WWBA Scores

The O's had a great tourney and upset a lot of people, especially those expecting an all East Cobb semifinal. They also had an opportunity to play Baseball America in front of a great crowd.

There were also many other NC players who stood out in Jupiter. I did not get a chance to see the Red Sox play but they obviously had a great tourney. Although Impact did not advance to bracket play, they got some great pitching and defense and missed advancing by a couple of runs in their final pool game.

Adam Warren('05) and Ryan Basham(Elon) gave Impact two solid pitching performances on Friday. Warren threw against PG-NE in the first game going 5 solid innings before Travis High(NC State) came into close out the final 2.

Ryan Basham threw the second game against the Powerhouse team from south Florida. Basham went 6 innings, striking out 9 and scattering 3 hits while helping Impact secure a 1-1 tie with an outstanding team who won the pool and made it to the 2nd round on Monday before being eliminated by the eventual champs, East Cobb Astros. Basham's future college coach was more than impressed by Ryan's poise and command of all his pitches. Ryan's velocity was 86-88 but his control and presence made his velocity even more impressive. Zack Phillips proved just how deep Impact's rotation was when he closed the 7th throwing at or near 90.

Mitch Atkins(Elon) threw against the Dallas Panthers and their highly touted ace, Javier Guerra. Many scouts, including a couple national crosscheckers watched Guerra literally hop the ball to the plate 94-95 on the gun but Impact drew 5 BB's and got several key hits to drive Guerra from the game and eventually pick up a 10-1, 5-inning win. Atkins outpitched Guerra in his 5 innings.

Impact also received solid pitching from Tyler Trice(UNC) and Kory Judd. A couple of Impact's pickups, Josh Horton and Daniel Hargrave, more than solidified the middle infield and played a key role in Impact's success. Impact's pitching and defense were among the best in the tourney. No one expects to collect a bunch of hits in a tourney like this but Impact just could not get the key ones when they needed them. But they had a great team and made a great showing. Allowing 5 runs over 4 games is usually enough to advance.

Another NC player, Travis Moore, who went with the ABD Bulldogs from California, also had a great weekend. Travis played most of every game either in the outfield or as the EH/DH. He hit the ball good with the wood and obviously showed off his plus plus speed. Although not committed as of yet, Travis will eventually land somewhere big, whether it's JUCO or D-1 initially.

It was a great tourney and impressive scout turnout as expected. All 3 NC teams represented well. It was good for the players to be seen and to see just how big the baseball world is.

 

Impact's run was no fluke. They played solid and pitched great the entire tournament. Holding your opponents to 5 runs over 4 games reflects on the quality of their pitching and the play of their defense.

Don't forget the contributions made to the S.C. Diamond Devils by the 3 players from Charlotte Christian, Bost, Caldwell and Watson. The Diamond Devils went 4-0 in pool play also.

The NC Red Sox team, in addition to having great pitching was one of the better hitting teams down at Jupiter, banging out 36 hits in 5 games.

The O's posted one of the most unusual streaks down at Jupiter. They won 4 consecutive shutouts (5-0, 14-0, 1-0, 2-0), which reflects on the quality of the pitching and the outstanding defensive play.

Repeatedly, all weekend, I heard scouts comment on how fun it was to watch TEAMS instead of collections of Just Talent. I think all of the Carolina TEAMS qualified on all counts.

They all earned a repeat trip, that's for sure.

 

I think the reason us NC teams did so goos was because we had played with each other all all fall. We had nothing to showcase because Mr. Partin has done a great job of setting up all the showcases so colleges around here can see us so we were ready for it. We just went down there and played our game. Many of those teams had not done any of this so they were I guess a little trigger scared at first. By the time they stopped worring about the scouts all of the NC teams had them in our rear view mirror. The baseball aroung NC has gottin so much better since my freshman year that NC will be a national powerhouse like a East Cobb. Mr. Partin has gottin it started with all the showcases that prepare you for a tourny like Jupiter and there are more tourny's out there to play in now. Now all of the young guys have to take full advantage over what is being done here and take it to the next level. I would like to thank Mr. Partin for letting get seen here so when I went down there I could let it all hang loose. There is no better feeling then knowing the other team is scared and you can't even feel your head on your shoulders your so loose. Thank Mr. Partin and keep up the good work.

