Coach23

Kristin Holloway - GPS Kaitlin Holloway - GA Holly Thomas - Ootlewah Breana Kilgore - GA Amy Campbell - GPS Katie Blevins - SD Maddie McKinley - GA Jessicca Phillips - GPS Kamri Chester - GPS Lauren Flores - LFO Ashely Ellis - Bledsoe Co. Try getting through that lineup without giving up a run or two........it is tough.....believe me I know!

I disagree....most Gold rosters contain at least 25 % college freshman and typically another 50%+ graduating seniors who have already signed . The 07 and 08 players for typical gold teams will make up the minority. For Picketts Eagle's team, 90% of his team is comprised of 07 and 08 players. It would be unfair to place a team that young into the mix with girls 2 to 3 older....realisticly the best travel ball players in the country. That being said, my travel team played in a friendly in the fall with Picketts Eagles and a very good Ga Mavericks GOLD team. The Eagles went toe to toe with the Mavericks, many of which just finished the Ga state tournament, and finished in a tie....I believe 2 to 2....with both coaches agreeing to play ITB the last few innings for the experience! The Eagles proved they CAN play with the GOLD teams.....and will do so in many exposure tournaments....but with team so young....a smart coach would play 18A another year and give the girls a chance to mature. I am sure individually, the majority of the girls on the team could be key players on a more experienced GOLD team....but with the entire team being this good and young....why bust it up to do so. These girls still have 2 years after this to play in the GOLD division.

Powell is good....but not that much better than Central, Karns, or others in their region. They will have a serious fight on thier hands to get out of district and region. The addition of Brittany Webb to Central will make a significant offensive impact on a team that gives up VERY few runs with Irwin on the mound. And I still say Karns has the best ATHLETES of any Knoxville school....but they have to put it together on the field! The reason Seymour is getting no press from fans or others is because they do not deserve it. They have started 1 and 3, losing both games of the series to Heritage and splitting the series with South Doyle! The only bright spot was the preseason games against P. Forge and Rutledge where they gave up no runs in 14 innings of work. Frankly, not much is going right for the Lady Eagles. They have returned only 3 regular starters from last year and are currently starting 4 freshman. This team shows moments of greatness....actually playing better than last years "experienced" team....then the next inning the immaturity shows and everything goes BAD. Even the pitching is having trouble finding the grove, giving up 14 runs in the first 4 games, not typical for a pitching staff that pitched 13 of 29 shutouts last year. I truely believe this could still be one of the best AA teams in the area....even playing with Alcoa and Gibbs.....but somebody better step up...or grow up....quickly.

I hear the score was 3-0 Central....and the Central pitcher (Irwin) ripped a 2 run homer.....Oh, and she pitched a 2-hitter to boot!

Wow, kinda hard on me and TNT aren't you pokerface....do we know you? Anyway, I never said Maryville had nothing! Simply stated, Maryville had an amazing season last year....I don't think anyone, including Maryville, anticipated the kind of success they had. Last year they had, and still do have, some VERY good players on the Maryville team. Melton pitched incredibly well.... beyond anyones expectations after being away from pitching soooo long. Giles and Little played their best and stepped up when it counted most....as most great players do. My comment was....Maryville won't be able to overcome the loss of Giles, despite the play of Melton and Little. This was not a knock at Maryville....only stating that last years team played better team softball than could have been anticipated...and look what it did for them. However, you take away a leader like Giles...and someone HAS to step up. NO doubt in my mind that Melton and Little will be great....they always are....but can the team put it back together. Regardless, this was just my OPINION???? I guess we will see if I am right...Lord knows I have been wrong before! As far as my 10 ten list....I haven't put one up for AAA schools.....but I list a top 4 to 5 for District 3 and 4 in the Knoxville Softball thread....and Maryville was not in my top 5.....and they still are not. I won't change my opinion just because the played well in a scrimmage???? But you know what they say.....my opinon and 35 cents still won't by you a cup of coffee!

Seymour has not.....Seymour's junior pitcher was in a wreck last week (and totaled her **** car). Luckily she was not seriously hurt.....and she started pitching again today. I believe Seymour is scheduled to scrimmage Morristown West and South Doyle next week.

