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Against a top team at that! When my son told me the final I was shocked! Not that WB won but in the manner in which they won, would never have guessed it would have been that one sided.
I am surprised as well. I was not at the game, but being familiar with both rosters, its hard for me to believe that WB is that much better than Hickory. I'm sure Hickory will recover and reel off plenty of wins as we move forward. Great statement win for Western Branch though!
What I'm most interested in seeing is how the old SED stacks up come playoff time. GB, Hickory, WB, NR, and Grassfield all have legitimate shots at making the postseason. Where previously, only two from the district could move on. In the meanwhile, they will continue to beat up on each other (at least early in the season)!
Next up: Great Bridge vs. Nansemond River
That Western Branch core of Sr's was a nationally ranked travel team. Lot of talent there that has been playing together since Tball. They could always rake since they were 6.
WB's lineup is solid from top to bottom and that Fisher kid is legit! That was the first time I had ever seen him play. Fisher has a killer arm and can rake! I don't know if there would be much comparison if it was still the "old SED". I think a lot of people knew before the season was going to start that WB would be a top 2 team. Some "old" SED teams have "Cake Conferences" this year and should be no question about them going to post season. It's almost a shoe-in. This should be the year Coach Wright hangs a State Championship banner. They are solid.
WB's lineup is solid from top to bottom and that Fisher kid is legit! That was the first time I had ever seen him play. Fisher has a killer arm and can rake! I don't know if there would be much comparison if it was still the "old SED". I think a lot of people knew before the season was going to start that WB would be a top 2 team. Some "old" SED teams have "Cake Conferences" this year and should be no question about them going to post season. It's almost a shoe-in. This should be the year Coach Wright hangs a State Championship banner. They are solid.
I agree with you nrbb, Western Branch is easily a state championship contender. Also i agree that Fisher is legit and will have a big impact this year. What do yall think about the GB v WB game?
They have Rutherford, Fisher, Selby, and others. I do believe that their pitching will be able carry them far into the postseason
Rutherford, Fisher, Shelby, Cory Klak (Young Lefty 10th grade), Hayes could even pitch if he had to. They should have enough arms. Just hopefully the top 2 don't get over worked.
last night from the start of the game Western Branch came out with lots of energy and looked excited to play. Although you could tell hickory was excited, it looked as if they did not have energy. And Fisher is a flat out stud as we saw last night. About 5 or 6 MLB scouts were there and i think it's safe to say they left there impressed with Fisher and his abilities. I think WB pitchers won't be an issues because Rutherford and Selby are both quality and have experience
Fisher will get drafted only question is how high. He has always been a man among boys. Western Branch has had a few frustrating season's with really good teams that did not get out of the SED because Great Bridge has had their number in the regular season and they have not been able to get past NR, Hickory in the District playoffs.
Wright is a very respected coach and his team is both athletic and can swing it deep into the lineup. No easy outs. If the pitching is there...they will be a very tough out. They remind me of the 2011 Great Bridge team that took the title. That team just would grind on you inning after inning and eventually break through. They averaged about 9 runs a game and this WB crew might do similar things.
WB has Rutherford, Selby, Fisher... 3 top arms.. Hickory does has a fair amount of arms themselves with Eason of course, Rudis, York, and Berglund
Now that the love fest for WB has temporarily subsided, here's another local update.
Nansemond River knocks of Great Bridge 5-2.
Higgerson and Cody have two hits apiece for GB. Higgerson's night included a solo HR.
For NR, Kieton Rivers was on base all evening, and Trevor Riggs hit a 2 run bomb to give NR some insurance on top of a 3-2 lead. Mike Parmentier threw 6 quality innings, with Robert Fitzwater earning the save.
Went to NR GB game a great game, Higgerson hits a line drive over left field fence, Cody showed his speed with 2 doubles, Logan threw a good game, GB has a few errors, NR Riggs hit a foul ball about 375 a little foul and then hits one out of alley in right, Rivers has a great nite at short and at the plate, Parmentier pitched a good game. To be the first game of the season, both of these team have a lot of talent, keep a I on these players.
NR 5 - GB 2
Dont want to get caught up in the hype but WB has Rutherford, Selby, Roth, Klak, Hayes if needed in center, Beagle who is a younger junior that finished against O.S and Fisher will see the bump occassionally contrary to popular belief. I think pitching will be fine especially with the explosive offensive capabilities.Im sure Coach Wright wanted Selby to get some work.You cant sit and only pitch in big games and expect to be successful.Wright is no rookie guys.
P.S. #one in a row#bruins
Another good one today! Grassfield at NR today at 4:00. This is the makeup game from the washout on Tuesday...then Wed...then Thurs...
Dad. First, you are repeated bashing "the likes of a " Smith team that A) made the playoffs last year and were a .500 team (this isn't the same program it was in the early 2000s) B) played Branch tougher for the first 3.5 innings than a #4 ranked Hickory team (7-1 going into bottom of 4 versus 13-1 against the Hawks) C) made exactly zero errors in the game (while Branch made 2 or 3?) D) has been in the same district as Branch the past few years (meaning, I'm sure Coach Wright knows his competition & I assume had more respect for those Smith boys than you)
Branch hit the ball, just like they did against Cox in a scrimmage (putting up 18), then Hickory (putting up 17). All the matters in Coach Wright thought it was the right move, and, what I don't understand is why it's the wrong move. Selby has to throw against someone, and again, you don't throw a 3rd or 4th pitcher just because you have no respect for the opponent. (Smith beat Great Bridge on that premise not long ago I'm pretty sure)
Let's move on to a new subject... We will all see how WB's pitching stacks up over the next few weeks.
Here's a subject for you... What was the last Virginia high school team to have EIGHT D1 commits in it's lineup? Branch has 2 for ODU (Hayes, Rutherford), 2 Radford (Roth, Butler), 1 Va Tech (Maiorana), 1 UVA (Fisher), 1 JMU (McPherson)... then Abbey (un-committed, but D1 I think)... and possibly a 9th in Selby?
Oh, no offense taken, I edited the post... I was just trying to move the thread beyond beating up on Coach Wright's decision and Smith's baseball program. They were both taking a few punches and counter-punches there.. ha
Seriously though, anyone facing WB is basically facing a young Division 1 baseball lineup. I know there have been teams with 3-5 D1 players in the past few years, but 8 or 9? Anyone close to that in recent memory?.