7 replies to this topic

[justin44]

Well, I've been saying for years how lucky we've been to be in our D3 district for hoops lately , but such is not the case for D3 baseball districts. Titans have finally got rid of the LCC jinx in hardball, but now must run the gauntlet against the MAC co-champs, who also happen to be ranked 1 & 2 in state. We'll start out with St Hank. They say they may not be like the power-hitting teams that won state there with Boeckman boys, but co-champs in the MAC tells me all I need to know, even more so than state rankings. Coldwater, which beat Parkway handily in the year after falling behind, will be favored against the Panthers, who knocked off BVC champ Liberty-Benton yesterday. This winner will definitely be worthy of an old-style district championship when there were only 3 divisions. I have to think this district will be the favorites @ Elida regional, but our principal says Archbold & Lake have some big-time talent up north also

Edited by justin44, 18 May 2014 - 10:03 AM.

[TiGgEr3]

Excited to be covering the OG game this week, Titans are a lot of fun to watch and ONU is a great host.

[fortfan]

You are correct that St. Henry is not a power hitting team like those days, but Holloman and Mikesell can hit it out of the park. Mitch Stammen is a solid hitter. St. Henry is where they are though due to pitching. They have 3 guys that would be aces on any staff. Jeff Paul was MAC POY, Stammen and Mikesell aren't a drop-off at all, in fact Mikesell may be their best pitcher right now.

Coldwater has deep pitching too-but their ace is Derek Thobe who nearly threw 3 no-hitters in MAC play. The big LH DH-Malavai Bettinger-don't throw him a first pitch fast ball-you'll end up watching him jog around the bases while kids chase the ball beyond the right field fence. They hit and they run bases and put pressure on pitchers and catchers. I'd be shocked if they lose.

Edited by fortfan, 19 May 2014 - 12:10 PM.

[Bigdogg79]

fortfan, on 19 May 2014 - 12:10 PM, said:

You are correct that St. Henry is not a power hitting team like those days, but Holloman and Mikesell can hit it out of the park. Mitch Stammen is a solid hitter. St. Henry is where they are though due to pitching. They have 3 guys that would be aces on any staff. Jeff Paul was MAC POY, Stammen and Mikesell aren't a drop-off at all, in fact Mikesell may be their best pitcher right now.

Coldwater has deep pitching too-but their ace is Derek Thobe who nearly threw 3 no-hitters in MAC play. The big LH DH-Malavai Bettinger-don't throw him a first pitch fast ball-you'll end up watching him jog around the bases while kids chase the ball beyond the right field fence. They hit and they run bases and put pressure on pitchers and catchers. I'd be shocked if they lose.

Pretty good scouting report. I would add that for St. Henry, Jeff Paul gives them a different look as he almost throws sidearm and his pitches tail away. Not sure if they are as good a hitters 1-9 as Coldwater's team is.

Coldwater is just their typicall team. Very agressive on the bases and solid fundementally. The book on all Coldwater teams is they are a fastball hitting team who struggles hitting a pitcher with a good breaking ball and who mixes pitches well. Both teams struggled in the sectional finals against teams that were below average. Most susprising was Coldwaters win over a poor Paulding team

Edited by Bigdogg79, 19 May 2014 - 07:01 PM.

[justin44]

I don't put a whole lot of stock in ranked teams struggling in early tourney rounds, as history in all sports is full of that, especially teenagers. We just have to be ready for St Hank's best, and VW was in a lot of close games in WBL play. I hope everybody is healthy & ready. Regardless of close game w/Paulding, I still expect Cavs win on that one

[justin44]

Tough break for these seniors to go out on a blooper over third & a balk call, so now I will have to watch the replay as I wasn't watching him at the time. Tanner showed he was definitely ready after the concussion, & good luck to him at UC as well as all the seniors. St Hank pitching is all it was advertised to be, so #1 goes against #2 in the state for a district final in a battle of former multiple state champions. Congratulations seniors again on a great year

[TiGgEr3]

I thought the same thing too about the balk Justin, I must have blinked or looked away at my stats during the game and missed it.

[amye]

Lake will be tough to beat.