Champions 2019

[MCLMM]

Who will be winning it all this year in the different divisions?  Let’s bet some baseball talk going. 

[orngnblk]

On 2/8/2019 at 12:58 AM, MCLMM said:

Who will be winning it all this year in the different divisions?  Let’s bet some baseball talk going. 

Greenback returns almost everyone should be right there in the end in 1A!

[TALMAD]

Farragut is loaded this year and as usual will make a deep run. This is the only time of year and sport I pay attention to the Bigger Schools!

[StarRaider]

Riverdale and Blackman off to great starts in 7AAA.

[tonybologna]

Here's what I got/predict from early observations from games:

Class AAA

Farragut

Blackman

Riverdale

Class AA

Covington

Elizabethton

Greenbrier

Class A

Loretto

Greenback

Union City

Those are the top teams in my opinion but it's very early in the high school baseball season. Elizabethton in Class AA made it to the state tourney last season & is absolutely loaded especially with pitching. They did lose a doubleheader yesterday to Loudon & Union City here early on but both of those teams are pretty good as well.  Class AAA has several really good teams. Not just the Top 3 that I named above. Collierville, Brentwood, Brighton, Hendersonville, & Tenn. High are also teams to watch out for too.    

 

 

Edited March 17, 2019 by tonybologna

[BoardHater71]

Stewart County had a great run last year in AA (reaching the final 6) and they return a great core this year and went 4-0 in the first week of the season.  They split with Elizabethton last year in the State Tournament when the two teams met twice.  Kelby McCaleb from Greenfield is going to do an excellent job leading the Rebels Baseball Program.  

[LetMeHearYA]

TCA returns a lot back from last year team that was 1 win away from playing for a state championship.

[Swipes]

I see Greeneville making another run in AA losing only 3 Seniors off of last years team that went 4-0 in the State Tournament and claiming the schools first Baseball State Championship.  The have 2 guys already signed to play at Walter State next year and  only lost to Farragut 6-4.

[cbg]

In AAA you need to have 6 pitchers that are able to spot the ball and throw strikes.  If two of them hit a legitimate 90+ you are really in the hunt but you must have some depth on the bump.

[tonybologna]

2 hours ago, cbg said:

In AAA you need to have 6 pitchers that are able to spot the ball and throw strikes.  If two of them hit a legitimate 90+ you are really in the hunt but you must have some depth on the bump.

Why 6 pitchers? I played high school baseball & have also coached middle school baseball as well. When I played in high school we only had 3 legit arms. 2 SP's & one that could start & would also close games or pitch long relief if needed. You don't need 6 pitchers to be a contender. That goes for Class A-AAA.

I know times have changed since I was in high school (1986-1989) but I still follow & go to high school baseball games. In my local area I don't know of a SINGLE team that has 6 legit pitchers. I know a select few teams have 3 legit starters & 2 legit relievers but those type teams are few & far between at ALL levels. 

[cbg]

26 minutes ago, tonybologna said:

Why 6 pitchers? I played high school baseball & have also coached middle school baseball as well. When I played in high school we only had 3 legit arms. 2 SP's & one that could start & would also close games or pitch long relief if needed. You don't need 6 pitchers to be a contender. That goes for Class A-AAA.

I know times have changed since I was in high school (1986-1989) but I still follow & go to high school baseball games. In my local area I don't know of a SINGLE team that has 6 legit pitchers. I know a select few teams have 3 legit starters & 2 legit relievers but those type teams are few & far between at ALL levels. 

Over the years I have personally observed that the top tier teams need 3 starters and 3 relivers if they play 3+ games per week.  Most high school pitchers begin to tire around 70 pitches and when they get tired their mechanics begin to erode which often times causes injuries.  One of the top teams in Florida throws the starter about 4-5 innings, the middle reliver will throw 1 or 2 innings and the closer will throw the last inning.  This team has been ranked in the Top 25 Nationally several times and they work hard to have 8 guys that can throw.  You go back and look at the old Mel Brown coached McGavock teams and they all had 6-8 guys that could throw.  Yes, they had their 2-4 aces but they also had 3-5 guys that had above average arms.  I just know that it's difficult to win the state without 6 quality arms unless you are very lucky.

Edited March 19, 2019 by cbg

[tonybologna]

12 hours ago, cbg said:

Over the years I have personally observed that the top tier teams need 3 starters and 3 relivers if they play 3+ games per week.  Most high school pitchers begin to tire around 70 pitches and when they get tired their mechanics begin to erode which often times causes injuries.  One of the top teams in Florida throws the starter about 4-5 innings, the middle reliver will throw 1 or 2 innings and the closer will throw the last inning.  This team has been ranked in the Top 25 Nationally several times and they work hard to have 8 guys that can throw.  You go back and look at the old Mel Brown coached McGavock teams and they all had 6-8 guys that could throw.  Yes, they had their 2-4 aces but they also had 3-5 guys that had above average arms.  I just know that it's difficult to win the state without 6 quality arms unless you are very lucky.

The high school I attended & graduated from (Sullivan North High School) won 2 Class AAA state Championships when I was in 6th & 8th grade(1983 & 1985). Those 2 State Championship teams had 3 top notch aces. Darren Nottingham, Chad Smith, & Freddy Neeley. They also had 2 other pitchers that could close out games in Chris Frazier & Todd Wells. These 2 different Championship teams never gave up more than 4 runs in any postseason tourney game.

I remember both Nottingham & Smith pitching over 100 pitches each in consecutive games to win the state title in 1985. I think strongly any really good team can get by with 3 solid SP's & only 1-2 good relievers/closers. That's my opinion based on old school baseball. Of course, this wouldn't be the case for college or MLB but for high school baseball I really believe a Championship team needs only 3 really good SP's & up to 2 really capable relievers.