SW4A Predictions

I am curious how everyone thinks how the SW4A will finish this year. Also, with Hopewell looking strong, will they battle Independence and N Meck for their Title.? Everybody is ceding the SW4A to S Meck and they are certainly the team to be beat (even in the State)..should be interesting...

 

The SW4A belongs to South Meck this year. I have Myers Park edging out Providence by a nose. A lot of games will be very close in the SW4A. Garinger will finish out of the basement for the first time in recent memory finishing ahead of Waddell. Butler should struggle. East Meck and Olympic are players this season but don't have quite the depth to compete for the top positions. Team depth in the Prov/MP games goes to Providence, but I think MP will win based on pitching.

In the Meca 8, North Meck, Indy, Hopewell and Central Cabarrus will all contend. Except for Hopewell, none of them seem to have their bats working yet, but you know that will change. The pitching in the Meca 8 is very strong this season in all 4 of the top teams. The starting staff at North is deeper than the other schools. The most dangerous hitters in the conference are probably: 1) Marc Nicholson, 2) Dusty White, 3) John Kellett, 4) Aaron Bray, 5) Mike Cavasinni. You should see some low scoring contests through conference play. West Meck right now looks to have a lock on 5th. Harding, West Charlotte and Vance will struggle. Cavasinni will own the state career stolen base record by mid-season. The top-3 teams in that conference will end the season battle ready and dangerous come playoffs.

There are a lot of promising new comers who will have a major impact. I was really impressed with Ryan Morris at South Meck. Matt Andress and Reid Rollison will be solid at South. Matt Layman will get major innings at South. Ryan Rockecharlie at Myers Park has been impressive. I like Ben Heath and Zack Pou at North Meck. Wesley Dozier at Hopewell will be very good. Indy has a solid crop of youngsters who I want to see.

The city is in good hands. There is a solid core of players in the younger ranks and a lot of very good JV teams with players who could contribute on varsity right now.

 

If saturday's game was any indication, you could even say that the entire NC 4A division belongs to South Meck this year. They seem to have the whole package,pitching,defense,hitting,depth on the bench and great chemistry.
It's not a good sign for other teams when guys on the SM bench pinch-hit mammoth HRs.

For those of us who made the trip from the great white north, we sure did enjoy the warm weather and hospitality, but we are glad the Sabres are not in our conference this year.

 

SW4A and MECA 8 Predictions

SW4A:One clear favorite and two at the bottom. With the other five, any one could beat any of the others on any given night. Here is my best shot...
South Meck 14-0. I just don't see a pitcher in the SW4A who can hold them down. MP's Mathis has a shot, and it is possible Providence could outscore them at their place. We all know that the South seniors are outstanding, with five signed already and at least one more to come, but the juniors may be even better--Austin, Morris, Rollins, Andress and Layman-- what a class!
Providence 10-4. Certainly the second best offensive team in the conference, and their pitching will be good enough. I see them going 6-2 against the other four middle teams and seperating themselves to finish a clear second.
Myers Park 8-6. Deep quality pitching, but they are going to have to get some other bats going to help the red-hot Castevens. 4-4 against the middle five is about right.
East Meck 8-6. I've already posted that East is the sleeper that no one is talking about. They are not very deep, but they will put nine guys out there that will compete and could very well grab a play-off spot.
Olympic 7-7. A strong start for Olympic, but I am concerned about their depth. They will compete, though-- their win over Independence made that clear.
Butler 7-7. This team is a puzzle to me, and they could surprise and do much better. I see four losses to South and Providence though, and 3-3 against the other middle teams seems reasonable.
Waddell 1-13.
Garinger 1-13.

MECA 8: A good four-team race, but North's pitching is just unbelievable -- there are colleges with less quality depth.
North Meck 12-2. The pitching strength and Cavi's speed will be enough, but Heath, Parks, Manzetti, etc. will hit, too.
Hopewell 11-3. They will definitely challenge with the conference's best offense; Dusty White may be the conference's best all-around player. Their young guys are better than I thought they were going to be. Having Mac Winget there as a student teacher/assistant coach will be a huge plus for the team.
Independence 10-4. Hard to pick them this low, but pitching depth could be an issue. Cooke, Taylor and Nicholson, etc. can produce enough runs to enable the Brays to get wins against anyone, though. Pitching depth from Taylor and Elkins could be the key for them.
Central Cabbarus 9-5. Central will be the sleeper in the conference-- they are capable of beating anyone on any night, but I don't think they'll do it often enough to compete for the title.
West Meck 6-8. An upset win over one of the top four somewhere along the way.
Harding 6-8. Same as West Meck. Sweeps of West Charlotte and Vance, a split with West Meck, and an upset of one of the top four.
West Charlotte 1-13.
Vance 1-13.

 

cavi

How many stolen bases does Cavi have as of right now?

 

He is 21 shy of matching the state career record of 106.