softballtheonlygame

Cookeville proved they have what it takes to win the District last night in a BIG WIN against a very good DeKalb County team, in extra innings, 7-5. Radford, Cookeville's pitcher looked good, and was very strong in striking out 16 hitters. Cookeville is once again loaded and is the team to beat in this District. I wasn't sure what they had so this proved a lot to me. The score was 4-4 at the end of seven and then Caplinger gave up three runs in the eighth. I love watching GOOD COACHES, GOOD TEAMS, and a NEVER DIE ATTITUDE by either team!

Well, last night I was in Murfreesboro and a couple of people who know me and know I post on coacht, ask about my boldness on my post. One agreed with me on most comments, and one, well we had a great conversation on the ignorance of some of our coaches. Now, we are not the normal "parents" who think our kid is the All Time best at whatever they do - we are parents who have studied the game, raised in the game, as I said, studied the game in every shape form and fashion and know the game of fast pitch softball pretty darn good. I played with some of the best of the game and I believe I know stupidity when I see it. I do not, to someones face or on this posting, turn away from the truth or coat things for someone to feel better about themselves. So, we talked for about two hours discussing this district, as well as other teams around the state. He told me I have upset some folks from this district - well, to be honest, I guess I have. He told me I should come out and let everyone know who I am - well, for what reason, I would say the same to your face, and he told me I didn't need to call out coaches who were trying to work at the game and I said, those coaches needed to learn the game and play the people who deserved to play and not the ones who liked their butts. But, we came to some understanding of why I hate ignorance and stupidity in the game of fast pitch softball. These girls deserve better - they deserve more than a body who is on the field to collect a check, and they deserve someone who will push them to get better, not someone who is there to roll a ball out to them, to never talk to their players and find out for themselves what the player can do. I mean, if you only go by what an assistant tells you, how are you as a head coach going to know what you players can do and are willing to do to win a game. I am tired of ignorance and stupid in the game of fast pitch softball. These girls deserve so much more. They are as important than basketball players. They work as hard as basketball players. So, I will gladly talk to anyone who wants to talk, but don't ask me to candy coat anything. I care a lot more about these kids who work their butts off for this amazing game.

I watched this scrimmage as well, howdydoall, and I have to admit, White County is completely unprepared. I too, have watched these pitchers who are both very good, one signing with Vol State and the other will sign, but fastball inside and fastball outside is a pathetic job of calling pitches. Do not know why this man refuses to find out what these pitchers can throw with a 80% rate. And, why they have a lazy, eye rolling, walk to pick up a pitch while runners are advancing catcher. YES, I saw that happen as well as fifty others in the stands. Unreal to me. Unless the head coach makes some real changes, by putting the best players in the right positions, before Monday, Smith County will school them. Cookeville Warren County (possible tie with Cookeville) Rhea County Cumberland Stone White

Possibly going to be interesting season. Warren County will probably be the best overall team. Good coaching, very knowledgeable, smart moves during the game. Adapt well during the game. Players are strong. They play up in tough games, but hopefully they will not falter toward the end of the games. Cookeville will probably be the team to beat because of the players athletic abilities and coaching. The confidence they show and their maturity will be the difference in games. Coaching is very good. Rhea County has great athletes, but not sure how coaching will pan out this year. But, if the athletes play this year this could be the team to watch out for. Stone has some good kids. Don't know much about this team this year. Cumberland has some good kids as well. Good pitching, and strong catcher with good hitters. So they could come on strong. White County has some good players, one or two have already signed with colleges to play. But the same ole issues with coaches. New head Coach is basketball coach so he may be a good one. He had coached softball a few years ago and did a good job. But, he has not worked with kids at all because of basketball.

Just heard Coach Michael Dodgen, White County High Schools basketball coach is going to be named the Head Softball Coach at White County. He coached softball at Smith County a few years back. He got so much out of his basketball team during his first year at White Co and he will probably get more out of the kids in softball than the previous staff. At least, he will not stand for lazy from the kids and will not be mad at the world.

I would hope his assistants would get the chance to get the Head Coach position! Coach Fish certainly deserves it. He has worked his butt off for the team for many years.

