COLLEGE BASEBALL OPENING SEASON!

that a boy, heck yeah, ODU baseball, we need to talk ODU up, come on Coach Nate and Staff, lets get the big blue rollin, got alot of local talent, lets get in the top 20, way to go armyofone, to start the thread,looking forward to Ben Thomchic this year and Greg thomchic next year, GO BIG BLUE

Can you believe it....They are calling for 73 degrees on Friday.
Hope Kenny does come out gangbusters!!!!!

Went to watch practice on Sunday. Didn't see the centerfielders dad or Pilot81 so not sure if either of you has seen the stadium.

The most exciting upgrade is the women's bathroom. Just gotta say!!!! No more metal dividers and real toilet roll holders...doesn't get much better than that!

Batters eye in centerfield, net protecting stands from 1st to 3rd. Lots of new paint and many new signs.

Most important advancement is the support of the athletic department at ODU!!! There will be give-aways and Youth Day each Sunday. If any of you know a little kid's team that would want to come down let me know.

There will also be a RALLY ALLEY in the grass area by 1st base. They will be selling beer and cooking burgers. "Someone" also made corn hole to put in the alley.

Too many injured pitchers may cause some challenges.

Are there any other local colleges opening up this weekend?

See you all on Friday!

William & Mary opens up on Friday with a 4 game set against Oklahoma in Norman, OK.

RMC had a DH this past Saturday at their new facility. A little windy but a beautiful day to start the season.

I just received an addition to my post.

I forgot to mention the new brick backstop. It really looks great and trying to take home will be very interesting when the ball hits the brick.

The fans will not see the updated locker/mud rooms, but I can assure you the players are loving the changes!!!

Hope to see you all at the BUD!

VMI @ #11 Flordia State this weekend.

"The most exciting upgrade is the women's bathroom. Just gotta say!!!! No more metal dividers and real toilet roll holders...doesn't get much better than that!"

What do you think this is, the 21st century or something? Come on girl, I thought you were tougher than that!

The Bud looked great the day I went over after the banquet. Sorry to miss opening weekend but I'll be back from Florida for the next home series. Have a cold one for me '43.

Grasscutter,
Already have been told that the I will not be allowed to drink any beer!!!

Game time at 3:00 p.m. Put on your sunscreen!!!

We will miss you Grasscutter!

I have just received another correction:

The game starts at 3:00 but

RALLY ALLEY opens at 2:00!!!!!!!

Liberty heading South to Ga to play a four game set against Mercer then off to Florida.

I'm headed over to the VCU/Fordam game at the Diamond this Fri/Sat/Sunday to get my college baseball "fix" in. It looks like all of the in-state D1 schools are travelling except VCU and ODU.

Radford is on the road to play at Davidson and will play Army friday and sat then Davidson sunday then head down to play Auburn next weekend.PLAY BALL

Grasscutter,

You must be a very proud father. That is a great BUBBLE that your oldest son can produce!!!!

Yes, lets hope he can produce on the diamond as well. Where the hell does the Pilot gets these shots?

Congratulations to Matt Dickason (Indian River) who started at SS in his first collegiate game at Longwood and went 3 for 4 (1 RBI) at the plate.

Dickason - 2-for-5 today with his first collegiate HR, 2 Runs, 2 RBI. After being an All Southeastern District (1st Team / 2nd Team) SS, he played some SS yesterday, then some LF & CF today.

It's great to see great, hard-working kids see the fruition of hard work... Congrats!

Also... former teammate from Indian River, Dean Ali, is scheduled to start tomorrow on the mound for ODU.

Both true freshmen, both fantastic kids... extremely proud of them both.

Finally... how about JMU saying BBCOR? What's the problem with BBCOR? Jake Lowery from Cosby with 3 HRs, 8 RBI in the 37-7 win!? Wind or no wind... Wow. Lowery, David Herbek (Battlefield High), and Trevor Knight (STAB) combine for 7 HRs and 18 RBI!!! Unbelievable.

Congrats to Chris Taylor for a strong opening weekend, going 6-14 in 3 games from the leadoff spot for UVA.

"LOUISVILLE SLUGGER'S" NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK


SS David Herbek, James Madison: Herbek had a monster 4-game series against Bucknell as he belted 5 home runs, scored 7 runs and went 7-for-13 at the plate (.538 BA) as he knocked in 12 runs. Herbek also walked 4 times.

He must've judged edged out his teammate, Jake Lowery, who had 4 HR's and some ridiculous number of RBI as well.

Ridiculous stats....

Wow

Taking nothing away from the young men putting up those stats...but the wind was blowing out pretty strongly most of the weekend. Their new stadium (which is a very nice facility for a mid-major D-1 school)is very much out in the open.

2 RVa guys picked up their first college "W's" yesterday.

Campbell Henkel (St. C's, VMI) and Ben Verlander (Goochland, ODU) both made appearances out of the pen. They both threw 2 scoreless innings. Both picked up wins. I saw Ben throw yesterday. His command was great. With his 6'4" frame he throws "down hill" and keeps batters off balance with a big curve ball and an above avg change up. I hear his brother was pretty good when he was at ODU.

Nice job to those guys.

Many other locals with notable 1st weeks as well. How about the week Jake Mayers (UR) is having? POW in A-10. Couple more hits yesterday.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

I was at the games this weekend at ODU and at the Richmond game and have yet to meet any of the new or even old parents. I am not going to hang out on the fence line with all the other dads....

I want to try and get a pot luck dinner set up for the players after one of the home games. I was at the JMU game last year and saw their parents do it for them. I thought it was pretty cool.

Anyone interested? it's just wierd how it seems no one really talks at the games and there is no parent comraderie, but maybe I'm just the oddball out.

