Greensboro's News-Record All-Area Team

Good question...to not have Tyler Hanover, Levi Michael or Z White on the list, imo, cheapens the list

 

I think the News and Record lists is and always has been 'questionable' for lack of a better word for several reasons.

One has been mentioned...what exactly is 'area'? Why are some Forsyth County teams included and others not? Same with other adjoining counties? I have tried to find out what the area is and I have never been able to get an answer.

From what I understand, the team is selected by coaches voting. It appears to be that the teams in the conference with the most included in the 'area' always have more representation. It makes sense because these coaches are busy with their own teams and conferences and for the most part don't have time to observe or keep up with teams outside of their conference.
Ex. One team from that conference has 3 players on the all area team. I don't think that team won a conference game all season and most games the defeat was double digits. They also played a very weak non conference schedule and only won a handful of those games. Two of their young men made all conference, but 3 made all area. I have seen almost all of these area teams play and I have seen many jv teams that would beat this team. I don't think if they had 3 true all area players that their defeats would be so large and they would at least be slightly competitive.
In many cases, it is about making sure that their is some 'equal' representation' from schools instead of who are truly the best players.

I really liked that The Charlotte Observer was done by 'positions'. News and Record is almost always loaded with pitchers and power hitters with little regard given to defensive play. To be fair though, I guess when the coaches are 'voting' and have either never seen a kid play or only a couple of times, it is much easier to look at those stats instead of defensive stats. I think we have discussed on here before the keeping of stats and probably can agree that depending on who is keeping them, the results can be very skewed.

I think results could be different if High School Sports were given more coverage. The News and Record had a young guy who was really into high school sports and doing great. About 2 years ago or less he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away earlier this year. They do have someone else assigned now, so I hope that he will get the passion and give the coverage that's needed.

With all that being said...there are some really great selections also. Alex Swim is one of the best hitters and catchers that I have seen. If he happens to be playing OF, he has a gun for an arm, so be careful. He is a smart ball player and one of the nicest young men you would want to meet.

Just my thoughts. I know it's a tough process and there are so many deserving players in the area, but these are just a couple of things that I think cause the questions to be raised about its validity.

 

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats some big time talent right there. But I also know everybody can't make the team. Just seems the Greensboro kids have the advantage some times.

 

I have never seen N. Davidson included in the baseball list. Don't know why...just according to my recollection, never has been. The only thing I can come up with is they don't play in a conference with any Guilford County Teams. Why include E. Forsyth and Glenn and leave out Parkland, Carver, and Reagan who also play in a conference with Guilford County teams.

Maybe the solution would be to have an all Guilford County Team. I think that would take the question out of who should be and shouldn't be included in 'area'.

 

As always right to the point. Great post.

 

OK, I'll mention a couple. Tuttle from Randleman makes Aflac All-American but doesn't make all-area or even ALL-CONFERENCE? Go figure. Will Myers, Matt Roberts, and DeSean Anderson honorable mention?(I think they deserved higher recognition) You can build a team around those 3. The list looks ok, just the order of finish makes you scratch your head. I'll write it off to there just being a lot of talent in the Triad area.

 

Agree..One Putt

This is like the State Games selections. Baseball, in this area at least, has become such a marketing ploy that these lists rarely mean much anymore to me. Most of the folks here know the players and recognize the talent. Let's just hope the ones that count will do the same. Sometimes these lists should be entitled, "these are some good players we heard about"... I have thought a couple times about putting a list together of my all time team of players I coached but I am afraid some feelings may get hurt.

As a side note... Desean Anderson can play!!!!
As another side note.. There is a kid at Ledford, Justin Livengood who I coached for probably five years. He is one of the best I personally coached and yet I dont recall ever seeing his name on here. Now we have!! He graduated this year and with no marketing, probably wont play anywhere. A shame!!

 

Livengood

I know for a fact that Justin was recruited by several schools. It was his choice not to play and a darn shame is right. The kid has a high ceiling.

 

Ya just never hear much about him, especially the papers outside of Lexington, and I don't recall him ever being mentioned here. I wish we could change that mind of his. He's has so much potential it is ridiculus.