Well, tigerpride23, Caplinger is a great pitcher, but a slight hop or leap is not correct. She is illegal by a lot. The moment she takes that toe off the ground, she is illegal. She leaps about 9 inches and that is a lot. All the appearances Bond has had in the State and he has not corrected his pitcher - well, that is on him. He is a great coach, he coaches a great team and has a great pitcher that would have benefitted from someone standing up and correcting a wrong. I am all for DeKalb, but it is ashamed nobody has had the guts to stand up and make this pitcher a super pitcher by doing things the correct way.

We are up 3-1, but Caplinger just got called for another illegal pitch and that walked in the girl on third. Here we go, another illegal pitch............

DeKalb County pitcher, Caplinger, has been illegal all year and last year and it is ashamed the umpires have let it go. She could have fixed it if the umps had done their jobs. Now they get into the State and it is being called. At least these umps are doing their jobs. She is a good pitcher, but could have been better. And, I put it on the coach as well. He knew she was illegal and he let it go. Anyway, I am for DeKalb and hope they bring that trophy home!

Ootewah won over Soddy and now we have to step up in this District. I have tried to get people stirred with emotions all season long and no one has had any emotions except coach rusty. And he is leaving, so who will have any emotions about how bad this District is for next year. Too many times we all just sit around and let this happen and do nothing to get better. Cookeville has been on top for a while, Rhea Co has had a good team and Warren is going to be really tough next year, maybe, but what about the bottom of the district. I have seen teams come and go with all the talent in the world and nothing being done by coaches to step it up. Learn how to coach your team, learn how to coach your players and bring it. White County, Sparta, coaches hung it up this week. They had so much talent and never accomplished anything. Some of that talent is back, and a lot of lazy is gone so if they get the right coaches they could turn it around. Cumberland County, Crossville, has some talent coming back but they are going to have to step it up. Stone Memorial, Crossville, has some talent, but they have issues. The coaches are good and need to turn that attitude around in the kids. Warren County has talent! They also have good coaches. But for some reason, the tournament has not been for them. Play much better before tourney. Rhea County, Evensville, has all the talent in the world. Cookeville, has so many to choose from. Their coaches are outstanding and they play with emotion and hustle and dedication!!! How can we go from not so good to really good.

No apology is necessary from you coach rusty, but I appreciate the thought. I am passionate about softball and I talk to passionately about it. What I am trying to do is get emotion from anyone. I raise issues and hope someone will care enough about the game to help me want to change it. I try to change the attitudes everyday. I call out people to try and help change it and I work my butt off in trying to help change it in a positive way. You are right, I have made some real comments that should have brought out emotions, but believe it or not, you are one of the first to get passionate about my comments and for that, I appreciate it. Finally someone who cares and doesn't sit back and do nothing. I have attended games, for years and have seen some horrible horrible coaches acting like they were gods of the game and never teach the kids anything, but constantly berate them for not doing the right thing. All the kids fault and never theirs, but they didn't teach them in the first place. I am so tired of seeing this and have had camps where coaching was taught, and how to coach teens was taught and personally have ask those type coaches to attend, but their answers were, "we already know the game and there is nothing we can learn new". So total frustration! I am doing my part with love and emotion for the game of softball and watching far too many acting like they are doing their part. By the way, I just heard this morning, White County Coaches have resigned.

