Early Predictions

East Rutherford did lose 8 seniors from last years squad, 7 of which were starters. But remember, when East beat Owen and ace Stephen Hensley in the playoffs last year, it was a sophomore (Parker Tate) and a freshman (Zeke Blanton) who provided all the RBI's with Home Runs in a 3-2 win. The Cavs will be young this year, probably 6-8 so/jr starters, but the JV team did win 23 straight last year. Coach Bobby Reynolds has won at least 20 straight games for 10 years now and is not going to allow a letdown because of a young lineup.

 

North Forsyth is always in the mix

How do you compile a top 10 (even this early) and not include
North Forsyth?

Let's see?????

7 returning starters from 19-5 team in 04 (4 were sophmores last yr)

THE NO. 1 TWO-WAY PLAYER in the state is Addison Johnson(Jr.)

Program is 61-16 over Head Coach Jamie Lowe's 3 yr. tenure

North is 19-1 in Metro-4A over last 2 seasons
(East, Page, Mt Tabor, NW Guilford, Grimsley)

Coach Lowe will have this team in the hunt in the end, no doubt the toughest non-conference schedule around ( ACHS, Wautaga, West Forsyth, Reynolds EVERY season)

I believe they are going to Rose this year.

 

I didn't see Alex playing on the summer team, he may have been on the fall team. I think he was going to a summer basketball camp. Good kid.

 

Vikes28 ...Good to hear from you

We haven't heard squat from the folks in the Metro conference this summer and fall (and I did pick NF to repeat as conf champs). I agree that it's early, but the depth of the South Meck squad and the Hoggard squad make is difficult pick against them. There are several other 4A teams that are returning most of their starters from last year that were in States also.... It's going to be a fun year!!!!! The toughest conference will probably be the CAP-6 in Raleigh with Broughton, Leesville Road, Millbrook, Sanderson, Wake Forest-Rolesville and Wakefield. Only 2 will make states out of the group and they have 3 legitimate top-15 contenders who will beat up on each other all spring.

The overall depth of pitching in the Metro conference (as viewed from afar) appears to be slim (unless some junior has a break-out year). Everyone knows about AJ, but there isn't much information available about Page, NW Guilford, etc etc in order to judge the conference and how "battle-tested" the teams will be come playoff time.

I agree, Top-15 ... not sure about Top-10 yet. If the Metro-6 is down this year (and it appears to be), North Forsyth could have a great record and still not be really ready for the states.

ss-05: West Brunswick shouldn't have been a surprise (though it was) ... Coming out of the Mideastern 3A/4A, they play Ashley, Hoggard and Laney all year (all traditional 4A powerhouses) then get to jump down to 3A for states. After this year with the "explosion" of blended conferences that the NCHSAA is planning in order to decrease travel expenses, it may become nearly impossible to predict much in the states, particularly at the lower classifications. There will only be 4 4A/3A blended conferences, but when you get down to 2A, there will be 12 conferences that are either a 2A/3A blend or a 2A/1A blend .... it's going to be an absolute mess.

 

As far as 2A goes, I think Western Guilford could be a contender this year with Rook and Stell back for their Sr. year. You also have Gleiter and a few other pitchers. You know they went 4th round last year losing to ER. Don't know what Reidsville and Western Alamance will be like. That should about be it for the North State.

As far as North Forsyth goes, they will have a good team; but AJ can't pitch every game and play center field too. If DJ Mitchell's rotator cuff injury is healed and he doesn't require surgery he will lend much needed help. They need at least one more very strong pitcher, which I don't believe they will have. Could still win conference though, but that's about it. NW Guilford might bring something to the table behind Bryce Durham and Houston Summers.

Ragsdale should be pretty good this year also, even without Sink and a few others. Kensmoe and Mullins should lead with pitching and they still should be strong with their bats.

A lot of teams rebuilding this year. It should make for an interesting baseball season. Look forward to the start of the season.

 

vikes28,
you are right about several things. north will be very strong this year. coach lowe has and will continue to do a great job there. any predicted top ten teams etc. is only a guess at this time.
rjrdad,
2 guys from the little league world series team are sophomores and about 5 will be freshmen. as far as varsity uniforms.... who knows, only time will tell.

 

I tend to agree with what was said about North Forsyth, they are a pretty stout team with Johnson and Mitchell. They have good players to compliment them also. They have the the potential to really make a run out of the Greensboro area.

In the Raleigh-Durham area- Strong teams are Wakefield, Wake Forest-Rolesville, Millbrook, etc.. I'll agree that the CAP-6 may be one of the strongest conferences in the state.

If you look at the PAC-6 it could go in almost any direction. Chapel Hill would be the team to beat. They return two good pitchers and are a solid team. I t will be interesting to see how the race shapes up between Chapel Hill, Jordan, Northern Durham, Person, Riverside. Who knows??? :huh:

 

Any Ideas For The WHC

Any predictions for the Western Highlands Conference? North?, Owen?, Pisgah?, West????

 

-That is a good point but I predict Providence to be better than last year's team. About the lefty. There are three answers. Shane Small, Kyle Kaiser, and David Mailman. All three had good a good spring and any of those three could be who you were referring to. Shane is a Junior in '05 and David and Kyle are Sophmores. These three could supruise a lot of people. The team is in it's 2nd year with their new coach and good things are expected from coach Hignight. The Junior class is good and will do a great job filling the holes left by the 11 Seniors who graduated in '04.

 

I agree. Providence has outstanding talent, but the keyword is untested. The seniors that graduated had been through thewars at the varsity level for many years. The returnees (Dunning, Mauney, Scism and Moore) could play for anyone. I suspect that Providence will be very good and will certainly reach the playoffs, but it is much too early to predict how the underclassman will perform in a highly intense competitive conference game. Providence could prove to be the "Independence" this year. I know their coach is ready!!!

Great hearing from you Ilovevowel...keep us informed about Providence.