Greenville Rose - State 4A Champions

Just read the article on-line... Did not show RV and the Rampants much respect IMHO... Definitely not a comment I would use.

Still it doesnt take away from the fine season both Rose and Kell had this year! Congratulations to both teams on Great Seaosns, and to Rose and RV for winning the big prize!!

 

That sounds like something

you say to your guys in the locker room and hope it doesnt get outside it. But it didnt have anything to do with the outcome. AK had a great season and is a fine team. Alex Wood was great, the guy can pitch. Greenville Rose is just flat out good. Those boys believe they are going to win because they are Greenville Rose and they have #20 in the dugout with them. What a tremendous high school program. And what a class act Coach Ronald Vincent is. That area is loaded with young baseball players. DH Conley is going to be loaded next year. South Central is going to be very good as well. And Rose will graduate those Sophs and Jr's up to the big stage and they will not lose a beat.

 

That was not typical of Bagwell. He is usually a master of coach speak. All I can believe is that the reporter came up to him right after the tough loss and he was making the point that they were not going to lose confidence.

You're right, it was something for the locker room. But, I'm sure we have all said things in the heat of the moment that we wish we hadn't.

Another thing coaches are having to learn is to be internet savvy. If you say something in your hometown paper, it will get out the same day all over the state.

 

"Those boys believe they are going to win because they are Greenville Rose and they have #20 in the dugout with them."

No truer words are spoken.

 

Deleted, as its simply not worth it...lmao

 

Good Bad and Ugly

I will save most comments for a few days to let the emotions settle after two very tough come from behind losses in the last inning of both games in a series that so easily could have gone either way. But here are a few:

Good
- Rose has a fine program and good fans that were friendly and fun to play against.
- Mudcats stadium is beautiful and was a great venue.
- Umpiring was very good.
Bad
- The NCHSAA running out of game programs so most of our fans who played in the last game of the first day could not get one. How many times will you have an opportunity to get a State Finals program with your son in it in this lifetime?
- Staying in a hotel four to a bedroom when Rose gets to go home and get a good nights sleep in their own beds. Which team has a distinct advantage for a possible double header the next day? NCHSAA needs to find a truly neutral site that does not favor a local team.
Ugly
- Rewarding a player that tries to start a fight on the field with a freshman. He should have been tossed. Instead, they give him an award. IMHO, not the right message.

 

Easy to get that support to a game 50 minutes from your house. Games should have been at UNCG so BOTH teams had an equal ability to bring their fans.

As regards your community comments you are correct because we have 4 HS in South Charlotte alone that chop up the players/pipelines. Greenville is able to funnel to 2 and there is no doubt baseball is a religion there and thats great. How Greenville embraces baseball is great, but its easier than what Charlotte HS have to deal with.

 

Greastest Game you may want to tell that 2nd baseman not to take his metal cleats and smash down on a hand. By the way are your bats okay where the coach throw all of them out of the dugout before the top of the 7th? This staff seems to use alot of interesting motivational stuff.

 

Matter of perspective on that incident. Guess you musta not seen the cleating the player who slid got after the play. Gonna be one he'll be able to show his kids when he talks about the state championship of 08. Second baseman is a solid player in the field. But standing on top of the bag trying to turn two... freshman mistake when the player slides cleanly into the bag.

I can understand your bitterness. And I know you want to vent and feel free to vent on me if you want. The AK team had a nice run and they are obviously a well coached team. It's hard to swallow getting swept in a "what could have been" season. As tuff as it is, seems energy better spent on what was accomplished vs what was lost. AK will be back next year and the returning players will be battle tested. A formidible opponent this year and should make a lot of noise next.

Would playing Greensboro had made a difference? Who knows. It's open for speculation. Would the Crowd you credit for being there because of location been thinner... I really doubt it. Babe Ruth games at all levels were postponed so players could come watch...lol.

And for clarification... the feeder programs feed at least 4 schools, not 2.

 

First, let me say that the Rose baseball program is the envy of every 4A school in our state. Their tradition gives their players a confidence and expectation that they "own" the Championship...and rightfully so.

Diesel brought up some great points of why they have been so successful (I think South Caldwell is doing the same thing). However, if they ever decide (in their infinite wisdom) to alternate the Championship games between East area to West, you will clearly see those same BR, LL and feeder program support from those areas participating. But to expect that these youth program supporters are going to travel 4 hours and stay at hotel room to watch the games...ain't going to happen. But then again, if they played at W/S, HP or somewhere that they can drive home after every game, I suspect that the turnout would be enormous.

But to think that fan support or lack of is going to affect the playing of the game cheapens the hard work and accomplishments both teams have achieved.

I may be wrong and I'm sure others will disagree, but after watching or following Rose winning 3 championships, I'm left with the opinion that their teams "expect" to win, while their opponents "want" to win. When it comes down to crunch time that attitude can be the difference.