Who do you pitch?

go back to the difference between 1 and 2 and how much confidence you have in 2.

i have been with teams where there was no difference and they just took their day no matter who it was.

also been with teams that prayed for rain so #1 could go every game.

watched one before i got tohs where it didnt matter who was on the mound - they were going to outhit whatever he gave up anyway.

 

The best available

Its one and done so you go with the best available pitcher. The last thing you want to do is go home knowing you had a better option but didn't use it. Looking ahead has sent many a team home early. If you have 2 guys that are equal then fine. The bottom line is your going to have to beat someone with someone else but until you have to do that why put yourself in that situation if you don't have to?

I have seen teams save the #1 in round 1 for round 2 and end up watching round 2 from the stands. There is another problem with saving number 1 in round 1. He can't go in round 3 against possibly a round 3 opponent with their #1 on the hill. So you can see it simply gets crazy real quick trying to manipulate all of it. So if you go with your best available your giving your team the best opportunity to win the game your playing that day. And thats all you should worry about.

 

Agree with the coaches here... Pitch #1 in the first game. Now, if that game becomes a blowout for the good guys, you can pull #1 early and let him rest for game 3. Also you can pitch a #3 or #4 after #1 has done his thing, giving them playoff experience. This could payoff down the road.

The other thing to remember is never let off the gas offensively. Put 'em away early!

 

Nobody knows this better than us. Unless there is some distinct advantage to a matchup with someone other than your #1, (left handed, other team can't hit off-speed, whatever) you go with your #1. Don't worry about round 2 before you have played round 1.

 

I still say you guys made the right call in that game. Ragsdale gave themselves their only chance to beat East Rowan.

Yeah, it ended up that they didn't even make it to East Rowan but they played to win the whole thing rather than nailing down 1 win and then putting themselves in a situation where they were likely going to get blown out in round 2.

Plus, I think you guys were just on the wrong end of destiny on that particular night, more than anything else. That performance from Tanner was one of the more inspiring stories I've ever seen, it was like something from a movie.

Also, Ragsdale has also been on the losing end of another team successfully saving their #1. DH Conley held back Alex White in game 1 of the state championship series and it worked to perfection, as he singlehandedly won them the state title by pitching 11 of the 14 innings on Saturday as DH Conley won 2.

 

I know. And the guy that started game 1 was either 9-0 or 9-1 and had been great all year. It's baseball.