State 4A Playoffs

JH Rose over Athens Drive 8-4

Hoggard over New Bern 3-2

I believe that is the 3rd 1-run loss to Hoggard by New Bern ... two very closely matched teams.

Eastern Finals Series: JH Rose vs Hoggard

 

The one against you guys was my 8th, hes only a junior

 

Between the COSTLY errors of the AC Cougars, the timely hits of the Independence Patriots, and the inconsistancy behind the plate of the umpire decided the ballgame down in Charlotte.

Good Luck Patriots! :xyzthumbs

 

Good luck Independence

You guys from Independence were a class act. The only thing that bothered me was about the sixth inning, when the Alexander fans were trying to get behind their players and a number of the fans from Indy were yelling, "Scoreboard!"

Come on, guys, this is the playoffs. Save the high school stuff for West and the various Mecks -- conference rivalry types. No need to taunt the other team whether it's Page in the West Regional Series or Hoggard/Rose in the Championship Series in Raleigh. Everyone at this level deserves to be here. Sometimes bounces go your way, but they could just as easily have gone the other way. Rob did a great job of pitching out of a jam (even though I was hoping my client, Alexander 3B #5 Bryan Corbett, would have at least brought Payne and Kinnaird home for selfish reasons). I'd love to see the Patriots bring home a state trophy to go with those three football trophies, but winning the next best-of-three series will be tough for all four teams left.

I was very impressed with the center fielder, Daniel Cook. I timed him on his run to third (single that Hall misplayed in left in the fifth), and it was 10.7. He also showed range going back to get the deep ball in about the fourth. Great grades, too (4.5/1160). Nicholson also looks promising. I want to talk with him and his parents more. He was the one who tied the game up in the fourth off Payne with a deep shot to the gap in left (335 to the fence). The Bray brothers should also attract big-time attention; Debbie and Keith Bray told me after the game that Aaron is getting considerable D-I attention through the mail, although the real test will come July 1, when D-Is can start calling him once a week.

Excellent young team with a big upside. Great size. Loved that starting southpaw. He touched 86 on my gun once or twice. Robby averaged 81 and hit 84, but he has a nasty running fastball to go with his out pitch, a wicked slider down and away that caught Corbett and Hefner chasing.

Great team, great city...go represent the West!

 

Hoggard 3
New Bern 2

Very good baseball game. Defense was very solid for both teams. Hoggard hit the ball better, scoring 1 run each in innings 2,3,and 4. New Bern was shut out until the 7th when Matt Sanders led off with a double and David Towarnicky followed with a 2 run HR. New Bern had a runner in on 2nd base with 2 outs, but the batter grounded out to 3rd to end the game. Both pitchers pitched complete games-Musselman for Hoggard and Warren for New Bern, each giving up 2 earned runs. Congratulations to Hoggard. I expect to see them in the finals.

New Bern ends a great year. New Bern's record of 20 wins and 9 losses include 3 one run losses to Hoggard(2 in extra innings) and 2 close losses to Rose. Coach Smith did a great job with a great group of young men. This was the first playoff appearance for the Bears since 1995 and the win against Laney in the opening round was the first playoff win for NB since 1966! The best news for Bears fans is the fact that 7 starters return next year. Also, the top 3 pitchers all return. If all goes well, look for New Bern this time next year.

 

REGIONAL SKEDS

West Region

May 28: Page at Independence (ME-CA 8 has seeding priority)
June 1: Independence at Page
June 4: Page at Independence (if necessary)

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

East Region

May 28: Hoggard at Rose (Big East has seeding priority)
June 1: Rose at Hoggard
June 4: Hoggard at Rose (if necessary)

 

Welcome to the Ball, Cinderella!!

Page making it as a #2 Seed (they actually finished 3rd in the regular season, but won the Metro Conference Tournament) is the Cinderella story of the 2004 season.

It goes to show that getting hot at the right time is what counts!!!!! :applause:

 

go to www.baseballdiamondfinder.com
for Indy HS, go to Charlotte NC, Baseball Diamonds
the schools are listed in alpha order, so just scroll down untill you reach Independence HS

for Page HS, go to North Carolina Baseball Diamonds
the schools are listed in alpha order, so just scroll down untill you reach NC: Greensboro - Page HS (they are adding Page HS today 5/27)

 

4A East:

Rose 5, Hoggard 4

4A West:

Independence 4, Page 3

 

Rose 5
Hoggard 4

Interesting game. Hoggard hit the ball early and several Rose errors led to runs. Hoggard was up 4-2 in the bottom of the 6th when Alex White drew a walk and Mark Letchworth hit a 2 run HR to tie the score. Kevin Hodges came in to relieve Sam Byrum to pitch a perfect 7th and Zach Long, who relieved Jesse Hudson after the Letchworth HR, gets the first 2 outs in the bottom of the 7th for Hoggard. However, Mike Meredith then gets a single.
He later scores on 3 wild piches! Series moves to Wilmington on Tuesday.