Sectionals

SEG - AK

Good game.
Pitcher's duel.
Thornton was great for AK; Newton tremendous for SEG - especially on 3 days rest.
[Man that young lady pulling for him (sister?) has a set of lungs!]

Guess Tobias was the difference, so to speak. Single to lead off bottom 1st and came in to score. BB in later inning (3rd/4th?) and he came around to score - after stealing 2B - and actually scored on catcher's overthrow of 3B (threw over batter) while attempting to steal 3B with 2 outs.

AK stayed at it (of course!) and had chances later. Looked like a possible missed hit/run by runner on 1B in the 5th(?). Also - and you knew something like this was coming - with two on in 6th, #8 hitter struck out, but from 40 feet off his shoulder I sure thought there was catcher's interference. (Not saying that cost the game!).

Plays made by SEG right fielder on laced ball, by AK centerfielder on gap-shot possible triple, and by AK shortstop diving into left to rob a hit were phenomenal.

Little "luck" with SEG getting an out on a ball thrown to second baseman literally 20 feet from bag - where he just happened to be - on a miscued 5-4-3 attempt. They amazingly got an out at first on the play. Could have been thrown into RF and runners at 2nd and 3rd or scoring Also one really "lucky" safe call on SEG runner at 1B who looked to be two steps late of the force throw.

Bottom line summary:
Good game in 4th round by two good teams.
Old saying, "good pitching beats good hitting," true last night.
As the song they play after the game states, SEG just wins.
And...
AK is still the measuring stick.

 

Bottom line summary:
Good game in 4th round by two good teams.
Old saying, "good pitching beats good hitting," true last night.
As the song they play after the game states, SEG just wins.
And...
AK is still the measuring stick.[/quote]



if AK is still the "measuring stick" where does Providence measure up?

 

if AK is still the "measuring stick" where does Providence measure up?[/quote]

Knew I might ruffle a few feathers - though not my intent.
First, know I'm not a Charlotte guy.


My explanation is this:
AK has been "open for business" for what, 5 years?
They have one state title, and one runner up, obviously two west region championships, and a fourth round appearance this year.
Can anyone compare with that over that time span? (In the 4A West at least. Over the last decade or so, one could say RV's Rampants of Rose or Coach Reynold's Cavaliers are in another league with all classes and all regions considered!)


To more directly answer your question, Providence measures as a very good program - like many others - but not with the overall success of AK.

Hey, I'm "catcoach", not knightcoach. I don't "like" it any more than you. In fact, I hope to change it and become that measuring stick. However, it will take a couple of years of a body of work. Right now, I can only call it as I see it. And I see PURPLE!

 

I am not a Charolette guy either just knew that proidence has beat ak twice this year. If you want to talk about start up schools. Holly Springs is a new school as well with either 2 or 3 years being open (almost certain) They will be tough to beat this year and their record for the past two seasons are trendous, wond the tri-9 in their 1st two years in the conference and I think the first 2 years of their existance. But Carlos Rodine on the mound has been a major reason for that as well. But their talent is as good as anyone in the state.

 

NE Guilford wins

in dramatic fashion! Walk off Home Run in bottom 8th to beat Asheboro 5-4.

 

Holly Springs is very good, with probably one of the top 2-3 #1 and #2's in the state, if not the best. You cannot compare that with AK over the course of its 5 year existence and its remarkable accomplishments. But a lot of that can be attributed to Coach Bagwell, who was quite successful at South Meck prior to taking the job at AK. To go a step further, it would be rather difficult to comapre this to Coach Vincent and his Rampants at Rose, or Coach Smith and his tenure at Roberson. It takes years of success to measure to those standards and if things work out maybe Holly Springs can be measured in those terms, but this is YEARS away from happening.

Just my 2 cents worth...