baseball7

I have to eat my words. I watched both teams play early in the season and I really did not think it would be much of a contest...boy was I ever wrong This really says something about the quality of coaching and players in Carthage. Congratulations guys. Bring home the big prize for your town once again :excl: To the Springhill guys. Any team, and I do mean any team that makes it to one game away from playing for the State Championship deserves a lot of respect. Hold your heads high... you had one heck of a season

Surprise, surprise. Appears North has a bonifide ACE and Turley is not as sharp as usual.

Ditto: Carthage has a a great baseball tradition. Community support, a very good youth program, and previously having the same excellent high school coach (Scott Lee) there, for I believe about 20 years is the formula for success. PS I am not from Carthage but this is what i have observed from the outside looking in. Please feel free to correct me if any of the the above information is inaccurate.

Thanks Joe....just kidding. I remember watching Joe Wylie in High School...he was head and shoulders above every player on the field.. and I dont mean in height. He was the best High School player that I have ever seen.

What about Larry Centers, Tatum. 3 time pro bowl 95, 96, and 2001.

I have seen both teams play. Both have very good coaching. I know players and parents from both and all are exceptional so i hesitate because I don't want to hurt anyones feelings. Anything can and does often happen in baseball. Both teams are there because they are GOOD. (A team doesn't make it this deep in the playoffs on luck) Having seen both teams Springhill is the clear favorite. Sorry Bulldogs, just callin it like I see it. Maybe this will give you a little extra incentive.

Yes thank you...I definitely didnt mean to leave either of them out. Keep us informed as you keep rolling.

Well unless I am overlooking any local teams (Longview, E. Texas area) it looks like we are down to Springhill and Overton. Both won last night and I wish you continued success for the remainder of the season. Just getting to Austin or Round Rock would really be special and to win it all, would be like a dream come true. Making memories that will last forever!!! I think I'll drive over to Nac (Pollock) and watch Overton. To the Hallsville seniors and their families. I know it was a frustrating roller coaster ride with all of the distractions this season and right now is a sad time knowing that its over. Keep your heads up...You are some exceptional young men...You played very well...for many, many years. I genuinely wish you all the best in whatever you decide to do with the rest of your life.

Garrett, Telvin, Steven and the rest of the "Mean Green Machine" Play Hard, Play Smart and leave it all on the field at Pollock.

Is this bash youth baseball week or something? There have been many kids that if not involved in youth sports may have gotten into a lot of mischief, and many have learned to work as a team...not the me, me, me syndrome that permeates todays society. Many adults volunteer hundreds if not thousands of hours because they care about the present and future of our youth. Is it a perfect system? NO. If you chose to be a coach at any level, expect to be second guessed and criticized..it comes with the territory. At the professional level there are many critics that make a very good living talking about coaches and players. As a coach I fully expect to make mistakes and be second guessed. Guess what...Sometimes their right. I am certainly not naive enough to think that I always am. Our High School coach is being bashed because he agreed to a one game playoff. If I was in his shoes I would have made the same decision. Hindsight is 20/20. You go with what you think is best for your team. Sometimes your right, sometimes your wrong. So goes the life of a coach. I can truly say that I have been rewarded and blessed many times over what I deserve. The positves far out weigh the negatives.

Thats a lineup in itself! Some great baseball players named there, that will definitely be missed and create some big shoes to fill for those underclassmen coming up. Having the pitching return will be HUGE.

PingPong ~ Please come on here and post your picture and scare these error making boys away!

In baseball one can almost always look at the stats and come very close to knowing the quality of the player or the team. If the ALL Star team has been very successful. State Champions etc. You can be assured, baring injuries, that a good high school coach can take them, sharpen skills, develop position players, pitchers and be successful. An excellent fundamentally sound youth program can make a high school coach look like a genius. A poor program can get him fired. A good example of that is this years Texas High team. Dixie State Champions. (They will be 4A State Champions) or Carthage, many Dixie Championships and many UIL State Championships. Please don't discount the importance of sending the High School coach quality players.

Pong...you gotta get that picture off of there. I cant even read your post w/o being eat up with the ugliness in my peripheral vision.