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I'm picking the spring 2008 Bay Rivers District season to be yet another wild one, unlike how
the Peninsula District often is with two or three dominating teams. Yes, this year Tabb, Poquoson, York, Grafton, Jamestown, and Smithfield will be smacking each other around back and forth. Tabb looks to be the favorite, with quite a few returnees and good catcher in Davey Everhart. Poquoson also has a good catcher behind the plate, with Kendall Charles leading the way and looking up the middle to the slick-fielding Pinder brothers. A baseball God on the Peninsula, Rusty Ingram told me in an exclusive interview that York's pitcher Will Lamb will be a draft pick this year. Jamestown+Mark Schultz= wins. This senior is a small guy, but he finds ways to sneak his heater past batters, especially when his breaking ball is working. What's there not to like about Smithfield? Second year Head Coach Bryan Thrift led the Packers to the district championship, turning around a 2006 team that didn't qualify for the playoffs. The Packers have a host of seniors, including senior Patrick Morrison, who had just one loss last season on the mound. But then there is Grafton. Coach John Hammons is right up there with Tabb's Doug Baggett with his ability to consistently put his team in a good position for regional play. New Kent has upset teams every year since they entered the Bay Rivers less than a decade ago. Lafayette returns a young squad and some possible pitching prospects. Bruton will face a tough year, but will remain higher in the standings than Warhill and Southampton. Warhill is a brand new program. I think the battle of the bottom standings will be played out with Warhill and Southampton, a team that should be awarded extra outs per game for the ridiculously long drive they have for every away game.
What is going to be the determining factor this season? Often undervalued, the coaching staff will play a vital part to the 2008 season. On paper, Smithfield has loads of talent--but Coach Thrift is young, perhaps last year was a fluke. Smithfield has undergone a brand new coaching change, with last year being the first season Packer fans had a new look at a smarter crew in the dugout. It turned out to be a good decision, but pitcher Jacob Evans (now at Methodist seeing some time on the hill) anchored the staff with Morrison complementing him. Tabb is an easy pick to do well, because I have full faith that Coach Baggett will find a way to win. He has for years and not just in baseball. He just finished up his boys basketball season in the regional playoffs. Plus, I really like Everhart's bat. I watched him play this summer at the Muscular Dystrophy games and he knocked the cover off the ball, helping lead Crush Con to a championship victory in the senior division against a good Kempsville-based team. Jamestown is going to ride as far as Schultz pitches them--and he will pitch a lot, as Eagle pitchers have historically been known to throw an extreme, unhealthy amount of innings in a week. The York Falcons have former Denbigh Head Coach Rusty Ingram unofficially partnering up with them. This is a great sign for this ball club, an offer that any program in the area would love to have. If he has confidence that Lamb has tremendous pitching ability (he emerged last season as a premier pitcher), hitters better get some extra cuts in during practice and refine their swing if Lamb is set to pitch against them.
The last angle I will take towards this season is going to be how well the catchers perform. Tabb, Poquoson, Smithfield, and Jamestown all have solid catchers. I already know the all-district selections will be controversial, but I suppose that is every year. I'm just emphasizing that this year will be a little more competitive than others.
Catch a game. It looks like we have a potential draft pick, an abundant amount of college talent, and as always, a host of great coaches battling it out for another exciting season.
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7 comments:
This is hard to read. Your paragraphs are way too large and bunched together.
Please use more paragraphs and break the text up better.
Please.
Smithfield didn't win the District last year. The regular season champ was Tabb and the tournament champ was Poquoson. The Bull Islander peaked at the right time last year and darn near ended up playing for a state title.
I agree with your assessment of Rusty Ingram, I don't care what team he's helping, you have to consider them an instant District contender. Will Lamb is the real deal. Interestingly enough, Smithfield smoked him (Lamb) all over the field last season. Mike Costello of Smithfield emerged as one the areas best catchers on or around the peninsula, defensively and offensively, he's hard as h3ll to beat. Should be another interesting year in the BRD. Let me remind you that it wasn't too long ago when Smithfield had a coaching staff that would pitch the guts out of a kid.....frequently. So I wouldn't be so quick to point out a J'town trait.....is that why YOUR shoulder was always too sore to pitch for the Packers?
To clarify, I stated Coach Thrift led the Packers to the district championship--not a district championship victory. You're right, it is interesting that Smithfield beat up on Lamb last year. I think that's a testiment to good hitters and discipline at the plate for Smithfield, but also that a good fastball can be hit hard if not used effectively--even a potential draft pick.
As for my personal play, if you'd care to discuss that furter in a private email I'd gladly respond to any questions you have.
editor@tidewatersportsreport.com
Anonymous--I understand where the wording of Smithfield being led to the district championship could be misleading. My intention was not to mislead, but it doesn't state they won the championship, just that they got there.
I do, however, thank you for your input.
I don't need to discuss your career in any e-mails with you. I know the story. I also know that a certain coach ruined the arm of one of your older brothers. I wouldn't of wanted to pitch for that clown either....no respect for a kids arm/elbow/shoulder - FACT. I was glad to see a dangerous individual removed from his position. Understand the Smithfield/Championship comment, I must of read more into it than was there....my apologies.......now a question for you, are you still playing ball at Berea?
Anonymous--Regardless of what people may think, I'm not all about totally bashing coaches, teams, and players. In fact, I like to feature coaches, players, and teams (among other things) for successes that they are achieving. However, I will be the first to stand up for a player and speak out against someone that is being overused on the field of play. Since you're anonymous, I don't know for sure just how you "know" my story. There are some things regarding my pitching in high school and college that only a select few (which I'm 99.9% certain is not you) know up to this point.
To answer you question (although next time through email only), I do not play at Berea any longer. I had some very good days and some very bad, I suppose a typical freshman season. But, I didn't return to the school and am no longer playing.
Thanks for the interaction, but please understand personal questions such as this must be discussed privately. I will include more information on the about/biography page.
I'm sorry to hear that you are no longer playing ball. You're a very good ball player. I thought that you never got the notice that you rightly deserved. Great hands, great speed on the base paths, very good stick. You're also a fine young man. I'm certain that you'll end up an extremely successful man in this life. Best of luck....sorry for the tough remarks/questions that I threw at you....just trying to make you stronger! :-)
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