Beechwood

 

[table=width: 500, class: grid]

[tr]

[td]Name[/td]

[td]AB[/td]

[td]R[/td]

[td]H[/td]

[td]2B[/td]

[td]3B[/td]

[td]HR[/td]

[td]RBI[/td]

[td]BB[/td]

[td]HBP[/td]

[td]SB[/td]

[td]CS[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Suchanek[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Stringer[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Slusher[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Schmidt[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Booth[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hamilton[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Rowe[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Bankemper[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Fieger[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Totals[/td]

[td]23[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]5[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

Suchanek: 3.2 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 11 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 54 pitches

Banekmper: 1.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 2 BB, 37 pitches

Miller: 0.0+ IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 1 BB, 13 pitches

 

Highlands

 

[table=width: 500, class: grid]

[tr]

[td]Name[/td]

[td]AB[/td]

[td]R[/td]

[td]H[/td]

[td]2B[/td]

[td]3B[/td]

[td]HR[/td]

[td]RBI[/td]

[td]BB[/td]

[td]HBP[/td]

[td]SB[/td]

[td]CS[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Murray[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Allen[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Whitford[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Ramey[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Ball[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Mills[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hennigan[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hergot[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Vennemann[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Totals[/td]

[td]29[/td]

[td]10[/td]

[td]15[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]9[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]8[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

Cochran: 6.0 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 85 pitches

Joey Cochrane completely stymied Beechwood's hitters. After early hard outs on fastballs, relied on curveballs as primary. Threw it about 70% of the time. BW continually chased low and away and must of had 8 or 9 pop outs or lazy fly balls to the right side. Complete domination by Highlands on all aspects. 10 runs, 15 hits, 1 error to 0 runs, 5 hits, 5 errors (pretty much paints the picture).

 

It looked to me like Cochrane lived on the inside corner most of the game. The Beechwood hitters did not seem to think it was a strike despite the ump consistently calling it the whole game. How many strikeouts did Cochrane have?

 

Highlands hitters drove a number of bad pitches for base hits.

 

Highlands executed in every phase of the game and Beechwood executed in none.

 

Clearly not a good ending for the Tigers but still a great season, including an All A Classic Championship.

First game I went to all year, and BW just looked flat.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

FLORENCE – They learned their lesson from a year ago.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team saw the St. Henry Crusaders come out throwing punches. Highlands responded, but the Crusaders won the 9th Region quarterfinal contest, 3-2 behind ace pitcher Mitch Kuebbing.

So in this year’s quarterfinal contest, the Blue and White came out as the aggressors against the Beechwood Tigers (25-12) and did not let up in a 10-0 six-inning run-ruling. Highlands forced a third straight run-ruling in the postseason having outscored the competition, 33-0 and saved the pitching staff five innings of work.

“It was huge getting on them early,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “It gave our guys confidence. That’s a great baseball team. We weren’t satisfied from the very beginning. We knew it was going to take a lot of runs. Those guys can bust it open for 8-10 runs. We knew we’d have to play the entire game. Our guys did a good job of that.”

Next up for Highlands (21-17) is an 8 p.m. region semifinal contest against Dixie Heights (29-3) Tuesday. The Colonels beat the 36th District champion Bluebirds twice in the regular season.

Highlands finished 0-6 against the remaining three opponents who also won their respective districts. Covington Catholic and Conner face off at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The championship game is Wednesday at 7 p.m.

“It’s going to be another challenge,” Baioni said. “We have to gear it up to go again. That’s what makes this tournament such a grind. It’s three straight days. You’re playing good teams every single day. You have to bring you’re A game every day if you want to win the game.”

The Bluebirds pounded out 15 hits in 28 at-bats for a .535 percentage against the three Beechwood pitchers in Jason Suchanek, Ryan Bankemper and Alex Miller. Eight of the nine slots in the Highlands line-up had at least one hit and five players had two or more. Suchanek is committed to Xavier University.

Brady Murray set the tone in the leadoff spot going 3-for-4 with a double, run scored, two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Brandon Hergott also went 3-for-4 with an RBI, run scored and stolen base.

Todd Ramey, D.J. Mills and Alex Veneman had two hits each for Highlands. Ramey doubled and had two runs batted in with Mills batting in three and doubling. Veneman scored twice and Whitford doubled.

The Bluebirds also created havoc on the basepaths swiping eight bases. Murray and Veneman had two steals each. Evan Allen, Whitford, Ramey and Hergott swiped one each.

“It’s key to get in scoring position so we can get someone to hit us in,” Veneman said. “We were fired. It’s the time of the year where step it up and just play some ball. That’s what we’re doing now.”

On the mound, Joey Cochran pitched a gem. He allowed just five hits in 22 Beechwood at-bats for a .227 average, struck out two and walked none. Cochran retired 11 in a row at one point.

“(Cochran) was dealing from the start,” said Luke Hennigan, Highlands catcher. “We had an idea of going in there and pounding strikes. Don’t look for the strikeout. Get the good pitch and let our defense do the work. When it is game time, we come down and leave it on the field.”

