Farragut now and yesterday...

Thanks for the report. I read on CoachT where Rob had 18Ks, but wasn't sure how Maryville got the runs.

I went to the ECU website yesterday looking for current stats, but the stat pages wouldn't load. Great for Harrison!

After I dig out from "busy season" I'd like to catch some high school games.

HVol, it was great to see you and SoupKitchen at the Ballpark yesterday!! Sort of made things "all right" with the world. It was a great day for baseball, we saw a good, competitive game between 2 good teams. Always stop by to see us in the "Skybox" when you're in the neighborhood.

HVol,DugoutDad, Tampa Bay 41, and The FH,

It was great to see everyone on what was a great night for baseball; and to see the mighty Admiral's picking up where they left off i.e. playing sound fundemental baseball. In my mind there is no way to effectively compare this team to that team.......all you can say about the program at Farragut is that it is top notch year after year. Win or lose they "will" come to play.

HVol, I think you said it best yesterday when you said....basically....win or lose Coach Pharr has been one of the 2 or 3 coaches in this state that has raised the level of play....not just in Knoxville and E. TN....but across the state.

I do appreciate the kind words the family has gotten on Harrison's recent success at ECU. He has meshed in well with the N.C. "low country" way of life. As I have told a number of you; he is very happy with his choice of ECU. They have worked him hard, taught him more about the game, and he "is" stronger, faster, and more confident in his game. The "college life" has suited him.

quote:

Originally posted by HiwasseeVol:
I got baseball fever yesterday and attended the Farragut/Maryville game that the Admirals won 7-2 behind the pitching of Catapano. Maryville hung in with the pitching of Andrew Clement and the HR of Cade Thompson and were tied 2-2 until Farragut scored 5 runs in the bottom of 5th inning. It was obvious that Clement tired in the inning, but Maryville must not have any answers in the bullpen.

The six hits that Catapano gave up surprised me somewhat, but he does have good command of the strike zone. Coach Delmonico and Coach Simcox were at the game to watch Tony and signee Cody Brown and perhaps Catapano. Tony had a triple, but also had an infield error, but shows flashes of great play and speed.

It was the first game for me at Farragut in many games that didn’t end in the mercy rule and looks like concessions may be up for the Admirals this year.

A good surprise was the attendance at the game of "SoupKitchen" who was nice enough to sit with me for the game. It gave me a chance to complement the fine play of his son at East Carolina this year. I’ve been meaning to post something on Harrison’s freshman year with the Pirates, but have yet to get around to making a post. If you haven’t checked out the ECU website, please take the time and see what Harrison has been doing. He’s been over .400 BA most of the season and is at .388 BA (3rd on the team) and has played in 18 of the teams 19 games. He leads all freshman with 14 RBI’s and 12 Runs scored and average and recently collected his first college HR.

I understand that Harrison is a fan favorite (no surprise here) and very pleased with his college choice. Many of us thought of Harrison as the most dangerous hitter in the state last year and he looks like he will make his mark in Conference USA. He is a player that the "Big Orange" could use.

The best of luck to Harrison and to the continued success of East Tennessee's premier baseball program led by Coach Pharr.

Great game Andrew lost a lot as the game went on. I was surprised Blair was not in relief. There pen is short right now with King out untill April.

That performance from Rob sounds quite impressive. Doesn't suprise me at all though! He's got nasty stuff and a good coach calling the pitches.

Harrison always was dangerous because he was impossible to get out. He will battle and battle and RARELY strike out which is something he always took pride in - putting the ball in play and making them get him out. The stats I keep checking on the ECU website are great news and Harry seems to be loving it!

Just a report that Farragut beat Baylor in their first game at the Scenic City Classic tonight 3-2. Don't know all the details but Heyming started the game and then Delmonico came in for the last 3 I believe.

Even more importantly they wore their new "throwback" uniforms. Many teams claim to have throwbacks however I don't believe ANY match these. They look like they took a team straight off the Polo Grounds. Short-billed wool hats, jerseys with extra long sleeves and a vertical "Farragut" down the buttons with baggy pants...oh how jealous I am not to have the honor of wearing that!

