My Lenoir Rhyne weekend...

First of all, God was smiling on the Bears by providing a perfect weekend for baseball. I wanted to ask Coach Pait if he could arrange the baseball schedule so they could play the first part of the year in the fall, then complete it starting in April. Great weather!!!

I had the opportunity to meet the Laramore's (Jay), the Tarleton's (okay, Mark wouldn't introduce me to his wife..he heard about my reputation and got scared) and was reaquainted with my good friends, the Conrad's. Papabear kept hiding from me, but that was okay, too. I ate his hot dogs. The one thing that amazed me was that I felt I knew these people all of my life. It's easy to see why their kids are such nice young men.

My observations of the LR Bears team this weekend:

I'm simply amazed at the talent level at LR. From Matt Wiley, Taylor MacCurdy and soon to be drafted, Jesse Jordan, to the freshman they signed.
Ryan Caldwell is a MAN!!! Huge!!! and Jay is no 98 lb weakling.

If their pitching can stay healthy, this team will compete for the conference championship and playoffs.

The second thing I would like to mention are the coaches. Coach Pait is one of the nicest men in the business; honest and dependable. But don't mistake his niceness with softness. He will get after you! Coach Hendricks is probably one of the most sought after young pitching coaches in college. The hardest thing for Coach Pait will be in retaining him for the next 4 years. Of course, all the pitcher's parents have already threatened him if he leaves...we know some people And an addition to the coaching staff is grad assistant Matt Keever...talking about someone that will challenge the players. He was the heart and soul of the team last year and his personality still affects the team in a positive way.

To sum up my weekend....perfect! Especially papabears hot dogs

PS- I won't mention names, but the Bears had some outstanding prospects in for the weekend. I hope they sign

 

The Tarleton's are great people and Dallas will be a tremendous asset to LR. He has great leadership and will be GREATLY missed at Piedmont next year.

LR has assembled a very talented group of kids! Good luck to everyone this year!

 

I Was Guarding the Hot Dogs

Hey Braves, my wife and I were sitting NEAR the concession stand last weekend catching up on the summer with the Pughs, MacCurdy's and Pattersons. I take no credit for the cooking. Where were you? My "reserved" seat is down behind the backstop usually with Gary Cooper......we both keep the plate umpire honest. He'll be more active this year, though, with Andrew pitching again. Boy, it's good to see him back. We had a nice breeze and some shade up on the hill, though, last Saturday. Gary said it was hot down by the bleachers. Don't get too spoiled by this nice weather, though......there have been times when we've watched games in sleet and snow in February. Make sure you've got a good pair of long johns and a heavy coat. Rob Neill and I have been known to wimp out and watch a game or two from inside the car, it was that cold. Won't be able to be there for the freshman scrimmage tomorrow, but I promise I will track you down and introduce myself either next weekend or at the World Series. I'm looking forward to meeting you and the other new LR parents. Wow, what an impressive recruiting class we saw last weekend, huh? Hitters, pitchers, fielders, you name it. BY FAR the best group of freshmen since we've been at LR. Pait and Hendricks spent a lot of time on the road last spring, without a doubt. You didn't believe me when I told you back in May this team has the talent to contend and win a championship this year, did you? T.J. is going to play a big part in that effort, no question. Hope he's liking it at LR. He has joined a great group of young men, as you've seen. See you soon.

 

I'm sorry I missed you Papa. When I asked the Pugh's where you were, they said you just left. I won't be up there this weekend either. I hope the following weekend though