SCBL News, Scores and Updates

Deciding to go to my first summer college game this year, I wanted to check out the new kids on the block, Pineville Pioneers. Wow, was I impressed! Starting with the savvy ownership group led by Dave Collins, Garry Hill and Terry Brewer, you arrive at the new stadium at Jack Hughes Park and you know this organization is going to be special.

They’ve done everything right; from acquiring a great field to play on, gathering talented players and building a relationship in the community. They have creative plans to continue to improve the baseball “experience”---think beer garden—to unveiling a new mascot, Pioneer Pete, complete with a loaded musket to remind the guys in blue who the home team is. This is a classy group of leaders who will develop a long term relationship with the Pineville community and their civic leaders….and with their CBC-On Deck affiliation they will be able to attract the best talent through out the country.

However, as great as the experience was, there is one point that I would like to make: Your fans are too quiet and sit on their hands. Wait till you enter the friendly confines of the Statesville Owl’s and their fans. They don’t like you! They don’t like your players, your coach, your owners or your pets. They will be classy and not boo you, but they will let you know what team they support. So if you can improve one thing, I would say to have your crowd be a little more demonstrative in their support. It really is okay for them to say—“he can’t hit….strike that sucka out”----this ain’t HS ball. You have now entered a rivalry…and it ain’t for the meek. The days of the summer vacation—let’s relax—days are over. The players in this league want to win and they want to beat you badly. So, welcome to the SCBL. We are excited to have you!

It was also refreshing to see the players for the Pioneers thank the faithful for coming to the game and signing autographs. If you want to make a lasting mark in your community, this is the way to start. The players understand the affect it has on the youngsters that attend the games.

My highlights of the night:

- 1st game—Pineville rose from defeat in the last inning trailing 2-0. Then bam, bam, bam…they win the game 3-2. A crushing loss for Lake Norman

- It was funny to watch the expression of Tyler Tewell when he was batting and I shouted out, “He can’t hit….” You could tell it made him mad and he didn’t know who shouted it. His next swing he came out of his shoes attacking the ball. (Later on and I told him it was me and he laughed and told me he had no idea who it was, but it did make him mad.)

- I got to see my buddy, Danny Bass, and his tremendously talented son, Bryan. To see Bryan on the field smiling and having fun, then watching him attack the baseball at the plate reminded me why he is rated one of the best players in the state. The young man is a natural leader and as time goes by, Lake Norman will jump on his shoulders for leadership.

- For me it was great to watch Brad Collins, Hunter May, Ryan Mas, Alex Askey and other Charlotte players competing against each other. It reminded me of their HS days competing.


Finally, I want to mention how beautiful Jack Hughes Park is. It is the perfect setting for a summer college game. For all you Charlotte folks that have never attended a summer college game, this is a great place to start. You can sit back—well, you are at Pineville, so I guess it’s okay to sit on your hands too-- enjoy some great baseball at prices less than a HS game and be entertained. I hope they can get Pioneer Pete soon to protect them from those bad boys from Statesville. They’re coming for you!!!!!!

 

I think that whenever the Pioneers present a Mascot to the community, I believe Braves (I heard you have experience doing this) would be the guy to train the NewBee! I'm sure the Pioneers would pay you well with Hot Dogs and such! Great to see and talk to you my friend!

 

Perfect timing Braves! I don't know if Coach Shoe is very happy with you starting the rally that won the game, but you're an inspiration (in your own way). Lol

 

It was nice seeing him, but tough seeing him in orange. He is one of my favorites.

On another note:

Lake Norman 14

Fort Mill 7

 

Statesville 6

Pineville 3

Pineville jumped out to an early lead, but couldn't hold on.

 

sCBL's Morganton Aggies (6-0 start with quality pitching)

Evan Wise, pitching coach for USC-Sumter, is the new head coach for the SCBL Morganton Aggies. And he's off to a great start.

I was able to watch a double header against the Chaos on Friday (6/10) with a good crowd at Morganton's Shuey Field.

Coach Wise had his pitchers well prepared, and the defense and hitting was solid.

• RHP Justin Johnson #8 (Montreat) both showed great stuff with 5 SO's in 4 IP. ERA 0.0
• LHP Scott Elitsky #11 (Lander) getting a win with 5 SO's in 4IP with some serious velo. ERA also is 0.0
• Braxton Lewis #21 (UNC-P) also has a win with 6 SO's.
• Bradley Carpenter #17 (CV) also has a win with 3 SO's.
• Brandon Miller (Lander) #19 another LHP.

If you like dominant pitching, and are into good baseball, with a small town feel, go watch the Aggies play when they come to your town. Or visit Shuey field. There's nothing fancy. Just honest hard working people as fans. No need to dress up. Plenty of parking and room for kids to play and good concessions. I'm fast becoming an SCBL fan. Go support your local team. But....watch out for those Aggies.

 

Go Aggies!!!...when it comes to the SCBL, I'm a fan of all the teams. I want them all to be great.

You're right, Shuey Field has a great atmosphere and his family friendly

 

Braves....you always stir the pot with nothing but class. Worked the game between the Aggies and Spartans on Wednesday...had a great time. Evan Wise...class act....Marty "Life of the Party" Radford....great guy....Braxton Lewis...lights out.

 

LOL...you have any Pineville or Lake Norman games scheduled?

 

LKN improves to 8-4 with an 8-3 win over Spartanburg. The Copperheads welcome Statesville to town on Wednesday. First pitch at 7:00.