Falconbaseballbacker

I agree. Listened to the game on 1320. Had them on the ropes there, just gotta learn how to win. Coach Free will make that happen. Watched the freshman annhialate (sp?) DB. Good job Coach Cordell. Panthers are 7-3 with 6 conference games left. Split with Sevier Monday. That one loss may come back to hurt us. Got a BIG doubleheader Thurs. at Colonial Heights. Need no less than a split. If we can steal 2, we have a good shot at finishing in the top 3. Home next week Mon and Thurs. Come see us if you can.

Ditto I bet it's so cold in Hampton tonight, the town flasher will run up and describe himself.

Dang, who kicked the winning field goal? But hey, a win's a win's a win. Go to South Wednesday and get back to .500. Good luck and Go Falcons.

Let's don't get too "tree hugger" here. Of course, integrity is a key component to any program. The good ones have it and it shows. I still don't think you can put winning too far down the list. I don't think any school coach can honestly say "I don't care about winning, I just want everyone to feel good and everyone should get an equal chance." Not gonna happen. You definitely have to run a clean program, but as long as they are keeping score, winning is important. Anyone who thinks differently is kidding themselves.

I guess even Roger Clemens has bad days.

Speaking as a person who has been on both sides of this issue, there are ways to support each argument. If you coach in a small program that needs booster support, (about 95% of the schools in Tennessee) you have to have some sort of relationship with parents. Some parents take it too far and expect too much. "I do all this work and my son had better play" and then you have some who don't support the program and say "His son gets to play because he stinks up to the coach." How does a coach walk that fine line? Parents should support the PROGRAM and not the PLAYER. I've been there, done that. It's tough to see your son sit when you feel he is better than someone in front of him. But, don't pull your support for the program. Baseball is usually on the bottom of the totem pole in the scheme of school sports. 99% of coaches play the players they think will help the team win. Bottom line. One thing that is killing school sports is the rec league mentality that all players should play and winning should not be a priority. It might not be the top priority, but I guarantee it should be in the top 3. Finding that balance of teaching, running a clean program, and winning is very tough. Give these coaches a break and have faith that a player's ability will win out in the end. and, SUPPORT THE PROGRAM!!!

Is that your best shot? Come on! Dude, I'm disappointed.

A rational, reasonable, well thought out reply. Am I in the Bizarro world? My prediction, Tribe big time.

Congrats on the win tonight. 3 in a row! 4 big ones next week with some very good, experienced teams. Stay on that roll, guys.

Good win tonight. North has been playing well lately and you guys kept it close and then got some well deserved breaks in the 6th. DC threw a great game and the team got some key hits and a few breaks. Now that you got ole' Mo (mentum) on your side, ride him as long as it lasts. Go get you another one Friday.

2 very winnable games left this week. You got it going in the right direction, now stay the course. Good luck tonight and Friday.

No one asked, but as an outsider, I agree 100%. One of the most talented teams around the East Tennessee area. I miss all the Watauga Conference talk on here. How is that conference shaping up? I would have bet the house that Elizabethton was the team to beat this year. Is that holding true?

Congrats to the team and to Coach Free on your first win of many. North has been playing well, you'll have to play hard to beat them. Good luck.

He's still there. He just stepped down as the head coach for personal reasons. I think he is enjoying it more as an assistant. What was the score tonight?

Guys, keep your heads up. Better days lie ahead. Keep working hard and believing in Coach Free. We're still behind you.

You've had my support since you were 7 years old, ain't stoppin' now. Be the leader this young team needs and you will have a great year in my eyes.

Good luck Monday, guys.

What time is the 1st pitch scheduled?

I heard 2 reports. 1 said North won by 2, another said it was a tie. Also heard pitching struggled a little. One bright note, Ty Hud led off the game with a homer. Way to use the rules to your advantage, Coach Free.

Be careful what you ask for. You will get some opinions you probably don't want to read. I am excited about the future. Coach Free will put a competetive team on the field, but this year may be more of a learning process than anything else. The conference is LOADED, so that may be a hard row to hoe. Just try to get better every time out and stay positive. You are headed in the right direction.

I might as well be the first. New coach, a bunch of talented young'uns. I know we are a year away from making any real noise, but the discussion about this year's team officially begins here. Post scrimmages, updates, etc. p.s. All haters move along, nothing to see here.

Congrats to Church Hill Middle for winning the Homecoming game in 4 OT's against Vance. (Everybody talks about Kingsport, but I'd rather beat a team from Bristol any day. You know they invented sports in Bristol) Depending on another game, the Panthers may have qualified for the post-season. Great job.

Volunteer loses its final game 9-8 to Crockett. Crockett beat us 3 times this year by 1 run. All three games were won in the 7th inning. Volunteer got down 7-0 in the first 2 innings and fought back to tie it in the top of the 7th, just couldn't get over the hump. I just wanted to say how proud I am of the Seniors. The season started out rough and you guys could have mailed it in after Spring break, but you kept after it and played some pretty good baseball in the second half of the season. It was tough watching you walk off the field for the last time. I've watched most of you play since you were 6 years old, and I think I've coached you all several times. Also, thanks to the coaches for their dedication to these boys. Good luck to the program. Anthony, you've not always had the easiest road to travel. I've always said, if your body matched your heart and desire for the game, you'd be ten feet tall. Good luck in med school. Matt Mc., you and I have not always seen eye to eye on everything, but you are a bulldog on the field. Good luck in college. Corey, you have turned into one of the best defensive catchers in the conference. I'm glad you worked hard and stayed with it. Good luck in college. Heath, you had a great Senior year! I told your dad that I saw the old look on your face when you took the mound this year. I am proud that I know you. Have a good college career and life. Coty, I have watched you play almost longer than anyone else. Even though your record didn't show it, you were another one who had a great Senior year. Good luck in pharmacy school. Matt P, I have been around you for ten years and I'm still not sure I ever heard you speak. You had a fine defensive year in the outfield and made several game-saving catches. Good luck at ETSU. Brian, what a great time I've had watching you tear up those basepaths. You also had a great career at the plate and in the outfield. One of my best memories is the time you scored from second base on a routine ground ball to the shortstop. No errors on the throws or anything, just blazing speed. I think you were a sophomore. Good luck at King college. Justo, it hurt me the most seeing you walk off the field for the last time. Our lives have revolved around the game for the last 12 years. I can't think of anything that I enjoy more than watching you play. I know you have the chance to go play in college, please take it. Whatever you decide, I will be behind you. All the parents of the Seniors are good people who have supported your boys and the program through the years. It seems like a minute ago, these boys were playing tee-ball together, now they are moving into a new phase of life as young men. I know they will make us all proud. Thanks guys.

We won't even talk about the Db game other than the score 18-1. Wow, they are a notch above everyone else. Senior night. Great win against North Greene, Falcons 12-NG 2. Great way to go out, seniors. Justo pitched very well, defense played great, and the seniors hit the heck out of the ball. Just wanted to say thanks to all the seniors. It seems like a week or two ago that you guys came to the program and now you are moving on. Before you hang those cleats up for the last time, let's go and get some payback in the tournament. First up, Crockett. We owe them 2. Come out firing Friday and leave it all on the field. We'll be proud of you, win or lose, just give it your all. The only drawback to the night was the PA system problems. There for an inning or two it sounded like the speaker was in a small concrete room. What was up with that?

Comments? DB is for REAL!!! Best high school team I have seen in several years. Congratulations, because you took us to the woodshed. All the naysayers can talk elsewhere, this team is going to the state.