Glad there are some emotions running high on this topic. First of all, I have the right to say whatever I feel, what my opinions are and if you, coach rusty do not agree, then so be it. I don't fit my opinions to agree with someone just because of who they are, they are my opinions, some are right and some are wrong, but they are mine. The point of showing our name is only because of wanting to dominate someone - I have not tried to dominate you or your opinions and really could care less what your name is. Do I appreciate you showing your name - NO, really I could care less who you are. Should it matter who is saying the comments, no. But to try and BULLY me into telling my name - I stand up to Bullies, I do not give into them and, to me, you are a Bully trying me into giving into you. And whether you respect me or not has no meaning to me, coach rusty. I don't respect someone who tries to dominate and bully me, either. Most people know who I am and those are all that matters. This is NOT about you, this is about the kids are are not being made to step up their game. Who are NOT being taught the right things to become adults and appreciate hard work. I was out this weekend with a group of teenagers who gave up their Saturday to practice 6 hours for a game they love. They did not moan and groan for getting up on a Saturday morning and getting to practice at 9:00. They worked hard and everyone one of those teenagers hustled and talked and worked together. They ran on the field and ran off the field. They backed each other and they acted like champions. The parents kept their mouths closed because it was not about them, but about the teens and their team. What a great environment to be in. Back to high school softball - some of the coaches allow their players to be completely grumped up and allow them to walk on the field and off the field. They allow the players to make 6-8 errors a game and never take them out or MAKE them do better. They give awards to the player who are lazy and do not care about getting better. This generation of some coaches are awful because they play a senior because she is a senior and not the best player. I talked to my cousin, who had a kid playing softball in this district. This is just one example of how coaches play in to their seniors: The team had their banquet and was to give out awards. First of all, the All-District awards - ALL DISTRICT REGULAR SEASON went to the kids who were voted on by the coaches of the District - They were not seniors. Then the coaches gave their awards to the team - the MVP and the BEST DEFENSIVE were "handed" to seniors who did nothing over the coarse of the year. One of the ones got the award after making error after error after error in their one of three positions. The other did the same and had horrible lazy attitude all year, but they were seniors. The All District winners did not receive an award from their coach, but were the best players on their team during the regular season according to the coaches from around the District. So, the coaches gave in to the parents who had bashed them all year, giving their awards, who are now meaningless to further players. Just a crock. Believe me, those who know me, know I help the players become better adults in everything I expect. I expect hard work, I expect them to be respectful, I expect them to play smart and they better be ready to play. So, I am out doing my part, I am out trying to help these teens become better players, I am out teaching them the rules of the game and every instance I can will help teach them how the things they learn in the game of softball roll over into life and can be used everyday. So, I will continue to voice my opinion and hope one day, there will be enough emotion from some of these coaches to question our opinions to make changes to the way they do their jobs.

Yes, the game tonight was a great game! Rhea Co put up a huge fight to get the trophy, but Cookevilles experience was just too much! Now, coach rusty, I appreciate your advice, but before you give it, know what you are talking about - I do pick up a glove and a softball and I work with softball players six days a week. Having worked with college players for 18 years, I feel like I have paid my dues to talk about a kid who does not hustle, try to get better, and has a pathetic attitude. And, if those kids worked as hard as me on this incredible game, then they would be better than they are and bringing in awards that they would deserve. As far as hiding behind a screen name, I don't hide, but I will not be ostracized for stating facts and making observations.

Thanks ryan665! I appreciate your comments! You sound like someone who knows and appreciates true fast pitch softball!!!

First of all, I don't have an issue with saying when I am wrong - I just don't believe in this case that I am, but........ I try to look at the whole picture when I comment - Cookeville is the complete total best team in our District - They are coached very good and always compete. Now, do they have a bad game, of course, but their coach has them doing the little things to win game. I believe Warren County is the second best team looking at their team during the first and second half of the season, but, for some reason, the tournament team has not been the same. Players missing or whatever, not the same. The talent level on this team is amazing, but not producing in the tournament. Rhea County should be the best overall team, but again, for some reason, whether it is playing out of position or team chemistry or whatever they are not showing their true abilities. But between Rhea and Warren, I believe Warren has the best athletes, but not getting the production out of them at crunch time. They had Cookeville beat, but didn't finish it. I know these are teenagers, but I come from a District where the same age, teenagers, play consistently during the season and even step their game up in tournament time, so why can't these teens do the same? Is it the competition - probably, or is it some of them feel entitled to be on a team because of their parents or their status in school or because they are seniors in school, as I know some do. They have not been made to "up" their game so they don't care, come tournament time or even game time. I was at a game this year and witnessed one of the coaches on the field turn to the fans and bless them out because they yelled for a player to run from third base to home after she stood on the base and watched a ball hit to deep right field. She didn't tag, she didn't do anything, just stood there on the bag. The coach went ballistic to the fans and made a complete backend of a donkey out of himself. The same kid allowed two balls to drop in her glove and beside her in the outfield with nothing said to her, but the coach had no problem telling the fans to shut up. This type of base running was done in the game three times and no she didn't score. I don't know how teams in this district can attempt to get better with this type of "not teaching the basic fundamentals" of the game. Stone coaches are very good with fundamentals - those kids are the the most athletic, but the coaches know how to coach a team. Cumberland coaches are ok, White Co coaches do not teach the little things to win, Warren and Cookeville are very good coaches and Rhea coaches know the game, but struggle with small things. This District has to step up, has to coach the small things, or we will just make it to the Region and come on home after we show up, because we can not compete with the in our Region let along other Regions who are even stronger.

