Beach District Season

I don't know about the top five, but I suspect that the top 3 would be Cox, PA, and Kellam. I believe Cox will have the pitching and hitting to be at the top. First Colonial and Salem will probably be in the mix, but I'm not sure who is going to carry those teams since they lost so many players to graduation. Salem has Buffington on the mound, but I do not know what else. The rest of the Beach is up for grabs and will be determined by who steps up and wins some close games.

The "bunt" is a powerful weapon!

In addition to Buffington, Salem will have Freeman and Spears on the mound. Kellam pitchers, Aggone, Spillers, and Donavan should make a good trio. I believe Mainia transferred to Cox, but who are their other pitchers. Also, I heard Weems moved to PA, that should strengthen up their squad.

bballfan21

Thanks for the update on Salem. Of course, Freeman and Spears are good pitchers. It has been awhile since last season, how soon we forget.

As for Cox's other pitching, does Brett Walker ring a bell. I'm sure they have some other good pitchers as well, but like the other Salem pitchers, I can't remember who the other Cox pitchers are. Walker, Mania and the others will be a tough staff.

Weems will give PA another outstanding middle infielder and a tough out at the plate. Argonne and Spillers are quality pitchers at Kellam, I don't think I know Donovan. Did he pitch varsity last year, if so how much?

The "bunt" is a powerful weapon!

I think this will be the year to test Norbie Wilson's coaching ability at First Colonial. The amount of talent that graduated from last years squad will be hard to replace and this year it will be all about coaching.

I would not count them out yet.

Never count out a Norbie Wilson team. They will find a way to be in the thick of the race. The same can be said of Kempsville. It seems they always have a few ball players who "step out of the shadows" every year. I expect them to make another strong showing this year.

As for Cox's "other" pitchers...Spencer Martin and Cory Stenger round out a staff of three year starters on the mound. They also have a couple of talented sophomore and junior pitchers who could probably be starters for several teams.

Donavan at Kellam used to attend Cox, but transferred...er...moved a couple of years ago. I believe he had some injury problems along with some other issues last year, so didn't see alot of action. But he is a big, strong, physically talented lefty who could be dominating if he gets it all together.

It should be another exciting Beach district baseball season.

Thanks estimator!!! Stenger and Martin are quality pitchers. They should have a terrific rotation. I hope there are enough innings for all of them.

The "bunt" is a powerful weapon!

Lets see, Stenger, Walker, Weems, Martin and most of the rest of the team returning I give my nod to Cox as well.

X-OLHS#2dad

What does Ocean Lakes have this year? They were a pleasant surprise in the Beach District Tournament last year.

The "bunt" is a powerful weapon!

OLHS#2dad: Cox will be tough with their pitching; but at least for this year, Weems will not be there; who knows, if things don't work out the way his family wants this year, maybe they will pretend to live in the Cox district next year.

Kellam should have a tough team this year. There pitching should be their strong point this season all they will need to do his hit. They have one of the better soph. pitchers that I've seen in the district on their team. My son played this fall with him on the Devil Rays and he was able to hold his own against some very strong teams.

I have to agree about Kellam having a good pitching staff as well. Not sure about their bats though??? I think OL will have a good team again as they return most of their team but pitching will be the big question mark . They have some younger players coming up who will possibly (I think) make an impact.Sorry about the Weems ???I dont know where I pulled that one out of.(well maybe I do). Correct me if Im wrong but Cox lost only their 2nd baseman and right fielder from their starting team last year??? With Coach Conroy pushing those guys they are going to be real tough. Also, I dont think FC is as dry as some will make them out to be. Cant wait for it to all start again !!!

Kellam's defense will be pretty strong. They are returning SS, 3B, C, and 2 starting OF's. Up the middle they will be real solid with Bierce and Carnes. But as mentioned, they need to produce some more runs than last year.