My opinion.. 1 Marshall County - Lintz on the mound makes this team a favorite for a repeat 2 Goodpasture - Wiessenger (sp) scores at least 2 runs a game on her own (she is that good....seriously) 3 Boyd Buch. - Solid Chattanooga team....always a contender 4 Creekwood - Building on a good season last year 5 Seymour - Maybe the year to break out (hopefully) 6 Alcoa - Could be Brittany's year to make a run 7 East Ridge - Sooo many good players in Chattanooga 8 Unicoi - Good coaching....good fundamentals....always in the mix 9 Gibbs - The best program year to year in the state....any classification...period 10 CAK - Newcomer to AA.....may turn some heads Sorry, didn't mean to leave out W. Tn teams....just don't know many? Comments?

I am not sure I would call running a Sunday batting cage practice interfering FAN! Maybe you have had a bad experience or something, but it is my experience that most high school programs are somewhat lacking in a good batting practice...some programs don't even have the right equipment (i.e. pitching machine etc.) due to a lack of funding for HS softball. I am sure you are way off base calling summer coaches selfish...as we spend countless hours preparing these girls for high school (indirectly) and ultimately for college ball....the vast majority for NO pay and little recognition. We are lucky at Seymour to have a great coach with D-1 experience....who is truely capable of preparing our girls for the next level....but most are not. Most summer coaches fully support their respective HS programs...working with their HS coaches....by coaching fall teams or private work. You ask if these travel ball players need another day of practice....maybe so...maybe not....but most will need to practice 5 to 6 days a week if they expect to play at the college level....whether it be HS or not. Most are more than willing to do this...as long as the HS coach doesn't interfere. Ultimately, I think it should be the girls...or her parents....decision, as it is truely their future that is affected. My question....if a HS coach doesn't want a child to practice for her summer team during season....What will that HS coach due to promote that child and get her the scholarship that she is working so hard for. I would like to here from former players who have moved on to play college ball and hear if they feel if their advancement to the next level was driven by the HS coach or the summer coach. Me personally, I don't want to interfere.....but I expect the HS coach to feel the same.

As usual, I am fighting the battle with a few uninformed high school coaches on travel team practices. I go to great lengths to make sure there is no problem with eligibilty...however, it is essential that the elite players maintain batting practice (at a minumum) with their summer teams during the season. We typically have batting cage work on Sunday's...IF it does not interfere with high school games or practices. Some coaches have a problem with this....However, here is the rule...copied from the TSSAA handbook. I don't think it is possible to interpret this incorrectly. You would think a coach would welcome the additional practice and input from knowledgable coaches TSSAA Handbook: 3. Q. May a player participate in a scrimmage, practice game or game with an independent team after being registered with TSSAA in that sport? A. No. The student shall be ineligible immediately in the sport in which the violation occurs. 4. Q. Is it a violation for a registered athlete in baseball or softball to practice with an independent team? A. No, provided he/she participates in practice situations only (batting practice, infield practice, etc.), provided no game situations are involved. I welcome comments from all.....hopefully we will all be more informed!

Thanks for the support TNT. Gibbs, Aloca and Seymour have battled for those top two spots for the past three years now. Seymour always seems to come up short. Carol always brings her best games to district....she knows how to get her team ready for the big game....this is evident by her record. Without a doubt, the Gibbs program has to be the best and most consistent in the state. As long as Brittany is at Alcoa, they will always be a threat. You just CAN'T consistently score runs on that kid! I find it hard to believe I willingly moved into this district! I don't think this year will be any different...hopefully a little closer scores with Gibbs. I have to believe the hardest working team of the three in the off season will come out on top! As for the Alcoa and Seymour rivalry, I think it the best in the Knoxville area. I know the majority of teh 8 or 9 games the past two years were decided by just one run...usually 1-0. Just look at last years semi-final game in district. An 4-3 Alcoa win in an 11 inning gem where both pitchers, knowing what was at stake, left it all on the field. This is what softball is all about. As for the Halls situation, it is everything bad about high school sports.....a tenured teacher and coach who has lost the grip on what high school softball is about. Using his position to belittle and abuse kids who just want to play. I don't want to hear that the girls are not "good" enough to make the team. That is just plain bull. One of the girls, Nicole D'Apice, is good enough to earn a softball scholarship to a UT-Chattanooga, a D-1 softball school that is competitive on the national level, regardless of whether or not she plays her senior year of high school ball. At least two others I know will play ball post high school, likley at D-1 school if they choose. It is just a bad situation....and a sad day for parent and child alike who have devoted countless hours preparing to perform their best for their community.

