Open Thread

Talk about baseball.
Ask questions (we'll try to answer them).
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Comments

when dunedin lost to ccc, everyone doubted them. when they lost to seminole the next week, everyone thought they were trash. then they end up losing 4 of 5. everyone was saying theyd be out first game of districts. how are they going to states and the other 2 not? can they win ity all?

Why are high school baseball coaches dropping like flies, and are there more to come?

Will this be the year Ricky Giles wins the big one? He has a great record in Pasco County but always loses the big ones. Couple of years ago he was beating B. Moore by 4 in the last inning. Bases loaded and one of the best pitchers in the state on the mound. He ordered Dominic Brown to walk the number 4 hitter (walking in a run and bringing the winning run to the plate). Next batter, grand slam and game over....NICE COACHING.

[Kibid]

Since its an open thread.. I wanted to give a big THANK YOU, to all of the CCC baseball seniors that gave it their all all season long. Also, lets give credit where credit is due, coach Vaughn is a great coach. Can't argue with 2 regional finals appearances and a state championship in the past few seasons! Of coarse, it I would be remiss if I didn't think the boosters and families of the players for supporting the team through thick and thin.

On a side note, and maybe its easier for me to see this, a lot of the bickering between fans on these forums about CCC/Dunedin/Seminole. A season isn't validated because you beat 1 team in the county, or even if your good enough to beat all the teams in the county..the reality is, to actually win a state championship (thats what people play for right?) your going to have to beat a team from far far away. Its kind of scary that people use wins vs in county teams as the only measuring stick for the playoffs. Case and point, CCC beat Dunedin..great! BUT, CCC lost to Florida Christian, a class 3a school. The census was, Well, thats okay they lost to Florida Christian, because they beat Dunedin! When it all comes down to it, in my mind, its about how you do vs teams in your class. Does beating Dunedin get you a state championship? no, does beating Florida Christian get you a state championship? No, but it could if they came outta the top bracket and you come out of the bottom bracket.

Finally, in regards to class 3a, many many people picked CCC to win the state championship. Obviously that won't happen now; however, as great as CCC was, they were never the favorite to win the state title this year, American Heritage was. CCC/AH would of been a grand baseball game. Hopefully John Carroll gets to see AH, I'd love to see T.J Mullins vs the bats at AH.

[Beth]

CCC bye-bye, Clinton bye-bye, SUV's bye bye......just some simple facts.

Good-luck to local boys of Dunedin!!

Looks like Giles is true to form. Great team. Great pitching. Great players. Same old Giles. The problem with good old "Ricky" is the way he coaches it always sets things up to the point where HE has to be the star by making bone head moves. This way if they win his ego is taken care of and it was because of his moves that helped them win. Not the players effort. Lets go back in time a couple of years. Dade City had a National Championship little league team. Won the whole thing. When that team played for "Ricky" it was one of those loses at the regionals that bounced him. I doubt the team will ever win the big one. What a shame.

Just a note. I read on the internet how this years format would play into Pasco's hands. Two out of three and they can advance. After attending the game yesterday it appeared to be the opposite. In the old format (Pasco won the first game) they would have advanced. However, this new format will kill them. Like the blogger above and a fan of the Pirates I too believe the win in the first game was easy because it is Giles coaching at his best....No pressure and not a "big" game. The "big one" was in the second game where it meant win and advance. Once again he could not do it. Lets keep our fingers crossed for todays afternoon game. It is truly a Big One.

Let's give credit where credit is due - John Carroll outplayed, outcoached, dug deeper into their hearts and came out on top. CCC finally played a GOOD team, let's just admit that. They hit choppers that infielders approached in a laxed manner- they beat up their first baseman with bad throws, the catcher was stolen on all night- misjudged fly balls - made errors- weren't used to having to field so many balls put in play by Weber- Weber left one up and gave up a homer- they never really got the key hit they needed. All the "big" hitters finally faced good pitching and got beat! I attend many high school games and really wished CCC could have got to Sarasota. They had a great run have great players- etc. Clearly they were out coached and scouting to a tee.

[nct]

Good luck Pasco!!!

[coaches]

Coaches, in most sports, are dropping because of the time/stress it takes(and lack of pay) it takes to run a program. The schools make it virtually impossible to fundraise but won't give the programs any money.......who would want the job?

Why the full page articles about CCC? Their season is over. Losing both their games you'd think they'd be where Dunedin is with their tiny corner.

