MSUBac2001

I like the Georgia system. Simple and straight forward. Start our regular season 1 week earlier (if Kentucky and Georgia can do this, so can Tennessee) 16 districts send the top 2 teams to the post-season. No district tournaments. 5 rounds, best 2 out of 3 April 28 (DH), April 29 if necessary - Regional Semi-finals May 5(DH), May 6 if necessary - Regional Finals May 12(DH), May 13 if necessary - Sectional Semi-finals May 19(DH), May 20 if necessary - East Sectional / West Sectional Finals May 25,26,27 if necessary - State Finals in M'boro One week b/t rounds gives pitchers time to recover, but 3 games in 2 days prevents teams with only 1 pitcher from advancing to the state (like they can now). Championship series of A, AA, and AAA on a neutral site, all games at MTSU, played on the same day, would be great in my opinion.

FWIW, according to the computers: HV is a 30 point favorite over Rockwood. Grace is ~10 point favorite over SN. Hampton is ~16 point favorite over Sweetwater. AE is ~34 point favorite over GP. Computer Rankings on this side of the bracket: 1. Austin East 2. Happy Valley 3. Grace Christian (HHS would be favored against Grace because the game would be @ HHS) 4. Hampton 5. Sullivan North 6. Gatlinburg - Pittman 7. Sweetwater 8. Rockwood

According to the computers, Rockwood is a 2 point favorite in this game. Since WWII, Rockwood leads the series 29-22. RHS has won 3 in a row at OHS, the last Bobcats win in OS was 2002. Rockwood won 49-17 in Rockwood last year, the first meeting between the teams since the 2010 playoffs. If OS wins this game, they are predicted to finish 4th in the region with a 6-4 record. If Rockwood wins this game, they are predicted to finish 4th in region with a 5-5 record. I agree - big game.

Rockwood is a 16 point underdog tonight according to the Moore rankings. GCA leads the all-time series 6-2. The average score is 26-14 GCA. Rockwood is 2-2 vs. GCA at Rockwood. The average score is ~21-17 GCA when played in Rockwood. What's all that mean? You would expect GCA to win by more than the average (12) because RHS is down. But Rockwood plays GCA well at home, so GCA at -16 is probably a good line.

You are right; Coalfied won the state in 1998. However, when you are talking about 1 player carrying a team from Morgan County, you are thinking about 94 Oakdale with Brad Howard. Oakdale didn't throw Howard against Coalfield that season, and let him pitch to get them into the regionals. Then he pitched Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to get them to the state (back then the regionals were single elimination. I think Oakdale won the games like 2-1, 3-2, and 1-0 or something like that. Oakdale had 4 or 5 decent hitters and the state's all-time wins and strike-out leader. I think they got beat at the state like 1-0 or 2-0 when Brad pitched and got smoked in the elimination game. So if you have a stud pitcher, you can make the state if you can eek out a couple of 1-0, 2-1 type games in the regional/sub-state. That's the reason I wish TN would move to the best 2 out of 3 regionals and sectional tourneys like Georgia and Mississippi. That way 1 stud pitcher can get a weak team to state.

Rockwood up 35-18, 6 minutes left.

Interesting to be closing the season with Tellico Plains. In the 6 meetings between the schools since being aligned in the same district/region, Rockwood has won 4 games by the average score of 40-2, but also lost 2 ugly games. Because TP has been eliminated from playoff contention, they are in the perfect position to play spoiler this week. Rockwood should win, but this is a classic trap game. And since this is the place for speculation, If Rockwood and GCA win this week, Rockwood is the 2 seed, would be hosting the loser of Gatlinburg-PIttman & Sullivan North. The winner of that playoff game would be projected to travel to Hampton in the 2nd round. If Rockwood and AE wins, Rockwood is the 1 seed, would host the winner of Happy Valley and South Greene, would be projected to host the winner of this week's Sullivan North/Gatlinburg-Pittman game, or GCA, in the 2nd Round. If Rockwood loses and GCA wins this week, Rockwood is the 2 seed, would be hosting the loser of Gatlinburg-PIttman & Sullivan North. The winner of that playoff game would be projected to travel to Hampton in the 2nd round. If Rockwood loses and AE wins, Rockwood is the 3 seed traveling to the winner of this week's Sullivan North or GP game. The winner of that game is projected to be traveling to AE in the 2nd round.

