#12fan

Just looking for some honest opinions about something positive instead of the negative we all hear about. Thanks to the two or three that have given an honest answer. Guess that was too much to ask for from the "expert."

Couldn't help notice the criticism of the umpiring in some of the other topics. I guess I've done my share of criticising some of the umpiring as well before I became one. That led me to start this topic. Since I am an umpire in this district, I'll leave my opinions out of it but I'm just wondering who folks think are some of the best umpires in Dist. 1.

Catherine "Cat" McInturff. Cleveland State CC signee.

Why on earth would anyone in Unicoi be an unhappy camper right now? I thought they would still be "basking in the glow."

I'm curious if anyone on this thread knows why the Happy Valley folks won't let Coach Dorsey coach the high school team. I agree with Coach 17's last couple of posts - Happy Valleys success may not follow to the high school level - despite their talent. I am told that Dorsey wants to coach at the high school level and he clearly has an interest and likes the sport. That's more than a lot of people are saying about H.V.'s current varsity coach. Just curious.

Statman: Fastpitchdad continues to miss a lot of points. He dosen't respect e. tn at all apparently and frankly I don't care anymore. Most everyone on this board has tried to tell him something that he just dosent' want to hear. I see this type of thing a lot at work. Some folks from down that way just think they are better than the "hillbillies." No use arguing with them. /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Lions4ever: I hope my comments on this site have not been classless. I've tried very hard to post what I believe based on logic, common sense, and without the intent to offend. So I'll have to disagree with your post here. I believe that there are many, many, many softball fans in this state that know a lot about the Unicoi softball team besides what they read on coach t. In fact, I believe that there are a lot more people that know about the Unicoi softball team than those that know about coach t. (Sorry Coach T - nothing personal!!) Again, come up to upper e. tn and ask around-most everyone up here knows about the U and they have a lot of respect for the program. I'd say some folks from your part of the state know a lot more about them now too and it has nothing to do with coach t.!!! And by the way, we'll remember how they painted their whole communities with their classless comments as well.

/roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> Priceless!

I, for one was not disturbed that Goodpasture was the favorite coming into the tournament and I have no problem with folks making EDUCATED guesses about what will happen. That's why we're all here. But some (I emphasize some) posters simplly discounted the U because they are from e. tn and that's not exactly an educated guess. They made all of the comments about how they play no one and how weak they are evidently without knowing a thing about the U. You guys shouldn't lump everyone from one area into one category wether it's softball or anything else. It dosen't take a rocket science major to look at the history of the Unicoi program and figure out that they are, and have been, for real, for years, and I personally think (even though I know you won't) the ones that have done so (and you know who you are) should apologize for your blatant disrespect for a program that has earned and deserves much better.

Congratulations to the U!!! You guys knew who you were going in to the tournament, and despite all of the talk, you showed everyone else who you were when you left the tournament. SWEET!!! Congratulations to Goodpasture as well, I'm sure they left it all on the field.

Should be a great game (or games) Go "U"

fastpitchdad, You still don't get the point. I didn't say that you guys didn't travel or play good teams. I've said before that imo Goodpasture was one of the two best AA teams in this state. I wouldn't begin to say that Goodpasture was not a quality opponent for anyone. What I said was that Unicoi plays good teams against quality opponents too. Yet you think you deserve respect but somehow Unicoi dosen't because they don't consistently come to middle tn or chattanooga & play in the same areas that you do. You may not mean it as being anything personal, and I've tried not to take it that way. But you've made it very clear that you don't respect the U even though (I believe) most people would say they've earned it, not by winning one game, but by tournament victories against great teams for several years both in and out of tn and a consistent hard work ethic and winning record. It's a fool who dosen't respect their opponents. Nothing personal.

fastpitchdad, No one here is asking you to respect Unicoi Co. because of one game. You obviously don't get out of your area much either. You don't know where Unicoi Co. has played this year or against whom. You don't even know what conference they play in. Here's a hint: it's not the Upper Pioneer Valley conference. The U has played in some quality tournaments both in & out of the state of tn. against quality opponents, some of whom were nationally ranked. You obviously believe that just because they haven't traveled to the Chattanooga or Nashville area every year that they don't deserve respect. Why don't you guys come on up past Knoxville & play & then at least you will know something about your opponents. Maybe that way you can learn to respect someone besides yourself.