[Bogie]

After reading all the comments presented on line from most of the people out there you all need to lighten up. If you kids team wasnt very good oh well. Lets remember folks this is a game. In twenty years from now only the good memories will remain, the fun, the practices, the laughs, the friendships made. Give cedit to those teams that did well and encourage those that didnt. After all this is a game.

Reading the attacks on kids and coaches and teams is a joke. Most of those people wouldnt have the courage to say it to the face of those kids, parents and coaches. It is easy to hide behind the computer.

In closing many parents need to realize this is not little league, so regardless of ones status in society if your kid can't cut it and sits suck it up butter cut. Accept the fact your kid is not good and enjoy the game. Let the coach do his job.
To let you know my son play on a team in South Pinellas and they where not good, but he had fun and has some pretty good memories to carry into the future.

There are "full page articles" about CCC up here because teams like that are hard to come by in the future. That team was special. I've never seen a middle infield as good as Mende and Morelli. I've never seen a hitter like McLemore hit balls nearly 500 feet in BP. I've never seen a pitcher like Weber baffle some of the best hitters in the country for 4 years straight. And it's not just the stars...ALL of CCC's players were top notch.

It's just sad to see them go down before states.
Good luck to all the players and to Vaughn in the future. They deserve the best.

[Dr. Phil]

Here is it.
Let the players play, let the umpires officiate, and let the coaches coach.

Which team would Carden be the best fit to coach?

CCC it doesnt matter how good ur players were, u still lost. idc if u have a whole bunch of all stars you still lost so get off the blogs because dunedin is the best team in the county and is bringing home states...tim l killed kimbo btw

[Baseball Observer]

David Hall was a real difference maker for John Carroll..He is a monster Sophmore that transferred from Ft.Pearce this year. He has a ton of heart and a big bat..David is in the same mold as Roderick Shoulders and Eric Arce the sophmores from Brandon High. They all play with a ton of heart and they can mash the ball..The 3 players played for Team Mizuno since they were 12 years old as did Shane McCain of John Carroll..All 4 of the players have played together and have been best of friends since their early ages. Last year I witness Webber pick apart JC druing the regions but I said to myself knowing that Hall was going to transfer that 2008 will be different and it was.
Now for everyone thinking that Dunedin is going to destroy Brandon on Wednesday, grab on to your seats because the 7 sophmore starters and their junior captain and 1 senior for Brandon are something truly special and it will be a great game as it should be at this State level.

[Raul Davila]

David vs Goliath...Brandon vs Dunedin will be a good one..On paper, Dunedin has the bigger, stronger players but the game will be played on dirt and between the lines. Last night Brandon hit 8 homeruns at Don Powell field which is the LARGEST field in Hillsborough County.None of the 8 were cheap..They were monster shots into the trees vs the Winterhaven ace pitchers that played for the Juice and Mizuno USA. Not off of middle relief guys..Brandons 1,2,3,4 and 8 holes all hit homers!! Their defense is spectacular and they have lots of team speed..Brandon beat Plant and 6A Alonso and won the Saladino so these young players are not intimidated by anyone. Dunedin in a great team and are certainly deserving of high praises. I saw them dismantle Plant so I hope that the game will be a treat to all fans.

[Pinellas Fan]

Is it true that Brandon starts 7 sophmores?? How can that be?? Has anyone from Pinellas seen them play? what is the scouting report on them? Should Dunedin be concerned or will it be safe to say that Dunedin will play on Thusday?

Ask CCC (gone), Sarasota (gone), Land o Lakes (gone), Seminole (gone) if Dunedin should be concerned. All 4 of these top 3 ranked teams (at the time) are out against teams they probably should have beaten. At this point in the year, everybody is very dangerous and nothing is safe to assume.

[nomans land]

CCC defeated??? Twice in one day by the same pitcher? How can that be? I thought they would walk through to states! WOW

[Eduardo A. Encina]

To the comment asking about Brandon, yes they start seven sophomores when you count Eric Arce, their designated hitter. Their batting order looks like this: seven sophomores, one junior and one senior. Their strength is their hitting. Any one of their top four hitters -- Acre, sophomore CF James Ramsay, junior C Michael Smith and sophomore 1B Roderick "Rock" Shoulders -- is capable of going deep on any at bat and the bottom half of their lineup includes some top-notch situational hitters even down to the nine hole.