Defensively, the Bluebirds committed just one error. On the other side, the Tigers made five.

“It helps that we have some guys in the outfield who can run,” Baioni said. “We have guys that can track down balls. We also have guys playing well on the infield.”

Highlands scored runs in all but the fifth inning. They left the bases loaded with one out in that frame.

But the Bluebirds set the tone in the first inning. Murray singled, stole second and

Highlands added two more in the second. Mills singled and Hennigan bunted him to second before he moved to third when Hergott grounded out. Veneman singled him home to make it 2-0 Bluebirds. After Veneman stole second, Murray doubled him home to put Highlands up 3-0 after two innings.

The third inning saw the Bluebirds score their lone run to go up 4-0 on a squeeze bunt. Whitford doubles and stole second. With one out following a Kenny Ball walk, Mills laid down a bunt to score Whitford.

Highlands added three more runs in the fourth. Hergott singled moved to second when Veneman singled and took third on a Beechwood error. Veneman scored on another Tiger error before Allen singled, took second on an error, stole third and scored when Ramey doubled. Highlands led 7-0 after four.

Highlands put the game away in the sixth with three runs. Ramey singled, stole second and Ben Vermeil walked. Mills doubled in Ramey and pinch-runner Austin Beal before giving way to pinch-runner Josh Watson. Watson scored when Hergott singled.

Highlands faces a Dixie Heights team coming off a thrilling 2-1 win over Boone County on Monday. The Colonels trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh with two outs against Rebel lefty pitcher and Northern Kentucky University signee Trey Ganns. But they came back to win.

Highlands beat Dixie Heights, 6-4 in the region semifinals two years ago. The Bluebirds have three region wins since 2002.

 

FORT THOMAS MATTERS: Highlands explodes for another postseason win

Beechwood

 

[table=width: 500, class: grid]

[tr]

[td]Name[/td]

[td]AB[/td]

[td]R[/td]

[td]H[/td]

[td]2B[/td]

[td]3B[/td]

[td]HR[/td]

[td]RBI[/td]

[td]BB[/td]

[td]HBP[/td]

[td]SB[/td]

[td]CS[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Suchanek[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Stringer[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Slusher[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Schmidt[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Booth[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hamilton[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Rowe[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Bankemper[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Fieger[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Totals[/td]

[td]23[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]5[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

Suchanek: 3.2 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 11 H, 1 K, 1 BB, 54 pitches

Banekmper: 1.2 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 2 BB, 37 pitches

Miller: 0.0+ IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 K, 1 BB, 13 pitches

 

Highlands

 

[table=width: 500, class: grid]

[tr]

[td]Name[/td]

[td]AB[/td]

[td]R[/td]

[td]H[/td]

[td]2B[/td]

[td]3B[/td]

[td]HR[/td]

[td]RBI[/td]

[td]BB[/td]

[td]HBP[/td]

[td]SB[/td]

[td]CS[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Murray[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Allen[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Whitford[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Ramey[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Ball[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Mills[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hennigan[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Hergot[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Vennemann[/td]

[td]3[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]1[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]2[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[tr]

[td]Totals[/td]

[td]29[/td]

[td]10[/td]

[td]15[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]9[/td]

[td]4[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[td]8[/td]

[td]0[/td]

[/tr]

[/table]

 

Cochran: 6.0 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 2 K, 0 BB, 85 pitches

 

When box scores lie. Per this, the total hits are right but the #s don't add up, not that it's relevant. BW was shut out, so I assume the lines for the runs are the other hits?

 

HHS played very solidly on defense. Great play by 3b in second inning that saved a run and a potential rally. Great play by CF on ball hit into RC gap that would have been a leadoff triple and potential rally. BW looked very flat, made many mistakes. I laugh at "older coach" and his scouting report. Kids have faced plenty of off speed curve balls and hit them, in fact beat Cochran earlier in the year. Plenty of high leg kicks and loads in college baseball and beyond. Kids have bad days. This was one of them.

When box scores lie. Per this, the total hits are right but the #s don't add up, not that it's relevant. BW was shut out, so I assume the lines for the runs are the other hits?

 

HHS played very solidly on defense. Great play by 3b in second inning that saved a run and a potential rally. Great play by CF on ball hit into RC gap that would have been a leadoff triple and potential rally. BW looked very flat, made many mistakes. I laugh at "older coach" and his scouting report. Kids have faced plenty of off speed curve balls and hit them, in fact beat Cochran earlier in the year. Plenty of high leg kicks and loads in college baseball and beyond. Kids have bad days. This was one of them.

When I saw that I was wondering if a couple players came off the bench for BW and got hits. If not then i see only 3 hits.

When box scores lie. Per this, the total hits are right but the #s don't add up, not that it's relevant. BW was shut out, so I assume the lines for the runs are the other hits?

