FM Marcus vs FMHS

Not only that but one of the pitchers may actually give up AN EARNED RUN!!! -- a lot of excitement in Flower Mound. In Plano, we're playing for pride. Oldbat-never, will you be there to keep the crowd under control? I'll be interested in your post-game report on the local hospitality.

Go......ummm......someone!

Wouldn't miss it...........Game is played at Marcus this time around, so hopefully we will stay with what we have done all year in regards to music/soundbits/drops and censored music and make it an enjoyable game

Although I may have to bring a seatbelt to contain myself...........should be a good game. Prior to the Varsity game is the JV game and that is as strong of a rivalary as the Varsity game so it will be a good night of baseball for us..........

Good Luck in your game tomorrow night. Will your son be on the mound??????

Coach Collins keeps the pitching assignments pretty close to the vest until game day. I am guessing that Matt Spade will be on the bump -- PantherSon may relieve, if needed.

Will be scanning the papers Saturday Morning. Good Luck tonight.

And BTW you have some HUGE boys on that JV team of yours.......are they all JR.'s?

Yes, all JV players in Plano (at all three senior high schools) are juniors, according to district policy. At last report, sophomores that make the teams next year will be assigned to JV or Varsity. Plano will have Freshmen teams at the high schools and JV/V teams at the senior highs. IMO, a positive step.

Final score after 8 innings of play:

FMHS 6 Marcus 3
With this outcome FM Marcus, FMHS and Allen are now tied for the lead in district 8-5A

What a game it was.......

OBN, few details in the paper -- tell us about the game, please.

Jordan Meaker started for Flower Mound and Gary Poynter for Marcus. First run scored by FMHS on an overthrow from 3B-1B. Both Meaker and Poynter's bats helped each team respectively at key times. Meaker's HR (questioned by many as a foulball) gave FM the lead in the 8th inning and Poynter's hit in the 7th tied the game to take us to extra innings. Meaker threw 4 2/3 innings followed by Kelly who looked very good and strong. Gaviglio had the save for FM while H. Baker finished for Marcus.

Great game, errors on both sides. FM looked solid but Marcus has learned how to battle and is getting stronger each game at the plate.

Meaker allowed 4H and 2R and Poynter struck out 7 allowing 6H' in 7 2/3 innings.

Poynter threw 130 solid pitches with 7 SO's to Meakers, Kelly and Gaviglio's 2 each.

Marcus had 5 errors to FM's 3. Hits: Meaker had 3Hits, Pharr 2Hi's and for Marcus Poynter and Sandridge each lead the team with 2 a piece.

oldbat-never,
I know that many Marcus HS. fans (as well as the Marcus coaches) fiercely believed/argued that Jordan's homerun hit was a foul ball. Just finished watching slow motion film from Sunday night's High School Sports Xtra on Channel 8. It clearly showed that it was fair. The announcer congratulated the ump on a good call. Just wanted to clear up any question so that both Jordan and the FMHS Jaguars can enjoy their win without any question as to its validity.

Catchallmom, if you still have it on TIVO did you see the ball hit the wall on the foul side, what was that all about, maybe it wrapped around fair and came back to hit the fence?

From what I know the Marcus coaches still believe it was foul.

Doesn't matter, game over, on to the next game..................

Oldbat-never, The slow motion footage shows that the ball didn't hit the fence at all. It shows that the ball was fair when it went past the foul pole. The announcer even congratulated the ump on a good call.

guess I need to see what is wrong with my TIVO and call my sister and tell her the same,,,,, oh well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it doesn't matter, game over, district tied, more games to be played for both teams. It has been a good year, so far for both teams. Nice to have some competition over here on the Westside and get noticed..... And I think I will save it on my TIVO and have you over for some wine and maybe crawfish and we can watch it together.....

