KenHawk

Wednesday night belonged to Heritage. They defeated Farragut 2-0 in the elimination game and beat Maryville 4-0. Maryville vs. Heritage tonight at 6:00 in championship clash. Tournament is being played at Lenoir City's middle school.

Tuesday, May 8th Maryville 2, Farragut 1 (8 innings) Heritage 1, William Blount 0 (10 innings) WB eliminated Wednesday, May 9th: Heritage vs. Farragut at 6:00, losers bracket finals Winner vs. Maryville at 8:00, championship game Thursday, May 10th: If necessary game at 6:00

Monday's action (May 7th) Farragut 8, William Blount 5 Maryville 2, Heritage 1 Tuesday, May 8th: Maryville vs. Farragut at 6:00 (winners bracket) William Blount vs. Heritage at 8:00 (elimination game) All games at Lenoir City (at the middle school)

Maryville defeated Sevier County 10-0. Monday's games: #4 William Blount vs. #1 Farragut at 6:00 #3 Maryville vs. #2 Heritage at 8:00 All games at Lenoir City.

Seedings for district tournament: 1. Farragut 2. Heritage 3. Maryville 4. William Blount 5. Bearden 6. South Doyle 7. Sevier County 8. Lenoir City Tournament begins next Wednesday ( May 2nd) at Lenoir City, the host site for 2007. Single Elimination: Bearden vs. Lenoir City South Doyle vs. Sevier County Bearden/Lenoir City winner vs. William Blount South Doyle/ Sevier County winner vs. Maryville Double Elimination Bearden/Lenoir City/William Blount winner vs. Farragut South Doyle/Sevier County/Maryville winner vs. Heritage Winners vs Winners Losers vs. Losers Losers bracket finals Championship game(s)

Each district can decide before the season starts how to deal with their own district games. In 4AAA, the coaches have voted to suspend any district game that is shortened before the game is official. Therefore, we pick up the game right where we left off...same lineup, score, etc. I personally do not like the way we do it, but the majority of coaches in our district wanted to adopt this plan. Ken Hawkins Maryville Softball

Let the band play!!! Let them play whenever they want and as loud as they can. If you want quiet, go to a golf match. This is football!!!

Every sport has rules that the general public (and sometimes officials, coaches, and players) get confused over. Football probably has the most because the rules are so different at each level, especially high school, college, and professional. Having coached both baseball and softball at the high school level, I'm continually amazed at some common rules that people get so wrong, especially since the rules are the same from high school on through the pros. I know this is a football board, but these are some common misconceptions about the rules in baseball and fast pitch softball. All of the following statements are true according to the rules: 1. Home plate IS in fair territory. 2. Player being in fair or foul territory has NOTHING to do with a ball being fair or foul. It's where the ball is that matters. 3. A hit CAN NOT be given to a batter if a force out is made at any base. 4. A batter CAN advance to 1st base after a third strike hits the ground with a runner on first IF AND ONLY IF there are two outs. No runner on 1st, batter can always attempt to advance. 5. You CAN slide into first base. There are several others, but these situations come up almost every ballgame. I'd be interested to know what are some common misconceptions in other sports, e.g. basketball, soccer, wrestling, etc.

You're welcome. Sorry if I caused any confusion. I have gone back and changed the times in my earlier post that shows the overall schedule.

That may be. But according to the official tournament bracket that was sent to the coaches, # 5 (Bearden) plays #8 at 6:00 Wednesday. If a change was made, it would have been because of a special request that all the effected coaches had to agree to. I guess a change was made. Bearden plays Sevier Co. at 8:00 Wednesday. South Doyle plays Lenoir City at 6:00. Good luck in the tournament.

Single elimination round: Wednesday 8:00 5 vs. 8 6:00 7 vs. 6 Thursday 6:00 Maryville vs. 5-8 winner 8:00 Wm. Blount vs. 7-6 winner Double elimination round Monday 6:00 Heritage vs. Thursday's 6:00 game winner 8:00 Farragut vs. Thursday's 8:00 game winner Tuesday 6:00 Monday's winners 8:00 Monday's losers Wednesday 6:00 Loser's bracket final 8:00 Championship; If 6:00 winner wins, another game on Thurs. Thursday (if necessary) Championship

Seedings for tournament 1. Heritage 13-1 2. Farragut 12-2 3. William Blount 10-4 4. Maryville 9-5 5. Bearden 4-10 6. South Doyle 4-10 7. Lenoir City 2-12 8. Svr. Co. 2-12

