Beach District Games: April 12-17 (Week 5)

Ocean Lakes on top of Tallwood 1-0 after Top of 3rd. Morimando RBI single.

Update....

Ocean Lakes put up 2 more runs in the bottom of 3 but Tallwood answered with 2 of their own as starting pitcher Tyler Clements (OL) found himself in trouble in the top of 4th. He was able to get out of a 2 in scoring position no outs jam. Then in the bottom of 4 Alex Lambert hit his 4th home run of the season, a solo shot, putting OL up 4-2. It is not the Top of 5...

OL wins 7-2.

#7 Ocean Lakes-7 Tallwood-2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R
T 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2
OL 1 0 2 1 0 3 - 7

WP - Tyler Clements

Tyler Clements went 6 strong innings and Shawn Morinmando came in to close the game out in the 7th as the #7 Dolphins (7-2; 5-0) remained unbeaten in the Beach District. Alex Lambert stayed hot at the plate as he hit his 4th Home Run of the year, a solo shot to left center in the 4th inning, and a double off the wall in left in the 6th. Shawn Morimando opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 1st then the Dolphins added on two more in the 3rd.
Tallwood pushed two across in the 4th to make the score 3-2 as Clements(OL) found himself in a jam with no outs. He was able to strike out the next two batters and finish the inning by inducing a flyout. In the 6th the Dolphins tallied three more runs from consecutive singles to cap all scoring at 7-2. The Dolphins return to the diamond at home on Friday against the Landstown Eagles.

First Colonial - 8
Green Run - 4

Winning Pitcher - Buddy Lawson

Bats showed-up tonight for FC

Lawson also had two or three hits including a 3-run home-run for FC.

Kempsville 3 Kellam 1

As a team, Kellam couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. Kempsville scored 2 runs in te 4th? without getting the ball out of the infield. Walk, stolen base, error, balk, etc. Kellam is young.

Redbird,

Did they pitch around Harrington and Kilman? Or did the Kempsville pitcher keep them off balance?

They pitched around Harrington. He is only getting 1 pitch per AB.

Not pitching around Kilmon. They haven't all year.

Ha makes sense to pitch around him Redbird. The last time someone did pitch to him was OL before the break...and we all saw what he did to Morimando, 2 HR's.

Berman had 4 hits for fC, also, Bowman came in and faced 1 batter, 3 straight 87 mph fastballs, k. game over.

Have to say, was pretty impressed with the Kempsville outfield. I was only there for the first 3 innings, but the wind was blowing pretty hard. Kempsville was reading the ball well and getting the outs. Good for them!

Calling Kellam young is an understatement. Let's call the situation over there what it really is and that's a sham.

What St.Clair Jones is doing with that program is flat out wrong on so many levels. Do they really need to carry all those freshman on the varsity team? Do they really not have any upper classman that can play? They have a sophmore, who is flat out killing the ball, but just floundering on JV. When they do bring him up, he doesn't play.

Apparently, to play at Kellam, you have to be a Driller. If not, you don't stand a chance. I have heard the excuse. Jones is building for the future. Whatever.... Those kids are going to be just as good in three years whether they play on JV this year or they play on varsity. In the meantime the only one's being screwed are those upper classman that have been busting their butts for the past three or four years and are now riding the pine so that all these freshman can have their butts handed to them on a regular basis. I bet those kids could go out there and not hit the ball and make as many errors as those freshman do....

I am just thankful that my neighborhood was rezoned out of the Kellam district and I don't have to deal with that stuff. Not saying my kid's school is perfect, but dang, at least those that can play are given an opportunity to. I can't help but feel for the kids that I have watched grow up and now have to deal with that garbage. I feel even more for the Seniors that I don't know, that are going to end their high school career like this.

It is pathetic.

foulball,

You need to get your facts straight before you publicly criticize a local coach who has put more kids into college than any other coach since 2001. I believe Kellam has 4 seniors (not including Difulgo) and all of them start. 3 Juniors, 2 are primary pitchers that have pitched in almost every game. The rest are Freshman and Sophmores. If you can find some upperclassmen at Kellam that can play ball, please let Coach Jones know. I'm sure he would love to have them.

I have not seen much of the Kellam JV, but I'd like to think if there was a JV player "killing the ball", coach Jones would give him an extended look. I have known Coach Jones for a long time, and I take offense to these ignorant comments. You're post and comments are "pathetic"!

Get a Clue!

Foulball,

Your comments are off base and flat out wrong. First of all, your son is at another school so you are getting second and third hand info (which is inaccurate). Saint Clair is one of the few HS coaches I trust my son with.

The team is very young. 4 seniors, 2 juniors and the rest soph and frosh. 4 seniors start, the juniors are both pitchers. Read it again...all 4 seniors start. 1 sat a game for not executing a squeeze - which he should have. That leaves at least 5 positions for frosh and soph. They have the best talent on varsity. Everyone had their chance in the fall. There are no JV "studs" that are better than any of the varsity. None.

As for your Driller comment, it wreaks of jealousy. There is no validity to your claims. The frosh that are playing can and should play. There is no better option. If you think a kid can develop as much by playing JV as by playing varsity, you could not be more wrong.

