6A States

Game times have been switched.

Baseball

Group 6A semifinals

At Robinson High Secondary School, Fairfax

First Colonial vs. James Madison, 3 p.m.

Western Branch vs. Chantilly, 7 p.m.

FWIW...

 

Don't know why Robinson HS was selected as the site for the 6A State playoffs and the 5A championship. It's a nice field, however, you could say that the facilities for a state baseball championship are a bit underwhelming.

• It's a bit of a walk from the parking lot to the baseball field, so if anyone is challenged, be prepared (and its slightly uphill).
• Guessing they're bringing in extra porta-potties. Or you take the walk down to the football stadium and use the facilities.
• Concession Stand: hoping they've temporarily expanded it via a tent or something similar. If not, you may have to talk the same walk to the football stadium.
• Have to think they've brought in extra stands to place down the first base line. Regardless, bring a chair. The area behind home plate and third base dugout is elevated, so you could probably plop a chair down and watch from that perch. Or you could bring a blanket and sit on the incline.
• If you're there and upset about the environment for a state championship, turn your head to the right and take a look at the softball field. That should make you feel better.

The facilities for soccer and lacrosse at Robinson are very good. Guessing that was the draw. 

Agreed, would much prefer Westfield High School as a venue.

The atmosphere was also really great when they had the AAA playoffs at Westfield. Not sure what prompted this move to Robinson.

I recognize the primary argument here is one high school venue over another.  My personal preference would be that the state championship be held at a top tier college venue.  For the kids who will continue to play, it may not be a huge deal, but for those who will play their last game in the state tournament....playing at a high caliber University facility may be a highlight of their career.

Having seen that happen, I will offer that the one problem with moving to a college venue is that the sudden shift to deeper fences, especially in center, changes the game substantially.  HR balls turn into outs, gappers turn from doubles into triples, etc.  Also, distances from home to the backstop tend to deepen, which affects advancements on WP's and PB's.

 

I suppose it's the same for both teams, but the necessity of adjusting is a bit of a distraction for what should be the penultimate games of the year.

 

I will say, seating at college venues is often far better in terms of sight lines.  Having been at CNU in 2007 and at Westfield after that, I can say that CNU was definitely a better fan experience.  But the short/tall CF fence at Westfield vs. the collegiate distances at CNU was a noticeable difference in how games played out.

 

If you were to go to a college field, you may as well also pick one with AstroTurf, just to help with potential rain issues.  UR, JMU and Liberty all now offer that option, so there's three venues per VHSL's current practices.  And I guess they're already using Liberty, so they're already heading down that road.

Pretty clear that VHSL wants to conduct a Jubilee that includes all Spring sports. 

 

And I've mentioned this before: more advertisers with more money in NoVa, not to mention one of the largest newspapers in the country (WaPo).

Chantilly over Western Branch 8-3 tonight. Matt Hogle with a complete game. Chantilly will face Madison HS tomorrow @ 7pm to decide the 6A State Champions.

George Marshall 7-4 over Hickory

Wow! Northern region sweep in both 6A and 5A baseball. Says a lot to those who see Richmond, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Area as the baseball hotbed in Virginia. Hopefully my Warhawks can keep it going tomorrow.

Agreed ... except for that Warhawks part! 

I saw the WB v. Chantilly game  and  walked among the spectators.  It seemed everyone was having a good time and no complaints about the porta poties or the 10 minute walk from the parking lot.  The concession stand at the ball field was open and it was fully  stocked.

One observation I had was the loudness of the Chantilly dug out when WB was on the field.  Yelling at the pitcher, making fun of the balls and hits and otherwise showing what I consider poor sportsmanship. 

I am not a fan of any yelling that is not positive as I also take it as a lack of sportsmanship. With that said, I have been to many Chantilly games over the last 2-3 years and certainly heard lots of yelling but nothing that would indicate a lack of sportsmanship. Just my 2 cents coming from a team parent (full disclosure).

First Colonial was doing a similar thing yesterday as well. Not directed at the Madison pitcher but there was a lot of yelling while he was in his windup and pitching. I personally didn't like it. It's one things to cheer for your teammate but having loud coordinates chants while he's in his windup seems a bit tacky and childish.

I disagree but respect your opinion. I think there is nothing wrong with cheering on your teammates during any portion of a live game (this is not golf). Opposing players, especially at this stage, that are truly locked-in won't let that distract them anyway so I don't really see what all the fuss is all about.

Many of the players need to get used to it: I may not like it, but it'll be tougher at the next level.

Agreed, I think an analogy can be made with basketball fans trying to distract opposing players taking free throws. High school players expecting to play in college would be well-advised to learn how to block out those distractions.

How was the final game tonight? Who won?

Crazy game! Madison walks off in the 7th and wins it 6-5. Congrats Warhawks! 

Followed it on gamechanger: appropriate way for two NoVa powerhouses to play for a championship.

In a one game & done, anyone can win.

For those that missed the game, I believe this video was shot by Centreville's Coach Findley. Enjoy!

 

WTF???

It has been discussed a few times that one and done can occasionally get you an upset winner and thus not necessarily the best team.

 

For example a few years back the South County team was undefeated and was a top 10 nationally ranked team in any poll you could find.  They lost to Great Bridge in the final.  Great Bridge was an excellent team and on that day had the best player on the field in a sophomore pitcher named Connor Jones.  If they had played 2 of 3 as many states do, I am not sure GB would have won even though they had two other pitchers that went on to pitch in Division I.

 

With all of that said, you still have to win the game and if you do then you did what was required and are the champion.

Then, of course, there would be this year when the best team in the state won.

Congratulations: you win the Internet for the day!

LOL

It is hard to argue with a scoreboard!