5:00 at Sandy Springs. (Originally scheduled for 7 p.m.). Farragut vs. Maryville

The rule is clear. It is found on page 62 of the 2008 NFHSsoftball rule book. It reads: (under Rule 8-2) 2. If the batter is hit anywhere on the body, including the hands, while swinging at a pitch and hits the ball fair or foul, the ball is dead and a strike is called. If it is strike three, the batter is out. For the record, on the same page under 4.b. , the last sentence reads " The batter's hands are not to be considered a part of the bat".

In all my years of coaching high school baseball and softball, the only run-rule ever discussed at home plate is 10 after 5, except in tournaments that have time limits on the game. In those instances, there are usually written specifics given to each coach about how many runs after 3, 4 or 5 innings will end the game. The losing team always has the option of conceding if they chose to do so, no matter what the score. Hope this helps clarify some of the confusion about this topic. Ken Hawkins Maryville P.S. The coaches do not have to agree on 10 after 5 in non-tournament games. Then, the mercy rule is not in effect.

Situation: Player A does not make the varsity team, but plays travel ball with Team Green. Player B also plays with team Green, but she did make the varsity. Player A is jealous. Team Green Coach calls player B for a Sunday afternoon batting practice session. Player B goes. At the end of practice, Coach decides to work on the squeeze play for 5 minutes. He puts a runner on 3rd. Player B is at the plate for one pitch. The next day, Player A calls TSSAA to report that player B has participated in a game situation with her travel ball team. By rule, after appropriate investigation, Player B is ruled ineligible. Why risk it? No matter what TSSAA allows, it is not a wise move to practice with a travel ball team of the same sport during the high school season. That is why most high school coaches do not allow their players to do so, if they can prevent it.

Maryville's home game with Heritage scheduled for March 11th has been changed to April 9th at 5:00 at Sandy Springs. Maryville can not play a game the day before semester exams (per school board policy). Therefore, the change. Ken Hawkins Maryville Softball

TSSAA has already addressed the issue of public schools that accept tuition students. It ruled that as long as no financial aid is given to the tuition students, the schools may compete in the DI division. On a related topic, local school boards decide whether their schools will be open-zoned or closed. TSSAA has nothing to do with this animal except to put forth the eligibility guidelines for transferring student athletes.

To my knowledge, Antwan, Maryville did not have any tuition students on the varsity football roster this year. I can't say that as a fact, because there may have been 1 or 2 of the younger players who are tuition students. I'm pretty sure that none of the starters or second teamers are tuition kids. That's why I asked the question in the first place.

Can anyone name a single starter or 2nd teamer from this year's MHS football team that was a tuition student? Good luck.

TSSAA has very specific guidelines governing athletic competition in the state. A person may not agree with TSSAA's rules, but that does not change the rules. Maryville competes by the rules of TSSAA. Consequently, Maryville: 1. Is currently classified as a 4A school and competes as a 4A school. 2. Is a public school that accepts tuition students and competes as a public school because no financial aid is given to any of its tuition students. 3. Makes sure that any student who participates in sports is eligible to do so (e.g. Students who move into Maryville must meet TSSAA requirements before they can play. I believe this is true for all public schools that have someone move into their "zone"). Many people are uninformed or misinformed about TSSAA regulations. Others make up their own rules as it suits them to do so(e.g. public schools that charge tuition are really private schools or should be treated as private schools). Some people are just down right biased against Maryville. Nonetheless, if Maryville wasn't following the rules of TSSAA, someone somewhere would have found evidence of that by now. I believe that winning seven of the last eight 4A championships is an accomplishment that should be lauded, not criticized. I believe that the players and coaches who have been a part of this tremendous run deserve our respect, not our scorn.

To my knowledge, no one on the varsity football team is a tuition student...at least none of the starters that I know are.

Maryville City Schools is funded through federal, state, and local funds (Blount Co. and city of Maryville taxes). More than 95% of students attending Maryville High do not have to pay tuition because they are city residents or their parents own property in Maryville and pay city taxes. Nonetheless, TSSAA recognizes Maryville (and many other schools that charge tuition) as a Division I school (public) instead of a Division II school (private). Maryville is a public school. Maryville competes as a public school. Whether or not you agree is irrelevant to the discussion. Whether or not you think this is fair does not change the situation. The fact that Maryville charges tuition to non-residents or non-property owners does not make them a private school nor does it give them any advantage over a school that does not charge tuition. In fact, because Maryville charges non-residents tuition probably keeps a large number of students who would like to attend Maryville away because they can't afford the tuition. Very, very few of the student athletes at Maryville are tuition students. Maryviile does not waive its tuition fees. Maryville does not offer any tuition scholarships. There is no financial aid given to its student athletes. According to the TSSAA bylaws, these criteria are the determining factors of classifying schools as Division I or Division II for athletic compettition.

Thanks to all who have wished us well. Good sportsmanship abounds throughout our area. Ken Hawkins Maryville Softball

4-AAA Championship game: Maryville 7, Heritage 5