NW4A Predictions

U guys wanna try this again?

 

No doubt that Messer is gonna be dominant against anyone he will just need the runs to back him up. Chavis pretty nasty but may need a little more depth and I dont know much about the rest of the SC lineup so there may be more to that than I know. Wall should be the anchor for ACR but then again i dont know too much bout their set up either. Watauga has got a great group of jv's coming up. Freedom losing a lot of solid players to the new school. Rhoney should provide for East Burke. Dont know anything bout Mcdowell but would love for someone to fill me in.

 

From watching Burke Post 21 Legion some this summer, I think McDowell will be a team that is going to surprise alot of people. They return everyone. Have good pitching and the 2nd baseman is a player. EB loses McDaniel (hope he has another year of legion) the left handed pitcher, and like you said Freedom lost basically everyone to Patton. Don't know much about the other teams.

 

SC will be strong again. Not like this year but they do have enough to finish on top of the nw4a. There probablly won't hit as many out of the park as last year but will still have some new power in the lineup to help Chavis. The defense will be solid and a couple guys ( Poarch and Penny) will vie for the no. 2 pitching spot. Poarch looked real good pitching for post 29 this year. Look for SC to win it again

 

Off the subject a little but has anyone heard if Messer made the final cut for the junior national team?

 

McDowell Surprise?

How is McDowell going to surprise anyone. What are they going to do, win eight games? The best players off a bad team graduated, they have no pitching. They caught a break with the retirement of their coach but got a second hand clone of him to fill the position. Let me know what I am missing.

 

Well the new coach for McDowell is nothin like the old one... and the good players are gone? I'm pretty sure that the catcher last year had atleast 30 passed balls... and the 2 best pitchers from last year are goin to be back... Any good player they had last year is returning... Plus some good jvs ar3e goin to be comin up.

 

What you are missing is this... Do you realize that the left side of McDowell's Varsity starting infield last year were both FRESHMAN!! True both were shakey at times at the plate but both Hopkins @ 3rd and Miller @ shortstop make awesome plays throughout the season. Miller has alot of pop in his bat and his second year of seeing varsity pitching he should be improved. Hopkins also was starting 3rd baseman for Legion Post 21. So he saw better pitching throughout the Legion season and got even more defensive experience. Hopkins also pitches and with Dixon (a senior last year) gone he could see more pitching time.

Also the second baseman for McDowell Josh Huskins was all-conference last year and was only a sophomore. He also made the state games. He is a competitor and should lead the team. He too started for Post 21. As far as McDowell having no pitching what about Freeman? Jeremy Freeman was also in the starting rotation for Post 21 and made the state games. The left-hander is tough and has great breaking stuff.

Justin Johnson returns for his senior season. Justin had several homeruns for Post 21 so he has some power and alot of speed. If his arm is healthy he will be Freeman's right handed compliment. If not he will play outfield probably and his bat will lead the team.

McDowell also has a rising 11th grader Josh Thompson who was the J.V. ace who should contribute. Center field speedster Matt Amerto will also be varsity as could be the J.V. catcher Brent Rowe. Rowe also played for Post 21 and saw action and caught Freeman and Johnson there so he should be fine with catching both varsity pitchers when the season starts. Him seeing legion pitching should also help him make the transition from J.V. to varsity. Oh and by the way, he too was only a freshman last season. Another player who should help on varsity is Jerrod Hollifield. Jerrod was the leading bat on the J.V. and he is always a tough out. Will he take Laney's place at first base? I dont know where they will play him but his bat will have to be in the lineup!

Who did McDowell lose?
A catcher, who DID have about 30 passed balls. A tough left fielder who has a solid bat. A right fielder who was also the 3rd pitcher in the rotation and also the (Weakness in the rotation). And the big loss was a TOUGH, TOUGH first baseman Colby Laney. 50-50 on the seniors!!

So what you are missing was how young the Titans are and the best players gone, with the exception of Laney I dont know about that. Im not saying McDowell is ready to topple South Caldwell but honestly if they gel and the young players step up the could win alot more games than last year!! Hey I'll go out on a limb right now and say they will win over 8 games!!!

 

Here is the way i see it:
1. SC or Watauga- gonna be a flippin intense game!
2. Watauga or SC
3, 4, 5, spots gonna be a scrapfest between AC, ACR, and EB
6. Mcdowell
7. Freedom
I think this because a conference championship cant be won off of one or two studs. I think the top teams will be the most well-rounded but they r just predictions.

 

No he did not make the final cut. On the positive side, at least he gets to go home. With the State Tournament, then off to Joplin, I'm sure that he really don't mind going home. Great work Messer, we are all proud of you.