bavarian

Don't know who Diamond Devil is, but he or she is wrong to imply politics had anything to do with Lebanon's disappointing season. Coach Messer was not treated fairly at LHS and that can be blamed on a few families, long since gone, and a lazy principal who'd rather succumb to parents than work with a young coach to let them know that what's usual and customary at one school may not be acceptable at another. That situation could have been handled much better for Coach Messer and LHS...but I suspect Coach Messer is much happier.

This is not directed at any particular school because it's the same everywhere, but $5 is too much for a high school baseball game. Cumberland University only charges $3. High School football games are $5 or $6 depending on the district, but that's just once a week and 10 times per year, not including postseason. If TSSAA dictates the price, it's still too high. Now for rant #2. Fan's shouldn't bring food into a baseball game. I'm not talking about a drink, I'm talking about the district fans who brought 2 large pizzas and a Whitt's family pack. If you're coming to a high school game, you should be a big enough fan to know the concession stand is how teams raise the money to pay umpires, buy baseballs, build hitting facilities, etc. Let's support all the teams.

I've been hearing rumors for a couple of years now about what will happen when Station Camp goes to 3A. It would make sense to have all the schools in a county in the same district...if they're the same size. For instance, Smyrna and Lavergne should be with the Murfreesboro schools and Lebanon should be with Mt. Juliet and Wilson Central. If you add Station Camp and Lebanon to District 6, while removing Smyrna and Lavergne, district 6 stays the same size and county rivalries are in tact. The problem is district 7 gains a team, though it seems Warren County, White County, or Cookeville would fit better in another district. I haven't researched it thoroughly, but the idea of keeping county schools in the same district seems obvious. Before anyone starts mouthing about wanting Lebanon out of the tougher district, I'd say before this year, districts 6 & 7 have been comparable, and I'm sure they will be again.

I like it.

There's a right way to do anything, and we know that teenagers aren't very good communicators so sometimes a parent has to step in. A good approach would be to approach the coach during a very unemotional time...in other words, not right after a loss, or even a frustrating practice. Then, ask what does my son need to concentrate on to get better? Often, other parents can head this off. Usually, a disgruntled parent will gripe to other parents before they go to the coach. I usually ask them, "Okay, we put your son in the lineup. Who do we take out?" High School ball is not Little League and not every kid gets to play. On the other hand, the kids who don't play put in as much time in practice and traveling to games as the others, and it can get frustrating for the kid and their parents.

Speaking of visits to the mound, I've seen several coaches make a pitching change, head back toward their dugout, then return to the mound area to watch their new pitcher warm up and have a last word. I'm thinking this should count as a visit, assuming the coach stepped across the line into foul territory. Any thoughts?

In MLB, the acting manager gets credit if he manages the whole game, for example during a suspension or manager's illness. I'm not sure how it works for an ejection.

Blue Devils 3 Blaze 2 Exact same score as last night but reversed. Two very good games. Good job by both teams.

Blackman 3 Lebanon 2 Blue Devil bats waste another great outing by Fanchier. Well played by Blackman and a good job by the Blackman coach of mixing up his pitchers.

rumor of Warren Co over Siegel

Oakland 8 Lebanon 6 Best umpired game of the year...kudos to the men in blue.

None of our top 3 pitchers went yesterday. I know we didn't see the aces of Mt. Juliet or Wilson Central either, but my point is pitching won't be an excuse for Lebanon against Tullahoma. We're expecting another good game.

He did. Hopefully, we'll see you again in the districts.

Congratulations to Riverdale on a great ballgame. Great performance by both teams and especially the pitchers. The only 2 errors of the game came on pick off attempts. I hate to sound like sour grapes because the boys all played great, but I would have liked to have seen the field ump ask for help from his partner on the sac bunt in the 7th. I don't understand why you wouldn't ask for help from someone who has a better angle. With only 2 umps, the field ump can't be expected to see everything and he was positioned where he should have been and was hustling on the play. It's the only call he missed all night, but it came at a critical time. I understand he says he saw the tag, but Riverdale fans who had an angle similar to the plate ump said he missed the tag by 18 inches. Swallow your pride and ask for help so the players can decide the game. Two evenly matched teams that split a hard fought series and did so with style and grace...terms you don't usually hear when referring to a Lebanon-Riverdale matchup. Well done guys.

I can't imagine many high schools having the budget, but I took the tour of Camden Yards, and they can take 12 inches of water and play 1 hour later. My numbers may be off a tad, but it was incredible. After a hurricane went up the east coast a few years ago, they were playing ball in Baltimore 2 days before they were able to play in Boston. They have only an inch and a half of top soil. Under that is 18 inches of gravel and sand. The company that designed and installed the system has since put it in at Fenway. So do your research and have a car wash or two.

You're right, I should see Centenniel, but I haven't. Thanks so much for the post and I apologize for having an opinion.

After the Lebanon-Riverdale game, both teams gathered behind the mound and kneeled for a prayer. I like the sportsmanship shown by both teams before, during, and after the game, and the atmospheres that Coaches Slone & Messer have created on their teams.

If there's a better team than Mt. Juliet, I'd like to see them. They hit from top to bottom, field the ball well, and have solid pitching. Siegel is also very solid.

I don't think this is the White House team from Middle Tennessee is it? Where is White House for those of us not from East TN?

Lebanon beats White House 6-0.

Lebanon beat Station Camp...score to follow later.

The Lebanon game featured a no hitter by Cody Ferrell and the invoking of a stupid rule giving him only 2 warmup pitches before an inning because the Lebanon catcher made the 3rd out and the backup catcher was in the bullpen. The ump said there's a 90 second limit. If true, this rule needs examining, because these are kids' arms we're talking about. That inning, 2 walks and 2 wild pitches allowed the White County run. This decision may have cost Cody a perfect game. Reportedly, this is the same ump who called a Cookeville player out last year for stepping out of the batter's box between innings. IMHO, two stupid rules that do nothing to improve the game or add to its safety.

Sonny Gray should sue the TSSAA, which evidently stands for Tennessee Students Should Avoid Athletics, for not letting him compete in the Under Armour Showcase last summer, just because Rutherford County schools are on modified calendars and started school before the tournament began. These new rules have taken away Fall Ball, where many kids were able to make an impression on their coach for the Spring, and eliminated most preseason scrimmages making it difficult for pitchers to get enough work in before the season starts. How crazy is it to only be allowed 4 dates in February to scrimmage? What are the chances of getting all 4 in with February weather? We're not allowed to play ball in August, September, or October, some of the best months for baseball in this part of the country, but we're expected to get ready to play in February and early March. Am I crazy here, or are these rules just to make sure football doesn't have anyone missing because they want to play other sports? Tell me where I'm wrong here because I don't see any rhyme or reason to the new rules.

Lebanon beat Gallatin 7-1, Beat Antioch 10-0, and beat Creek Wood in a thriller 9-7. Gallatin beat Antioch 7-2 in 9 innings. Creek Wood is a darn good team and had some bad luck with two players leaving the game due to injuries. No games on Saturday, but there may be a few teams stick around to play Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned. Mt. Juliet always hits well. It shows what happens when you pick a good coach and stick with him. Every Mt. Juliet batter looks fundamentally identical, I suspect because they've been taught the same way since Jr. High if not earlier. When you spend the first few years of high school learning a new swing, or just how to hit, you've wasted valuable time. Stability is a good thing.

Have no idea on how the weather will be handled, and Veterans Field doesn't take rain well nor does Mt. Juliet. Good news is Lebanon got a tarp for Veterans Field, but the forecast does not look good. As for a score, Lebanon beat Gallatin 7-1