My name is Brian Stoneback and my wife's name is Jackie Stoneback. Our son is Kenny Stoneback (CF'r) for the great Monarch baseball team.

I'll get with Coach Goulet and make sure it's something we can do before I start getting everyone's hopes up. I know there are enough locals to do it?

Look forward to meeting you,where do you sit?I made the rounds and have shaken many a hand.I will admit most my time was spent in Rally-Alley not leaning on the fence,but policing 1943.We are attempting to have a gathering after the Saturday game with William and Mary.Our battles in the past have been vs the contracted food service.Tim D,1943 and many others have been working hard this past winter doing exactly what you are requesting.The Stadium is getting back to where it once was,on top.We now have a handsome backstop, a Batters-eye,protective netting for the bleachers and Rally-Alley.The players now have a enhanced locker-room and all new lockers.Apparently,the new AD said "get out of the way I am coming Through!"Bring the kids we also have games and an appreciation for the young baseball players from Little League and Pony Ball.The Stadium is offering free admission to teams in uniform and allowing the youth players to run the bases and schedule National Anthem visits on the field with the players.This past weekend was great and I even met some UVA and VMI parents in the crowd.Baseball,as you all know is simply the greatest sport and the perfect forum for entertainment.Good luck to all and we will be by your field soon to support your program,so come on by and spread the cheer in Rally-Alley.

quote:

Originally posted by PIS:
2 RVa guys picked up their first college "W's" yesterday.

Campbell Henkel (St. C's, VMI) and Ben Verlander (Goochland, ODU) both made appearances out of the pen. They both threw 2 scoreless innings. Both picked up wins. I saw Ben throw yesterday. His command was great. With his 6'4" frame he throws "down hill" and keeps batters off balance with a big curve ball and an above avg change up. I hear his brother was pretty good when he was at ODU.

Nice job to those guys.

Many other locals with notable 1st weeks as well. How about the week Jake Mayers (UR) is having? POW in A-10. Couple more hits yesterday.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

Bill Cullen- (Thomas Dale- Va breeze and R Braves) VCU- CAA Rookie of the week-- 6-12, 5 runs scored in opening weekend.

quote:

Originally posted by PIS:
2 RVa guys picked up their first college "W's" yesterday.

Campbell Henkel (St. C's, VMI) and Ben Verlander (Goochland, ODU) both made appearances out of the pen. They both threw 2 scoreless innings. Both picked up wins. I saw Ben throw yesterday. His command was great. With his 6'4" frame he throws "down hill" and keeps batters off balance with a big curve ball and an above avg change up. I hear his brother was pretty good when he was at ODU.

Nice job to those guys.

Many other locals with notable 1st weeks as well. How about the week Jake Mayers (UR) is having? POW in A-10. Couple more hits yesterday.

Rich
www.playinschool.com

Great game in C'ville yesterday. UVA 4-VMI 3. Cowgill (MauryHS) VMI was outstanding for 6 1/3 innings this early in the year. Will Roberts (MHGS) UVA- did nice job also-- tho quite as sharp as Cowgill. Whit Mayberry (SS-SA) UVA picks up the win in relief as UVA scores twice in 8th.

Sam Roberts (VMI) led off game with a single off his cousin Will Roberts.

Yes, Armyofone, you are "just the odd man out" kind of like your name, Army of One. Time to re-evaluate: your son is a junior and you haven't met any new or old parents. Really, how is that possible?

But, I really am proud of your son, he is doing a great job out there!!!!


For the record, I never sit and watch a game. Always stand because I just can't sit in the bleachers and watch. Don't be fooled though, I see just as much of the game as you do sitting in the stands.

I take pride in making an attempt to introduce as many parents to each other as possible. Please come find me in the "fence dweller" area so that you can be introduced to the rest of the parents as well.

As per the other stuff, you should be getting info in the near future. Looking forward to meeting you.

Lynn Metheny

I've only actually been to a dozen games in the past two years. We don't live really far from ODU but I cannot make every weekend series. I am planning on making many more games this year though. Perhaps it's mostly my fault I've not met some of the parents, but that's the intraverted way I am. I like to watch the games from the stands. When Kenny was in HS I used to hide out in the scorers box. I don't know, I just like to be alone with my thoughts of the game, during the game.

Thanks for the compliment about Kenny. He does seem to be having fun out there this year. I think it's probably going to be one of his best years. He's having fun now and usually that translates into great stats for him. For some reason he's always felt really on edge while JM was there.

Well, as I said I do plan on being there more this year. I cannot make every weekend series, but think I can make most of them this year.

Hope to meet you soon. I will be up in the stands though. Never on the fence line. And Kenny will not let me drink beer at his games. Just not a good idea.

The Armyofone callsign is a play on the actual Armyofone saying. I am retired Army. Armyofone is not a statement that one is alone. It means that I am an Army onto myself. A warrior, that embodies all the characteristics necessary to accomplish any mission. I bleed the warrior ethos. I am an ARMY OF ONE.

Hope to meet you soon.

Take care,

Brian

Army of One,
Thanks for playing with me! Realized your callsign was some kind of play on being career Army.

Now you are retired. You may need to change your stategy to complete the mission of meeting other parents. You may need to come down to where the parents are either before the game or after the game...just sayin.....

As I am sure your wife will explain, it is very hard to meet anybody when you sit in the stands alone.

Kenny would love for you to come have a beer with Mrs. Metheny in Rally Alley. You're buying!

Be careful Army. I have good intel that she had Rally Alley installed just so that she could lure unsuspecting parents into her lair.

Love ya Babe. You're buying!

I'll be there on Saturday for both games. Someone is buying me a beer!

VMI 8 JMU 2