2010 Pre-Season Impact Poll

CB- Hopewell is stocked with talent deeper than bass at Lake Wylie. The concern for them may be team chemistry. They will have some very talented players with limited playing time....so you can imagine the problems that can arise from this. Fortunately, they have a coach that's been around the block and knows how to handle those kind of potential concerns.

Justin Hammond is the real deal. I suspect he will hit the ground running. In fact, I will be surprised if he doesn't play an important role, as well as other players, in the team's success. They remind me very much of the 2005 South Meck team...an extremely talented, fragile chemistry team. They will either be very, very good or implode. It depends on the players and the support of the families. They have to buy in to the notion--what's best for the team.

 

CB, it would appear that you have validated Brave's point about the delicate balance of team chemistry and the need for parents to all get on the same page. I'm not sure why you felt the need to single out one kid but since you did let me set the record straight. You are correct that Justin Hammond wasn't a varisty starter last year but he was on the varsity roster all year and earned a letter. He played in a sum total of 3 JV games so referring to him as a JV player who may have been called up late is not only inaccurate but unfair.

 

I can't speak for CB, but knowing him through the years, I've never read or heard him say anything negative about any kid, so I'm confident, in this case, the written word was not conveyed correctly by him--something I'm prone to do many times.

Although he is not a Hopewell supporter and his team will be a conference foe, he probably wouldn't be upset to see the fine line of team chemistry being tested, but I doubt he would try to instigate that. One of the benefits of bring a long term member is it reveals one's personality and CB's has always been respectful

 

Braves and Yanks (sounds like a world series) thanks for the response's to my post. by no means was I trying to single out a player and I am sorry that it came across that way, I just remember watching a total of 5-6 of Hopewell's games last year and remembered who was their starters and know they had a talented group of underclassmen which should be good this season. I have never met the "new coach" but have heard good things about him. And Braves you are correct by saying the chemistry means a lot. I am an avid HS baseball fan that had 2 boys play baseball and a daughter that played softball in high school and in each case the teams chemistry made a difference with their teams. I will definitely catch some of Hopewell's games as well as Audrey Kell and Providence this season and hope the best for the Charlotte area teams. I also feel that the new "I Meck" conference will be very good since they added Lake Norman and Mooresville. Its too bad that there is not more area teams in the pre-season rankings. I think some other teams will surprise some people.

 

I am very looking forward to the Mooresville vs. Hopewell game this year. Hopewell is a very talented team that I would like to see Mooresville play. Mooresville will be a great defensive team and their team chemistry will be great since most of the team has played together since they were 9 years old. Mooresville's team will have many players off of the Post 66 Jr Legion State Champions team as well and I really enjoyd watching them bond and come together as a team this summer. Should be a great game and a great season for both teams as well as the rest of their conference.

 

long term member? 2 post since Feb 2010? Seems like a lot of people re-dail their ID for some reason. I notice a lot of new members posting, which is a good thing, I guess. Seems like a lot are players (or parents) trying to get some pub for themselves

 

Nah...I was mistaken. I thought this was countryboy17, but anyway, he clarified his point.

Not sure about the "re-dailing." I don't spend much time noticing that and usually the one's that do are up to no good. They usually reveal themselves by attacking someone or post.

However, I do agree this is the time of year that we pick up many new posters...and I end up having to filter some of them because they tend to complain or attack versus contribute. It's strange, too, because for some odd reason they think they are helping.

 

Impact's 3A Pre-season Top 10:

Impact has East Rowan ranked only #10 in the pre-season. I'm thinking they should be much higher than that. Strong baseball program from a conference that has dominated the 3A West the last couple of years. Is this a signal that the North Piedmont won't be as strong this year? Also, Eastern Wayne is picked by alot of folks to edge out Aycock in the ECC this year, yet they're not even ranked. Just two observations. What's everyone think?

 

East Rowan is very talented. Very, very deep pitching staff (Preston Troutman, Parker Gobbel, Thomas Allen, Bradley Robbins, Will Johnson) and they have some kids who can flat out hit. Time will tell. They play a very difficult schedule out of conference. The NPC will be down a bit with the losses of Lake Norman and Mooresville, but South Rowan has a very talented player in Maverick Miles and West Rowan will be tough as well.