quote:
Originally posted by Panther Dad:
Meatsdad -- how 'bout a preseason recap of the Cowboys? Will Kettler be a district starter? When is Morris eligible?
I would imagine that Kettler will get some starts or he will be the closer...or both. If he is the #1 or #2 I don't have any idea. He could be the #1 if that is what Coach English asked him to be and the coach thought was best for the team. As for Jacob Morris, maybe his mom will read this and post the actual date - the sooner the better though. From what I read last year, he moved to Coppell around March 10th or so, a year from that date would be the earliest. The final UIL appeal ruling was April 25 but you have to think that it will be earlier than that date by a few weeks...at the latest.
Beast - Toth is a ballplayer and Coach English always finds time and swings for a ballplayer. I don't think he starts at the beginning of the season but by the end of the season I would be surprised if he wasn't in the line-up every game.
Overall Pre-Season re-cap.
Coppell should win more than they lose in 6-5A, really an 8-6 record will get them into the playoffs. That in itself will be hard work. Once in the playoffs how far this team goes will depend on how well the pitching staff has developed. A solid #1 and #2 will be required to make it out of the first round because the match-up calls for 6-5A to play 5-5A again, so Coppell would play Colleyville Heritage or Keller etc. If that happens then the length of the playoff run will depend on how the senior step-up and lead the team by example.
Pitching is good and deep but it will remain to be seen if one or two pitchers step-up to be very good. Coppell has 3 or 4 lefties (Nieder,Reynolds,Apple) and 4 or 5 righties (Kettler,Morris,Malone,Hermans,Abbott) that can compete at the 5A level. That will give Coach English lots of options. I think I forgot a couple of pitchers - no offense meant to those players or parents.
Hitting, solid line-up at least 6 deep (Elkins, Reynolds, Kettler, Walsh, Richardson, and Morris,) maybe more with some surprises (Toth). I think a monster year could be had by both Kettler and Walsh. There are also a couple of seniors that have been waiting their turn and I expect they will step-up and have solid years as well.
Team Speed: +++
Team Defense: Very good to excellent, up the middle they say makes a club's defense, Walsh at catcher, Kettler at SS, Higgonbotham at 2nd and Trudell / Morris in center. +++++. Elkins has a year at third under his belt and will be much better, Reynolds moves for center to right and I don't know who wins a race between Reynolds, Morris, Trudell and Garber (left field). I don't expect too many fly balls to land in the outfield. To hit a double on this crew will require some line shots...and even some of those will be ran down into outs.
Overall this is a sound team and they will have fun playing baseball together. But after having watched last year in 6-5A baseball, football and this year in basketball I'm not sure if a team like Newman Smith doesn't beat a few teams including Coppell and get into the playoffs. For that matter Flower Mound and Lewisville could go 12-2 and run away from the rest of the District making it hard on the rest of the teams to win that 3rd and 4th playoff spot. JMHO - MD
The topic lends itself to opinions. I do not think the original post was intended to be disrespectful to those mentioned. Everyone agrees that Baker will be very good for the Lions this spring.
