Hot Times Classic schedule

Are college coaches hanging around? Is this a public park? I recall something coming up before about how much authority they have to take drinks away in a public park.

 

I have to say that things have not been as bad at Freedom Florence as they seem to be at Greenwood, but the gate prices were outrageous. I will say that I have seen a lot of college coaches in attendance. The bad thing is that I have heard several of the true showcase teams talking about not coming back to this venue again. And if you want an even better story about trouble in Florence, let's discuss the hotel situation.

 

some things never change

We were told that our 8:00AM game would start at 10:00. The teams were warmed up and ready, but the grounds crew finally showed up at 10:15 to start working on the field. Our coaches grabbed a rake and pitched in to help. We actually started at 10:50. I guess the fields were in worse shape than first thought and took longer than expected to prepare. We were glad to finally get going.

On a separate issue, in our game last night, IMO the coach for the other team began stalling with about 15 minutes left in the game while we were at bat up by 1 in an effort to ensure his team would have the last at bat. He questioned the count several times, began giving his players a lot of instruction, and eventually strolled slowly out to the mound and made a pitching change. They got out of the inning and then tied the game. With the bases loaded, his batter hit a grounder to short who tagged out the runner going from second to third for the final out with just over 3 minutes showing on the clock. The coach kept his team in the dugout while he very slowly strolled out to argue that the run should count because the runner crossed the plate before the runner was tagged (even though it was a force out). He kept his team in the dugout and argued until time expired. We had our #3, 4, and 5 hitters coming up. I guess that he figured that HE had seen enough!

 

I'll leave it to someone else to comment on the sportsmanship of the coach.

A game with a TIME LIMIT is UNFAIR WITHOUT A TIME OUT! There seems to be no chance that time limits can be eliminated so the very least that should happen is that there be time outs. The umps could easily use a stop watch for, say, a one or two minute time out. The timed time outs could be limited to maybe two per team starting in the last two innings and only be timed in the last inning or two. The game, of course, would be extended the minutes of the time outs; in one- or two-minute blocks.

What is really needed is an organization of coaches to address TD on what teams expect for their money and other issues affecting tournaments.

 

For future reference we all need to know, what is up with the hotel situation?

 

More rain

Nasty thunderstorm just hit. Eliminations rounds have began. Will probably be hours before restart. If anyone hears an update, please post.

 

Thunderstorms

Just watched the weather on the news in Myrtle Beach - Heavy thunderstorms just passed through and you have another one coming that dumped 15" in 1.5 hours - Might be time to pack your bags.
College coaches are going to leave and if you do play tomorrow, you'll be there till midnight.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Typical for the Hot (Hotter than Hell) Times.
Everything I have read so far in this thread makes me so happy that we decided not to go this year - seems to be the same every year - and getting worse.
Hotel situation so bad, that the people that work in them could care less also - Had to call police last year after a pretty bad situation at the Country Inn and Suites!

In case you are interested, the beach has been fantastic, the golf courses in great shape and the restaurants freindly here in beautiful surfside beach!

Someone should tell Ken Bailey to move that tournament to a civilized or at least a developed part of the world.

 

Someone should tell Ken Bailey to move that tournament to a civilized or at least a developed part of the world.[/QUOTE]

Here's an idea... fewer teams, say 32 max, play in Boone and Banner Elk with ASU and Lees McRae as the hosts and use local fields like high school and rec. fields. Share the profits, and the work, with the locals by insisting that field maintenance is a priority.

There are plenty of rooms in the area, great dining options and it ain't 100+ degrees! Also, if the weather becomes a problem... wait 15 minutes and it will change! Today it was sunny and 81 with a low of 58... you may have needed a sweater for the 8:00am games.