PureFP

Good Call mynameis. If had a good mark......

Actually, that is why I went (that and there was no other game around the flooded valley last night). I saw Cumb. Co. at the Cookeville Tournament. They looked strong even though they didn't have their seniors with them. It was 0-0 in the bottom of the fifth with a good pitcher's duel going and good defense for both teams. Next thing you know it's 4-0 on a grand slam and that was pretty much the ball game. Bradley's lead-off hitter got hurt last night. Had to get an ambulance. If anybody hears how she's doing, let me know. Something has to give after regions. Cumb. Co., Soddy, and Coffee Co. can't all advance to the state (same sectional). I won't be there tonight to see the 5AAA championship. I've got a horse in a different race. (And if anybody tells my daughter I called her a horse, I'll deny it.

Way to go Lady Dragons!!

Hey Del: Those words were paraphrased right out the Thursday Chattanooga Time Free Press, not me. Hey Wildukats: Way to go against McMinn Central, although you and I both know that was nearly a given. Good luck against Sweetwater tonight. All Others interested: District 5AAA: Athens last night: #4 Bradley beat #5 McMinn to end McMinn's season. Then the double elimination started. #2 Cleveland beat #3 Rhea 8-2, #1 Cumberland Co. beat #4 Bradley 4-0, and Rhea played Bradley (don't know the results). Cumb. plays Cleve. at 2:00 EDT, loser plays winner of Rhea/Bradley at 4:00 EDT, and Championship at 6:00 EDT (and at 8 if needed). District 6AAA: Play ball! and yes, at Warner Park and even double elimination, and even though Hamilton Co. Schools are still closed. #4 Ooltewah versus #5 Brainerd at 10:00am EDT. #3 Central versus #2 Red Bank at 11:30am EDT. #1 Soddy-Daisy versus winner of Ooltewah/Brainerd 1:00pm EDT. Losers Bracket semi-final 3:00pm EDT Winner's Bracket Final 5:00pm EDT Loser's bracket Final 7:00pm EDT Championship game Saturday Lots of games. Who has the most pitching? hmm..... 6AA at East Ridge (don't know how, but..) Game 1: Bledsoe Co. versus Hixson at 1:00pm EDT. Game 2: Sequatchie Co. versus East Ridge at 3:00pm EDT. Game 3: Game 1 winner versus Marion Co. at 5:00pm EDT Game 4: Game 2 loser versus Grundy at 7:00pm EDT. 5A at Boyd Buchanan Tyner versus Grace Ac. at 4:00pm EDT. Winner versus Boyd Buchanan championship at 5:30 pm EDT 6A at Lookout Valley Game 1: #4 Lookout Valley versus #1 Sale Creek at 5:00pm EDT Game 2: #3 Chatt. Christian versus #2 Whitwell at 6:30pm EDT. Game 3: Loser 1 versus Loser 2 at 8:00pm EDT Game 4: Winner 1 versus Winner 2 Sat Game 5: Winner 3 versus Loser 4 Sat Game 6 (&7): Winner 5 versus Winner 4 Clear as mud? Doesn"t matter. All will be known Saturday afternoon.

What's her name?

Thanks coach, congradulations on a great season, and best wishes for the tournament! I heard warner might be used Friday night for another tournament, not true? Go Mustangs!

Yikes! Now I am not sure. I was tracking it up until the last week. Soddy went 8-0, the others were neck and neck. I'll find out by this evening and let you know.

I honestly don't know. It is either Chatt. Central or Ooltewah. I think they tied and had a coin flip but never heard who won the flip. I didn't give it much attention since #2 & #3 were to play each other anyway. Sorry.