I thought practice at the beach started last month Cox and Salem have been practicing all winter as usual. I think it will be Cox and FC. Don't ever estimate Norbie, Kellam has some pitching but no hitting by mid season there number one will be Soph Sean Ray. PA will be in the mix along with Salem with Kempsville being the dark horse. Shows always puts a competitive team on the field

Cox lost three starters from last year...right field, second base, and first base(team leader Ryan Brake). Their replacements this year are more than capable of stepping up and filling the positions with positive impact. In fact it looks like first base is going to be a real dog fight with 4 or 5 players all over 6' tall vying for the position...and all can swing the bat effectively...some with power. That will probably be one of the toughest position calls for Coach Conroy all season. What a problem to have! HA!

Stopped by the field last evening to catch some of the first practice and it was COLD! But the players showed absolutely no sign of caring. Doesn't look like the rest of the week is going to be very weather cooperative either.

How about Green Run this year? With the way their football team and especially their basketball team showing a much higher level of talent and atheticism, has it also affected their baseball team the same way? They are due to have a breakout year. Any info out there on the Stallions?

It will be interesting to see which teams hit this year. When you stand back and take a good look at the teams that everybody is talking about, they didn’t hit last year. These same teams will be facing some of the same pitchers that they faced last year and had very little success. I have to believe that John Malbon will be the starting first baseman at Cox this season and move to behind the plate next year. It should be a very competitive season in the beach.

I'm not sure what I'm missing but I don't see Kellam beeing a contender. No hitting, questionable pitching and weak behind the dish.

Doc:
What you may be missing is that they have a lot of good talent coming from their JV team, Argonne and Spillers are quality pitchers who will make an impact this year. As for your assessment of Kempsville this year, I hope they do well this year, but they have only 1 quality pitcher, lost most of their top starters to graduation. As for Shows putting a competitive team on the field, he has had the most talent in the Beach for the past 4 years and he had difficulty being consistently competitive with that. Many of his best players have transferred to other schools where they have been very successful. I believe it will take a minor miracle for Kempsville to win 50% of their games this year.

The "bunt" is a powerful weapon!

Doc,

What happened to make you so DOWN on Kellam. Nothing was even said about Kellam since your last two post. I have to agree with Eagleone when it comes to Kempsville. They have lost better players than they have left, I wish coach Shows all the luck in the world he is a good guy. Lighten up on some of these programs.

I'm not down on Kellam just an opinion on how they will do. I think Jones is a good coach, as for Cox and Salem everyone knows how they bend the rules on practices. Take a poll of all the beach coaches and I think you will find that I'm correct. Kempsville isn't the only program loosing quality players every team in the district has lost there share of players over the last 5 or 6 years and I mean quality players

Doc,

You should be very careful with your accusations on bending practice rules at any schools. I know for a fact that my son worked out...not practiced...every day not only in preparation for his senior year in high school but his approaching career in college which starts next fall. Positive opinions and information are more than welcomed here, but there is absolutely no room for negativity and destructive criticism. Keep it upbeat and we will all benefit.

i go to salem and you people have no clue what you are talking about. Why do yall say salem and cox always bend the rules? we have not been practicing all winter. we just started MONDAY. so yall need to get your information right before you post it

eagleone,
your comments on kempsville were on point. sounds like all the prognosticators are predicting the year of the pitcher ? cox should be given the "preseason" nod with there four seasoned veterans. kellam will have a very nice staff for coach saint to develop. salem has the ace and two other fellas that have the ability to get it done nicely.
enough about the pitchers...
what about the real athletes ? the hitters ?
good health and luck to all the players this year !

Driller,
You have a pm.

VaDad,
you have a pm.

salemsundevil08,

you seem quick to come on here and protect your school. i personally know former salem players who have admitted to me that they practice before the season actually is supposed to start. also, there arent many teams that dont practice earlier than they are supposed to. cox and salem may be amongst the many of teams that do bend the rules.

driller,
you have a pm.

Before we get into splitting hairs about who practices when they shouldn't, etc., let's define some terms:

Practice = coaching staff present
Workout = no coaching staff present

If a HS team does not workout together prior to official practice starting, their coach is missing the boat.

If you are complaining about other schoools <b>supposedly</b> doing something wrong, you just sound like a sore loser.

I believe there is a misconception about what is practice and what is camp. OL SALEM and Cox have winter camps Nov-Feb approved by the administration at the school, VBCPS, and VHSL. The camps are for any youth, Middle School, and/or High School players that wish to participate. Nothing illegal or unethical to it. These type of camps are good for the kids and it is probably a sacrifice for the coaches to do them.

