BilllyBuckner

Mikie Minor (LHP) from Forrest High School is definately deserving of Class A - All State.

Columbia Academy and Forrest High School will be two VERY good teams next year. They are both out of Region 6 and they will both be capable of making it to state for class A.

Adam Stooksberry out of Collinwood is also deserving of an All-State selection at 3B.

Clint Shelby from Columbia Academy SHOULD make the all-state team. He had a very solid year. Drew Earl has a shot at making it and probably would have if he had not battled injuries all season. But who knows if Kodatt will even nominate any of his players? He probably won't even send their stats in to The Tennesseean for their all-midstate team.

Does it cost any money to tryout?

You have to give credit where crediit is due. There is no doubt that Goodpasture is a great team, and they have a great baseball program. They have an excellent coach in Richie Eastep. If he coached at Columbia Academy (his alma mater) they would be an even bigger powerhouse year-in-year-out.

Of course i'm talking about the Substate games these teams will be playing. I believe that Region 6 will be represent well at the Sectionals and perhaps surprise some people.

My picks: DCA vs Forrest - Forrest 3 - 0. Mikie Minor will be lights out. Moore County vs. Goodpasture - Moore County 4 - Goodpasture 1. I'm gonna go out on a limb with this one. If Ivey pitches as well as he did against CA they will have a good chance. He pitched a no hitter against a team that was averaging 12 runs a game on their home field. It's too bad it was somewhat overshaddowed by Minor's 10 inning shutout with 22ks. Both outstanding permances.

I believe the format should be either one of two ways in order for the process to be entirely fair: 1. - Move the tryouts until after the season. 2. - Don't let the players from the teams who make it to the Spring Fling be allowed to try out. The teams who make it to the State Tournament get to play in front of tons of scouts and they have more games to play to get a chance to impress them. Live Game situations are usually the best time to stand out anyway, imo. That way politcs isn't involved so much. - Also, what should a player who thinks he has what it takes, and would like to give it a shot at the tryout, what does that player need to do?

In 12A, I might point out that Drew Earl hit 12 home runs I do believe. He would have hit several more had he not been injured for much of the season. That kid has a sweet swing and can really stroke the baseball.

It's one thing to want to win a big baseball game, but I would be a little more concerned about my future as a pitcher than I am winning a game that in reality will end up being a meaningless game down the road. This kid is more than likely going to get offers from just about any school he wants to go to if he can take care of that arm. Colleges don't want damaged goods. 126 pitches and 10 innings is getting VERY close to taking it to the limit. I just heard Peter Gammons the other day commenting on Mark Prior and all the arm troubles he is having today in his career with the Chicago Cubs. He said that Prior did most of the damage to his arm by throwing way too much and too often on little rest in his high school and college days. He probably felt fine after he pitched but had no idea that he was actually doing damage to his arm. I would say Peter Gammons knows a little bit about baseball.