Updates from the Chattanooga Region: District 6AAA - Single elimination (Yikes! Soddy only has to lose one and there out?) played Friday and Saturday at Ooltewah, but only if Hamilton Co. Schools reopen Friday, otherwise it's cancelled with #1 and #2 advancing. Ooltewah's Field is absolutely swamped. If no games played Firday, then it's #1 & #2 advancing. District 5AAA - Starts today at McMinn Co. HS Athens.. #4Bradley versus #5Rhea in the single elimination play-in 2:00 EDT, #2 Cleveland versus #3 McMinn Co. 4:00 EDT. #1 Cumberland Co. versus winner of play-in 6:00pm EDT. Due to finish Late Friday. District 6AA - As of 8am this morning, 4 feet of water on East Ridge's field. No available alternates. Camp Jordan is even worse if you can believe that. The coaches know the writing is on the wall. East Ridge #1, Hixson #2 and see ya at the regions. District 5AA - no info, anybody heard? District 6A - District by-laws state tournament must conclude Friday. Chatt. Christ. has no lights, Sale Creek is under water, Marion Co. is even worse. Same as 6AA. Most likely Sale Creek #1, Whitwell #2 and see ya at the regions. District 5A - Copper Basin withdrew, making way to fit this into a single elimination tournament slated for Friday. #3 Tyner versus #2 Grace Academy, winner faces #1 Boyd-Buchanan, hopefully Friday afternoon if schools open, else Saturday.

Don't confuse things wth rules. The district with the most top tiered teams is my spin.

Gasoline and a helicopter, right?

Toughest District, yes. 8AA for sure. 6AA comes in a close second (Hixson, East Ridge) Best AA team (my opinion) East Ridge, but we will see.......

I have to admit I only saw their ace (young afro-american girl right?) against Cumberland County in Cookeville and later on in the loser's bracket. She got shelled by Cumberland County and was pulled with no outs in the second with the score 8-0. However, Cumb. Co. has been doing that a lot lately to some good teams. And absolutely.... tournaments are not the best way to see what a team has to do in the post season, where 1 pitcher can get you through the whole post season. I saw Blackman at Cookeville Tourn. play Dickson Co. tough. Their middle infield made some bad plays, but overall hit the ball very well against their ace and knew how to play small ball. Dickson pulled it out in the bottom of the last inning against them.

This has been covered several times this week. But heck, it is understandable why.... The district shall determine who is the Champion and runner-up in their district by any means they wish. The Region games (per http://www.tssaa.org/Sports/Softball/Divis...onI/rguide.htm) states "Regional Softball semi-finals will be May 12 and finals May 14. The sectional games will be Friday, May 16. Schools may mutually agree to play regional semi-finals, regional finals, or sectionals earlier than the scheduled date. The sectional winners shall advance to the central tournament site, May 20-24, at the Greenbrook Softball Complex, Southaven, MS." So, in other words, it is up to the coaches in teh district to determine how a district champion and runner-up is selected. If you are completely rained out, then most districts choose the regular season winner and runner-up. Either way, there WILL be a region game scheduled for May 12th. Those games won't be pushed back because the district couldn't decide on a winner/runner-up. Note it said eariler, not later. Those are the deadlines.

I listed both Oakland and Blackman in my top tiered teams. Both are good teams. I saw Blackman play a couple times this year. A little weak at pitcher and middle infield, but overall good offense. I sure would have liked to have seen Oakland play more tournaments, but I know that bunch up there (former 12U & 14U Firebirds if I recall). Riverdale is weak. I saw them play twice, both of which went run limit on them. They can't hit good pitching and their pitchers are young with no stuff. Next year maybe..... Overall my opinion of 7AAA is good. Not great and not toughest.....;and ANY team can surprise us all at any point. If you (softballkat) are from up there, I wish you the best and good luck in post season play!

To illpete: Your batting average always takes a hit in these circumstances. Batting averages always lean toward earned hits, not earned bases. That is a whole other stat. Rather than taking pride in your batting average, take pride in you on-base percentage and your slugging percentage. As a coach and player, give me a player whose batting average is .200 but has an on-base percentage of .450 anyday over a .350 batting average and .375 on-base percentage. Lead-off hitters often have terrible batting averages. Ricky Henderson for example has a lifetime batting average of .273 (not bad). His life-time on-base percentage is .405 and a slugging percentage of .412 for a lead-off hitter!! Getting it done to score runs is what it is all about. He is the career all-time walks leader with 1,471 walks. Hall of Fame in 4 more years for Mr. Henderson! Oh yeah, he can flat steal a base as well. People talk about batting average when measuring a player. Coaches talk about OBP when talking about wins and losses. The last time I checked, this is still a team sport. I'll take the walk, error, or anything that gets me on base. Point is, I made it happen and it helps my team.

