Beasts from the East/ Best from the West

What teams should be strong next year? In 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A?

I still believe the top talented teams last year were Tuscola, West Henderson, West Rowan and Providence.

What do you guys think? The teams to watch for...Kannapolis and Ashbrook. I know that Ashbrook won the State Championship last year, but it was not expected. This will be their year...we'll see if they can repeat.

 

Greenville Rose returns everyone I think. Not bad for a State Championship team to return everyone the following year.

 

Most of Rose's squad returns. However, their talented shortstop, Brack Massey, graduated. He's part of UNC's entering class this coming year.

 

TC Roberson returns just about everybody. There is some question about Cameron Maybin staying in Cincinnati though. Haven't heard if he is returning or not. That would be a big blow to a team that has a real shot next year. Tuscola will still be talented. West Henderson graduated 6 starters.

 

East Rutherford 2X back to back2A Champs

Let's not forget East Rutherford--the
2 time defending state 2a champs
In the 02/03 season they had to replace
6 starters and all doubted a repeat was possible and this year they only replace
3. Bobby Dale just one another state championship in legion so don't be suprised if a 3 peat happens in 2A
The toughest team we played all of last season was Ledford and if most of those return look for them to be in the mix when
playoffs start

 

SW4A 2004 Predictions

In the SW4A, the race will probably be for 2nd and 3rd place between South Meck, Butler, Myers Park and East Meck with Providence projecting to be the SW4A team to beat in 2004.

Even after losing 7 seniors off their baseball roster for the 2004 season and finishing out of the play-off spots in 2003, Providence should be the team to beat in 2004 in the SW4A. With their new, talented and energetic coach, Danny Hignight (a South Meck coach apprentice), Providence will have great depth. Their pitching will be lead by seniors LHP Alex Martin (Impact Baseball Prospect), RHP Joey Cutler, RHP Ryan Jones and RHP Matt Barker backed by several junior pitchers as well. They will have two experienced senior catchers in Kyle Whigham and Bobby Northrup. Their infield will be led by seniors Chris Ahem, Grey Little and Matt Barker. They also have very strong outfielders in Kevin Dietrich, A.J. Mason (Impact Baseball Prospect) and junior Cory Dunning. Providence’s hitting is looking to be very good in 2004 as well.

South Meck will return in 2004 with an experienced coach in Hal Bagwell and losing 5 graduating seniors and their hitting and catching coach in Danny Hignight. South Meck loses several graduating key pitchers but seniors Elliott Arrington and Kevin Spain will be returning along with experienced junior T.J. Worrell who has been a South Meck varsity starting pitcher since his freshman year at South. Hopefully South will have a strong blocking and framing catcher in senior Brandon (Snapper) Stanford and rising junior Josh Cable. South’s infield should be solid led by senior KyleShelton (Impact Baseball Prospect), Elliott Arrington and junior Zac Kennedy. Zac Kennedy who led South’s outfield last year could be moved to an infield position in 2004. South’s hitting should be strong as well. Senior Clayton Erickson should be anchoring the outfield. South’s outfield will be looking for rising juniors for backup. There will be many South rising juniors looking for key roster spots on the South Meck team this year, which they may find hard to get hold of especially in the infield.

Knowing very little about East Meck for 2004, but that they have an excellent and level headed knowledgeable coach in Chet Grisson (another South Meck apprentice), East Meck may struggle a little in 2004. After losing 9 graduating seniors and key pitching, East will return only with leaders in heir ace pitcher, Ben Buchanan, infielders, Blake Gehringer and David Teague and junior Joey Savago.

Myers Park will suffer severely in 2004 after losing their pitching which carried their team in 2003 by graduating seniors Robert Woodard and Rob Wilson. Hopefully rising seniors Logan Smith and Jason Kennell along with a few hopeful junior pitchers can bring Myers Park back to a play-off spot in 2004. Myers Park’s catching and hitting should be solid in Tim Kramer and J.J. Rollins. Myers Park’s hitting game should be their plus in 2004.

Don’t know that much about Butler’s returning team in 2004. Someone else will have to comment on that. I do know that after losing 5 seniors, Butler should still have a strong team in 2004 in Kyle Josey, Seth Ivey, Demario Hough, Ryan Sansavero, Ryan Krbec, Brad Boob, Eric Worden, Adam Willis, Thomas Johnson, Keith Hicks, B.T. Long and Greg Garmon.

Olympic was a threat to any SW4A team on any given night in 2003 but could just not put it together to finish with a competitive record until they got to the SW4A end-of-the-season tournament last year. I have very little knowledge of their retuning team in 2004 but I think that they just lost a few seniors and should have quite a few rising juniors to add to their varsity team to cause a threat in the SW4A in 2004.

Waddell will struggle again probably in 2004 after having to combine both their varsity and jv baseball teams in 2002 and 2003 to put together a competitive varsity baseball team. Waddell showed some signs of competitiveness in 2004 but only have rising senior pitcher Carl Krimmnger, infielders, David DeSilva and Brad Rhine and catcher Jay Niell to lead the team in 2004 thus far.

Hopefully, Garinger, will come on strong in 2004 as it is well-known that Braves (who is busy with football at this time) has applied for the baseball coaching job at Garinger for the 2004 baseball season with confidence of securing the position and is illegally recruiting players from other SW4A schools at this time!!!

Please note: All of the above is just my thoughts and observations, not that of any SW4A coaches or players…

 

Re: SW4A 2004 Predictions

What a great report!! Good job SouthLoop...:applause:

Now, the grapevine says Braves is being pretty successful in his recruiting activities....I noticed some of the guys he is recruiting are driving new cars...so BEWARE ..Garinger is back!!!!

 

kannapolis have about everyone returning except for 2 or 3, kannapolis started 4 sophmores and 3 juniors last year, also have there whole pitchin staff back, should be pretty tough if they can feel in 1 or 2 spots in the outfield.