First of all, I haven't jumped on anybody's band wagon or jumped off anybody's band wagon. I say it like it is and really could care less if someone doesn't like hearing the truth. I have seen Cookeville, Rhea County and Warren County play over five times each this year and Cookeville and Warren County are the two best overall teams in the District. Rhea County has some issues. They have some really good individual players but team wise Warren is better. I watched Warren play Rhea and White at Stone and they were not the same team as I have seen through out the year. They were sloppy, not ready to play or thought they automatically had the games won. Completely out of sorts. They had no big bats against pitchers they should have taken to the cleaners. Last year, Warren didn't want to "be there" at the tournament and they were almost beaten by White and it turned out they look like the same team on Monday. Now, like I said, I say it like I see it and do not jump on or off a band wagon. I do not like people who think they are entitled and too many of these kids think that. When you have a senior who is no better than they were as a freshman, then it is time for them to go on and do something else and I see that all the time with these kids who lay down and don't try to get better. Whoever goes to the Region, and it should be Cookeville and Warren, neither will be able to do much of anything against Ootawah, or however you spell it, or Soddy.

Well, believe me, after watching Warren County play yesterday against Rhea County and White County, you just as well, should know Warren County WILL NOT be going to the Regional Tournament! They looked like the bad news bears. Don't know where their athletes were, but they weren't at the District Tournament! Warren County GOT DRILLED by Rhea County 15-0 and had to turn around and play White County in the losers bracket. Are you kidding me - White County almost beat them, but the game ended 3-1 in favor of Warren County. If it hadn't been for two stupid plays at home - sending runners home when the ball was five feet from the infield, and getting them thrown out, White County could have beaten Warren. Warren WAS ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS in this District along with Cookeville, but they just as well go home if that is all they have left. Just unreal.

Cumberland County beat White County 7-3 in the first game of the District Tournament. I bet White County will be glad when their Seniors graduate - they have been disappointments for these coaches who care so much about the game. Cumberland County will play Cookeville today and White County will play the loser of Warren Co and Rhea County on Monday, I believe. Cumberland may have turned a corner last night - they hit the ball with authority. Warren County beat Stone Memorial in the second game. Warren County will play Rhea County and Stone will play the loser of Cumberland and Cookeville. Warren threw their weight around against Stone. Hope I am right, the brackets were a little crazy, all depended on who won Stone and Warren. Still looking like Cookeville and Warren should win it and go to the Region. But for some reason, Warren goes crazy against Cookeville and Rhea, so they need to step it up!!!

Hope you all get a Region Berth as well. Warren County has some big hitters and well coached. I am surprised by some of their loses, but if you all play like you are capable, you should go to the Region with Cookeville.

LA beat White County last night in a game of ERRORS! LA is good - pays attention to details and gets the job done. Pennycuff did an outstanding job, and she had the hitters and defense to back her up - didn't need a lot of defense, she struck out 11 White County hitters. White County's defense is like the bad news bears - maybe worse - their pitcher didn't have a chance with the defense she had behind her. They had a total of 11 errors, who throwing errors on top of that. Most of the attitudes of the Sparta team was pathetic - they didn't seem to want to be there - COACHES included. Their pitcher did everything she could do to get players to hit ground balls or fly balls and their outfielders just plain ole missed balls hit to them and the infield play on second and short was pretty awful - 8 infield ground ball errors. Unreal to watch.

Not sure on the seeding for the others. White County plays Stone tonight. They have beaten Rhea County once, Cumberland twice, and Stone once and have lost both to Cookeville and Warren. So they should have 4th place. I would say Cumberland is fifth and then Stone. So probably in upper bracket will be Cookeville, White and Stone and lover bracket is Rhea, Warren and Cumberland. I think going into Regional will be Cookeville and Warren.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH DEKALB COUNTY????? Some of the best hitters around, good pitching and good defense and they are getting their buns whipped!!! Boy, this is not the time for them to forget how to play softball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A LITTLE DRAMA goes a LONG WAY and DESTROYS TEAMS!!!!!