NPC 2009

Just because some haven't included Lake Norman among the top 3 in the conference this year, don't take that as a slap in the face, because folks who know anything about these players all know that Lake Norman will be very very good. Picking LN 4th (more than anything else) simply tells you how strong East Rowan, West Rowan and Mooresville are expected to be.

If you go back to pg 1 of this very thread, I stated that "with Lamiscola alone, Lake Norman should be figured into the mix, and should be the 4th NPC team to WIN a 1st round playoff game this year". To have 4 teams from one conference all win a 1st round playoff game is saying a lot, but I believe it could very well happen this year. The top NPC teams this year are simply all very strong, I look for both (or either) East Rowan and West Rowan to be preseason ranked top 5 of state, and Mooresville could be ranked also. You show me a poll with these teams left out, and I'll show you a poll where someone don't know much what they're talking about.

Good Luck to Lake Norman, I know what Lamiscola can do, question is will his teammates step up in these big head to head matchups. Should be some great baseball.

 

I don't know about the rift at Lake Norman, but what I do know is that East Rowan went throught the NPC undefeated last year facing and beating almost everyone's best pitcher and taking everyone's best shot. I think they are a better team this year with the experience of going to the State Championship last year and also their players are a year older, a year stronger, a year faster, etc. Replacing Roland, Jarrett, and Holmes with the Ijames and a tremendous 11th grade class moving up from JV makes them the favorite in my eyes until someone knocks them off. That being said, I think West, Moores, and LN all have the horses to beat them on any given night. Top to bottom and arm to arm I think East is still the best. I'm with TJ, it probably won't happen but East, West, Moors and LN all should recieve consideration for a ranking to begin the season.

 

travis, I will agree that "on paper" East Rowan appears to be the team to beat. The only questions I have about East Rowan right now is how well Corbin Shive returns on the mound after offseason surgery,,, and also how well the Ijames brothers handle NPC pitching.

If all goes well for East in these 2 categories, they will be good,,,,, but if we get a mediocre answer to EITHER of those 2 questions, then East will be very beatable.

 

TJ- what i've seen of the Ijames brothers, they can hit college pitching....right now!

 

East's first test

I think East faces West Forsyth in a scrimmage on Feb 21. It will be interesting to see how well the East hitters handle Adam Griffin.

 

Braves, those boys ARE good, and they'res 3 of them. The rich (in this case East Rowan) definitely got richer.

 

Well we will find out this year, because if you can hit in the NPC you can hit college pitching. I think you get all the way to #9 in the standings last season before you find a team that didn't put at least one senior on a college baseball roster.

 

I believe East Rowan will be scrimmaging Mount Tabor on Saturday February 21st in Granite Quarry at 1:00. East Rowan has a chance to be one of the top 3 teams in 3A again this year with all of their returning talent and the transfers. Coach Hightower and his staff always has their team ready to play and this will be another special year for the Mustangs. Good Luck!!!!!

 

That is correct. I was trying to go off of memory instead of looking at the schedule. East scrimmages Mt Tabor at ER on 2/21, N. Davidson at ND on 2/25. Those are both scrimmages. East will face West Forsyth at ER in a regular season game on March 6. Here's hoping for a Corbin Shive vs. Adam Griffin matchup.

 

Wow........you made this observation before your first post? We discuss many things in here. Most just pick out the topics that interest them and ignore the threads that don't. The board has been around for 8 years and has helped quite a few families. I'm sorry you are not interested because you could have contributed with information that others may have found helpful.

But you do have your local newspaper to keep you informed about your teams.