Top teams for 2007

Providence returns 9 Seniors and has a strong Soph and Junior supporting cast. If they can replace Shane Small at pitcher they'll be tough.

 

Northern Durham

Big Byrd posted on this earlier. Let me just say that I have lived in and around Durham my whole life. The area was once one of the richest in baseball talent in the state. The old Durham High Bulldogs were a power. With the spreading out of the talent in the area it became tougher and tougher for one school to be dominate in the area. With Riverside , Durham Jordan , Northern Durham , Hillside and Southern Durham all pulling players from the same county. Northern Durham has had some very good talent over the years but they have never played up to their potential for many reasons. With the right person at the helm this program has the chance to be very very good. They have some young players that are going to be very good. They also have a couple of upperclassman that if they step up can elevate the program right away.

Sr SS P Cam Falcon younger brother of LHP Ryan Falcon at UNC-G. Cam is very talented in the field and at the plate.

Jr C OF Travis Horn - Travis is as tough as they come. A very good arm and he can hit.

Jr P 1b Craig Farmer - This kid can play. He has really come on big time with his velocity and should be a key member of this squad.

So P Inf Harrison Meade - Saw him on the hill once last year and he looked very good. Good velocity and a plus breaking ball. Should be a real good one for the Knights.

So 2b Bryan "Buddy" Bass - All Conf in the PAC-6 last year and led the team in avg at the plate. Ive seen this kid play since he was 9 years old. This kid is going to be special. He reminds me of Tyler "nails" Hanover in his approach to the game. Bryan is playing with the 17u Dirtbags this fall.

They have some more talented players as well. I look for Northern Durham to challenge in the pac-6 this year. I also look for Northern Durham to finally achieve up to their potential in the coming years. Im sure many of you here have heard of the North Durham LL program. They pull most of those kids into their program. With the right coaching and attitude ND can be a state power not just in football but in baseball as well. You can say what you want about the new coach at Northern Durham. The mans record over the years speaks for itself. And the kids playing in college and the minor leagues speaks for itself as well.

 

Flotg,
I did not mean to imply that Reynolds would not be extremely good - that's why I listed them as the cream of the crop in 4-A in WNC - in the mountain region that is. But, last year, it was basically a given, that Reynolds would dominate the mountain teams such as Roberson unless Josh Thrailkill were to be able to have an exceptional game against them - he didn't. Roberson was good enough to win their conference, but "down somewhat." This year, I think it's pretty even between Roberson and Reynolds, and I may even give a slight edge to Roberson at this point - unless Runion has a phenomenal outing.

I know kids are missing in fall ball, etc., but it was surprising to me that Ramsey was evidently able to dominant the fall ball game against Reynolds from a pitching standpoint - will he even be a starting pitcher for Roberson - he's basically been a reliever to this date while playing 3B and catcher, hasn't he?

Anyhow, it makes for good conversation.

 

Dawgswood- other than Hendel, who are the Panthers looking to start as pitchers?

 

Ragsdale should be pretty tough in 3A again. Trevor Mullins and his 16 wins will be hard to replace. But Catlin Carter will step in and be a big time #1 starter. Fellow seniors Brent O Berry and Jason Wallace will keep the offense clicking.

Not sure who will be the #2 - probably Tyler Rankin. Ragsdale always plays aggresive on the bases and usually is strong up the middle on defense. Looking forward to the season already.

 

Davie County 4A

 

There are several rising seniors and juniors that can step up, but we'll let Coach Hignight figure that one out.

 

Okay, let me re-phrase this. I know about Hendel and The Mailman; who are some other candidates for pitching on varsity this year? I'm really just trying to find out names and who to look for.

 

Top Teams

Originally Posted by ashevillefan80
In Western North Carolina,

2-A - West Henderson - Pruitt and Grant return
3-A - T. C. Roberson - Jackson, Ramsey, and Wright return
4-A - A. C. Reynolds (though down somewhat - T. C. R. beat them last week in fall ball 8-0 and Jackson didn't play; Ramsey pitched a three-hitter - think Reynolds' Hinson had one of the hits.

4A AC Reynolds- Runion, Paeplow, Haley and Hinson. Runion to UT, Hinson to Clemson. Both could be drafted. Paeplow and Haley being recruited by WCU, ASU, UNCA, Gardner-Webb, just to name a few. Any team that loses 9 seniors/7-8 starters will usually be somewhat "down". ACR should do well in Buncombe County/ Non-conference. NW4A with South Caldwell (Madison Bumgarner-UNC & Justin Poovey-Clemson)(MB 1st 5 draft pix-JP also being drafted) and Alexander Central is always tough. NW4A is loaded with talent this year. TCR should once again have a cake walk in 3A. West will win 2A, but East Rutherford is absolutely loaded, too.

More from Ashevillefan80:
"I know kids are missing in fall ball, etc., but it was surprising to me that Ramsey was evidently able to dominant the fall ball game against Reynolds from a pitching standpoint - will he even be a starting pitcher for Roberson - he's basically been a reliever to this date while playing 3B and catcher, hasn't he?"

If John Ramsey is not TCR's #1 or #2 pitcher, who is? He has pitched every "tough" game for TC this fall. Other than Jackson, who is missing? The other pitchers are Wright and Matt Ayers-- that I've seen in the rotation. Ramsey is a very good baseball player, but I wouldn't say he "dominated" the Rockets. The entire team may have been in the revenge mode, since the Rockets won both the league and tournament in fall ball and then beat TCR 3 times and won the Buncombe County Tournament last spring. Ramsey had 6K's in 6IP. Hinson got a double his first at bat and then was walked the next two at bats. A good strategy game by Ramsey. TCR had 3 earned runs. Sam Runion is playing Fall Ball for ACR. Rules state that a player has to get in 4 games to play in the tournament. There are several football players that will add to the Rockets come this spring also.

 

Good points, AF80. The ACR/TCR matchup is always a good one. Don't know about who there starter will be - all you ever heard about was Thrailkill, kinda like all you ever hear about is Runion. Ramsey's a good pitcher - obviously effective against ACR inthe first fall game. ACRs pitching was good that game - errors in defense didnt support them. Papelow got the 1st 3 batters in the first, seems like maybe faced 4 in the 2nd, and the 3rd was where things went downhill defensively. Ramsey did dominate, at least in part due to the fact a large part of acrs fall team are just rising jrs - not experienced against v pitching - however - that doesnt excuse the top of the lineup - theyll definitely have to bring their bats around better next time!

As far as starting pitchers - Wright pitches and maybe Ayers pitches for TCR, but IMHO, I look for Ramsey to definitely be a starter. For ACR, obviously there Runion, Papelows got great movement and Haley is as effective as they come. Both teams should have strong 1,2,3 pitchers.