Area III American Legion Baseball

I hate politics, but there's a little in just about everything.

 

You know guys that is a darn shame. The reason i asked this question is this. A catcher that catches for a very good high school team in Rowan County was given a release from Rowan 2 years ago to go and play for South Legion. The kid came along very quickly. Great behind the plate, very good bat, great arm. Anyway, i heard that Rowan was protesting this guy playing for South this year. If the young man wasn't good enough 2 years ago for Rowan why in the world do they care now? Also, according to the Legion paper that came out in the Smallsberry Post, some of the players have already been given a spot on the team and they havent even been to a practice? I thought it was best player gets the job. I guess im just dumb on these matters. I thought Legion was above this sort of little league, thats my son he starts or makes the team BS! But as they say,,,,,,thats baseball. I love the game but it burns me to no end to even think that anyone over a middle school coach would have anything but honorable intentions. What is this world coming to? I give up.

 

First off, the young man that you refer to was not given a release from Rowan County, but was told he was in South's district. I agree with you about the 2 years thing. The verdict is still out on this one. We'll see.

 

Rowan......i thought if a team gave a kid a release and he went and played for a new team then his new team had the rights to the player until he is released.From the article in the Post Rowan Legion is very thin at the catching position.They must really want this kid back.But I believe South has the rights to this player if he was released by Rowan.If he was not released as RCBBfan says then you have a completely different situation.

 

Don't take anything in The Post to heart, it's just speculation. Coach Gant is a stand up guy. He'll do what he thinks is right in reguards to the team. He has his reasons for keeping or cutting a player. You may not agree with him, but you may not know the whole story. He's got way too much class to cut or keep a kid for petty reasons.

 

My previous statement was not intended to reflect directly on Coach Gantt. He is a good coach and has done alot for Rowan Baseball. Im sure he is not responsible alone for making each and every decsion that has to be made for RCALB. There are so many kids trying out for the team. You have to cut, i was only stating facts as i knew them. And the facts that have been stated cannot be disputed for i know them as FACT. Some of you guys that really know baseball will know what im talking about here. Last year a kid was cut late in the season that was batting over .500 for Rowan. .575 i think? If you were coaching any team would you cut a guy batting .575? Even if he sat the bench and just DHed? WHY would you do this????????????????????????????? This is only one of my facts that cannot be disputed! I will let this one rest now. I think a point has been made.

 

the coach needed a backup catcher more than he needed the .540 + hitter?

in legion ball you only DH for the pitcher. At Rowan most of the starting pitchers were all good hitters, and the player in question wasnt one of the better defensive players for his position, so he was released.

Gantt wouldnt be doing his job if he didnt pursue the SR catcher your talking about, even if he is in the SR playing district.

 

Unfortunately theres politics at every level in sports, but the best coaches will put the "best 9 players" on the field. Most coaches might enjoy "rubbing elbows" with certain dads, but the coaches would rather win more than anything else.

I agree with Rowanbaseball and rcbbfan on this specific catcher who's planning to play for South Rowan,,,, I have a feeling if Coach Gantt up at Salisbury can still "claim" this kid,,,, he will. The Salisbury/Rowan legion team simply does not currently have a bonafide super catcher this summer and they would love to have this kid.

Its already brewing in Salisbury to keep this kid, get ready for it...

 

none of us have met the new kid yet, he doesnt come in till sunday night, and the whole promising positions stuff is just crap

 

Kannapolis defeated Rowan County last night 10-2. Ward was the winning pitcher and Adams was the loser.

Rowan had 2 key errors that allowed 4 runs to score. Unlike Rowan teams in the past.

Interesting game.............. I am not sure if Kannapolis looked strong or if Rowan looked weak. Perhaps some of both.

Rowan is now 0-2 in league play while Kannapolis is 1-0.

By the way............... both teams were at "Full strength". All HS Playoff player have joined both teams. No excuses now boys!!!