Cosby at James River Tues. 6 p.m.

Is there no way Scheetz will be ready for tuesday? Do you know what is wrong with his arm? From what I hear, Carrico just struggled with command and hopefully that is just a fluke outing and he will be able to recover. James River pitcher, Trey Rose, threw very well in California I hear. Threw 10 innings in 3 days and got their only win. He could be a very solid option for the Rapids in relief. On that note, does anyone know if this Rose kid is going anywhere? I don't know if their depth is really all that hurt for this game. You still have Kirby, Carrico, and Rose. I think Bickford could also be an extremely difficult matchup for JR. He has been consistant and hard to hit as of late. Other than Carpenter, who else can they throw effectively in relief? Overall, I'm sure this will be a very exciting game!!

Rose has developed well as a submarine-style guy, and given his height (and resulting length from that angle, just death on righty batters), it would not surprise me at all to see him as a late recruit for someone. Schu is doing his part by getting him in there regularly, Rose is taking good advantage by throwing well, and given that the team as a whole is pretty thoroughly scouted, I think there is reason to hope that someone will take notice. I know that a lot of college programs love to have that submarine reliever option in the bullpen for key matchups.

Carrico was having a solid season so yes, you hope that last week was just an off day, maybe a kick in the hind parts. Might be a blessing in disguise that this happened away from home and in a setting that really doesn't affect the team's prospects in the district race, nor their hopes for bigger things beyond that.

Scheetz has had some modest elbow tenderness and has just been taking things carefully. The consensus is that it's nothing serious but unfortunately the only cure is rest and then not trying to come back too hard too soon. I think it's a week to week thing, so he might be available in relief today. However, I don't know that he's a good fit for following Kirby if it comes to that. I would think Carrico would come in to close if Kirby tires in the later innings. You aren't going to match Kirby's pure stuff, so coming from the other angle (righty following lefty) at least gives you a different look for those last outs.

Rose could get that call, too, but as you note, he threw a lot last week and might benefit from a few more days to recover.

As for Cosby, they have several very solid arms so they won't run out of options. Bickford, Carpenter, Williams and Byrd have all pitched well this spring, there are others that I'm just not as familiar with. This one is for first place in the district and the resulting automatic regionals bid, so I would think it would be no holds barred for both teams. But I gave up on trying to predict Lowery's moves a loooonng time ago!

Rose is a VMI Legacy and is going there next year as a recruited walk-on.

Cosby has additional depth in their pen with Billy Gohlke (LHP) and Mike Day (RHP) to go along with the others already mentioned.

To be honest, Cosby may have more depth on the hill than JRHS at the moment.

This is going to be an incredible matchup.

At the start of the season, I thought Cosby had the edge in terms of its offense and defense, JR in its pitching.

Funny how things work out. Cosby may be stronger on the hill right now. Meanwhile, a trio of sophomores have stepped up to fill gaps in JR's lineup on both offense and defense. Cullen Large is a strong bat and a strong defender at SS, Harry Lee Watson (LF) might be leading the district in batting, and 2B Paul Wood turns in a couple of gold glove plays every time I see a game. Meanwhile Cosby's two losses have involved late game defensive implosions.

I have no idea how this one will turn out, but I'll bet the outcome will still be in doubt right up until the very last out is recorded.

quote:

Originally posted by R.Graham:
...This is going to be an incredible matchup.

I agree, Rich. I am considering making the drive.

According to Virginia Preps James River scores 3 in bottom of 7th for 5-4 win

Michael Trentham came up with a huge 2 out 2 run single to plate Mac Caples for the win in the bottom of the 7th.

Great game between 2 great teams. The rematch should be INCREDIBLE!!!

Cosby battled and scraped to take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 7th but the River managed to work a couple walks and spark the rally.

Great game.

Classic battle between these two. It really turned out to be a question of who would make more mistakes to open the door for the other guys. Unlike last year when Cosby won all 3 matchups, this time Cosby made more mistakes at the end, setting up a dramatic 2-out, 2-RBI hit from Michael Trentham to win it in the bottom of the 7th.

Nate Kirby was very strong for 5 innings. Cosby took advantage of a WP on a third strike to extend an inning, then got another guy on via error, so that Kirby had a high pitch count after 1. But the next few innings he was in total command, so he did not seem in danger of not finishing. But in the 6th he started losing the zone. Though to be honest, his second walk that inning involved a 3-2 ball call that was one of many highly questionable ball/strike calls that went both ways in the latter innings. (HPU just seemed to lose focus in this one.)

Cosby soph LHP Hunter Williams had a solid start, and it was 0-0 going to the bottom of the 4th when JR got the leadoff man to 2nd, then a bunt was mistakenly played to 3d allowing both runners to be safe. Michael Trentham had a hard RBI hit and a second run ultimately came in on a 2-out, bases loaded HBP. Michael Carpenter then came on and did a great job holding JR down until the 7th.

After Kirby tired in the 6th, Tyler Carrico came on with 2 on, 1 out and a 2-1 lead. He retired the next 2 guys but with 2 WP's sandwiched around a ground out, both Cosby runners scored to make it 3-2. The way Carpenter was throwing, it looked like yet another one slipping away on mistakes for JR. When Cosby got another run off Trey Rose in the top of the 7th, 4-2 seemed insurmountable.

But Carpenter suddenly walked the bases loaded with one out in the 7th. Again I think you could question some of the calls but he did lose the zone quite a bit. A WP made it 4-3 with runners on 2nd and 3rd. Carpenter rallied to get a called third strike (clearly a strike this time). But the very next pitch to Trentham was hit down the LF line, uncatchable, and with 2 outs and runners moving on contact, the winning run scored easily.

Neither side really distinguished itself offensively in this one. Credit the pitchers there. Williams was very tough, Carpenter was throwing very hard for Cosby. For JR, Kirby was on until he tired. And yes, he throws low 90's but I have to tell you, the slider is what makes him an early round prospect. There's just no way any HS hitter is going to hit that pitch, and I honestly cannot recall anyone doing much more than nipping that pitch all game.

Probably as much of a feeling of relief for JR, as they just couldn't seem to get over the hump against Cosby last year, and this time Trentham's heroics saved the day. Next time, I wonder if Cosby will turn to Ryan Bickford for a different look, but in the end it seems these games always come down to who makes the unfortunate mistake and who takes advantage.

Also, my concerns stated above about the state of JR's pitching, as it turned out, understated things. Word came today that last year's first team all region pitcher and VT commit Kit Scheetz will have to have Tommy John surgery, so he's gone for the duration. Still no word on exactly what's up with Jack Roberts but the time table has now been pushed back at least another month, meaning the best they can hope for is to get some innings in the last few regular season games and maybe have him rounding into shape for the playoffs.

Kirby can't do it all, so it's going to fall to guys like Carrico, Rose and Lanzillotti to provide quality innings.

Really tough break for Scheetz...if I recall, he burst onto the scene last year after missing his 10th grade year due to a knee injury. I wonder what that time off did for his arm. Does he have any history of overuse or does this seem like maybe more bad luck than anything?

No history of overuse at all.

The reality of pitching -- or really any athletic activity -- is that sometimes the body breaks down. Best practices minimize risk, but you can never eliminate risk entirely.

quote:

Originally posted by R.Graham:
Michael Trentham came up with a huge 2 out 2 run single to plate Mac Caples for the win in the bottom of the 7th.

Great game between 2 great teams. The rematch should be INCREDIBLE!!!

Cosby battled and scraped to take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 7th but the River managed to work a couple walks and spark the rally.

Great game.

A coworker said they heard the roar of the (several hundred?) fans 3 1/2 miles away.