So what were the Highlights for you this HS Season - 2012

A lot of great things again happened this year, what stands out for you?

 

S . . . eniors annually scintillate across the area diamonds each season and 2012 was no different. Jackson Campana, Justin French, Tennant Gardner, Chase Gehinger, Cody Leckavich, Andrew MacLatchie, Andrew Mauldin and Preston Tiller, were some of the league’s senior honorees but all the graduates are an important part in making the SW4A special. Best of luck to this year’s class in their new endeavors.

O . . . uch! Wait until next year!! The fabled slogan of Charlie Brown and his baseball team and many others, became the battle cry of the SW4A after all five teams that qualified for the state playoffs were swept away in the opening round this season.

U . . . nderclassmen that felt that sting will now be counted on to help rebuild the conference’s reputation. Fortunately for the league, there are a number of outstanding players including All-SW4A players Ryan Alhum, Danny Dunning, Ross Groome, James Hickes, Logan Koch, David Marvin, Austin Proehl, Nick Salisbury, Logan Sherer, and Jacob Whittingham returning next season plus a host of others to lead the charge.

T . . . rent Thornton started the season by striking out 12 of 15 batters opening day, the first of an eventual 119 Ks and eight wins, leading his team to a 23-5 record and sharing the league title earning SW4A Co-player of the year.

H . . . erbert, Mike joined Thornton as Co-Player of the year after helping the Panthers to 25 wins, their fourth consecutive league title; and the third straight tournament championship.

W . . . inning has become so common place at Providence that some delight when the Panthers fall short, failing to realize just how many good players and teams there are and how difficult it is to win at a consistently high rate. Nevertheless, that is exactly what the Panthers have done, winning 25 games again this season and claiming their share of a fourth straight league title. In the last eight seasons under the direction of Coach Highnight, Providence has won 180 games, six SW4A titles and four tournament championships. Only one 4A team (South Caldwell) has won more games over the same time span, and that does not happen by accident.

E . . . xcellence continues even when some observers thought that they might have a down season. Coach Hal Bagwell led his Knights to 23 wins and a share of the SW4A title to earn Coach of the Year honors. Bagwell’s teams have won 207 games in the last nine seasons in a league full of top level teams and coaches. Again, not a coincidence.

S . . . tone, Brad was the fifth player drafted out of the league in the last two seasons, selected by the Texas Rangers in the 35th round.

T . . . y Buttrey was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round, the second highest selection of a league player this decade.

E . . . quity between the pitchers and the hitters improved with the change in the bats. Maybe the circle will be completed soon with a complete reclamation of wood at the plate.

R . . . ecollections of another exciting season of SW4A baseball – a bases loaded strikeout with a one run lead to snap a 24 game skid; a 10 run inning to overcome an eight run deficit against the Western 4A Regional Champions; a seventh inning rally on the first day of conference play for a first year’s coach initial league win; a walk off wild pitch to cap a seventh inning four run rally to end the Champions Baseball Spring Break Classic; Three in the sixth and the game winner in the seven that righted the ship and sent them sailing for the playoffs; a seven game winning streak to start the second half; a road win to claim a share of the title; and dog pile after a third straight tournament championship.

N . . . ext season will be the last before the SW4A says goodbye to some dear friends. Here’s looking forward to making it one last fantastic year before that happens.

4 - . . . Time champions. Providence won a share of the loop title for the fourth consecutive season in 2012. It is the second time in the history of the league (1995-98) that the Panthers have accomplished that feat, and only Independence in 1982-85 has matched that record. No team has ever won five straight.

A . . . lumni Richie Shafer (1st round), Alex Wood (2nd Round) and Tyler Tewell (14th Round) all selected in this year’s amateur. That makes eight players from the league selected in just the last two seasons. Yes the 2012 playoffs were a disappointment, but as the league continues to develop top level talent, it is will be only a matter of time before SW4A teams will make their way back deep into the state tournament.

Southwestern4Abaseball.com would also like to thank SCPBUC, East Meck Dad, aguyyouknow; Indy Dad; Bulldogbacker; Campdog; and Baylee Duckdog for supplying the website scores, updates and game summaries. Your time is appreciated in helping make Southwestern4Abaseball.com a viable and reliable source of information for the league. Hope you all have a great summer on the ball field.

I’m going fishing.

 

the NAtional High School Invitational in Cary via USA Baseball. I think any players or teams aspiring to be great, should go check it out in 2013. The talent pool from this year's tournament was nuts!

 

The 4-3 Providence win over Butler at Pvd in front of a great crowd of fans and MLB scouts. Buttrey Vs. Dtrain with Butler's tough luck error in the bottom of the 7th to send Pvd to victory. Always played em tough, but never enough ...........

 

Charlie Gordon, Myers Park Senior that did not get to play much his Junior year because of arm injury, striking out Corey Seager. I am sure he will be telling that story to his grankids one day.

 

The End

Going to miss all the families and players that I had the honor to coach against and watch these kids become young men and great players! The AAU years against the Ligtning,The Outlaws, Americans, GBC and The Sharks! A lot of great players
from those teams as well as great parents! I look forward to seeing these guys in college and Corey in the Pros! And people wonder why parents pay to play travel ball!!! Ha Ha I can't wait for the draft in 3 more years to see how many more top draft picks come from this group of great players! Thanks again for all the memories!! Mike Smith

 

A bunch of average joe's at Middle Creek High School coming together as a TEAM and winning the 4A State Championship.

 

thanks

nice to see some TEAM accomplishments mentioned.

 

Sooooo many memories.

Just the opportunity to watch such a high level of competition in the SW4A each week is a blessing. Say what you want about the mass exit from the playoffs, that was an aberration. The fact is these kids are REAL good. In addition to the players, the conference offers terrific coaching and absolutely top notch facilities.

Obviously having a kid playing, most of my memories involve him and EM.

The EM vs Prov game at Prov was the first time I saw Ty Buttrey up close. My kid was the lead off batter for EM and Buttrey's first pitch was a 96 mph fastball high and inside. It hit the umpire square in the mask and literally tore the leather off the side of the ball. I don't know what was more impressive, seeing a kid throw that hard or the fact that the umpire stayed in his feet.

Jaq Ikolo scoring the winning run for EM against Hough in the final game of the Spring Break Classic was a great thing to see. Jaq had not played baseball since he was little but he came to all the workouts and busted his tail everyday during tryouts. Coach Koppe knew Jaq was not a baseball player but he said that any kid that will work that hard you want to keep just so the other kids see the example.

Justin Strong was going to be the starting 3rd baseman for EM. During a summer league game he unfortunately tore his labrum and needed surgery to have it repaired. He was done for the season. But surprisingly the doctors cleared him to "hit only" half way through the season. His first plate appearance of the year was at West Meck. The first pitch he saw was low and away. The second pitch he saw went 350 feet out of left field.

I could go on and on but these are just 3 things that stick out in my mind that are made even more memorable when you know some of the back ground.

I would like to make one other comment. I attended the Battle of the Border game Sunday night and got to see a bunch of the SW4A guys, that had competed so hard against each other, play together. They had a blast! They respected each other and encouraged each other just like they had played together all year. Seeing that made me realize that even though they are competitors, they realize they are just playing a game. The bitching about umpires or coaching decisions or playoff formats or any number of other things is not important to them. That falls squarely on us as parents and fans.

Can't wait until next year!

 

Watching Northwest Cabarrus.