Thanks for the report on tonights game and congrats to the Admirals. I saw the Coach Pharr wearing the throwback uniform in Nashville at the TBCA meeting. I told him he needed to get a team photo with the players coming out of a cornfield for 2005.

On another note on Harrison, Please read this article from yesterday's newspaper:

Freshman coming up big for the Pirates

By Nick Zulovich, The Daily Reflector

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Harrison Eldridge faced the situation throughout his baseball playing career. An individual would see him and doubt his abilities because he stands 5-foot-6 and weighs 165 pounds. Despite a sparkling high school career in Knoxville, Tenn., Eldridge's opportunities to play college baseball weren't so plentiful.

"I was told by all kinds of people that I was too short to play Division I baseball," Eldridge said after East Carolina's practice on Tuesday afternoon at Clark-LeClair Stadium. "East Carolina gave me the shot. They said, 'We had Jamie Paige here. We had Ryan Jones here and they were 5-7, 5-8.' They weren't great, big guys, but they had awesome careers here. They gave me the shot to come here. I feel like they've given me the opportunity to prove myself that it doesn't matter how big you are."

Eldridge is proving to be a vital member of ECU's lineup as a freshman. He currently is ranked sixth in Conference USA in batting average. Eldridge likely will be the starter in right field tonight when the Diamond Bucs (12-7) play host to one of their fiercest rivals, UNC Wilmington.

Eldridge didn't begin this season as a regular in ECU's lineup, but he expected that situation. Eldridge recalled a meeting he had with head coach Randy Mazey where he was explained how senior Drew Costanzo was the only player expected to be a starter in the Pirates' outfield. Eldridge said he was told he would be worked into the outfield rotation as the season went along, especially against right-handed pitching since he's a left-handed batter.

However, Eldridge's production made it difficult for Mazey to leave him out.

Eldridge holds a .388 batting average, appearing in all but one of ECU's ballgames. During his last 10 games, he has the most hits (14) and the second-most RBIs (10) of any Pirate. He hit his first home run as a college player in the series finale against Navy on March 13.

Up until the past weekend, Eldridge batted No. 9 in the ECU order. Against No. 2 Tulane, Mazey moved Eldridge into the second spot, and he responded with a ninth-inning, score-tying RBI double among his hits against the Green Wave.

"The top of the lineup always has been normal to me," said Eldridge, who was the leadoff batter for his high school team that won consecutive Tennessee Class 3-A state championships. "Being the nine hitter, that's almost like a second leadoff hitter. Second or nine, it doesn't matter as long as I get a good amount of playing time."

Eldridge's teammates certainly expect him to play a bunch now.

"He's really surprised me for his size how good he hits the ball," said Costanzo, who leads the Pirates and C-USA with seven home runs. "He's a great player for us. He's going to be great in all the years he's got left."

The Pirates likely will need superb performances from Eldridge, Costanzo and the rest of their roster tonight when they take on UNC Wilmington (13-10). The Seahawks have won six games in a row, series sweeps of Utah and Sienna that sandwiched a postponed game against ECU last Wednesday.

ECU certainly remembers the last trip UNCW made to Greenville. The Seahawks ended the Pirates' 19-game winning streak with a 15-5 victory on May 4, the last game ever played at Harrington Field.

"It's big-time, especially after last year," Costanzo said about the rivalry. "We want to beat that team pretty bad."

Great article. Soup, I know you're proud. Folks in East Carolina are learning what many of us have known about Harry - he can play the game.

Thanks guy's......headed for Greenville after I post this reply. The Greenville paper covers their "Pirate's" very well.

A note from the scenic city classic.....Science Hill tops the Farragut admirals 3-1. Superb pitching on behalf of science hill. Brandon Shoun homered for the toppers to seal the game.

Harry is at it again!

quote:

Eldridge and Billy Richardson led ECU (13-7, 0-3 C-USA) offensively. Eldridge hit 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Richardson also went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored. Grace, Brian Cavanaugh and Dale Mollenhauer all collected two hits on the day.

Link: ECU Holds Off a Late UNCW Rally to Win 12-8