Freedom Freshmen

Lost in the midst of the Freedom losing streak, coach resignations, and other assorted distractions is the sensation play of several 9th graders.
Dykota Spiess, Aaron Attaway and Chris Fine have started their high school careers with a bang.
Attaway is playing shortstop and went 4-4 in his debut. He has since maintained an average that hovers around .700.
Spiess, who throws right but bats left has also distinguished himself at the plate. He hit a monster home run against Ryan Carter at Davie County and Monday night, with pro scouts looking on, sent Sam Runion's 92MPH fastball over the 385 sign at Reynolds in his first at bat against the pro prospect. He also had a double in that game off of Kyle Poplow a Div I signee.
His 7th inning triple against Zack Brown and South Caldwell was key in breaking up the shut out.
Chris Fine is also have a superb Varsity season. He's done a terrific job behind the plate for the Patriots and is hitting .300
Trevor Tallent has the only win for the Patriots pitching Freedom to a victory over Chase.
Eli Lawson, the fifth freshman starter has looked good in middle relief.

 

My youngest son has played against them in AAU when they were members of the Foothill Phantoms. They are outstanding players with a great future. Dakota has so much raw power that the college should be excited about seeing him in the future. Fine has great mechanics behind the plate and is a very hard worker. Attaway is a hard nosed kid who plays hard. Do you happen to know their plans for the summer? I would love to see them playing Legion or on a showcase team going to some major tournaments. Godd luck to all 3 in the future.

 

attaway might be one of the better baseball names i've heard in a while
attaboy
attakid
attaway

nice

 

Chris Fine is playiny for the Heat this summer!

 

As BBALLBABY said. Fine is playing for Heat Showcase 16U team. That is Jason Harris' organization and it is awesome. The others I'm not as sure about. Reggie Washington is a long time Heat player and he'll probably play for them again this summer. Spiess and Attaway and the other former Phantoms may play Legion. Post 21 (combined of Freedom, EBHD and McDowell) as Burke 21 was very thin last season so they may need the influx of players these youngsters would bring. Austin Attaway (Aaron's big brother) and Zach Daw (a Heat Showcase player last summer) will more than likely play for Post 21 as well this summer. EB's Eric Chiz was a solid Burke 21 performer last season as was Josh McDaniels. If Corey Rhoney (also a Heat Showcase player) opts to play for Post 21 add in the McDowell players and, Post 21 could really have a pretty good team.

 

Is "the biscuit" still playing baseball? I can't recall his name.

 

Andrew Martin aka "the biscuit" is still playing baseball. He is a pitcher and first baseman for the JV team. (Has since shunned the nickname.)
Another nickname you may recall from that group is "Big Country" which is Ely Lawson. He is on Varsity and is a really good pitching prospect capable of throwing in the mid 80's as a ninth grader.
Other players from the LLWS team on JV's
Matt Baker
Lane Mooney
Ryan Grady
Nick Chapman, whose brother is in his second year as an infielder for UNCC is still in middle school.

 

It'll be interesting to see what happens next year when they are supposed to go to Patton. Almost all of them, except one that went to Table Rock, went to Liberty and so far, I guess, still live in the Patton district.

Why did Jeff Williams resign? I heard he was fed up with parents trying to run his team. The truth would be nice instead of a bunch of rumours.

 

Not really sure. If "parents trying to run his team" means parents deamanding accountability for the developmnet of thier kids then maybe so.
Freedom has had a reputation for some time as being somewhat slack where baseball is concerned. Bottom line, 7 Conference wins in 4 seasons. Never had a winning season
Under Williams team practiced with the jayvees, every day, rarely longer that an hour and a half. No 8 man work outs during winter, no summer program, weak fall support.
Possibly the parents of the talented freshman class was looking for a little more. No one knows. Coach was never one for communicating with anyone. Never addressed the team or anyone else about why he was leaving. That has laid the foundation for the rumor mill.

 

There weren't any winning seasons with Tom Russ either. Maybe one or two. Practice came in an Athletic PE class open only to baseball players. Russ NEVER came to AAU or UTrip tournaments to see his players. I saw with my own eyes once the entire team walk by him at a basketball game and not one single player turned his head to speak to him. Russ was an idiot and I thought that program would finally turn the corner with Williams.

It's a shame. I always liked Jeff, but had heard some disturbing things over the last few years including the later Liberty days. I don't think it means demanding accountability. There were some earlier freshmen in the program who's dads ran things like they did at Liberty. But hey, that's just an opinion.

I had heard that at one time they had an opportunity to get Hardee from Watauga because his wife wanted to come home to Morganton. It may have been wishful thinking, but other talk had Russ putting the halt to it.

Freedom's men's athletic program needs an almost complete cleaning out. Too much "old buddy" crap from a long time ago. I figure the athletic machine will "fix" it for the freshmen to stay there instead of moving to Patton like they should. Same shit, different day.