You people are right by not mentioning Salem as much of a contender. I mean they practically lost their whole starting lineup due to graduation. But saying that their staff consists of only Buffington, Spears, and Freeman, I mean isn't that a compliment? Who wouldn't want those three on their staff when they only play two games a week? I predict Salem will be a contender this year as well as Cox and FC. And don't forget about the new schedule. With all the beach teams playing a 16 game schedule it is going to be VERY tough for any team to go undefeated, if it even happens at all with the compitition as good as it is in the district. So the title is up for grabs and it will go to whoever wants it the most.

"Drop the hammer"

You people might be right by not mentioning Salem as much of a contender. I mean they practically lost their whole starting lineup due to graduation. But saying that their staff consists of only Buffington, Spears, and Freeman, I mean isn't that a compliment? Who wouldn't want those three on their staff when they only play two games a week? I predict Salem will be a contender this year as well as Cox and FC. And don't forget about the new schedule. With all the beach teams playing a 16 game schedule it is going to be VERY tough for any team to go undefeated, if it even happens at all with the compitition as good as it is in the district. So the title is up for grabs and it will go to whoever wants it the most.

"Drop the hammer"

Does anyone have any info on this weekend's scrimmage games? I am sure there were some games played.

"I believe there is a misconception about what is practice and what is camp. OL SALEM and Cox have winter camps Nov-Feb approved by the administration at the school, VBCPS, and VHSL. The camps are for any youth, Middle School, and/or High School players that wish to participate. Nothing illegal or unethical to it. These type of camps are good for the kids and it is probably a sacrifice for the coaches to do them."

We'll when the players from that school are going through the camp for free so they can get work as a team with the coach, it becomes a practice. If they are actually paying full price to go to their own camp then I'll understand that they are "going to camp" so to speak. But all in all, they are still being on the field as a team with the coach.

**Please keep to positive comments when mentioning specific players - Moderator

"YOU WIN BY TAKING BASES. STEAL!"

You are saying there are TEAMS conducting scholarship "camps" in the area??? Why would any coach put his program out in the open and his job in jeapordy? There isn't. You are better off retreating to Pungo or somewhere of the sort. If you have a problem and the proof send it to the VHSL or focus on yourself.

I think he is trying to say that the players go to the camp to help work it so to speak, but then afterwards they get to stick around and get extra help from the main person running the camp, the coach.

"If you steal 2nd, steal 3rd."

Again, if you have proof report it to VHSL. Otherwise, quit whining. Rather than worry about rumors, worry about getting better.

I agree with you redbird, I mean all of you are whining about these "secret" camps going on, so if you have proof of it then report it. But I personally attend some of those camps and I know for a fact that nothng illegal or unethical happens there. Everything is legit and the players are just trying to improve. If they are commited to the game that much then let them play, they just want to have fun and improve their skills. And I also agree with LSUTiger, what coach would want to put themselves and their program in jeopardy like that? But anyway, it all comes down to how a team performs during the season so I am looking forward to the upcomming competition.

all i have to say is that you can tell which teams practice more by the way they perform in their first scrimmages which may i add are only the first weekend after their "offical" practices start. some teams are doing stuff that only with much needed practice can be done. you may say that these teams work hard during tryouts to practice this, but how do they do that while conducting tryouts at the same time.

Landstown will be hosting Oscar Smith this Saturday..game time 10.00am.
Also they will be hosting Indian river Monday March 8th..game time 4:45

Everybody needs to let the illegal practice thing alone. I know kids on every high school team in the beach, and what I hear is pretty much all of them do the same thing. What is the penalty for doing this a slap on the wrist? $50.00 fine? Give the coaches credit for wanting to build their program and for the kids that want to work all year round. Try and look at the good in it. Its keeps the kids off the street and if the coach really cares than he is checking on the player’s grades also. So many people want to point the finger and never give anybody any credit for taking the time to build there program only that the reason they are so good is because they hold illegal practices or they recruit. All the coaches in the beach do it and none of them are going turn each other in.