PureFP

Brentwood is a great team. St. Benedict has something special going on. It is a joy to hear them doing so well. Do what you do St. Benedict!

Holly Currie is going to Auburn.

Jefferson Co. Beats Maryville. Where in the heck did Jeff Co. come from? They held Cumb. Co. pretty good, then they beat Maryville and the talented Ms. Prugh.

Way to go St. Benedict! You beat my team, but you had more to win than they did to lose. I am sure your angel smiles down on you no matter what happens.

I did not say Goodpasture's players are an easy out. I will try to speak (or type) clearly. I feel that Goodpasture will win it all. I think BB's line-up from top to bottom is more capable than that of Goodpasture, but I never said they had easy outs. Heck, anyone that can score runs against Soddy must be dag gum good! Pitchers are the most dominate force in fastpitch. However, at this level, all it will take is 1 walk and 1 hit to win. Offensively, a team that can bunt or slap when a base runner is on is all that it will take to win. Danielle is a superstar in the circle. But. even the superstar she is, she gave up 4 hits, and only 14 of 21 outs came from K's. How did they win? Goodpasture hit the ball and scored. Goodpasture played defense and got 7 outs on defense. BB's pitcher is very capable. If the hits today against Danielle (and she will give up a hit) come at the wrong time, or BB executes sacrifices like they are capable of doing, then BB just might win. Danielle's ERA is 0.36 through the regular season, while Sarah Warren's is 0.55. What does this mean? All things being equal, Danielle allows and earned run every 2.78 games, whereas Sarah allows 1 every 1.82 games. Which game is this for both pitchers? Sounds like they are both extremely good. However, please re-read my second sentence. I love the game, and I am not personally involved with any team in Memphis. I am just a fan of good fastpitch. If you will re-read my previous post from that perspective, I think you will see why I said what I said. I stand by my comments of winning at this level requiring a complete team. And... a little luck. You can get to the post season with a dominate pitcher. You need a lot of help to win the state.

I wouldn't hand Goodpasture the state championship just yet. BB is a great program and full of hitters up and down the line-up. I agree that Goodpasture is the slight favorite in this. However, having potential throughout the line-up (unlike Goodpasture) can be a potent weapon against great pitching. Danielle is a great pitcher and a true competator. However, it takes a team to win. A great pitcher without a team behind her is no team at all. I am not saying that Goodpasture is not good. Of course they are! However, this is the state. This is a venue where pitchers no longer dominate the game and are the only factor in deteriminng a winner. It will take a team effort to win. For the record, I am picking Goodpasture to win it all.

I see maybe a few minor upsets, but not many for sure. In AAA: Hunter's Lane losing to Jeff. Co. although I haven't seen Jeff. Co. play. 3 runs against Hunter's Lane is impressive. Hickman losing to Bolton (nevermind the record, I saw Bolton play in Hendersonville and was not impressed). In AA: No upsets..... I am now a believer in District 8AA, they certaintly had the toughest district. In A: None. Surely everyone knew it would be these 2 in the winners bracket final. In Div II: The way Father Ryan handled GPS. GPS had the offensive firepower, Father Ryan never showed me they could hit the ball consistantly. They sure did against GPS, and shut down the offense of GPS as well. Baylor is definitely the favorite, but if Father Ryan can push Baylor the same way the pushed GPS......... What is your take?

I am a fastpitch umpire. I can state from experience that baseball absolutely requires a minimum of 3 umpires, whereas softball absolutely requires a minimum of 2. Field size, lead-offs, and balks are the difference. That being said, I can't imagine why you wouldn't want 4 on the field for both baseball and softball in this crucial match-up. Several local district championships had 4, and rightfully so. I am sure it is all about the money, and the fact that TSSAA does a poor job of on-going training and certification. (Of course, ASA and NSA also does a poor job of on-going trainng.) They probably didn't have enough quality umpires to cover all 4 divisions and coordinate getting them all to Memphis all at the same time. Most umpires below the age of 60 have full-time jobs. That is why I haven't pursued TSSAA certification, because of games during the week. I also know that the baseball state tournament is spread out across much more time than softball.

I just got done looking at your (Cumb. Co.) roster and stats on www.tssaa.org. There is something to be said for playing together. There is also something to be said for having 3 junior pitchers, all with 14-1 records, all with ERA's less than 1.00, plus another 2 pitchers? What do you do up there, grow pitchers in the mountain air?

Now Region 3A is up there. Way to go BB! Sounds like Forest has a good hitting team. I don't think they are done just yet.

Very good. I am a Chattanooga Softfall fan, but I love Cinderella teams. The Cumberland Co. Lady Jets are trying to get fit for a glass slipper, coming out of nowhere. If they can't win, then I am for Soddy. Either way, I have backed the right horse (this time).

