Hey KOTJ, Did you get to take a break and try the pulled pork and baked beans, corn on the cob and finish it off with strawberry shortcake.

 

Got to try to get to your raslin weight.

 

What a feed at a baseball game!!!!

 

No, I was there for the morning game, and I thought it was alittle too early to eat beans.....Its bad enough as it is.....I did however get some great pics from both friday and saturday mornings games.

Food was great but what was up with no sunflower seeds. You always sell sunflower seeds at baseball games. Missed all the spitting. Doesnt that go right along with baseball?

It sounds like Raceland's players aren't 'playing for the name written across their chest'. It also sounds like Hoof is at his wits end with the mental mistakes. However, by no means does that justify him ripping a kid like that...especially through the national anthem. That is a side of Hoof I didn't see when I played for him. Back when I played most of the butt-tearing came from Coach Johnson, but that didn't mean Hoofy wouldn't tear our hide once in a while.....but for the most part that stuff was done after the game, at practice, or in private. We always knew when Hoof was mad.....even before he said a word.

 

I still think Raceland will be alright come tourney time. The 1991 team (16th Region Champions) struggled to end the season with an embarrasing loss to Lawrence County and then went to Boyd Co. and got throttled. The irony of that was that we went on to not only win the Distrct, but we beat both Boyd (semifinals) and Lawrence (finals) in the regional tournament. Now, I am not comparing these kids to that bunch, but nobody gave us a chance that year, but we 'played for the name written across our chest' and it is amazing that when you get your head right and know that you are playing as hard as you can for each and every person on that team and they are doing the same for you....something clicks and the mental mistakes seem to go away.

I wasn't there, so FWIW, I have known Hoof for many many years. My guess is that whatever the situation, that kid was out of line either by deed or comment. I could be wrong, but Randy has always had the kids best interest at heart, and with that being said, he expects you to play with intensity and respect for the game, and those around you. Again, I wasn't there, but my guess is that something that wasn't evident to those who were onlooking had happened for Coach V to get sideways on him. Either way, congratulations to Big O Sturgill and the Lions even if you did beat my Rams!

I wasn't there, so FWIW, I have known Hoof for many many years. My guess is that whatever the situation, that kid was out of line either by deed or comment. I could be wrong, but Randy has always had the kids best interest at heart, and with that being said, he expects you to play with intensity and respect for the game, and those around you. Again, I wasn't there, but my guess is that something that wasn't evident to those who were onlooking had happened for Coach V to get sideways on him. Either way, congratulations to Big O Sturgill and the Lions even if you did beat my Rams!

 

Agreed. I would say that whatever the situation was, that it goes a lot deeper that what happened right before the butt-chewing, and the downfall of that is that the people in attendance only see what they see at that time. I guess I am taken back for the simple fact that during my 4 years playing for Hoof and the couple of years I was still around the program after that, I have never seen him or heard of him being like that. But, with that being said, knowing how much pride Hoof takes in Raceland baseball, if you have a bunch who is not playing "Ram Tough Baseball", you can only take so much and also maybe he doesn't see that light at the end of the tunnel that he has seen with other teams he has coached.

I wasn't there, so FWIW, I have known Hoof for many many years. My guess is that whatever the situation, that kid was out of line either by deed or comment. I could be wrong, but Randy has always had the kids best interest at heart, and with that being said, he expects you to play with intensity and respect for the game, and those around you. Again, I wasn't there, but my guess is that something that wasn't evident to those who were onlooking had happened for Coach V to get sideways on him. Either way, congratulations to Big O Sturgill and the Lions even if you did beat my Rams!

:thumb: Nice post. Randy (coach Vanderhoof) always played the game (no matter the sport) with an absolute and unbelievable intensity and he expects the same from his players. I wasn't there either so I cannot comment on this paticular incident. Just agree that there "may" have been more to it than what people saw, I don't know.

But, with that being said, knowing how much pride Hoof takes in Raceland baseball, if you have a bunch who is not playing "Ram Tough Baseball", you can only take so much and also maybe he doesn't see that light at the end of the tunnel that he has seen with other teams he has coached.

:thumb: :thumb:

I was able to talk to a couple older players and although they did not go into detail. They wouldnt. They are very respectful of their coaches. However they said that yes Coach was at his wits end and the ripping was deserving. You have to believe the boys. I also got the feeling that is the new ones having a hard time getting with the program understanding what that means to have that Rams across their chest.

I was able to talk to a couple older players and although they did not go into detail. They wouldnt. They are very respectful of their coaches. However they said that yes Coach was at his wits end and the ripping was deserving. You have to believe the boys. I also got the feeling that is the new ones having a hard time getting with the program understanding what that means to have that Rams across their chest.

Like I said before, Randy expects the same intensity and desire out of his players that he had and played the game with. Coach Vanderhoof has never worn another jersey or colors other than Raceland's Orange and Black in his entire life. He grew up in Raceland, played all youth sports in Raceland, the man litterally lives,loves,eats and sleeps Raceland Rams athletics! Giving away some of my age here but I coached "coach Hoof" in youth baseball, they called the age group "minor league" at the time. It was the 8-9 yr. olds I believe. He played the same way at 8yrs. old that he did al throughout his standout career while playing for the Rams and he coaches with that same pride and intensity.