I'll take a guess.... AAA - It is Powell's until they get knocked off....returning both quality pitchers (Broyles and Sutphin) and the majority of a team that made it to state last year. Central will be much more dangerous this year..adding a little offense to one of the best strikeout pitchers in the state (Irwin). Karns will once again need improved pitching to get over the hump in a tough district and region....but probably has the most talent of any Knoxville team...especially the left side of the infield (Blosser and Ogg). Bearden will fall from the ranks of the contenders with the loss of Sally, but best of luck Amanda. Maryville will not be able to overcome the loss of Giles despite the play of Little and Melton. Don't know much about WB this year, but always a contender. Heritage was a GOOD young team last year and may ride Fagg's (sp) arm to a region or substate birth. Farragut...well they just win every year, regardless what everyone says or thinks, and have to be a favorite for at least a region birth. I hear Halls lost their best players due to a vindictive (kindly put) coach and will likely not contend. I hope he gets what he asked for! Lenior City moving up w/o Vaughn and Oak Ridge without the pitcher (forgot the name), will have a hard year. South Doyle...I don't know, is the speedy pitcher back? Campbell, Clinton, Sevier County and West.....good luck but it doesn't look good. Top 4 AAA (Knoxville) - Powell, Central, Karns (only 2 of these move on), Farragut District 3 champs - Powell, Central District 4 champs - Farragut, Heritage AA - I talked smack last year about Gibbs...won't make that mistake again....Gibbs is the reigning AA Knoxville champ until someone has the guts to take it from them! Alcoa, I have only 2 words....Brittany Holifield...nuff said. Seymour lost 9 games all last year....6 of those were to district rivals Gibbs and Alcoa. They return a quality junior pitcher and a hungary bunch of underclassmen....may get over the hump this year (lets hope). Carter returns a good soph pitcher and may give some trouble. Fulton will battle for 5th in district and AE will pad the stats for the other District 3 teams. Kingston was a suprisingly good team last year, and I expect them to be better this year. Newcomer CAK is the odds on favorite for District 4. Anderson Co should battle for 2nd. Loudon, Scott and Catholic....round out the region without much of a fight. Top 4 AA (Knoxville) - Gibbs, Alcoa, Seymour (only 2 of these move on), CAK District 3 champs - Gibbs, Seymour (sorry TNT, I can't vote against family and won't vote against Carol again!) District 4 champs- CAK, Kingston Don't know enough about Class A to comment intellegently....so I will pass. Comments?

Which 3 juniors????

If you are from Tennessee and are looking to play top flite softball, this is your team. Sorry ladyadmiral, but with the numerous good teams in Tennessee, this is not a fair assessment of the Maryville Magic program.

Dayna has made Seymour softball what it is today....she is going nowhere! Dayna was the catalyst in the Weekly deal....she got the conversation rolling for the move and is on board fully. I don't think it is final yet...but hopefully, that is just a formality. Coaching.....seriously coaching a HS softball program is a tremendous amout of work. Trying to do so with a non-school related job and a family (of soon to be 5) is near impossible. Adding John to the program will allow both of them to commit serious time to thier respective strong points of the game without overloading either. The result should be impressive! Thanks to John for making the sacrifice of moving to what I am sure is a lower paying job....and especially to Dayna for having the confidence to share the spotlight of excellent future Seymour now has. And, by the way, you are right jefferson airplane, we do need more coaches like Dayna in the area. The selfless commitment to make the program better without the hinderance of foolish pride is a commodity...both from coaches and parents. If there is any question if this is successful....just look at Dayna's students (some current...some past).....they are some of the top pitchers in this area. Kandice, Sally, Chere, Sarah, Heather, Katy, amoung others, all have worked with Dayna at some time. Or look at the Seymour program.....from a consistent bottom dweller to a true contender for the top of 3-AA in just a few years...it is hard to question that kind of success.

Central 1 ; Oak Ridge 0 Great pitchers duel.....no hitter by Irwin....one walk away from a perfect game!!!! Go Kandice!!!!!