Losing Difulgo as a position player hurt as much (if not more than) as a position player.

You have no clue what I know or where I get my information from. I have seen it and get it first hand. Just because my kid does not go to that school does not mean I am not paying attention. What does jealousy have anything to do with the fact that Jones is in bed with the Drillers? I'm not jealous of anything that goes on at Kellam. Appalled is more like it. Those players didn't even have to try out. Or are you going to try and say that is a lie??? You don't see anything wrong with a group of kids being treated completely different than the rest of the school??

I suggest you stop drinking the kool-aid.

Foulball
Looks like you have touch a nerve here. Your post is direct to the point and sometimes the truth hurts. I personally know several of the kid and parents there and believe me there are some mix feelings over there concerning several Freshman that have moved ahead of players that have been in the system for a couple of years now and some that got cut. Sure not everyone is going to happy and there are players out htere that are better players but lets be real here. I have watched several of the games and most of the costly errors are made by the younger players. Maybe they should be playing now to get use to the speed of the game at the High school level. It isn't AAU/Little League.

Yeah I'm sure I did touch a nerve. I'm sure they are directly involved in the shady stuff that is going on at that school, so I take their comments for what they are worth.

I have watched their games. I know for a fact there are better ball players getting the shaft, then what is on the field. Unfortunately, for those kids, their dads are not Jones' puppet master.

There has not been a nerve struck and I am not drinking any Kool Aid. In order to continue your argument, you need to do 1 of 2 things:

1) Please show me where any lowerclassman has played ahead of the 4 seniors.
2) Tell me about any junior or senior that did not make the team ahead of a frosh or soph. Heck, even a sophomore for that matter.

Without 1 of the 2, your argument holds no water and your posts are simply meant to disparage the coach.

As for your inneundo, that a) there is "shady stuff" and b) I am somehow involved...again, you are wrong on both counts. I stay away so that people like you don't make comments about my son in the same vein. Besides that, he plays the game, not me. He needs to make it on his own and either succeed or fail.

If you think I am going to give you names so that the kid has it held against him, then you are crazy. Just the same as I am not using the names of the kids that don't deserve to be playing at the varsity level (at this point in their careers anyways). This isn't about the kids. This is about a corrupt program.

I see that you completely ignored the point about the Drillers being given preferential treatment. So, since you ignore that, then you are also ignoring the fact that there were players who didn't even come back this year, because they were all told, back in the fall, that this group of freshman were already on the team and that was that. Again, are you going to claim that did not happen?

My post is to bring attention to the BS that is going on anyway that I can. I will give St. Clair Jones props on one thing though. His attempt to have the kids go through random drug tests is outstanding. I hope that works out for him and I hope all the parents agree to do it.

quote:

He needs to make it on his own and either succeed or fail.

That is exactly my point. Shouldn't they all be given that same opportunity? Not just be automatically given something, because of who they are associated with.

From what I saw in the fall, it was a good decision for those older kids not to come back. The freshmen outplayed them in the fall. If you'd like to make your argument over PM, I would love to be entertained.

I only comment on what I know. I did not hear the conversation - was not a party to it. I am starting to feel like you were. Either way, could I see it happening? Sure. it happens at every program. No upperclassmen from the summer or fall stood out above any of the younger guys.

I know of a soph who did not have to try out. He has started every game. Is that wrong?

Corrupt program? You couldn't be further from the truth.

quote:

Originally posted by foulballjunky:

quote:

He needs to make it on his own and either succeed or fail.

That is exactly my point. Shouldn't they all be given that same opportunity? Not just be automatically given something, because of who they are associated with.

They should...and they did...over the summer and fall. Are you naive enough to think a coach can better evaluate a kid in a 3 day tryout over the spring?

FOUL, I just sent you a PM. I see that you are new member as of today. Please go to your profile and pull my PM. Thank You.

First and foremost, you all need to step back and evaluate.
Not too many years ago, a freshmen would have never been able to break into the line up at Kellam. Driller himself said that the Kellam team is young, so did you Redbird. Now, it appears that 4 seniors and 3 juniors. That's 7 out of 9.

To say that there is not a "driller" influence, you don't need to "drink the KoolAid". There is no doubt there is a "driller" influence. You need to look at the big picture. Driller has been supported Kellam baseball for more than 15 years.(probably longer) The young freshmen have been utilizing the facility for as long as they have been playing baseball.

With that said, the Driller boys have also been playing 180 games of baseball per year for the past few years. Of course they are going to be more competitive than other players. It is that simple.

As to whether they are better or worse than other upper classman is obviously a coaches call.

This issue is not new. It was addressed quite a few years ago. I heard the exact same complaints. St. Clair Jones was not the coach then.

What question remains is

Which of you parents have made an appointment to discuss the situation with Coach Jones? A public forum is not the place until you have afforded him the opportunity to address your concerns.

As for you Redbird, you have been at Kellam for like a day. My point being, you have no idea about the history of anything there. Therefore, all of your info would be second hand as well.