37-9 against whom? I cannot see anywhere in your schedule where you played Soddy, Cumberland, Goodpasture, Coffee, Hunter's Lane, Chatt Central, East Ridge, Hume Fogg, Smith, Beech, Rossville, Red Bank, Oakland, Blackman, Dickson, or any AAA team south or west of you for that matter. Those are examples of top tiered teams. The only teams in your schedule that are even close to being near the top tier are Farragut, William Blount, and Maryville, and those are the teams you lost to. Records are great. I don't know you or have anything against you or Bearden. However, part of the game is humility. Until Bearden decides to play these teams or enter a tournament where these teams are well represented, and beat teams that are in the top tier, then they won't be considered a top tiered team. The Eastman tourney was well publized....in East Tennessee. Maryville proved last year that a team from East Tennessee could do well agains the top tiered teams. However, as a rule of thumb, the teams from Nashville and Chattanooga are better than the Memphis area, the tri-Cities area, and the Knoxville area. The teams that go to compete against these teams and are somewhat successful are considered top tier teams. I didn't make things the way they are. They just are.

Hey, what happened to that shiny thing?

What is that bright shiny thing up in the sky? PLAY BALL!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Fling was moved for one reason...And one reason only....... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I have to agree with mynameis. Ooltewah can give you a good game now and then, and Gibbs is pretty good (not as good as they used to be). None of the other teams are top 10 in their respective classification.

6AAA is by far the toughest, having twice as many softball state champions than any other district. Chattanooga Central, Ooltewah, Brainerd, Red Bank, and Soddy Daisy are far and away the best. In fact, this year that whole Region is the toughest in the state. Pick a tournament or even a game that Soddy or Cumberland County has played and look at their records. Beech is tough, but Cumberland County beat every team they faced out of 9AAA this year. Soddy has been playing against out-of-state powerhouses all year so as not to tip their hand to anyone (as if they were going to sneak up on anyone anyway). However...... You can look at this from all sorts of angles. This is only my opinion. The next 2 weeks will answer this question without doubt. But I enjoy the discussion just the same, especially with all of this rain. By the way, whomever is doing the rain dance...................... CUT IT OUT!!

Both varsity pitchers from Bradley Central are Freshman, and both have potential. They lean on the drop too much and need a change-up, but are off to good starts.

Kenhawk, you are correct. 18 is the maximum for post season, and as long as they don't return to the team (to supplement an injured player,etc..) they can indeed play for an independant. Some coaches keep JV players on thier roster just in case they are needed for post season play, but then tell them they don't have to travel with the team or make practices, therefore they are done, which certainly isn't the case. And yes sftblcoach, it's all about game situations, although I have never heard the strict interpretation of live pitching being a game situation. It would be hard to interpret a pitcher throwing to a player a game situation if there was no one else in the field and no one running bases. For example, is my daughter in a game situation if I pitch to her for practice? At the last state rules meetings, the TSSAA board described this to be scrimages, games, or any situation that would simulate a game. I have no doubt that Mr. Childress said that though. It really isn't his interpretation to make, but maybe it has already come up in previous meetings. Interesting. Good Thread y'all!

1. Independant refers to independant of the school's baseball or softball TSSAA sanctioned team. They had to state it like this because many teams continue to use and fund summer/traveling teams. 2. Yes, because the TSSAA does not make a distinction between the 2. As a coach, you can play a JV player in varsity games (as you probably already have). The distrinction between varsity and JV is merely the number of innings played on varsity. Therefore, they are still eligible to participate all the way to the state tournament. THey are, after all, listed the same are they not? 3. Yes. The TSSAA has only guidelines to follow from the TSBA as to when the school term is to end when scheduling the state tournament. If your school's (key word "your") school term has ended, your players can certainly participate in other independant (of TSSAA) sports. This is a new rule put into place for those schools who are doing year-round schooling. Hope this helps. By the way, last year's District 5AAA champion Bradley Central had to forfeit nearly all of it's games this year for using a 14 year old who played on a travel team this spring. OUCH! Coaches....make sure your younger players and younger player's parents clearly understand the commitment they are making to your school's team prior to March, which absolutely includes JV players. Most often what I see are Freshman pitchers who end up playing mostly JV games feeling left out. They could easily play for an independant 14U team and get many more innings. Coaches can help make this clear to the new players. Coaches should also understand if a Freshman who is told they will most likely be delegated to JV wants to play for a travel team instead. Posted this just after ELA. Sorry, good post!