 

I see SugarJet's son is giving due credit where it is deserved, and rightly so. The quality of the competition in the top level showcases in NC (Impact, O's, NC Red Sox, Anglers) playing against each other and against Juco's provided great exposure for the players and prepared them for the competition down in Jupiter.

Andy Partin and Impact is to be commended for what he has accomplished in North Carolina, along with some other great coaching staffs (Lew Weatherspoon from the NC Scout Team, Jason Hill/Mike Shidt from On Deck) for creating and maintaining quality programs and competition.

Kudo's for a job well done !!!!!

 

Congratulations On Deck O's! It sounds like the team really showed well! It also sounds like this was probably the best team you guys have ALL played on up to this point in your baseball careers. Good luck as the O’s players go their separate ways now to wherever their baseball paths may lead them. Have a BALL come Spring as you play on your high school team and good fortune on your undertakings to find the college that is the best fit for each individual player baseball-wise and academically. Here’s to wishing each and every On Deck O player everything that brings them happiness in their baseball endeavors!

 

I also play on the O's and Jupiter was the best expierence I have ever had, and it was a great tournament to end on. I went down last year with the O's as well and all I've thought about this past year is going back and winning it all, and we sure got close. It was awesome to be exposed to that type of baseball atmosphere down there, and with every win the excitment grew. I have never seen a team execute as well as the O's, all the players are very buisness-like and play the right way. The person that stands out to me the most though is Jason Haynes, I've played with him for about 5 years and never seen him slack off. He has absolutely no fear in him and is a true hard-nosed player. The whole team was excactly that, a team, and that is why we finished the way we did. I just want to give a huge thanks to the On-Deck program, it's unbelievable what they do. Since On Deck opened I have been exposed to the best coaches and hardest working players, and I can see it rubbing off on everyone involved. They are all great people who teach the game, and a lot more, in the right way. It has been a blast playing for the O's, I wish we could just keep playing forever. Just watch out for the younger O's next year in Fl., I know they are gonna peak at the right time and tear that tournament up. NC baseball is certainly on the rise, keep it going!

 

(This is the mom) I just wanted to say how proud I am of all the North Carolina and South Carolina and even the East Cobb teams that we played against. As a mom and former coach I have to admit that some of the post by the players made me cry, even the ones by my son. I have watched so many of these players since they were T-ballers and I coached them, through MARA baseball, and then The Charlotte Lightning teams. We have played the Jacquers the Yellowjackets, and watched many of these guys in high school ball, and you know what all of this boils down to? That I have gotten to see some amazing players turn into quality young men through baseball. Isn't this what it is really all about? You learn life's lessons from your chosen sport. I know as a coach that is what I always tried to instill in my players, but as a parent watching all of these young men mature and know that it's not "all about them" but all about "the team" and what the game has offered them! Just makes me so proud just to sit here and be able to write this stuff!!!! I know so many of these boys because of baseball, and will continue to get to read about them and see them as they play more high school ball and then go on to college. This is life, and to all the parents out there I think we have all done a great job in bringing these mature young men to the point in life where they are today. Thanks to all the coaches that have impacted all these boys, and especially thanks to Mike Schildt that had a vision a few years ago and shared that vision with some parents and through hard work, and probably lots of debt and a great dream has made all of this come true for so many boys! Thanks seems so small to have impacted my son so much but for lack of not knowing what else to say: Thank you Mike for having a dream and through your dream making my sons dream become reality.

 

Anonther NC kid in Fla.

Garrett Bullock a LHP from JH Rose in Greenville had a good showing in Fla. as well. He played with the East Cobb Astros. He pitched one inning in pool play , facing 4 batters, 1 hit and 3 K's. He then pitched in tourn. play vs Powerhouse. He started , went 5 innings, allowed 2 hits , no runs and K'ed 5. Hats off to him and to all the NC teams and players who showed NC can play with anybody.