Dominion District Playoffs

The standings are listed here:
http://www.centralvahighschool...aseballstandings.htm.

The link didn't show up right on the previous post - it should say baseball in the middle not....sorry.

I think the Dominion District standings are misleading, as I have been told by a Monacan parent that they lost out on the tie-breaker with L.C. Bird. Bird is 6th seed, Monacan is not in the tourney at all.

Wow, that's really nice! Who set that up? Thanks for clueing me in!

I used to run a pretty decent (if I do say so myself) site for James River. While I am generally a big fan of Coach Schu, for reasons that have never really made sense to me he strongly disliked the site. While some would be happy to get their kids some notice, to keep families involved, to generate fan interest, and to have some volunteer help, the JR coaches just couldn't get past the fact that while they didn't want the burden of running a site themselves, they couldn't stand having content out there that they didn't control. Bottom line, the site died this year and has been replaced with exactly nothing -- which I consider unfortunate, especially for those kids who might wish some college coaches could follow them more easily. Last year, we had 5 seniors and a junior (since transferred get D-1 commitments. This year, we have exactly zero. Obviously the kid has to play the game, but having someone toot your horn for you helps some, IMHO.

I don't know why more teams don't do these sites. They are really not so hard to set up or to maintain, and at a minimum, it lets grandparents in far-flung places keep an eye on their boys. But you really do need coaches' support, because no one wants to worry about their sons getting retribution from the coaches.

Sounds like Cosby won a wild one today:

http://www.cosbytitans.com/BaseballFront.html

And L.C. Bird upset Clover Hill, 5-2. That's a surprise to me, given that Ackerman was coming off a shutout performance.

Wednesday:

Cosby v. Manchester, 3:00

L.C. Bird v. James River, 5:00 or as soon as possible after the first game ends

Both games at Cosby.

I see from the paper that Ackerman didn't even pitch, they went with Santalucia instead. And Clover Hill had the benefit of 9 hits and 2 E's but scored only 2 runs -- sounds like that's where the problem ended up.

Amazing that James River seems now to have an excellent chance to make the regional field for a 4th straight year, against all odds. Win today and hope Manchester does the same, and that would do it.

Makes me wonder if Schu might finally get some votes for coach of the year. He managed to get overlooked even while winning two consecutive state titles, but to win in a year when he started with almost zero varsity pitching experience on the roster, someone has to give the man some credit for that.

In a situation that seems to repeat every year, Manchester -- with a regional berth already assured -- came out flat and got taken by Cosby, 4-1. Manchester's usually heavy lineup just didn't hit today.

James River pulled away from L.C. Bird, then overcame a sloppy 7th to win, 8-3. Due to Manchester's loss, we won't know the district's other regional entrant until the end of Thursday's 5 p.m. game.

James River will be the higher seed and thus the home team, but Cosby will be on their home field. James River may have the advantage in that Cosby has had to use 2 games' worth of pitchers to get to this point, but it'll be a pull out all the stops game most likely.

Saunders was voted Coach of the Year, but Schumaker did a great job, no doubt

"Always a bridesmaid"?

Well, if you look back. Lowery got it two years ago. He took a brand new team and finished 2nd. Hard to say whether Schumaker deserved it that year. No one could look into the future and know that River would win states. If I had a vote, I probably would have voted Schumaker coach of the year that year, because he won the Dominion in his first year. But, I can understand the Lowery voters that year. Last year, Lowery won it again for winning the reg. season title when most thought that River would take it. So, again I can see both sides. I am sure that Pete will take the two rings over a few COY's

Comeback Cosby does it again with a come from behind 10-6 victory to win the title and get the regional berth.
Cosby plates 3 in the top of the 5th to knot the score at 5; but James River scores 1 in the bottom half on a double steal to regain the lead. Not to be denied the Cosby group puts up a 5 spot in their last AB. Ben Sisk gets the win pitching the final three innings.

Manchester Flat? Cosby played very well? Mooney pitched a heck of a game? Give The boys from Cosby there dues. Mooney pitched a great game and they made all of there plays and took full advantage of the few hits they got.The more talented squad lost the better team won, on that day.

