I knew it would be tough for Robinson to beat Langley on Friday. The Robinson team is just too young, with only had four players in their lineup who were on the varsity roster last year. It was just too tall a task, but it was a remarkable accomplishment for them to win their district this year. Langley just looked like they had the experience and were a better all around team. Byrne was in command throughout the game and they also saved him that last couple innings. Now that they beat South County today, I believe they will give West Springfield a tough game on Wednesday. I just don’t see them losing with Byrme on the mound again on Wednesday.
As for the Westfield LB matchup, Westfield actually has the pitching available that could get them into the States. Wade Arduini, the starter today, was pulled early after only three relatively easy innings and an 8-0 lead. He can probably throw again on Wednesday. They also have Bryan Drager ready and well rested. LB had a tough game against McLean today and Church threw a lot of pitches in their 6 – 5 win. Also, Rodgers had to come in and threw a good amount of pitches in his three innings of work. If I were to bet, I would say Westfield and Langley have the edge on Wednesday and should meet in Friday's final. It all comes down to pitching and what each team has left to throw in th enext two games. Good luck to all four teams left.
quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood:
So, two of the final 4 in the Northern region are from the Patriot District. I can't remember if this happened last year (South County, Lake Braddock, perhaps?) but if I remember correctly, 3 of the final 4 in 2010 were from Patriot (West Springfield, Woodson, Braddock)
I am certain at least South County and Lake Braddock were there because Great Bridge beat both in States.
quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood: if I remember correctly, 3 of the final 4 in 2010 were from Patriot (West Springfield, Woodson, Braddock)
Would not have made sense for 3 of the final 4 to be from one district since only 2 teams from each region advance to the final 8 of the state. Braddock was not one of the final 8. Western Branch of the Southeastern District was one of the final 4 along with West Springfield, Woodbridge and Woodson.
That is correct. Woodson beat LB in the Northern Region semis in 2010.
quote:Originally posted by WB Reporter:quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood: if I remember correctly, 3 of the final 4 in 2010 were from Patriot (West Springfield, Woodson, Braddock)
Would not have made sense for 3 of the final 4 to be from one district since only 2 teams from each region advance to the final 8 of the state. Braddock was not one of the final 8. Western Branch of the Southeastern District was one of the final 4 along with West Springfield, Woodbridge and Woodson.
I could be mistaken, but I think he was referring to the "final 4" of the Northern Region. With four teams from each district making the regional tournament, it is conceivable that 3 of them (depending on the bracket) could have made the semi-finals of the regional tournament. Therefore, leaving the two winners advancing to the state bracket.
Golfball and Heels, you are both correct. My original post referred to the final four of the northern region, which itself refers to where we are now.
Clearly, since only two teams from each region emerge to play in States, there can by definition be no more than two teams from the same district in States.
Clearly, since only two teams from each region emerge to play in States, there can by definition be no more than two teams from the same district in States.
My bad on the year. I was thinking 2011 not 2010.
The Mclean - Lake Braddock game was a real good game on a very hot afternoon. LB took a 5-2 lead around the 3rd inning but Mclean came back and tied it with three runs in the 5th. LB finally pushed a run across on a squeeze bunt with one out in the bottom of the 9th for a 6-5 victory. Could have gone either way as both teams had their chances to score.
I'm gonna go polar opposite from MR BIG and take both Patriot teams to advance. Both LB and WS have been here before, multiple times over the past few years. I think that experience in big games is HUGE and will play a big factor. Braddock will advance more easily than WS, but I think we will see an all-Patriot final once again this year.
Your half way there, LB over Westfield 8-0. Rogers throws a complete game. LB pounded the outside pitch to right center all game up and down the lineup.
Mr BIG mentioned Robinson being young. If I'm not mistaken, Lake Braddock returns all but the 2nd baseman and left fielder next year from today's starting lineup.
As an original LB grad I am partial to that school. If I had a talented enough kid and was moving to the area that is where I would find a home. Just like Annandale and their football program in the 60's, 70's and 80's, LB has the best program in the area IMO. Each year they seem to have some big time seniors and underclassmen learning the ropes. Each year they are playing about this time. They work at it. I have seen Rutherford at a number of games scouting his competition.
Rollapair, you have shown yourself as a wise old sage! Nice call on the predictions for the winners of tonight's games.
Another Northern Region final involving two Patriot District teams...who ever would have thunk it?
Another Northern Region final involving two Patriot District teams...who ever would have thunk it?
West Springfield 7, Langley 1
Not at all surprised to see an all-Patriot final again this year. You make your money in the postseason and Lake Braddock/South County/West Springfield have been there consistently over the past six years or so. It's no accident. These programs know how to win games when they matter.
Congratulations to Coach Rutherford on yet another trip to States (how many trips for him?), and to Coach Olms, taking over for Coach James and taking West Springfield to States for the third time in four years. This is at least the third (fourth?) consecutive year that the Patriot sends two teams to States. A nice run for the district to be sure.
As for the final, Lake Braddock is surely the favorite. Ranked #1 locally all year, a lofty 23-2 record, and having beaten West Springfield fairly handily 3 times this season, it's not hard to see why. I expect we will see Church vs. Tagg. West Springfield is playing better now than at any point in the season. They are peaking at the right time and I do expect a close game. Lake Braddock got a scare from McLean and i'm sure that served as a great teaching point for Coach Rutherford to re-focus his team. Should be a good game and either team will be a tough out for their Central region opponents.
One thing I was surprised that I didn't see and that was Byrne NOT throwing for Langley. He looked fine playing 1B so i'm not sure what the thinking was there. Certainly the coaches couldn't have been looking ahead, knowing your season ends with a loss? It was curious to say the least.
