#3 in the nation South Caldwell vs. AC Reynolds

I gotta agree with 007... if not pitching runion wasnt to conceed the game... then i dont know what they were trying to do... i mean honestly "hide runion for later in the season when it counts" and "Strategic gameplaning"... if you think Runion is some newborn succession that needs to be hid then think again... i can gaurantee south already has an in depth scouting report on him just like ac had on bumgardner... as for strategic gameplaning... how did they pay off for ac... couldnt have possibly gained much by getting beat by madison single handedly... everyone came to see two of the best pitchers in the state go at it head to head... and everyone that went was disappointed all because it sounds like ac was scared to put their best on the hill just incase they were to lose and waste him for a game... thats pretty sad if you ask me

 

very well said

 

bil10, you make some great points and your phrasing is downright lyrical...
newborn succession, that's a keeper for sure...as far as motives though, let's not jump over too many conclusions...when the #3 team in the US of A is in your own dinky 7 team conference, a coach may just say "what the hay, it's just as easy to win the state as it is to win the conference and I'm saving my ammo"...lose the battle,win the war...my problem is i can't think that far ahead, every game is the war

 

Why the heck is he decked out in Indians gear in the pic?

 

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH 007, MOST ALL COACHES SAY YOU PLAY ONE GAME AT A TIME NEVER LOOKING AHEAD BUT REYNOLDS IS LOOKING AT A REGION FINAL AT SOUTH. I JUST WONDER HOW RUNION FELT ABOUT NOT TAKING THE HILL. DEON SANDERS SIAD BIG PLAYERS MAKE BIG PLAYS IN BIG GAMES AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS WAS A BIG GAME. IF THE SITUATION WERE REVERSED I THINK SOUTH WOULD HAVE HAD 4 PITCHERS FIGHTING FOR THE CHANCE TO TOE THE RUBBER, MAYBE THATS THEIR PERSONALITY BUT AS A COACH I WOULD WANT THAT.

 

Well I was really hoping to gain some insight, but the water is still muddy for me on this one. I have all the respect in the world for the programs involved, but it bothers me to see teams looking past conference games in the first half.
IMO, a HS team should have one goal at the start of every season;
winning the conference.
When the regular season ends, you set another goal:
winning the conference tournament
When that ends are you are still in the hunt, you set another goal;
winning the state
If ACR's goal is to win the south regional, that's fine, but just remember this, ACR won the conference last year because Alexander Central beat South Caldwell. They had help. I would have thrown Runion if for no other reason than to repay Alexander Central.

 

Does it really matter?

I dont think the coach is concerned with upsetting the fans by not pitching Sam vs Madison. If he is worried about that he needs to step down and do something else. The scouts are told in advance when these guys are going to pitch so Im sure they knew before they made the trip that they were only going to see Bumgardner. Whatever his reasons were for not throwing Sam that is his decision to make and he made it. I dont think for one minute they went into that game not believeing they could win just because someone else was on the hill and not Runion. When the playoffs roll around and these two do meet up and Sam is available then you can get your wish and see it. Otherwise does it really matter in March? The coach has more to worry about than making sure that everyone outside the lines gets the match up they want. He has his reasons and Im sure he has a game plan and thats his call. I for one can respect that. I bet his players believe they are more than a one man team and if they want to win anything this season they better be.

 

I haven't read all the post in this thread nor do I intend to, but one thing that could have determined the pitching selecton of ACR, is the fact that the Spartans over the years have hit the fastball pitcher rather well, and truthfully off speed pitching has given us a lot of problems..........

 

Thanks, Coach27, for a viewpoint from someone other than a fan. Any team is more than 1 person and ACR knows they have a TEAM of players - all who are important to the overall makeup of the team. ACR absolutely believed they could win, no matter who was on the mound.

NCTiger makes a good point too - ACRs offspeed was effective against SC - for the 1st 3 innings. The reliever was also very effective his offspeed (getting all but 1 of the heart of the lineup on Ks). A team as good as SC is going to adjust to the pitching after theyve seen the guy throw a few innings....

Seems like its time to stop and move on..... just my .02...

 

from what i hear from my friends in the asheville area haley is probably acr's best pitcher while not nearly the prospect runion is.