Watauga vs Ardrey Kell---King of the Kastle

Every time I visit Knight’s Kastle, I am amazed at all the new features that Coach Hal Bagwell has installed. But as much pride that he has for his complex, there are two challenges. The water restrictions placed on his field and having a concession stand located down by Rea Rd (4 miles away). For those that know Coach Bagwell, those challenges are unacceptable and it’s driving him nuts. But it makes me scratch my head. I drive around Charlotte and see some Private School fields and they are immaculate!…but the public school fields look barren. I guess the rain must skip over the public schools. For all the time the coaches put into their field....it’s sad really.

I was really looking forward to this game; two of the strongest teams in the state: Tyler Moore and his Pioneer Posse vs. Jordan Darnell and his Knights. I would have been disappointed if this was not a close competitive game….and I wasn’t.

Darnell barely had time to disrobe his basketball attire and put on his cleats. The kid was pitching like it was mid-season--- He is an amazing athlete. But the Pioneers were bringing their lumber and those guys love to swing them. After the 1st inning the Knights were up 3-0, but you knew it wouldn’t stay that way. Watauga hit the ball hard, but excellent defense kept them off the bases. But AK had something that every team wants…a Jonney Eaker.( I’ll get to him later)

Watauga battled back with a HR by Adam Church and tied the game up at 3-3, and then Darnell and Moore settled down to a pitching duel. The pitching was dominant until AK opened their half with 3 additional runs fueled by –you guessed it, Jonney Eaker and a two run shot by 2nd baseman Brett Nyenhuis. The Knights continued to play great defense and the AK pitching was able to keep the bats virtually quiet the rest of the game.

After game thoughts:

This was a well-played game. There were no errors by either team, but I thought the difference was in Jonney Eakers. This kid grows on you. I’ve known him a long time and he keeps getting better and better every year. For those that know Tyler McKenzie (now at Belmont Abbey) Jonney is the same kind of player. As a teammate he is a leader. This kid never strikes out (he just can’t do it). He is always in the middle of the action. As a teammate, you love him. As an opponent, you can’t stand him. But I’ll say this with all sincerity, there is no one in the state I would want up to bat in a pressure situation than Mr. Eaker…he’s money!

Another AK player that owes me (he doesn’t know it) is Brett Nyenhuis. I’ve been mentioning this young man for two years. Every time I have seen AK play in the last two years he hits a HR and he didn’t stop that streak today. To me, he is one of the best athletes in the state. The switch-hitting 2nd baseman has unusual power for his position. He is going to be a star in college, but for the life of me, I can’t understand why he hasn’t signed with someone. THIS KID CAN PLAY! I’ll stake my reputation on it.

The Watauga hitting machine hit the ball hard and well at times. Trey Dunnigan is absolutely scary. Trying to get a fastball past him would be like sneaking food off dbacks table….it ain’t going to happen. The boxscore is no indication how they swung the bats. This team will shake the loss off before they arrive in Boone. Besides, they now have their sights on somebody else ………………Sawmillville, baby!!! Home of the Pork Chop sandwich and Jimmy Messer & co. See you next Friday!!!!!!!

 

Braves, great to see you yesterday on a beautiful day for a ballgame! After the scrimmages and cold weather games it finally felt like the real deal on Saturday. Watauga can really swing the bat and they will no doubt challenge for the NW4A crown. Johnny's at bat in the 5th was the difference in the ballgame as he absolutely refused to make an out fouling off at least five pitches before lining the go ahead single.

 

The AK Kastle

Dawgs, we get to come visit the kastle next week. Since Jordan pitched against Watagua I quess that means we may see Alex?
That would be cool because I think Corey is due to start. If Braves is right and the field has no concessions I will have to bring my Diet Coke from home then. See ya next week

 

To really appreciate Jonney’s AB you have to look at the whole situation.

Tie game, late innings. The catcher had just walked with one out and was being replaced by a kid who runs the sixty in 6.5-6.6. Everyone knows that he will be heading for second sometime in the next few pitches, so the batter must continue to concentrate through all the throws to first (Naturally the pitcher’s attention is subdivided as well).

The first couple of pitches, he shows bunt late to help move the infielders while the inevitable steal of second comes. Now came the dual at 1-1 in the count. Mr. Moore kept throwing some nasty pitches, each one being fouled off by Mr. Eaker. After three consecutive A-1 offerings are spoiled, Tyler tries to break off even a sharper pitch, which ends up in the dirt, eludes the catcher, bounces off the new wall backstop and now moves the runner to third.

With the count now 2-2, Eaker gets the mistake pitch in the sequence: a letter high fastball out over the plate. Instead of trying to do too much with it, he was content to just get the ball in play to the right side and get the go ahead run across the plate. He puts a good swing on the pitch, hits the ball squarely, and lines it into right field for the go ahead RBI.

His AB had just as strong of effect on the next pitch as well. After the intense confrontation, Moore’s next offering missed its intended location either by mental or physical tiring and that FB was lined over the right field wall by Nyenhuis for the shot that broke the game open.

 

I felt bad for T Moore he really threw good after he had to settle down in the first inning and really threw his game till the last inning where i think he just ran out of gas.

 

Yep...I thought Tyler was impressive. He is a very difficult pitcher to hit off of. He throws with more angles than Heidi Klum.

Someone else that impressed the heck out of me for Watauga..... Baine Martin. He is a dirtbag type of player that swings a strong stick. A heckuva competitor.

 

Thanks Braves

Thanks so much for your kind words about Brett and the AK team. He is a hard worker, loves the game and is always willing to learn more. We are having a blast as parents watching him and his teammates play together. Many of these guys have been together since Little League days and we have watched them all grow and succeed as players and young men. We really appreciate all that you do on TBR.

 

Here she is....

http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/will-ferrell-sports-illustrated-swimsuit-photos

Braves loved playing in his high school games cause he got to hang out with Dbacks girlfriend cheerleader Heidi during the warmup drills. Needless to say his high school led the conference in attendance.

 

The one on the left has moves like dbacks...like a turtle. The one on the right has angles like T-Mo...they're everywhere

 

I resemble that comment.....