Firecracker Classic, Mrytle Beach

Pelicans Made the Semis

The SC Pelicans 17U won their pool going 4-0 and played the Palmetto Sand Gnats 18U in the semis. Mac Read pitched a complete game against the Gnats on 2 days rest and the Pelicans lost 3-2. Brady Thomas (FSU signee) hit a 2-run bomb in the second for Gnats and the Pelicans couldn't come up with the big hit to even the score. A great tourney for this 17U team that starts several 16Us.

 

BBman...just curious. Dillon and it's surrounding area has always been a hotbed of talent. Especially considering the size of the area. Why is that?

 

I have spent a bunch of time around those kids

and I have to say that the Dillon/Lake View area is very old school when it comes to sports. Their coaches push the players very hard and generation after generation still grow up dreaming of starring on the local school team. Its how I remember it being in NC once upon a time. Also, the black kids still play baseball in that area so they have a bigger pool of athletes to draw from.

 

That's an interesting statement. Which kind of refutes the excuse that baseball is too expensive for the black athlete. Why do you think baseball in that area can draw the black athlete, while a city the size of Charlotte with 1 million teams can't? Does Dillon do a better job of encouraging and developing those kids?

 

No, I think its just that

"city" black kids have migrated to hoops, hoops, and more hoops. They are all going to the NBA. Just ask them. Down in the Dillon area, the kids aren't all hip hop, stylin and showboatin. They just play. And we both know that baseball is a fun game to play. By the way, The Pelicans entire starting outfield for the last three seasons have been black kids. Great players, every one. And great kids to boot.