Area Finals

Well instead of getting ready for another playoff game, we're just sitting here "enjoying" this little 2-day vacation in the middle of the Area 3 finals and I had a few thoughts. Was just checking the Asheboro Copperheads website to see if Asheboro was going to throw anymore stadium conflicts on us during this series and saw where the Copperheads have yet another home game scheduled for Monday July 24, so if the Kann/Rand series resumes Saturday and goes 4 games to Monday,,,, looks like another scheduling conflict on the horizon.

Heckfire, with us already juggling Saturdays' game after a Copperhead game (which probably means no BP and a different pregame for such a big series), plus 40-60% chance of thunderstorms everyday, now this 2-day break already figured in, I think the Area 3 commissioner should just step in RIGHT NOW and put both Kannapolis and Randolph in the state tournament as the 2 Area III teams, he can flip a coin for the top seed and tell High Point to stay home but they'll still get whatever money was promised. Honestly, thats the fairest thing to do, otherwise either Kannapolis or Randolph who both worked hard all summer to finish #1 in their respective leagues and who are TRYING to play this final series, one of us is going to be sent home in a few days, and part of it will be because we couldn't finish a playoff series due to factors beyond our control (i.e. weather, Asheboro stadium committments, etc.)

 

I agree with Tj21 and I'm a Caldwell County fan from Area IV ... It is only fair to have both Kannapolis and Randolph both be invited to the State tournament. Let High Point still benefit financially for hosting the tournament but it is not fair to put a team out on the field with only 2 or 3 wins. Now I've heard that the game times for the first day's events are being shifted at the last minute so that the High Point will play the first game of the day rather than the last because of concerns that no one will want to watch a potential blow out. I've heard the Area IV runner up who was scheduled to play at 10:00 AM on Friday will now play at 7:00 PM and the Area I champion will play High Point at 10:00 AM rather than 7.

Since the new format started in 2000 I can't recall having a host team that couldn't at least compete with the other teams. Take Caldwell for instance in 2000, they made the tournament as a result of being the host team but ended up winning the whole thing. Look at Shelby 2 years ago when they were invited as the host team and you saw a team do some damage and could have easily won the event. Same thing with Cherryville last year who made a nice run themselves.

I think we need a rule change that states that the host team most have at least a 500 record to be invited; otherwise, let the area champion and runner-up both participate instead of the host team but still allow the host team to gain financially from the profits.

 

It also wouldn't be fair to put 2 teams in the tournament with a week's rest that the other teams don't have the benefit of. Play them when you can and accept the fact that one team is going home.

 

AREA 1 FINALS SCORE UPDATE

Garner up on Pitt County, 7-1 in bottom of the 7th.

Garner leads series, 1-0.

 

State Tournament

Back in 2000, Caldwell County actually got in by making it to the area finals. Hickory's legion team made it in as the host. In the first year, there was actually nine teams, with two teams from each area, and then Hickory was host since they were third out of the area. Just wanted to clear that up. Why can't they have 9 teams and let both area teams play and still allow the host to play. Draw all number one seeds out of a hat for the bye.

 

State Tourney pairing

(Area 1 #1) Garner vs (Host) Thomasville on the 28th, nightcap

 

Thanks Steelballs for the clarification. I forgot about 9 teams qualifying back in 2000. By the way we found out tonight that Madison Bumgarner will not be playing with Caldwell in the State Tournament because he will be ineligible after playing in Wilmington next week. There was a statement that was read on the radio (WJRI) regarding Madison not being able to play in the State tournament. Big disappointment but good luck to MB.

 

Ktown

What the wojans should do is win game 2 and then pull a "Bull Durham" rain out with the sprinklers. Just tell Randolph, "Sorry coach, there must be a short in the line somewhere." One more for the good guys!!

 

sorry to hear that

 

you know that ktown has been accused of that before but it would be first for baseball. lol