Just curious watching all the rukus, how many players are "Driller" players and how many players are on the team total? Have always thought of the "Beach" as Driller territory. I would certainly expect to find some Driller players on the team. Didn't the Drillers do well at AAU Nationals, like maybe even winning it? Maybe the "Driller" players are on the team because they can play baseball well.

I don't care about the history, nor did I comment on it. Parents get bent out of shape about things like "history". All of my comments are based on what I have observed.

Exactly, WB. 4 Driller freshmen.

I have been watching this as well. I don't know enough about Kellam or the Coach (other than Ryan Zimmerman played there) to have a dog in the fight. What I do know (haveing been part of the Tidewater travel ball family on and off for some years now) is that the Driller organization is well coached at every level. I say play the best 9 what ever the age.

quote:

Originally posted by redbird5:
Exactly, WB. 4 Driller freshmen.

Good grief. Foulball said "Apparently, to play at Kellam, you have to be a Driller." I expected an answer of 8 or more Drillers. Don't know of many baseball teams that would be successful with four players.

quote:

WB Reporter
Member
Posted April 14, 2010 11:59 AM Hide Post
Just curious watching all the rukus, how many players are "Driller" players and how many players are on the team total? Have always thought of the "Beach" as Driller territory. I would certainly expect to find some Driller players on the team. Didn't the Drillers do well at AAU Nationals, like maybe even winning it? Maybe the "Driller" players are on the team because they can play baseball well.

If anything St. Clair has been loyal to his seniors. Here's the kicker - only 2 "Drillers" start.

There are 3 freshman on Varsity at Cox and 1 more who might be comming back next year that either are on or have been on the Drillers. To the best of my knowledge of the players on the Drillers roster from last years 14U team, most all are on their schools varsity team. So I think this pretty much sums it up. Or I guess all the coaches in this are are drinking the Driller kool-aid!!!


Very simple, there is a guy in VB who has learned the game of baseball and is able to teach it at a high level to kids. He has current and former players who will all tell you they are better baseball players but most importantly better people because of it. We all know who I am talking about.

What I call this is "leadership".

Remember you only get critized if you matter!! The Drillers matter when it comes to baseball and developing young men in this area.

While I find all this talk about Kellam pretty comical.

Its pretty clear that Difulgo was a major factor in their success. With him out for the season that hurts.

It would be very difficult for just about any team to lose their Ace. Without pitching most teams will fail.

It seems to me Kellam should have been grooming some others to pitch.

I think if you look back over the threads, you will see that many predicted tough times for Kellam without Jeff.

Matthews41


Coulnd't think of any better way to put it. Play the best 9, no matter the age. If they practice harder, play harder and are mentally tougher than they should be starting no matter what grade level they are at. It's like what Tom Izzo from MSU basketball has said when regarding recruits..."you can come here and be on the team, but I'm not going to guarantee playing time, if you're not the best 5 then I am not going to start you. I want my best on the court at all times."
At this level of baseball it is not like little league anymore where you have to have one at bat or such. No matter the backround the kid came up in if he is the best of the bunch then he should be on the field. Is what you are saying "foulball" is that high school baseball should be based on politics that if he is older he should start?
Do not question anything that St. Clair has done with that program, when you have as good as a program as he has had for years, then maybe you can say something, til then keep your mouth shut and have some respect for one of the best coaches to come through this area.

Excellent point on DiFulgo. There's not a lot of above average pitching in HS. One player with an 86+ MPH Fastball and a curveball that can be thrown for strikes takes a 9-9 team and makes them a contender because he usually goes 9-1 or so. If you have 2 of those and 7-8 average players no matter what class they are in you become State Title material.

At that point coach becomes Joe McCarthy or Joe Torre for you youngsters! Either way he's a smart Joe at least as long as he has the pitching.

I agree with you Baseball without pitching its going to be a long season. I believe the beach has several of the top teams I have saw play this year. THe Coach puts his best on the field and just go for it. Coach ST. Clair is one of the best coaches in the area and my son really enjoys going to his clinics. Best of luck to him and the team I now we all can just go play ball.

Foulballjunky.....You sound like that unhappy parent that goes from one aau team to another aau team every year. Look at the player as a player not a grade level. Just because you are a junior or senior does not give the player the right to have a starting job. Earn it on the field like Redbird said. If a frosh is the same caliber of player as the upperclassman, the frosh gets the job, IMO. Plus he will be far better than the the junior or senior down the road and gains experience for the future. The upperclassman should be head and shoulders above frosh if he has been working at his craft.

Also, do you think a coach doesn't want to win at the high school level? Or any level for that matter? Why would a coach put frosh players in a lineup....to lose? Maybe they earned the starting job. Maybe a change is coming as the season progresses if the job is not getting done.

Does it really matter what organization you are from? Travel teams are funneling a lot of good players to the high school teams. Would the high school teams be as good if there were no "Drillers" or other top aau teams? For the most part, probably not. There are 5 tools to a player. Maybe the kids have more talent in other areas than the guys not playing. If you can play, the coach will play you.

As Mathews41 says, I don't have a dog in this fight either.

Back to Baseball....on the field:


First Colonial - 5
Bayside - 2

WP - John Bowman (Complete game)