Hey Hamspear and 21Base

wikki

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2001
9,037
2,029
63
I am ready for baseball season. Amherst should be right back in contention again this year. Maybe I will see you
 

hamspear

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2009
5,137
1,245
33
Sherando will be one of the best from the North, yet to be seen if they are a championship caliber team or not. Hope to see you also Wikki.
 

maxjax76

Redshirt
Sep 22, 2012
17
0
0
Any indication from a scrimmage... Sherando nothing like last year... Avg team at best!!! Last year scrimmage playing Albemarle... When leaving C-ville after game a bunch of said... "that team the real deal" leaving this year not close to last year's talent... oh I know state champs... Hard to repeat that type of talent... Sherando won't win their district... Neither will Albemarle... Real shocked how bad they looked...

This post was edited on 3/14 3:15 AM by maxjax76
 

21base

Redshirt
Jun 1, 2006
3,810
0
0
wikki: Sherando still has the makings to have a very good team. They will take one phase at a time and I doubt any of them are already fitting state rings for a repeat just yet. Lots of good teams throughout 4A to get through and like any good team, the breaks have to fall their way as well. Entsminger showed what he could do on the bump last spring and I expect him to compete again during his last season in baseball (he is a D1 football signee headed to Lamar (Tx)). Whitacre, being a lefty, should be a solid No. 2 and he will have to eat innings. Smallwood has few rivals behind the dish and will again be counted to "coach on the field." The big question will be infield defense. When the Warriors pitch to contact, the first line of defense (sorry to use a football term) must be ready. Sherando lost both its middles (two very valuable players last season) to graduation, a first-team all-region first baseman (again, to graduation) who's spot will be filled by a converted catcher, and their prospective returning third baseman did not come back. There could be some issues there early with infield D, but I expect they'll work that out through game experience. Look for another run at a state title for this team. Definitely, a top-five team right now in 4A.

maxjax76: Scrimmges? It is what it is. That was Sherando's first time outside and they lost to a 5A program 4-1. I wasn't there, so I don't really know what developed (bad defense, crappy baserunning, leaving runs on the field, struggles on the bump). Don't know if they can repeat as state champs, but I don't think they'll be "average at best!!!" by a long shot either. The Warriors lost some great players (Carney, Loudoun, Bentley, Angel) and some solid role players (Brown, Stevenson) to graduation, but they still have three very good pitchers (Entsminger, Whitacre, and Smallwood) and possibly one of the best catchers (any level) in the state with Smallwood. They're going to lose some games, might even get dropped by Millbrook too. But who besides the Pioneers is going to give Sherando a push in the NWD? Sherando's still the best in the NWD until proven otherwise. The darkhorse is Millbrook. I like Burke and if he can find some guys who can eat innings early on the bump and make up for the loss of Nawrocki, they are going to be scary good. They already have some super bats and I believe lost only two position players. Glad you got a chance to see Sherando. I just ask that you don't judge things "won't win their district" based on one scrimmage. Enjoy the games and good luck to all teams!
This post was edited on 3/14 1:58 PM by 21base
 

hamspear

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2009
5,137
1,245
33
I don't believe this Sherando team is as talented of course! And they did get rocked in Charlottesville the other day? However, the warriors haven't had but minimal outdoor practice at this point . I believe the biggest challenge for the warriors will be offense in the lower half of the line up. the top 5 hitters will score plenty of runs though. They need a solid 4th starter to step up! not chase. He is more valuable behind the plate, and he doesn't throw hard enough on the mound. Just IMO. See you tomorrow base.
 

wikki

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2001
9,037
2,029
63
I agree hard to judge by a scrimmage game. Amherst from I am told should be a contender again. Pitching is supposed to be awesome again. Plan on attending lots of games
 

21base

Redshirt
Jun 1, 2006
3,810
0
0
hammy, no one is certainly saying this team is as talented, up and down the lineup, as last season's team. I think I listed who all they lost! But anyone worth their beans around this sport knows that if you have a couple very good starters in a short season and have a third ready for the grind of post season, you do NOT need a fourth starter. This is not the grind of a 65-game college season. It's a 20-game regular season. Entsminger and Bentley toed the bump most every start last spring and won. Whitacre got some innings late in the season that were not only valuable to the team but to prep him for that No. 2 spot this season. I don't know if 4-1 is getting rocked. That's the score I heard through the grapevine. If it was 11-1, I stand corrected. But it's one scrimmage. That was Sherando's first time on grass. Their defense suffered some last season in the early games ...... and they still won. Yes, someone is going to be this year-lower half batting spark like Brown and Stevenson were. Pepper knows offense. He'll find some sticks. I do agree that Smallwood needs to stay behind the dish to direct things. If he pitches around 20 innings total, that's fine. Hell, make him the closer (if you really need one) in that case. Oh, and I'll wait to the regular season to see what this edition has.
 

21base

Redshirt
Jun 1, 2006
3,810
0
0
I have no idea what happened there. Maybe he lost interest. He didn't get to bat much last season but he saw plenty of time in the field. Was a starter his freshman year, in fact. Made a super heads up play early in the Tunstall game to throw out a runner at home in the state championship.
 

hamspear

All-Conference
Nov 3, 2009
5,137
1,245
33
I was told it wasn't close to 4 to 1. But you are correct it was a scrimmage. I think Sherando will be in the mix, we will see how it goes.
 

Bluetree

Redshirt
Dec 19, 2012
1,146
38
0
Sherando Baseball

After reading your question on were Logan was it got me wondering also. So I emailed coach Martin. This is what he reported back to me. Logan decided that having a compressed schedule, which allows him to get out of school earlier every day but prohibits him from being eligible to participate in high school sports, was more important to him than playing baseball his senior season. He when on to say that his decision was difficult for the coaching staff to understand. Me myself, I have never heard of someone doing this. But that's what happen. The way I look at it now it gives someone else a chance to step up and contribute to the team this season.
 

DinwiddieProud

All-American
Dec 9, 2013
9,498
7,944
93
Re: Sherando Baseball

Hey you three, it's gonna be right tough practicing this week, isn't' it? I never thought too much about it before, but you guys up that way have a tough time with outside practice and games some years, don't you?

I don't how much more of this global warming any of us can stand!
Best wishes to all, especially you Wikki.

This post was edited on 3/16 7:58 PM by DinwiddieProud
 

Bluetree

Redshirt
Dec 19, 2012
1,146
38
0
Re: Sherando Baseball

Last season up here we had a lot of makeup games. Sherando was scheduled to play at Potomac Falls tomorrow at 6. I guess that won't be played now. Let us know what's going on in the 4A South this season If you have time. I keep up mostly on the 4A North.
 

wikki

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2001
9,037
2,029
63
Re: Sherando Baseball

Thanks DinwiddieProud. I am definitely a passionate fan of all Amherst sports. Looking forward to baseball and then football, which is my favorite.