Who are the teams that should have a strong year this year?

I've been arguing this point for along time. Some coaches are adamant about putting the best "player" in a certain position and are blind to emotion/chemistry that many times results from that move. Use the Yankees as an example: by every definitive/objective evaluation, everyone would surmise that A Rod is a better pure shortstop than Jeter ( I wont argue this one - its just a point made by many of the experts); however, the "team",the chemisrty is better with Jeter in the 6 spot because of his heart, his work ethic. Conversely the Yankees also prove (2003) that the team with the best talent doesnt always win.

In the long run, systems dont win games, nor does raw talent.It takes a team

 

While South Caldwell has a group of Senior leadership, the teams will be lead by juniors and sophomores who grew up quickly last year. Look out for the Spartans in the coming years. This group also feeds into the always tough Caldwell legion program.

 

population/tradition=strength

This isn't exactly rocket science. There will be a Charlotte area team in the 4A finals until they make a 5A classification. Players will come and go, but population numbers remain the same.

Baseball tradition is the only equalizer.

 

Ragsdale should be very good once again in 3A - maybe not state title good but they will be the favorite to win the Tri County again and make a run through the playoffs.

Jake Kensmoe, Trevor Mullins and Brandon Phelps gives them three outstanding pitchers. They have a nice bunch of jv players moving up too.

But they will miss alot of offense with no Matt Kepley leading off and no Chad Baker, Ricky Payne and a four year starter at first in Gator Lankford graduated. Sink missed a good chunk of last season but the Tigers were still able to reel off about 18 wins in a row with him out.

 

Anyone that overlooks AC Reynolds in the Northwest 4A this year is making a huge mistake. Those kids played a "bunch" of baseball last summer and fall and are very much improved.

 

I could not agree with you more. SC may be the preseason favorite, but the NW 4A graduated an inordinate amount of talent in 04 and is up for grabs. AC Renolds should be right in the thick of things.

 

I'm more of a legion fan but after reading alot of the posts, I'm looking forward to the high school season. In the past it seemed to be more of a spring training for legion. But a buddy showed me this site and I'm looking forward to keeping up with the high school season until legion starts. Here in Burke, it's like the high school sports season is over when baseball rolls around, then comes alive again in the summer. Maybe our boys from Burke might surprise some this year. We did in football with both teams and basketball, well the team on this end is struggling a little. Look forward to the season.

 

Look for Coach Joe Hubbard and his TROJANS of Northwest Cabarrus to make a strong showing this year in the NPC. With a year of Varsity under these juniors belts they should be ready to roll. Best team for coach Hubbard since the 03 squad at NWC.

 

ROC0720,

I know some of the kids at Hopewell. What Hopewell players played on your team and what postions did they play? Anything you can tell us about them?

 

I have had Ben Beard P ( Pfeiffer now), Brant Jensen, C (graduated), Brett Richardson, OF, Andy Oliver, UTL, Matt Cochran, C, Mike Vaughn 3rd, 1st. First off, all of them are great kids. Brett has great speed and is a very good hitter. He will prob get signed this spring to a D2 school. Andy can play anywhere in the field and pitch. he is a junior. Matt is very solid behind the plate, very good hitter and is a junior. If he gets quicker he will be able to go small D1, D2. Vaughn is just a sophomore. He has some pop but has to wait for the game to come to him. He gets anxious sometimes but can be a good hitter. Look for brett, andy and matt to be impact guys. vaughn may get some play on varsity but is just a sophomore.