Providence vs. Ardery Kell

What will be the intensity of this matchup? New Rivalry? Key players. Bigger the SM Prov.?Let us know what you think

 

There will certainly be a rivalry, but nothing like the old Providence vs SM series. That series was built on total dislike....SM disliked everything about Providence. From the tiny bandbox field, to the mouthy players and coaches (before Coach H's). They hated their colors, their school, their girlfriends, their dogs, their parents....but more importantly, the despised the cocky, arrogant players.

For some reason (I don't know why) the supporters of Providence felt the same way. Because of showcasing (Players from different schools playing together), the intensity of that rivalry will never be matched again.

Now, everybody is nicey-nicey. Players play on each other's team, parents actually socialize with one another...heck, if Coach H ever gives me a hat, I'll even wear a "P" hat.

But, there will always be an intensity at the games because the players and coaches want to beat the other team badly. It's a competitive thing (bragging rights)...not a hatred towards each other.

There is one team that wants to beat both teams with a vengeance. They are tired of hearing about Providence, AK and SM in its hey day; that's Butler. They have always played with a chip on their shoulder. They feel they don't get the respect they deserve (rightfully so).

Another team that gets tired of hearing about the others is Myers Park. They are always talented, but seem to be 1-2 players away from going deep into the playoffs. This may be their year. Remember they lost to South Caldwell 2-0 up at The Rock. The closest game SC played until North Davidson.

I suspect this will be another war in the conference with the same teams battling it out....but this time AK is not a rookie

 

Alright Braves....that's taking things a little to far Wait a minute...come to think of it....if Bags would ever give me a hat I would wear the "AK" hat to the games.

Seriously....I think the "AK vs Providence" is going to turn into one of the best rivaleries in the SW4A over the next few years. One of the best games I saw last year was when AK tied the game coming from a 8 or 9 run deficit late in the game....there were like 8 home runs hit in that game.

 

Ardery?

That's not the Ardery that goes to the brain is it?

If the trunk to Hignight or Bagwell's car is open I wear a 7 1/2. Either hat would go nicely with my Black coaches shorts. Yeah, I know.......the ones I got at Al's Tent and Awning Supply!

 

No one was thinking that....but now that you mention it where did you find that much cloth?

 

aguyyouknow is getting good at this He has realized there is not very much to take too seriously. I love the ardery comment..that was classic!

 

I'll agree that the providence south rivalry will never be the same as it used to be. Growing up around it all and listening to all the older players I sort of got the sense of what the rivalry meant. I remembered the first time that I actually played in it. The coaches built it up so much to us. This is one game that you can not lose. This game extends outside of the lines and means more too both schools than just a win or a loss in the SW4A standings. I thought I could grasp that concept. You always wanted it to be that way, to add that little extra bit of intensity that you thought had already maxed out. Well after my first game, I meet up with my friends to grab a bite to eat and to talk about the game. Just so happens that those friends were providence players. Sadly I believe the book has closed a bit on those types of rivalries, or at lesat the page has been turned.

This year AK was introduced to the league and they added a huge splash to things. My first time playing them was a more game to me. It had more hype and buildup to me than any other game I had played in high school. You want to win ever game, especially when it has playoff implications and conference standings on the line, but this game was above all that to us. To us this game was about respect. I believe that’s where the rivalry is now. Its not that you just want to best the other team, to say "hey we won, we are better than you" the best teams doesn’t always win. To me it was to prove a point, that we were still something, someone, it was about being respected as a club. Winning that game didn’t get us a conference championship, it didn’t get us to the playoffs it didn’t receive any special recognition, but what we got out of that game was a since of pride and accomplishment, because we know what we were up against because we have grown up playing with one another, that’s just how it is these days. To me that was a very high quality team, one in which I have the up most respect for, so for us to beat a team that good, a rival, is more about respect amongst you and your peers, not about beating an enemy.

Enough with that. You make a great point about MP and Butler being over looked Braves. If you go back the past 10 or 15 years, MP and butler have had teams go just as far in the playoffs as south meck and providence and they have had their fair share of talent just like all these other programs.

Providence and AK will be a great matchup and be one of the most built up games this year and for years to come. There’s no doubt about that. The Rivalry may be different now; it’s not like the old days. None the less it’s still what we look forward to ever year. Its one of those reasons why we love high school baseball. To us this is baseball.

 

Matos- that was one of the best posts I have ever read on TBR. For you to speak from a player's perspective was incredible...great insight!

Thanks for responding

 

Pete

Pete is my "clothier."

cloth·ier - [klohth-yer, -ee-er] –noun

1. a retailer of clothing.
2. a person who makes or sells cloth.

 

That explains why some of our Legion stuff was late this year.....he was working on your new wardrobe.....


Aguyyouknow......we love ya.