The last 2 times they have played? Are you counting scrimmages? I went through the CoachT schedules, the Rockwood alumni website, & the TN prep database. The only real game Rockwood has had with Hampton, in football, over the past 60 years was in 2009. I'm not trying to be argumentative, but scrimmages don't count. Coaches could be trying new things, trying new players in new positions, or any number of practice related items. If scrimmages mattered, they would be included in the record. I'm just trying to understand where you are coming up with multiple real games b/t Rockwood and Hampton.

Rockwood has only played Hampton one time in football (2009) since 1945. So you are saying the one time they played was a good game? They way you wrote that seems to imply they have played several times.

Every time Rockwood plays Austin East, I can't help but think about the 91 playoff game and the phantom 2 point conversion. That Rockwood team was probably the most talented team RHS has had in the past 35 years, even considering the 92, 04, and 09 teams. I don't think Rockwood could have kept up with Brentwood Academy in the finals, and they may not have been able to get past Powell in the semi-finals, but I would have liked to have seen the AE game decided by the players. That game was my 1st experience with how terrible TSSAA officials can ruin a football game and season.

Just a side stat...the host team is 19-1 in sectional games involving these regions over the past decade. While the past does not necessarily reflect what will happen Friday, the numbers suggest a huge advantage for North Greene and Rockwood. Based on that stat and overall records, North Greene & Rockwood should probably be favored to win. However, in single game elimination baseball, anything can happen.

Goose, 2001 was actually a pretty good guess. Rockwood lost the no-hitter game in 02. Question for Goose - who do you think would have taken a best of 3 series between the 05 Harriman team and the 99 Rockwood team? Both teams were the last public school standing in single A those years. I have always believed that had Rockwood not committed a few errors late to let USJ win that opening round game in 99, Rockwood had the pitching to win the 2nd game against FRA, and would have been waiting in the championship game for USJ or FRA. I am not sure Rockwood's 3 or 4 could have beaten USJ/FRA 4 or 5 in the championship game or the if necessary game, but that would have been the closest a Roane County team has been to a state championship since Kingston finished runner up in 93. Anyway, the 05 HHS team and 99 RHS teams are the best I have seen in Roane County in 25 plus years (this side of Kingston's 93 and 98 squads). Which do you think was the better squad?

Prior to the current format, when the entire regionals and sectional were single elimination, some coaches threw their Ace on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It has worked well enough to take a team to the state tournament. Because of the 10 innings every 2 days pitching rule, it was perfectly legal. I don't agree with it - I wish there was some sort of pitch count regulations for HS baseball. However, over pitching has occurred and will continue to occur under the current format.

I believe its Oneida and Oliver Springs from District 3

So while what you said is true, it is misleading. Its not like Rockwood has traveled to Region 1 every year and losing. In the past 13 years prior to this season, Rockwood has made 7 state tournaments and 3 sectionals. So Rockwood is 7-3 against Districts 1 and 2 in Sectional games. In the 10 Sectional games, Rockwood has played on the road 4 times ('10,'08,'05, and '99 or 00') and they are 2-2. Those are pretty good numbers. Recent history suggests one team from both Regions advances to the State. I think the fact Rockwood competed fairly well at the LV Classic and not many people have seen Region 1 teams, makes many think Rockwood would be a difficult out for Region 1 (assuming that's how it plays out). Should be good games.

There are a few reasons why they didn't intentionally walk in that situation. 1. Some coaches look at that situation and want their pitcher to just focus on the batter. Those runners mean nothing if you get the batter out. 2. The coach may believe he has a better chance of getting the current batter out vs. the next hitter. 3. While an IBB sets up a force out at every base, it also guarantees the base runners will be in motion on any hit ball with 2 outs. For instance, lets say the batter hits a weak grounder to the 3rd base side of the field. With no runner on 1st, the guy at third might be hesitant to take off until he sees if the ball is through or if the throw is going to 1st...you don't want your baserunners running into an out. With the bases loaded, he is going on contact. So a weak grounder misplayed by the pitcher or at 3rd may load the bases with no one on 1st , but not cost you an automatic run which it would with the bases loaded. Some coaches would always load the bases, some never would in that situation, and some go by gut feeling.