Congrads Jets (and Buc ) Who is your daughter?

And the final score is.............. Cumberland Co. 1 Jefferson Co. 0 Region 3AAA takes over the state.

Bottom of the seventh, 2 outs still 1-0, runner on first

After 6 complete innings..... Cumberland Co. 1 Jefferson Co. 0 Going into the 7th......

You are welcome Jet fan er uh Buc. I'll call back in about 30 minutes. I'd love to hear that the 2 best Region 3AAA teams are the only ones left undefeated.

According to my friends with GPS..... After 4 complete innings.... (as of 3:55pm EST) Cumberland Co. 1 Jefferson 0 Could be a re-match of Region 3AAA Championship.

I have watched the results from Memphis because I am a fan of fastpitch. Being from Chattanooga, I have been pulling for the usual suspects, including one of my favorites in Div. II, GPS. However... I have been moved by the story of St. Benedict. I have never seen them play. I don't know what their uniforms look like or how good of team they have. All I know is that they are from the Memphis area, are a tiny private school, and do not have much of a school athletic history. After reading the story posted on CoachT today....... GO EAGLES OF ST. BENEDICT!!!!! You can do it! You have already brought pride to your school. You have also brought joy to your coach. GO FOR IT! No matter what, the effort you apply is the only thing you can control and brings honor to your cause. There is no such thing as luck. All things are providential, as any Christian knows. No matter what happens, your cause has already gotten my attention and (I am sure) the attention of others. Now, go do what you do. You are now my favorite team in Memphis.

Soddy Daisy, East Ridge, Hixson, Red Bank and Cumberland Co. used to be in the same district back in 96ish (Huge District). I guess it is because Cumberland Co. does not have any AAA schools around it, except for Cookeville, and they had to be put somewhere. With respect to what is east versus what is west versus what is middle, it is a matter of perspective. I never considered myself being part of East Tennessee. However, I live futher west than Crossville (central time) and I am on eastern time. The Time Zone follows the Cumberland mountains which runs from northeast to southwest. This was not my point. Here is my point. There are several locations in Tennessee that are driveable within 5 hours of every school in the state. Memphis is not one of these locations. However, there is nothing wrong with playing in Memphis. Instead of players and parents complaining about the distance, they should be celebrating the fact that they are there and not at home with the other 98% of the schools.

Chattanooga is not East Tennessee. Chattanooga is south middle Tennessee. I doubt anyone with common sense would agree that Memphis is the most centrally located place to have Spring Fling. However, the bashing over playing in Miss. is a little off base. The park is located 5 minutes from the border. It is only being played there this year because they want the new park located in Memphis proper to be ready and right (a good reason if you ask me, but this sure gives the whiners an opening to whine). Yes, spring fling should be held in a Central Tennessee location. And yes, Memphis put up the most money and got the bid. Maybe if your town had shown as much interest in hosting the event as Memphis, then it would have been there instead of west Arkansas/North Mississippi. Chattanooga put up a large bid, but to no avail this year. (Just as well, our park is closed due to methane gas!) I am sick of hearing sportswriters from across the state whine and bash the TSSAA decision to host the event in Memphis. Where were they when it was time to bid? And Yes, Memphis has a right to complain that they always have to travel. However, I guarantee they never traveled 8 hours (like Jefferson Co.) or 7 hours (like Cumberland Co.). Why? Because there is never a state event held in East Tennessee...and there shouldn't be. Just like there shouldn't be one in Memphis. Finally, with respect to graduation. Get over it. Welcome to adulthood. I missed the birth of my second child while deployed in the Air Force. This is not defending your country, but at least you do have a choice. It is not up to TSSAA to set when your school's graduation is. That decision was made by your local school board. Meanwhile, enjoy Beale Street, Graceland, and all of the things to see in Memphis.... and be DAG GUM HAPPY that you are there and not wishing you were like 99% of the rest of the teams across the state.

No surprise here. Way to go BB!

David Lipscomb looked very solid aganist East Ridge. Lenoir City plays tough defense. Greenbrier might surprise, and has some speed. Gibbs has the experience, but have come up short in several games this year. Camden can hit the ball. Covington can play the short game better than the competition nearly every time. I think Brighton and Marshall Co. might be a little out of ther element. Final answer? Dang if I know. AA and AAA probably the closest state tournament in years with respect to talent and total team play.

Friendship 18 Harriman 3. It really was a run rule. Yikes!

Congradualtions to LC. Does 2nd base Sara still play for LC?

Germantown won their sectional, as did Bolton. Bolton plays this morning versus Hickman. Germantown plays Cumberland Co. this evening.