I hear RESPECT starting to creep into the voices of some of the middle tn doubters! I think I can even hear the sound of them gagging on it!!! I guess the U still dosen't deserve respect though until they win multiple state championships as one idiot put it. /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> Go ahead, keep talking about how the U dosen't play anyone and how e. tn is weak. All you're doing is motivating the U even more. Win or lose from here on out - Unicoi Co. softball is rightfully entitled to and deserves RESPECT!!! P.S. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA /roflolk.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflolk:" border="0" alt="roflolk.gif" /> (That's e. tn laughing at the doubters!)

For my money, this game IS the state championship. There's no doubt in my mind that these are the two best teams in the state right now and they probably have been the two best teams in the state all year long. I haven't seen Goodpasture play this year either, only read about them all year. Unicoi should have EARNED respect in this tournament from the middle/west tn doubters by now and it amazes us here in e. tn that you all still don't show them any. Don't be surprised if the U pulls it out. They have a chip on their shoulder that is well deserved by everyones lack of respect and goodpasture has a giant target on their backs. The U wins this one. Go Devils!!!

I did get to umpire a couple of T.A. Dugger softball games this year. They have a couple of players coming up that will be able to help after a period of time. No one that really stands head & shoulders above the rest. Unfortunately, I don't see any real pitching help on the way up either. There's no doubt that Happy Valley has the best middle school program of the Carter Co. schools right now. Unaka (1A) is right behind them.

Did they fire her or just not renew her as a teacher? I'm told there will be several new coaches next year due to budget concerns within area school systems. A lot of teachers that just happen to be coaches will not have jobs next year because the school systems are trying to save money. A lot of non tenured teachers are being let go. Don't know what the case is here - just asking.

Correct. Great kid & hard worker.

I believe you guys are talking about B. Morefield. She does come up from Happy Vally M.S. and she will be an immediate help to the varsity. If she keeps working as hard as she has been, she will be someone to be dealt with by the time her four years is up.

Good luck to the Rangers this time from a Unaka softball fan. Sorry our girls couldn't make the trip with you this year. Hope you represent us well. PLAY HARD & HAVE FUN!!!!!

There you go again! In your thread TBallExpert State Tourney Predictions (Post #99) you said a "darkhorse" may challenge Goodpasture from the West or maybe from the East. Now you say the runner up won't come from the East. Quit talking out of both side of your mouth. Some expert. /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> See my previous post. He's every bit as reliable as you are!

Teeball Expert: Since you're such an expert /roflol.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":roflol:" border="0" alt="roflol.gif" /> Tell everyone, are you still picking Goodpasture to win AA or not? In your thread about picking the state champions in every division, you were so sure that Goodpasture would win in AA. Then later on you said someone may challenge them from the West. Then you said Unicoi couldn't win because they got beat by North Greene and they hadn't played anybody. Then later on you said there could be a surprise from the East in AA. Now you're saying that you were saying all along that there is a strong possibility of a surprise in AA. You're an expert all right. An expert in covering your a.. so no matter which way it goes, you can say that you predicted it. That's some great expertice all right. ONCE AND FOR ALL.......WILL GOODPASTURE WIN IN AA? YES OR NO?

Congratulations to the U! Now go on down to the boro and show all the middle tn doubters that you belonged there all along.

Dist. 1A Unaka #1 N. Greene #2

Unicoi Co. has a rich tradition in softball and this year they are as strong as ever. I agree with stl that their bats are not as good right now as they normally are, but rest assured that coach Lingerfelt probably has his team working on that as I am posting this. A few of the middle tn posters on here seem reluctant to show e. tn teams any respect. Some would even say that that is the typical arrogance of a few (certainly not all) of the private school supporters who go out & get the best teams money can buy and then talk about how the rest are not very good. We'll save that arguement for the public/private debate thread. But I can promise you one thing - you under estimate Unicoi Co. at your own peril.