Howie does an awesome job for sure!

 

I haven't been out to Ryle's field since the end of last season, but from what I heard there has been a bunch of upgrades. I was told it looks fantastic...:thumb:

 

Howie and Coach Beiger already has one of the BEST fields for sure. In regards to Ryle's field, everyone can only hope that they did some serious upgrades. They are needed in the worst way.

Haven't had a chance to follow the off season progressions of the 9th region much as I have been away for 3 months at Ft. Knox but it sounds to be wide open. I agree with many of the teams listed as contenders as they all had solid years last year. I'd like to say (as a Dixie supporter) that Cov Cath lost too much to be a contender but I know too much about Krumps to count them out. He will have them ready to go come game time.

 

BTW Dunaway is a stud at the plate. Great, great kid as well. But wasn't it his elbow and not shoulder (he did have tommy john after all two or three years ago)? I look for him to continue to stroke it from that left handed side of the plate next season.

Drove past Ryle's baseball field last week, it looked really good. Looks like they laid some sod down and brought in extra dirt and gravel. Well manicured and looks like someone is taking care of it better in the off season.

 

I think top 5 teams in 9th region will be.

Boone

Ryle

Cov. Cath

Dixie

Newport C.C.

BTW the best hitting catcher if anyone wants to know in the Ninth is (IMO) Boone's Dunaway!

 

A very, very good hitter to be sure, and a super nice kid to boot, but Pugh from Conner just might have something to say about the "best-hitting catcher" title. :sssh:

Drove past Ryle's baseball field last week, it looked really good. Looks like they laid some sod down and brought in extra dirt and gravel. Well manicured and looks like someone is taking care of it better in the off season.

 

I think top 5 teams in 9th region will be.

Boone

Ryle

Cov. Cath

Dixie

Newport C.C.

 

Did Beechwood loose a lot to graduation?

Did Beechwood loose a lot to graduation?

 

Their pitching staff scares me.

Their pitching staff scares me.

 

Who do they have? They lost Smith and Snyder. Larimore will be good if he is healthy.

Who do they have? They lost Smith and Snyder. Larimore will be good if he is healthy.

 

Bertke is a solid pitcher, as is Larimore. Wouldn't say they are especially deep in pitching, but outside of Dixie, I'm not sure anyone in the 9th really is. Every year I think Beechwood lacks enough talent to compete for region and every year they put up 20 wins and prove themselves a very good team. No reason to assume the same probably won't be true in 2010.

I think that Beechwood, HC, and CCH will all have solid pitching staffs. I'm not too sure about the rest of the region but I think those three will be in the upper half.

From the way I have been led to believe for this coming season, you won't need a deep pitching staff to win the the 9th Region Tournament. From what I understand the first round games will be played on a Monday and the championship game will not be played until the following Monday.

 

I really hate this type of set up, as it takes the "Team Pitching approach" away from the tourney and makes it into who has the single best pitcher instead of who has the best pitching staff!

I heard that Smiths younger brother Taylor has improved a lot over the offseason. So he could work his way into the pitching rotation.

From the way I have been led to believe for this coming season, you won't need a deep pitching staff to win the the 9th Region Tournament. From what I understand the first round games will be played on a Monday and the championship game will not be played until the following Monday.

 

I really hate this type of set up, as it takes the "Team Pitching approach" away from the tourney and makes it into who has the single best pitcher instead of who has the best pitching staff!

 

One pitcher could pitch 20 of 21 innings in the tourney.

One pitcher could pitch 20 of 21 innings in the tourney.

 

I really hate this format.

Why the format switch?

Why the format switch?

 

The state switched their tourney format this year. No 2 of 3 semi state any longer. All regions were given a longer time to complete their tourneys as a result.

 

Myerhoff, Krumpbelbeck and a few others wanted to keep old format but the majority wanted it extended. In any given year any team can win it but usually the best TEAM wins it. Not always but usually. That may no longer be the case. A team with a very good #1 and a decent #2 can win it now. I really wonder about the logic. Can you imagine how this would have changed last years region if Isler could have pitched 2 of 3 games? It seems the coaches voted in favor of whats good for them and not good for the region. The 9th may have hurt their chances in state tourney.