On a side note, I thought Paul Kelly reminded me of one of my favorite players, Houston Street. Of course my son just thinks I have a crush on street,,,,,,,,

Does Marcus not have a closing pitcher? IMO, the game would have had a different outcome if Marcus would have had someone to close it out. It was obvious Poynter was done by the 6th ... and 130 pitches is another controversial topic (not just the foul ball!). Great game, though. It was much closer than the score indicates. That new Marcus coach has brought some "energy" to the program and the school.

I wouldn't be surprised if Gary didn't ask to stay in. He seemed as strong at the end (velocity) as he did when he started, except for the last batter or two. I know the coach took full responsibility for not making the change sooner (wow,,,,,,now that is impressive)....

That particular closer is a Junior first year Varsity player who was out all last year with an injury. He was very effective in the Allen game and I just think that he didn't have it for that particular situation. The FM bats took advantage of the change. Usually the change in tempo from Poynter to him works, but the Marcus/FM game is never like "any other game" and that goes for every sport.....

Were you at the game? It was the largest crowd I have ever seen at our field. It is nice to have some good baseball out in the West now with Marcus, Lewisville and FM competing so well.

You are right the program has a lot of energy now and it is building each day. With success the players are getting stronger, more polished and hungry for more.........the coach has helped bring this all together.......

Hope your son had another great game and that his season continues to be successful.

Lewisville competing?????????

Lewisville is doing better than last year.......
and currently right behind the 3-way tie of Allen, Marcus and FM.

I took the opportunity to attend this game and it was great. I did watch the replay on Ch. 8 and the baseball can be seen as it bends around the "mesh" portion of the foul pole. The ball hit a car parked near the LF fence and bounced back.

I understand that a report is going to be filed by the Chief Umpire because the first base coach grabbed him and pushed him away from the head coach of Lewisville-Marcus during the "discussion" of the call.

A good contest. Looks like each coach changed the pitching rotation for this one. Poynter looks like he would make a good closer.

As far a Lewisville competing....you might want to check Lewisville's schedule, easy pre-district comp. Lewisville-Marcus is deserving of an area ranking and should win some in the playoffs.

Poynter has done well starting and closing this year.

Is the report on the 1B coach? If so, wasn't he trying to keep something from happening???????? I don't know I missed that one as I was still looking at the outfield fence trying to figure that one out..........

Do you call Marcus Lewisville-Marcus because we are in the Lewisville District? Because our school is actually located in Flower Mound and it seems like all the papers and things have now labeled it at Flower Mound Marcus I guess so people know where we are located.

Poynter looks like a closer to me also!! (and a good one, at that!) I heard he got the start only because of injury in the rotation. ?? I'm thinking maybe the first base coach was "saving" the head coach's **s by "touching" the umpire (overshadowed what was already said and done??)

Melynda
Don't know about the injury and not sure who that would be............

I think you are right on the umpire situation.....that is what I heard as well. This game is just full of raw emotion and you hate to have calls in question....Like you said it was a much closer game than the score.

Lewisville needs a new coach or it is not going anywhere.

They have a proven winner on their staff in Kennedy, and it boggles the mind why they don't promote him to be the Head Coach and get the current coach to retire.

Where was the FM ace - Italiano? The bottom line is that Marcus threw their ace and FM did not? FM still won. Marcus has not seen Italiano all year - maybe in the playoffs?

Yes about the First Base coach and "intent" has nothing to to do with it. The rules and punishments are quite specific on touching an Umpire.

Most HS are named by the District and then uniques HS name. I am sure this more an outfall of the football teams success in the 90's and that Flower Mound (the town)gave the Maurauders a greater identification and disassociation with LHS. If you look at UIL playoff brackets in any sport you wil see the teams listed by District and then unique name (the s****r team is a current example).

By the way congratulations to the Lady Marauders on their S****r Campionship.

I talked to a parent of the Lewisville-Flower Mound team and asked the same question as was told the Italiano tweaked his back against Allen and was not available.

Is Poynter considered the Marcus ace? I don't see it that way, but I could be wrong.

And KD, your questions must be rhetorical...there are few "forced" retirments in this neck of the woods -- especially in baseball.