 

HHS played very solidly on defense. Great play by 3b in second inning that saved a run and a potential rally. Great play by CF on ball hit into RC gap that would have been a leadoff triple and potential rally. BW looked very flat, made many mistakes. I laugh at "older coach" and his scouting report. Kids have faced plenty of off speed curve balls and hit them, in fact beat Cochran earlier in the year. Plenty of high leg kicks and loads in college baseball and beyond. Kids have bad days. This was one of them.

 

Yes I apologize. Typing that out at midnight was bound to lead to mistakes. But yes the 1's in the R column should be in the hits column.

Yes I apologize. Typing that out at midnight was bound to lead to mistakes. But yes the 1's in the R column should be in the hits column.

 

Thanks for clarifying and thanks for the box score.

 

Heck of a good season for a young Tigers team. All the other teams in the state except one are also going to end their season with a loss so don't feel too bad. Be proud of the season and the 1A Championship. With virtually the whole team back next year the future is bright. Best of luck to the senior starters Suchanek and Booth who are both moving on to play at the next level.

Thanks for clarifying and thanks for the box score.

 

Heck of a good season for a young Tigers team. All the other teams in the state except one are also going to end their season with a loss so don't feel too bad. Be proud of the season and the 1A Championship. With virtually the whole team back next year the future is bright. Best of luck to the senior starters Suchanek and Booth who are both moving on to play at the next level.

 

Where is Booth going to be playing?

Something bothered me yesterday during the BW / HHS player intros before the game. When both teams had finally took their place on their respective base lines after each player was introduced they were all in full uniform including hats. Except for one player on BW who was lidless. He stood out like a sore thumb but maybe that is what he wanted to do. This individual often was scanning the crowd at other times to perhaps see who he knew, I do not know for sure. My friend from out of town commented that it did not seem this player was into the "team" concept and seemed distracted. These might seem like trivial things but it also could be a microcosm of the game for BW. They got spanked in the worst way and showed very little emotion in doing so. The coaching staff might not have paid attention to this but maybe next time make sure that the Tigers are representing a true team concept.

I agree with a couple of previous posts... Even during warmups BW just didn't seem 'there'. Did HHS have more kids in the dugout than BW? HHS bench kids were into the game and made a lot of noise. I realize they had more to chatter about, but when someone said to me that BW dugout was flat I looked over and there were two boys on the rail. BW didn't provide many sparks. I think there were a couple balls to the outfield that if someone wanted to make a good play could have done so. Beechwood had a good year, but not great. The won the all 'a', but should have done better here. They got what I would call a good draw, but never showed up. Combs would have helped a little but not that much. It wasn't talent it was attitude. HHS had it and we did not. Good luck to the seniors.

We'll get them next year, Beechies! Moving to the football threads now. lol.

Did not see this one coming at all, especially the score. Congrats to the 'Birds on this win and good luck the rest of the regional tourny.

I did want to give an "atta boy" to Brayden Combs(did I spell his first name correctly?).

 

Despite it being a LONG day for the Tigers he was really the only kid I saw who came off of the bench to give dap to his teammates. Leader.

I agree with a couple of previous posts... Even during warmups BW just didn't seem 'there'. Did HHS have more kids in the dugout than BW? HHS bench kids were into the game and made a lot of noise. I realize they had more to chatter about, but when someone said to me that BW dugout was flat I looked over and there were two boys on the rail. BW didn't provide many sparks. I think there were a couple balls to the outfield that if someone wanted to make a good play could have done so. Beechwood had a good year, but not great. The won the all 'a', but should have done better here. They got what I would call a good draw, but never showed up. Combs would have helped a little but not that much. It wasn't talent it was attitude. HHS had it and we did not. Good luck to the seniors.

We'll get them next year, Beechies! Moving to the football threads now. lol.

Couldn't agree more with what you've said. I also think that teams put too much into the All A tournament. In the end it doesn't mean squat especially if you don't win your district or regional tournament. I know some think the All A is the best thing since sliced bread, but in reality it doesn't mean squat if you lose in your own regional tournament.

 

If that is their ultimate goal, to win a tournament made up of small schools then that is their choice, but for me, I always thought of the state tournament as more meaningful.

Couldn't agree more with what you've said. I also think that teams put too much into the All A tournament. In the end it doesn't mean squat especially if you don't win your district or regional tournament. I know some think the All A is the best thing since sliced bread, but in reality it doesn't mean squat if you lose in your own regional tournament.

 

If that is their ultimate goal, to win a tournament made up of small schools then that is their choice, but for me, I always thought of the state tournament as more meaningful.

 

I completely agree. While the All A is a nice trophy in the school trophy case, it should/would be place lower than at least a Regional Championship.

 

Another issue that I have with the All A is that I do not think that teams with out of district or private schools should be eligible (I believe Beechwood only had 1 or 2). That would really bolster the claim that it was a tourney for the little guys. In basketball even more than baseball, if you have a couple of studs who open enroll or have a Catholic school who pulls students from all over, how is that fair to say a school like a Ludlow or Dayton?