Then there's the Eagles pitching. They've really learned how to become pitchers, not throwers, this season under the tutelage of Ernie Johns, who was the pitching coach for Brandon's lasr state final four team. They are young too, with Austin Browder (So.), Cory Schools (Jr.) and Chase Sparkman (Fr.). Out of the six pitchers they use only one (Dan Trnka, who earned the win in relief in game one Friday) is a senior.

Above all, this is a team that's riding a 16-game winning streak and is as confident as they can be. Time and time again it's appeared they might lose, but they pull out victories.

[the stampede]

here is a great baseball question
when do you goes start your real hs football coverage?
after bball is over?
or are we gonna have to wait a little bit more till the majority of the spring games are done?

"Brokeback Mountain" is not just a movie. It's also what tim L calls the pile of dunedin baseball players in his front yard

[malone]

Good luck Falcons! Great group of men heading to Sarasota... Ed Strohmayer, I'll pick you up... we'll take the hot rod Lincoln ... CCC is the defending State Champs ... last year's run is a memory, but so hard to understand how Mr Cotey could write the end of his print story Saturday by saying the "Marauders lost their will to win"... this guy's the worst ... whatever happened to Wayne McKnight?

If you would have watched the ccc game, you would have obviously seen that they gave up. There were completely shut down by Mullins. Two hits in 9 innings by a good offensive team. Clearly they gave up.

Grow up

hey why is tim L at home in the first place? o yea seminole lost in the 1st round i forgot

How much better do you think Dunedin would be if carden was the coach?

tim L has 12 moons. One of those moons is the Earth

Ok Putnam & Cotey only one team left in Pinellas County playing BASEBALL, you better cover Dunedin well & keep us all informed!!!

[GHOST RIDER]

yeah CCC lost and dunedin won and going to the state playoffs and the whole section in the paper was about CCC! Dunedin just had a little section. whats the deal!

[DISTRICT 11 5A TEAMS]

GO DUNEDIN WIN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! THE ONLY TEAM FROM PINELLAS COUNTY!!!! WE GOT YOUR BACK!!!

[Always Falcon FAN]

Cotey, Putnam & gang....Spread the word there's a great basaeball team a brewing, at DUNEDIN...state's are almost here...WHERE is the pre-game COVERAGE!!!

Let the pen flow or better yet let the keyboard tap away!!!

[District 11 Fan]

Bye-Bye CCC....Hello Dunedin. Make Pinellas County PROUD!!!

[gopro]

Where have the senior Dunedin baseball players signed? With what colleges? Any good ones?? After all, the goal of playing h.s. baseball is to be able to play at a good college - get to the CWS - get an education - and go pro after your 3rd (preferably) or 4th year. What good conferences and colleges will any Dunedin players be at?? None good.

8 Dingers in one game! 7 Sophomores, holy cow are the wrestlers playing baseball? What are they feeding those boys over there?

Dunedin and Brandon have monkeys clamering in the dugouts! Have some class guys.

Go Dunedin. As a Northside player we support you guys. Bring it home to pinellas county

Gopro what do you mean none good? The colleges and conferences are all respectable in which these seniors have signed with. Between the CUSA (D1) Sunshine State (D2) and Atlantic Sun (D1) I think they've done well for themselves.

gopro, what college team do you play for? thats what I thought ! & play station teams don't count son!!! I am guessing that you have been beaten by them & you are still licking your wounds.

SEC and ACC - only D1 of course - nothing else matters.

[lol Go Pro]

im guessing by your name you think your hot stuff, let me ask u this what college(if any) you sign to? And have you ever even seen the state playoffs any farther than the first or second round... stop raggin on people who have and have been one of the most dominant teams in pinellas county for years.

[Dunedin FB player]

GO GET'EM GUYS you got all our support and we will all be there with yall. and good luck to the other guys against DICE-CLAY Kollen-BAUM!

[Seminole High Player]

Go Dunedin bring home the title do it for pinellas county!!!!!

[Anti-GoPRO-er]

Hey lame brain go-pro.....what other schools in the area have signed more players-Pros don't care if they come from Div 3, 2 or 1 that want the talent, and they will find it. If the boys are lucky enough to play college ball then they have what it takes to take it to the next step-"gopro-nomo"
go Falcons!

Who will be applying for the St. Pete Catholic Head Coach position?

Why did Coach Hamilton resign midway through Canterbury's baseball season this year? Did he go somewhere else?