Three teams at 8-2 in District 8:

FM_I and FM_II and Allen (8-2)
Plano East & Lewisville (5-5)
Plano (4-6)
Plano West (2-8)
TCHS (0-10)

Back-to-back gaames this weekend, due to TAKS. Allen has the easiest short road.

I would say Poynter is their real ace - he is the only one that consistently throw in the low 90's. I have read about a possible injury, etc. to one of their starters. In my opinion thats alot of bull. The Marcus coach wanted this game - he went against his normal rotation and left Poynter in the whole game (130 pitches) and still came up short. The Marcus coach and the Marcus team wanted this one real bad - it will be interesting to see how this game impacts their thoughts as they approach the playoffs.

My guess is they are even more determined.....................

Yes, a win against an intown rival is always nice, but as we know a loss can make a team even stronger. From what I have been told the team is even more fired up after this game and I think the result of the game could just be the extra kindling they wanted.

Herriage and Heath have all proved themselves on the mound this year along w/Poynter.

And a BIG CONGRATS to our Girl's State Championship S****r Team. They had 13 players sign college scholorships w/at least 8 of them DI, A very talented group of girls and we are very proud of them, even if it is s****r.

Someon told me at ths FMHS/MHS game that the MHS coach stated earlier in the season that he did not care if MHS won the District, he just wanted to beat FMHS...Any truth to that statement?

Panther Dad....What are Allen's remaining games? Do they have Lewisville-Marcus again? The Allen ace is darn good. I understand the two loses came after he suffered an injury/strain due to excessive pitches in the Tournamnet of Champions (140 +/- pitches) and then came back after a 4 to 5 day rest and beat FMHS with a 120 +/- performance on a frigid night in March.

Allen has PW, TCHS, FMM, and PE. The Allen versus Marcus game should be a good one.

no truth to the coach's statement that he (Marcus) just wants to beat Flower Mound HS ....... he WANTS to win every game

From an outsider looking in, all the Plano schools are scary as they appear to have great hitters up and down the order.

Yes, Melynda you are so right, he wants to win them all! The FM games are just 2 games on the schedule. A schedule he sees as including post season play.

Every district game/win gets them closer and closer to post season, so every game efects the standings equally.

A general question about FM Marcus --

How are the boosters "warming up" to the new coach and his....."style"? He certainly seems to be getting the most of this group. They are aggressive offensively and relatively sound from a fundamentals standpoint. Will this guy be embraced if he wins a few playoff series?

I've talked to a few Marcus parents in the stands, a couple of Marcus teachers, a para-professional employee of the school and an office secretary. No one has had a negative thing to say about Coach Chumbley. His "style" may not be what some kids & parents need or want ... BUT it will rid the program of lazy players and all the prima donna's. Only baseball players will remain. IMO, every High School baseball game should be played to win ... whether you've secured a playoff spot or lost every game! Respect for the game is not something every player is taught these days. I think Coach Chumbley is, at the very least, demanding (and teaching) that aspect. I think he has developed a "team" atmosphere in the short time he has been there. Give me a Coach Cumbley any day....... (but I hope I'm not at a Marcus game if/when he has a heart attack!!)

by the way, anyone know who is pitching for Marcus tonight ..... since the rotation was "changed" last week?

Melynda you have a PM

Also, no games tonight due to TAKS test. Next game is Friday at Marcus vs Plano. Then on Saturday they face Lewisville. Here is the team website:

www.marcusbaseball.com

quote:

Originally posted by Melynda:
His "style" may not be what some kids & parents need or want ... BUT it will rid the program of lazy players and all the prima donna's. Only baseball players will remain. IMO, every High School baseball game should be played to win ... whether you've secured a playoff spot or lost every game! Respect for the game is not something every player is taught these days. I think Coach Chumbley is, at the very least, demanding (and teaching) that aspect. I think he has developed a "team" atmosphere in the short time he has been there.

Best post I have read on this board. I agree 100%.

Ken, have to . Too many are afraid of parents or kids or something!!