Congrats to both these schools for making the District Championship and for advancing to the Regionals. Also, congrats to Harriman for eliminating Rockwood. It had been 15 years since Rockwood did not advance to at least the Regionals. Good luck to both schools moving forward.

Again, you missed the ENTIRE point of the comment. First, I am glad Rockwood advanced to the Region. Thirteen straight trips to the regionals is very impressive. As an old Tiger, I hope they find a way to keep winning and win the state. That being said, this year's version had the worst winning percentage since 1995. RHS had only the 2nd non-winning record since 1996. It is way down from some of the seasons they have had in the past few years. The fact they finished second in the district tourney doesn't change that. So by the standards Rockwood has set for itself, this is a down year. Thats not a bad thing though. To lose all the players they did, to change coaches, to really not be the strongest team in the district over the course of the season, and to still find a way to advance in the postseason is really something to build on. It really says a lot for the future. To be able to say "in our worst season in nearly 15 years we STILL found a way to make the regionals," is something to be proud of. I think the players on this year's team will use this accomplishment as a spring board into next season and beyond.

I am not knocking Rockwood this season in any way. What they accomplished over the past decade is impressive, especially considering prior to 1999 they had 5 or so district championships in the entire history of the school. That being said, when a team has 10 seasons with 7 state tournament appearances and 2 other substate years, you get used to seeing them playing deep into May. I would be surprised if they don't bounce back in the next few years.

Any word on the result of the Rockwood - Midway game? Odd to see Rockwood so far down this year. It has been the school's worst season since 1995 and only their second overall losing record since the drop to single A in 1998. From the looks of things, all the teams seem kinda down this year. Hopefully whoever gets out of the district tourney will have a good showing in the rest of the postseason and the entire district will bounce back next season.

Not sure the dates of the games (I believe they will start on Friday), but the boys 3A standings finished like this: 1. Grace Christian 12-0 2. Rockwood 10-2 3. Greenback 8-4 4. Harriman 6-6 5. Midway 4-8 6. Berean Christian 2-10 7. Tennessee School for the Deaf 0-12 The tournament brackets should look like this: #1 Grace vs. Winner of #4 Harriman/#5 Midway Winner of #2 Rockwood/#7 TSD vs. Winner of #3 Greenback/#6 Berean Christian I haven't seen it published anywhere, but if the records are correct, this is how the tourney should be laid out.

I understand Alcoa's situation. Difficult to find quality opponents willing to play a small school that is that good. Question for all those in Blount Co....what is the chance of Alcoa scheduling Alabama or Mississippi's 2A champs or Maryville scheduling someone like Mississippi's South Panola (nation's longest winning streak)? It would be extremely interesting to see how you guys would match up with the best from other states. Might be a better game.

Any chance this game will be available through online radio?

All tournaments should be set up so that the best 2 teams end up playing in the last game. It would not make sense to have it set up where the 2nd best team in the state is on the same side of the bracket as the best, therefore they can't finish 2nd. The only other logical way to have this would be if the tourney was designed to have a Eastern Sectional Bracket and a Western Sectional Bracket (much like football is now or the way Mississippi has a North State/South State) so that the sectional champions meet in the finals. Because it would be near impossible to compare teams such as to get a legit seeding, the set-up they have now is about as good as their can be.

I don't think anyone is saying JCS recruits players like some other private schools may have, but private schools do have a slight advantage based on numbers. For example, Jackson's population is over 10 times that of Rockwood or Harriman. Even if the schools were forced to draw from population based districts, the population pool would be 2:1 in favor of Jackson schools. Open up the entire 60,000+ population for a school and the talent pool is increased by 10 times. Obviously, the overall talent gets spread out more throughout all Jackson schools, but there is a much larger talent pool for that would allow any private school in Jackson to choose from. The pure numbers suggest that a private school in Jackson (especially a good school like JCS) would draw more talent consistently compared to a small rural town. The number of state championships by private schools compared to public schools over the past 10 years supports this. That being said, it is what it is & the games are decided on the field.