 

If there is anyone that knows all about the "Ram Legacy", it is Coach Randy Vanderhoof!

I believe the butt tearing was deserving, a newer kid does not know how much PRIDE everyone has in RACELAND being a small school trying to compete day in and day out. Randy is at his wits end because he knows this team can be good at times but that consistency lacks a whole lot and that we have beat ourselves more that we have been beat by other teams. Boyd played a GREAT game and played GREAT fundimental baseball, when boys don't hustle on and off the field and after missed balls I think they deserve a butt tearing. Hustle makes up for a lot of mistakes players make especially a young team like the RAMS have, if they get that in their head now it will pay off in the long run.

I wasn't at the game so I can't say what happened concerning the screaming incident. I inderstand there are many circumstances that require a coach to get on a player to make him perform but there is no reason for any coach to tell a player that he is not any good or can't play a certain position. There is a right way and a wrong way for a coach to discipline a player. At the age of high school players, self esteem is of the utmost importance and it should be part of a coaches duty to help build that self esteem not tear it down. The kids are the program and deserve to be treated with respect. The coach also deserves the same respect from his players. I am sure that the parties involved realize their mistakes and have come together as one to correct them.

I also have confidence that the kids do have Pride and know what it means to wear the jersey with "Rams" across the front. These kids grow up watching their brothers and other family members represent the Raceland program and have dreams of someday wearing that jersey themselves. Good luck to the Rams as they prepare for district play.

I wasn't at the game so I can't say what happened concerning the screaming incident. I inderstand there are many circumstances that require a coach to get on a player to make him perform but there is no reason for any coach to tell a player that he is not any good or can't play a certain position. There is a right way and a wrong way for a coach to discipline a player. At the age of high school players, self esteem is of the utmost importance and it should be part of a coaches duty to help build that self esteem not tear it down. The kids are the program and deserve to be treated with respect. The coach also deserves the same respect from his players. I am sure that the parties involved realize their mistakes and have come together as one to correct them.

I also have confidence that the kids do have Pride and know what it means to wear the jersey with "Rams" across the front. These kids grow up watching their brothers and other family members represent the Raceland program and have dreams of someday wearing that jersey themselves. Good luck to the Rams as they prepare for district play.

:thumb: Another good post here. I am sure that whatever the problem was that it has been talked about and resolved.

 

Here is to te Rams getting it all together for the district!

Congrats again to Boyd Co. - A class baseball program and imo the best in the 16th region.

Ok, I am not giving up on my Rams but something just is askew. I am not so sure whats going to work. We are all die hard fans its obvious. Our posts have been football,basketball, girls basketball, right straight into baseball. I will be honest I havent posted for girls softball and by golly those girls have done it. They beat Russell last night and are making the trip to Louisville this week-end. Congrats. to our Lady Rams. But getting back to baseball the boys seem defeated. They are not coming out of this funk that they are in. Crowds are losing momentum. Its a shame but the screaming and yelling was coming from the softball game. I thought the Rams had them last night they were up by two last I heard on the phone but lost in the end. Guys what its going to take. There is no way to make me believe you don't have passion and drive. There is no way to make me believe you dont want this. I for one and totally agree with cvillecat if you have to break them down then build them up but I think its being done but I cant say for sure. I know the Rams seem to be having pitching problems meaning amount of pitchers. I know one was lost but we are into pitching JV now. Which I think is great for them and know they are excited. Hey what the heck I am going out of a limb here mix the JV with the varsity take some positions and see how bad the Varisty wants them back. I am at my wits end and I truely love the Rams.

Ok, I am not giving up on my Rams but something just is askew. I am not so sure whats going to work. We are all die hard fans its obvious. Our posts have been football,basketball, girls basketball, right straight into baseball. I will be honest I havent posted for girls softball and by golly those girls have done it. They beat Russell last night and are making the trip to Louisville this week-end. Congrats. to our Lady Rams. But getting back to baseball the boys seem defeated. They are not coming out of this funk that they are in. Crowds are losing momentum. Its a shame but the screaming and yelling was coming from the softball game. I thought the Rams had them last night they were up by two last I heard on the phone but lost in the end. Guys what its going to take. There is no way to make me believe you don't have passion and drive. There is no way to make me believe you dont want this. I for one and totally agree with cvillecat if you have to break them down then build them up but I think its being done but I cant say for sure. I know the Rams seem to be having pitching problems meaning amount of pitchers. I know one was lost but we are into pitching JV now. Which I think is great for them and know they are excited. Hey what the heck I am going out of a limb here mix the JV with the varsity take some positions and see how bad the Varisty wants them back. I am at my wits end and I truely love the Rams.

:thumb: :thumb: oldram I can agree with you on this post! As for the "wits end" part, I have not had any wits in years :eek: so I can relate :laugh: . Seriously, I just hope that the Rams baseball team will get things worked out by the district. GO RAMBLERS!!!:flame:

Well we will see how tonight goes. The Rams will play away at Rowan with a couple JV and the JV will lose a couple starters and play at home. I will be once again waiting on the positive news that our Rams Varisty team has pulled out a win and wouldnt be great if some of the younger JV players could fill in and the JV could win and keep their spirits up from losing a few. Ok boys you need a pep talk we can do this. Hustle on and Hustle off. No errors. 3 up 3 down and come with your bats ready. Is that plain enough?