SW4A Preview - 2011

Schedules updated.

 

thanks mincmi

as always a great job. I think Providence has more run potential than the rest of the league, it's tough to go any other way. AK will come to play every night with talent on the field and in the dugout. If SM players buy into Tuscan's program the way last years seniors did ,they will surprise again. SM may be a year away but I do think last year's group set the ground work to put the program back on track.
one thing all three have in common, great coaching and leadership.

 

Seems to be a two horse race according to the poll. Providence with their murderer's row line-up and AK with the pitching, defense, and unquestioned great coaching. South is too inexperienced and lost too much to contend. Tuscon can coach but you cannot overcome lack of talent in the SW4A. The real sleeper in my opinion is East Meck. They return three of their top 4 pitchers and the the only loss on offense is L. Daniels (Winthrop). Their top 3 in the order, D. Daniels, L.Sherer, and J. Reisterer can swing it with anyone in the league. If they can get just average production from the rest of the line-up they should be able to provide enough run support for their outstanding pitching staff. Their JV team finished right behind AK and Providence. Coach Coppie instills alot of confidence in his players and they love to play for him. After beating both AK and Providence last year, East should be ready to battle for the title this year. Don't sleep on the Eagles!

 

love being the underdog

I agree with most threads posted, but lets not forget Butler. Butler loves to be the underdog. Hopefully some teams will continue to look past us. Butler is young and loaded with talent coming up from JV. I know AK and PROV have excellent programs, but the scrappy Bulldogs will be looking to steal games and be the spoiler. I can't wait..................

 

After watching this conference for many years now, I strongly feel that Providence will be the run away leader again. While AK will be strong as always, IMO, iT is a two team race. With the return of Brett Austin, Jake Fincher and Jackson Campana and that little ballpark they call home, balls will be flying out of there on a regular basis! Having Ty Buttrey getting some much needed experience on the mound last year, will only help the Panthers.

I do look to see EM being more than a spoiler. Last years team relied a lot on the arm of Olen Little, but this team has a great coach and will not surprise any team out there. Any one who knows anything knows this team comes to play each and every night. Don't over look them, because if you do, your asking for trouble!

SM will have to find more playing time for Daniel Brown, Logan Koch and Chris Pearlman. Koch didn't see a lot of varsity playing time last year, but this kid is a player. Putting him on the mound with Pearlman should make the Sabres competitive each and every game.

 

What moves AK from the others is their pitching. We're talking about two D1 (UNC signees) starting and with some depth in their rotation as well...and having Ratledge, Lang, Leach and co. at the plate ain't too shabby.

Providence always has abundant talent and this year's team is no exception; Austin, Fincher and Campagna are cream of the crop baseball players in the state...and Coach Hignight is always reloading with young talent waiting for their opportunity. They can't match the talent of AK's starting rotation, but Higgy always has an ace up his sleeve and when it's conference time, Providence will be ready.

Butler had the talent last year to go deep into the playoffs. They had strong pitching and experience. I suspect Coach Cousar likes the position of his team this year--the underdogs. They always play better when they play with a chip on their shoulder. Losing Nick Salisbury will hurt, though. He may be the best 2nd baseman in the area.

East Meck will be interesting. No doubt losing the leadership of Olen Little and Leighton Daniels will hurt. They were strong personalities that gave the Eagles confidence that they could win every game. That leadership now resides with David Daniels, Lou Trosch and Jackson Reisterer. If they can step into those shoes, then East Meck will be troublesome in the conference. What I like about them is they finally learned how to win a big game. In past years they would find a way to lose those close games. Also, Coach Koppe is very underrated. His players love him, too.

South Meck has found their coach--someone that can instill the Sabre Pride. Coach Tuscan knows what it takes to compete in this conference and he is building a program. Although the talent cycle will change at SM from time to time, I believe it will stay consistently successful simply because of their coach. Also, keep your eye on a very talented freshman, Logan Koch. This kid is special.

Myers Park is an interesting program. Ever since the Robert Woodard days, they have become unpredictable. They always have some of the most talented players in the conference and some of the best players in the state. They also have one of the best, brightest coach's in John Spencer. A player's coach, yet knows how to get after it. You can watch MP dominate a No.1 team 11-0, then lose their next game to a lesser opponent. Last year is a good example. They muddled through the conference winning some huge games while losing to teams they shouldn't, yet in the conference tournament they were dominating for the most part and looked outstanding in their playoff game against Hopewell. I'm not sure why they have that Jeckel and Hyde personality--it certainly is not from coaching. But they return another talented team with Powell, Hedberg, Keeter and Goodson, so maybe this will be the year to grasp the title.

AK and Providence are clearly the favorites, but it will be fun to watch Butler, SM, EM and MP to see which team can consistently improve through the season and battle for the conference championship. The key for those teams will be in senior leadership. The players that accept that role and set great examples each and every practice and at games. I predict it will be Myers Park.

 

I have limited perspective on the SW4A but in my opinion Ardrey Kell is going to take the conference crown. Pitching is everything, especially at this level. With McCue throwing 90+, Thornton having a live arm himself with Lang and Leach banging it around the yard, Ardrey Kell is going to be tough to beat.

That being said, there are a few teams in the SW4A who are going to make it tough on McCue and Thornton to be lights out. Should be a fun one to watch.

 

AK 90+ FLAT against good hitting PHS should be a good game and Providence has a 90+ pitcher via IMPACT baseball.

 

90+ FLAT ???? What does that mean, his ball is flat or only throws 90. Curious....

 

I've hit and caught McCue. His fastball is flat...when he wants it to be. On the other hand, he can also throw a two seam fastball that starts at the middle of the plate and breaks to the belt...