Coach of the Year: LOWERY!! Cosby lost 8 starters from last years squad, 8 D1 players and also Ackerman. 1 returning starter . Talk about a heck of a job don't look to far this may have been State Coach of the Year. No seniors pitching, throwing freshman regular, mixing it up. Not much talk in the old man's corner. I tip my hat to him. His best job in years? Maybe most satisfing!!

Nobody doubts Lowery's ability to coach. It is obvious that he knows what he is doing. Bottom line is that they caught fire in the tournament. They finished the regular season on a sour note, but he got the young guys to believe and they came out and got it done this week

You may be right about 2007, but in 2008, Cosby was everyone's preseason # 1 in the region if not in the state. They were, as the later note makes clear, LOADED with talent, the way James River was in 2007.

In 2008, JR was deep in pitching but had newbies just about everywhere else. Defense was a BIG issue until the successful stretch run. Somebody deserves credit for the improvement that club made in a very short period.

No slight to Tim as to this year, but again JR had almost zero pitching returning this year. They did end up relying heavily on two seniors, but neither had any real varsity pitching experience. The next pitcher used was a true freshman. In the end they were 2 outs from pulling off a district championship.

But you have to tip your hat to Cosby, in the end they found a way to win it! And they will therefore stay alive on into the regionals. And I'll be pulling for them, for the pride of our district.

There'll be no "fourpeat" for the Dominion -- we got wiped out in the regional quarterfinals tonight.

Godwin 4, Cosby 3. I'd bet a lot of folks thought Godwin would run away with that. You've got to hand it to Cosby, they never, ever give you an inch. Even in what was thought to be a down year, there they are at the end yet again.

Deep Run 2, Manchester 0 -- 11 innings. Kicking myself for not getting over to see this one in person. Can't wait to read the reports. Starters should've been R.C. Orlan and Blake Hauser, though I don't know how long they lasted. 10 shutout innings for both of those lineups, somebody did some big time work on the mound.

Actually, Hauser did not start. I think Morrison threw the first 6

A report on VirginiaPreps.com indicates Morrison went 7 2/3 shutout innings. Wow, they gamble by not using their top guy in an elimination win, but in the end Morrison gave them all you could ask for and more apparently. DR got back-to-back RBI doubles off Hauser in the 11th to win it. I hear Orlan went what, 8 shutout innings?

I'm still kicking myself!

It was a helluva game. Morisson threw 7.3 innings of shut out ball. He left in the 7th men on 1st and 3rd. On Hauser's second pitch, Deep Run's Bechtol laces a line drive down the right field line on a hit and run. 1st baseman spears it and steps on 1st, DP out of the inning. Morisson's cutter was keeping Deep Run on their heels the whole game - they were fisting everything. I think it was the 5th inning (when Morrison gave up his first hit). Manchester's 3rd baseman made an ESPN Top 10 of the Month catch in there as well.

Orlan got out of bases loaded jams in the 3rd and 6th and didn't give up his first hit until the 6th. He hit 3 batters in the game (actually they were really smart as the ump wasn't giving the inside strike and on each one they leaned into the pitch), walked 1 (plus 2 IBB) and struck out 9 in his 8 innings.

Hauser was consistently 91-94 on the guns (there were more than a few there). CB was nasty around 75 and breaking a lot across the plate and away from the batters. Pretty much dominated the line-up until the 11th. A HBP, walk and legit double off the fence (good thing the wind was blowing in), and a tailing line drive which the left fielder dove in attempt to catch and had it roll off his glove for another double scored the 2 runs. Manchester threw one man out at home on the first double on a great throw from the relay man. Green was pretty solid out there as well. Didn't have great control but was effective and got key outs when he needed it. Bottom of the 11th, Manchester stranded men on 1st and 2nd.

Overall, one of the best HS games I've attended. Solid defense and some outstanding plays, dominant pitching, no lights and wondering if the game was going to have to continue the next day, an exciting ending. It was a shame someone had to lose.