After the last deciding game ends with a Gibbs victory over Alcoa last night, this district will finish: 1 Gibbs 2 Alcoa 3 Seymour 4 Carter 5 Fulton 6 Austin East Alcoa and Seymour will play tonight for a tie for second...but it won't affect the seeding as Alcoa drew a higher tiebreaker # in the preseason. Congrats to Gibbs for another undefeated regular season in district. Sorry I ever doubted you...Coach Mitchell. Look out for district 3 in the post season.....with 3 of the best pitchers in AA in this district (Thomas - Gibbs, Holifield - Alcoa, Monday - Seymour), Whoever makes it out could make a serious run at state!

This is true....the odds on favorite for the Class A state is Goodpasture. Truthfully, Goodpasture may be the best team in the state at any division. Nothing against Rockwood...but this team is loaded from top to bottom with at least half of the starters playing for the Nighthawks 18U Gold team last year.....a team that competed at the HIGHEST level with much success. BUT, the 2005-2006 classifications makes changes which will put things more in line...Goodpasture will be AA next year, as well as several other tough private schools.

This must be true as Kandice Irwin of Knox Central led her team to a 4th place finish in the state last year (AAA), had over 360 K's, numerous wins, and playing tough against all competition....even Soddy (1-0 loss at state). All this with team that batted around .160 at state....and probably not much more than that in the regular season..........But NO All-State nod...........??????????????

What you should be saying is "Don't even think about throwing fastballs up in the zone".....If it is a true rise with "pop" she would not be hitting it! Lot's of girls claim to throw a rise...but few actually do..or at least have the upward movement. Ask a GOOD hitting coach and he will tell you....How do you hit a rise ball......You don't....you just don't swing! Take the ball!

We (Seymour) have played both.....and lost to both. Alcoa clearly has the edge in pitching...Gibbs in offense. My prediction, Alcoa 1 - Gibbs 0. Gibbs will not hit Holifield with any success...this will be the difference. Alcoa only has to not beat themselves....as Seymour has done twice. If Danielle pitches....it will be more difficult on Alcoa to score....but regardless, I see them winning a close game. Good luck to both....as Seymour will be in 3rd (or worse) regardless of the outcome. BUT, don't rule Seymour out....we will regroup and be tough to beat in the district tourney.

Know how you feel lady admiral....Seymour will have all players present on Friday.....but lose at least 4 starters on Saturday to Prom. I don't know what these girls are thinking....they need to get their priorities in order (just kidding...sort of)!!! But, since we don't have a JV....the freshman will get some well deserved field time. Good luck to all.

I don't disagree entirely...however, I see some other "good" and even "great" players mentioned that may or not deserve a best ever rating. I assume that being recruiting and playing for a nationally competive college team is a good...although not the only....measure of a best ever rating. Who are the top prosepects who had success nationally at the next level. Fekete at UT, McClain at Alabama, Harris at LSU.... Please understand I am NOT knocking the smaller schools....but we are talking about the ELITE! I assume we will be adding Rhodes due to her early success at UT, Vaughn and Peroni based on expectation at UT, and I will go out on a limb and say Weissinger (sp) will probably be a shoe in for this in couple of years where-ever she chooses to go! By the way the W. Tennessee comment was made to emphisize the lack of respect for Knoxville (must not have been to funny) and K-town has had it's share of state championship success although mostly due to the work of Carol Mitchell and Gibbs!

I know the kid and the team (Austin Eagles). From my experience, the team and coaches has always made it known their desire for competitiveness. The goal is a nationally competitive team....with the team above the individual players. It seems harsh....but all to often it is reality. Some kids and parents don't like it, especially if on the "cut side"... but as long as everyone is honest and up front from the get go....then it is fair enough. This is a HUGE pressure for the girls....but pushes them to their potential.....everyone working to maintain their postition...(kind of like real life). If you are looking for fairness and equal time.....Competive "A" ball is not the place to be!

I feel like W. Tennessee........The Knoxville Area struggles to get much, if any, credit of the softball diamond. Just recently.....Sarah Fekete of Maryville....all state pitcher....and All conference outfielder for UT (a top 5 nationally ranked D-1 school). Other mentionables, include Gretchen Prugh (sp) of Maryville (University of Kentucky), Stephanie Humphries of Halls (UT starter prior to the Monica Abbott era); Sarah Vauhgn of Lenoir City...only a senior...but still one of the best EVER! Also, props to M. Rhodes, making a name for herself and pitching great as a backup and #2 behind Abbott at UT.