Several weeks ago I decided to stay away from coacht during our season, except to post scores and check on other scores. While looking at the topics today to see if there was any update on a tournament we are playing in this weekend, I saw this topic listed. Because this very topic has been a matter of discussion with my team this week, I wanted to share with you a different opinion than those advocating the sending of stats into local news media. I am in my tenth year as a head coach at Maryville...three with baseball and now seven with softball. I have never sent stats in during the season, nor have I ever published them for our team members to see. Simply put, I don't want to do it for the following reasons: 1. Very few high school bookkeepers keep an accurate and reliable book. This is not out of any bad motive. It's just that too many people who keep high school books don't know the difference between a base hit and a fielder's choice, or they credit a batter with a hit when it should be an error, or they give a batter a double when the batter-runner advanced to second on a throw to another base, or a hundred other common bookkeeping mistakes. Consequently, the stats that are published are very suspect to their being correct. 2. Individual stats do not promote the value of being a team. I always stress team honors above individual ones. Individuals get plenty of press during our season, but it is based on a reporter's account of a particular game. When players and/or parents become more concerned about individual stats than about us working together as a team, the result is not good. 3. Stats don't tell the whole story. Some of our team's best experiences have occurred when players have unselfishly sacrificed themselves to advance a runner, or broke up a double play, or hit behind a runner, or etc. etc. etc. I expect all of our players to do whatever it takes to help the team's cause. If my players think that I am emphasizing individual stats, they are much less likely to be willing to give themselves completely to the team's need at the moment. A player who halfheartedly attempts to hit behind a runner will probably be unsuccessful more often than not, in my opinion. 4. We've been very fortunate to have quite a few players, both baseball and softball, get college scholarships (division I and otherwise) for their ball playing abilities. I have had the opportunity to talk to a number of college coaches and pro scouts over the years about my players. I have NEVER been asked to give statistics on any player. I am asked about the player's character, work ethic, team mindset, attitude, and the like...but never about batting average, homeruns, or won-loss record. As a parent myself, I always enjoy seeing my kids get recognition for their accomplishments. I simply don't think that sending in stats to a newspaper is the best avenue for such recognition. Again, this is my opinion. Many people, including some of my team's parents, don't agree with me. Nonetheless, that's my side of the story. Ken Hawkins Maryville High Softball

If the issue is really about safety, then baseball and softball should have to use helmets with faceguards. But (TSSAA) don't single out the girls' game as being more dangerous than the boys game. Either both should have faceguards, or neither of them should have them. ERA, you are so right in your assessment.

ERA, I think they thought it more likely that they would be sued by a girl's parents than by a boy's parents if a player was hit in the face.

I think most high school coaches understand the rule as written. The problem lies with how officials at TSSAA may interpret the rule. I don't want my players to even give the appearance that they may be in violation of an eligibility rule. Why take the chance? I am extremely grateful for all the travel ball coaches that work with my players during the summer and/or fall seasons. But unless I ask them for help during the high school season, I would prefer that they leave the players alone during our high school season. This has absolutely nothing to do with ego. It has everything to do with letting the girls play for one team at a time, especially since the high school season requires so much of their time and energy. On the other hand, I want my players to get as much batting practice as they can away from our own practices...I just don't want them to do it with another "team". Ken Hawkins Maryville High Softball

The new rule is: All fast-pitch batting helmets shall be equipped with a NOCSAE-approved face protector. The phrase "Meets NOCSAE Standard" must be permanently affixed to the face protector.

Having been a student at Valdosta State '71-'75 (before Valdosta State had a football team), I enjoyed attending Valdosta High School's Friday night football games. As a teacher at Maryville, I now enjoy watching the Rebels play. There are some amazing similarities in the two programs. Coach Wright Bazemore and his staff were regarded by many throughout Georgia as the best coaching staff anywhere...many of us feel that way about George Quarles and his staff at Maryville now. Other common denominators include discipline, confidence, the ability to execute consistently, and player development. Even though Valdosta and Maryville have each had their fair share of the super athlete type, both schools have continuously exemplified the total team concept. It doesn't matter to me if one program could be deemed "better" than the other. What matters most is that these two programs have achieved a level of excellence that few others ever experience. I'm very glad that I have got to observe both programs up close.

Along with Central, this may be Maryville's toughest test of the regular season. William Blount is strong, fast, and athletic, but I think Maryville will prevail in a very close game. A lot may depend on momentum shifts, and here is where I give MHS the advantage. Should be a very good high school game. Good luck Rebels.

As a coach, I have never minded a parent coming to me in a respectful manner to ask why their child didn't make the team, or why their child wasn't playing much, or what their child could do to improve. There is nothing wrong with a parent wanting to know that kind of information. BUT....... I am strongly against player bashing or coach bashing by annonymous individuals...whether it be on coacht, or on talk radio, or whatever media is at hand. Accountability has been completely taken out of the mix, allowing cowards to spew their venom without any reprocussions. These individuuals feel so brave and daring as long as nobody knows who they are. Suggestion for this board: As soon as someone starts to bash a coach or player on coacht, let that person's true identity be revealed to all the readers. I guarantee you the bashing will stop when people can not hide behind a screen name any longer...at least on THIS board. Ken Hawkins Maryville High Softball

OUCH!!! I resemble that remark. Only 47,342 people, including RebelRaider, can call me that.

What an outstanding game this should be! Two very talented teams facing each other in what is arguably the best high school rivalry in Tennessee. Both teams are coming off a state championship. Both teams will be missing a key player (Alcoa's Warren and Maryville's Valentine). Both teams will have some spectacular plays on offense and on defense. Both teams will score, I believe. Also, both teams will make some mistakes as well as probably commit a turnover or two (not all mistakes are turnovers...in fact, most mistakes are NOT turnovers.) Both teams will have some questionable calls go against them. Who will win? I don't know. Who do I want to win? Obviously, Maryville, since I work there. No matter who you are pulling for, this should be a great high school game.

Maryville wins, 6-5.

Our game scheduled for today with Daniel Boone has been postponed until Saturday, May 21st, at 4:00 at Sandy Springs Park in Maryville.