Tri-9 4A 2010

Predictions? Thoughts?

I'm a bit biased since this is the conference I follow the closest, but it's loaded with talent.

In my opinion, the conference is split into 3 "levels" as far as the pre-season predictions go.

Top Dogs -
Middle Creek (Strong program. Boyd and Drayton will lead the way. Seth Watkins could really step up as one of the conference's top P's. Boyd may have an all-state type season as a sophmore)
Green Hope (One of the top pitching staffs in the state. Boghosian, Pistaccho, and Povse will be tough to beat. Shambley may hit over .500 and steal 15 bases. Anthony Colantino could really make a name for himself if his offense comes around.)
Holly Springs (new to the conference so I am not very familiar but I've heard nothing but good things about them and their stud Carlos Rodon - NCSU.)

Could sneak up and win it -
Athens Drive (Can really swing it 1-9. Pitching should be fairly strong led by Indiana recruit, Blair Betts. Two-sport star Ben Snotherly could make a big splash this year. Dillon Rudio can rake.)
Fuquay-Varina (Coach Senter is one of the best around. Not sure who exactly returns but Hedgepath could have a big year if back. Sophomore shortstop will be one to watch.)
Apex (Coach Valder always has his boys ready to play. Lost Frankoff and Diaz but still have some good weapons. May fall to the "3rd Level" if can't swing the bat well.

Last but not least -
Cary (New coach, new program excitement, good core hitters. Pitching questions. Sophomore switch hitter Tony Sanchez is one to watch)
Lee County (Down year last year but Coach Spivey won't stay down long. The opening of Southern Lee hurt their program but it may be back on the upswing. Young team last year as far as I know.)
Panther Creek (Lost several seniors but Coach Jones is one of the best in the business. Pitching questions.)

DI's:
Green Hope -- Grant Shambley (Wake), Adam Boghosian (UNCG), Joe Pistacchio (App)
Athens -- Blair Betts (Indiana)
Pre-Season MVP Prediction: Grant Shambley-Green Hope, Steve McKinney-Cary, Dillon Rudio-Athens, Jimmy Boyd-Middle Creek
Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year Prediction: Blair Betts-Athens

Going to be a fun year in the Tri9. LOTS of talent.

 

I agree

A few days ago, I sent a note to JM15, saying the exact same thing about the 3 levels of teams this year !!! So I would have to agree that those predictions are right on !!!

 

The conference went from strong to very strong with the addition of Holly Springs. It will be interesting to see how the three "groups" pan out. I could see one or two teams dropping and one or two rising depending on what kind of help they get from players who haven't burst onto the scene yet.

At Cary, we have our work cut out for us but we have a good group of kids who are going to play hard for the new coach (Matt Warden) and play as a team. There should be no team chemistry issues and everyone will be on the same page.

We'll see what happens. We know we are the underdog this year and that's fine. Makes it more fun...

Is it Feb. 17th yet?

 

Holly Springs is the class of the conference, even if it is their first year in the conference. Green Hope hitters have pop and their pitching staff is great. Athens will be very solid with great pitching and solid hitters. Middle Creek snuck up on some people last year to win the conference (with Green Hope), and should be good again. Apex has some hitters, if they get pitching they will be good. Cary always beats a couple of teams they "are not supposed to", and if the new coach has them ready they could really suprise some folks. Fuquay-Varina will be really young but really talented and they have an ace that can beat anyone. Lee County has a couple of studs with experience and could get some wins with their ace on the mound. Panther Creek should start to make strides this year as they will have their first 4 year class of seniors.

My groups are a slight bit different TOP 2, NEXT 3, BOTTOM 4

1. HS, 2. GH, 3. AD, 4. MC, 5. Apex, 6. Cary, 7. F-V, 8. LC, 9. PC

Pre-season MVP (TOP 3)- Shambley(GH), Rodon(HS), Pistaccio(GH),

Pre-season POY (TOP 3)- Betts(AD), Pistaccio(GH), Rodon(HS)

Pre-season Coach of the Year - Not going to guess here but wanted to mention that this conference has some great coaches. Spivey(LC) and Senter(FV) are coaching legends and Jones(PC) is right there with them. The coaches at GH and MC have impressed with multiple conference titles between them and they always seem to get several players to the next level each year. Young guys at Apex and Holly Springs are poised to become great coaches too. I'd assume the guys at AD and Cary are solid too.

All in all I'd say this should be one of the top 3 4A conferences in the state this year.

 

Pretty good run-down there. Looking forward to a competitive season.

It all kicks off on 3-2. Can't believe it. Cary hosts Fuquay and Green Hope goes to Athens. Not sure about the others but man, what an opening day to the regular season!

 

We'll see how the season shakes out, but just for the sake of arguing, let me defend the 3-3-3 scenario (just for fun).

Athens lost a bunch of hitting from last year - 71 of 123 RBIs, 76 of 137 runs scored, and 19 of 23 HRs were made by last year's seniors. (R.Snotherly, W.Smith, W.Medlin, and D.Woodall all graduated) It was those guys which drove the offense last year, I can't believe that they won't be missed this year. The team can still hit, but not like last year, although Betts and Chris Williams will be tougher on the mound.

Middle Creek tied for the conference title at 11-3 last year, usually with a starting lineup with no seniors. Basically everyone is back this year, they did graduate their most effective pitcher in Max Drisko, but the rest of team is back and a year older. Coach Jeremy Thompson has been at MC these last 4 years, and has finished 1st in the conference in 3 or those 4 years (2006, 2007, 2009).

So I believe Middle Creek will be right there with Holly Springs and Green Hope - and to start the year off on Mar. 2, we'll see Holly Springs at Middle Creek, followed 3 days later with Middle Creek at Green Hope. Now THAT will be one great opening week of the season !!!!

 

Heard recently that Seth Watkins (Middle Creek) had Tommy John. Anyone know if he's going to be back on the mound this spring?

 

Seth Watkins did not have surgery. Apparently that rumor is unfounded.

 

It all kicks off on Tuesday. Can you believe the "opening day" match-ups? Conference battles at that.

Tuesday March 2, 2010

Apex at Lee County
Green Hope at Athens Drive
Fuquay Varina at Cary
Holly Springs at Middle Creek
Panther Creek at Jordan

 

With the cold and snow, it will be interesting to see which teams get up to playing speed the fastest. Plus starting with conference games, no non-conference games to warmup with, could really shake things up !!!

Green Hope and Middle Creek didn't look that sharp in their scrimmages, yet the teams they played - Pinecrest and Clayton - looked like it was mid-season !!!