Centerfield

Anybody have any thoughts on this tournament at Lenoir City? Looks like it could be one of the best in the state this week with Eagleville, Harriman, Lenoir City, McMinn Central, Sweetwater and Walker Valley.

Friday Austin East beat Midway 7-6, then lost to Greenback 18-1 Lenoir City beat Fulton 6-2 Saturday Championship Game Greenback beat Lenoir City 6-5 in the bottom of the 7th on a walk off homerun

Just curious as to how things are shaping up at Gibbs so far? How much have they been on the field? How much have they gotten done since their coach is still in basketball less than a week away from opening day. I know they have a couple of strong pitchers, but what else and how ready are they for opening day?

Hey LCborn, you are obviously a pitcher or catcher. Why don't you just start throwing on your on earlier and getting in baseball shape on your own? This way you are not so far behind when you do get to baseball.

Didn't Duncan from Gibbs graduate last year??? He played in that Blue Chips All Star game in Knoxville for graduating seniors last year. Don't forget McGowan and Sherwood from Gibbs too!

You are absolutely correct. The dead period is at a terrible time for baseball and basketball. Many coaches at smaller schools are forced to coach their team in the summer and many league tournament are played during the dead period just as you said. The dead period also gives basketball a smaller time frame for summer camps. As a result, baseball and basketball often conflict in the summer. If the dead period was at a different time, both of these conflicts could be avoided. I do not disagree with the dead period at all. I think it is a great idea and I totally agree with its purpose. But, the dead period does not work for all sports at the same time. I think a better idea would be to just require all sports to take two weeks off in the summer at any point. The two designated weeks could be sent in to the TSSAA to prove that they are being taken. This way the scheduled dead period can be taken when avoids conflicts with everyone in the summer.

The Loudon County Invitational to be held at Lenoir City and Greenback March 24-29 has one opening. Five game guarantee. Each team must provide two new baseballs and playable baseballs as needed each game. No entry fee. Call Buzz McNish at 865 986-8192.

Lenoir City High School is looking for one more team to fill the Fowlers Furniture Lenoir City Spring Classic April 23-26, 2003. There is no entry fee. Each team is required to provide two new baseballs at the beginning of each game and playable baseballs as needed. Four game guarantee. Contact Buzz McNish at SPORTSCO@aol.com or call 865-986-8192.

If the student could not afford the right socks, then yes the coach should be ashamed of himself, the coach has a responsibility to work something out for a person in that situation. As far as the punishment fitting the crime, giving a lethal injection is a little too harsh for jaywalking, but not being in the team picture because you did not have the proper uniform is very fitting. If the young man did not have the proper socks, what should have happened to him??? Do you think he should have gotten a hug and kiss and told not to do that again??? What would he have learned from that??? I don't know any kid that ever learned anything from that. That is what is wrong with many kids today, they grow up being hugged and kissed everytime they mess up and then they receive a culture shock when they are thrown to the "real world" because nobody in the "real world" will give you a hug and kiss and send you on your way. Why do you think we have so many criminals? Slaps on the wrist obviously do not stop people from progressively getting worse in their crimes. Yes, not letting students participate because they don't have their uniform hung properly in their locker is ridiculous and being the only person with the wrong socks in a team picture is also ridiculous. As for what the kid should tell his family when he is not in the picture should go something like this, "I did not have the right socks and that is my fault, so coach would not let me be in the picture. I learned a lesson and it will never happen again." If the student was not able to have the socks for some unknown reason, then the coach should be ashamed of himself, but if the kid did not do what he was supposed to do as a member of the team, then he got himself into this mess. People should let coaches do their jobs, whether they agree with the way they do things or not. People criticize coaches for the way they do their jobs all the time, what if coaches started criticizing parents for the way they handle their kids??? Just let coaches do their jobs. Coaches don't tell parents how to raise their kids when they are at home, parents should not tell coaches how to treat their kids when they are on the field with them. The coach was hired to do a job and that is what he is doing the best way he sees fit, you may not agree with him, but causing a stink because you don't agree with the way he handled a situation is not helping. It is only helping drive the program in the ground which is helping nobody and is especially hurting the kids and community. Just let things go and bite your lip and see how things turn out.

I have never met the coach from Oak Ridge, nor do I know anything about him, but I am shocked that everyone is taking offense to his actions in this situation. One of the most important things a coach could ever teach a high school student/athlete is responsibility. Too many kids, do not learn this at home, so that makes it even more important for a coach to teach it. If the young man did not show up with the right socks, he must be held accountable for that. What if he graduated from high school and got a job working somewhere that required a certain uniform. If he did not show up to work in that uniform, he would be fired or SENT HOME AND NOT ALLOWED TO WORK THAT DAY. If the young man did not know exactly what he was supposed to have, he should have brought everything, so he would be prepared. It's better that he learn this on picture day, than gameday! because he certainly would not be allowed to participate without the proper uniform on game day. Maybe, this coach has put this young man in a position to be responsible enough that this will never happen to him again and the other players watched and learned too. After all, students have to start learning responsibility and being held accountable for their actions at sometime.

The best game I have ever seen in high school was Lenoir City vs Farragut in 1992. Farragut led 14-13 with about 90 seconds left on the clock. Lenoir City missed a field goal that would have given them the lead. All that Farragut had to do was down the ball and run the clock out. Instead, Jason Price tried to run up the middle and LC's Travis Cozart forced a fumble. LC recovered and kicked a field goal as the time ran off the clock for a 16-14 win and also won the district championship as a result.

What Sweetwater team are you talking about??? They were supposed to be in our league, but could not get enough players to play. Where did they play and where did they get their players?

Can somebody tell me which guys play for the Rockwood and Harriman summer league teams? I am looking for some people and wondering who all is on those teams.

Is the Gilmore kid from Rockwood playing for them this summer or what is he doing?

I know the war stories of Cookeville's past, but doesn't anybody think things will be a little different now that the administration is different than it was with Chaffin, Swallows etc? Did Kennedy have any problems with any of the current administration?