Not at all surprised to see an all-Patriot final again this year. You make your money in the postseason and Lake Braddock/South County/West Springfield have been there consistently over the past six years or so. It's no accident. These programs know how to win games when they matter.
Congratulations to Coach Rutherford on yet another trip to States (how many trips for him?), and to Coach Olms, taking over for Coach James and taking West Springfield to States for the third time in four years. This is at least the third (fourth?) consecutive year that the Patriot sends two teams to States. A nice run for the district to be sure.
As for the final, Lake Braddock is surely the favorite. Ranked #1 locally all year, a lofty 23-2 record, and having beaten West Springfield fairly handily 3 times this season, it's not hard to see why. I expect we will see Church vs. Tagg. West Springfield is playing better now than at any point in the season. They are peaking at the right time and I do expect a close game. Lake Braddock got a scare from McLean and i'm sure that served as a great teaching point for Coach Rutherford to re-focus his team. Should be a good game and either team will be a tough out for their Central region opponents.
One thing I was surprised that I didn't see and that was Byrne NOT throwing for Langley. He looked fine playing 1B so i'm not sure what the thinking was there. Certainly the coaches couldn't have been looking ahead, knowing your season ends with a loss? It was curious to say the least.
There were many posts on this blog about the strength of the Concorde and Liberty district this year, and there were many posts about how great South County and West Potomac would be this year in the Patriot district.....the results speak for themselves.... By the way, in the Northern Region, the Patriot District is the standard for Baseball. period.
Nobody thought much of West Springfield all year.....yet here we are with WS and LB in the Northern Region finals. To an extent it's due to the coaches that one of these two teams have been in the North Region finals and/or state tournament since 2007....it's the players and the place they learned to compete at a young age..West Springfield Little League which feeds both Lake Braddock and West Springfield
Nobody thought much of West Springfield all year.....yet here we are with WS and LB in the Northern Region finals. To an extent it's due to the coaches that one of these two teams have been in the North Region finals and/or state tournament since 2007....it's the players and the place they learned to compete at a young age..West Springfield Little League which feeds both Lake Braddock and West Springfield
Rollapair - LB deserves to be the favorite, but this will be a good game like the last time these two played. The Patriot District Championship score did not show how close the game actually was...also your comment about Langley not using a particular player to pitch tonight is not taken as a slight to the WSHS win....like I know it was intended. That's ok the Spartans thrive on comments like that.
quote:Originally posted by rollapair:
West Springfield 7, Langley 1
Not at all surprised to see an all-Patriot final again this year. You make your money in the postseason and Lake Braddock/South County/West Springfield have been there consistently over the past six years or so. It's no accident. These programs know how to win games when they matter.
Congratulations to Coach Rutherford on yet another trip to States (how many trips for him?), and to Coach Olms, taking over for Coach James and taking West Springfield to States for the third time in four years. This is at least the third (fourth?) consecutive year that the Patriot sends two teams to States. A nice run for the district to be sure.
As for the final, Lake Braddock is surely the favorite. Ranked #1 locally all year, a lofty 23-2 record, and having beaten West Springfield fairly handily 3 times this season, it's not hard to see why. I expect we will see Church vs. Tagg. West Springfield is playing better now than at any point in the season. They are peaking at the right time and I do expect a close game. Lake Braddock got a scare from McLean and i'm sure that served as a great teaching point for Coach Rutherford to re-focus his team. Should be a good game and either team will be a tough out for their Central region opponents.
One thing I was surprised that I didn't see and that was Byrne NOT throwing for Langley. He looked fine playing 1B so i'm not sure what the thinking was there. Certainly the coaches couldn't have been looking ahead, knowing your season ends with a loss? It was curious to say the least.
Army89, it was not a slight at the West Springfield win, but rather he was making the correct assertion, that the score would have been much different had Byrne been on the mound for Langley, instead of their #3 pitcher
Not a slight at all army89, simply an observation. Why would you not throw the pitcher who gives you the best chance to win and who was by all indications available? Maybe his arm was sore, I don't know, I was just asking a question.
My son graduated a Spartan so you grossly misinterpreted my comment. I couldn't be happier for the coaches, players, and their families. On this board however, I try to be as fair and balanced as possible in my observations.
If you choose to be a chest-beating homer, then that's fine for you. However, I will continue to call things the way I see them and raise questions that I feel are appropriate for the benefit of not only Spartans fans, but for everyone interested.
My son graduated a Spartan so you grossly misinterpreted my comment. I couldn't be happier for the coaches, players, and their families. On this board however, I try to be as fair and balanced as possible in my observations.
If you choose to be a chest-beating homer, then that's fine for you. However, I will continue to call things the way I see them and raise questions that I feel are appropriate for the benefit of not only Spartans fans, but for everyone interested.
Guess we will never know. Glad the spartans were so lucky.
quote:Originally posted by Crowhop:
Army89, it was not a slight at the West Springfield win, but rather he was making the correct assertion, that the score would have been much different had Byrne been on the mound for Langley, instead of their #3 pitcher
Army89, I don't see where Rollapair's comments were in any way a slight towards WS. Rather, they raised a question about possible coaching decisions on Langley's part. If their "stud" pitcher was hurt, and forced to play 1B, then that's one thing, but if the coaches were thinking about holding him back for the Championship game (which of course they will not play in), then that's another matter entirely. Unless we hear from somebody in the loop with the Langley program, we may never know.
If you take a moment and go back and look at Rollapair's comments about WS and the Patriot District over time, you'll find that he has been -- and remains -- very complimentary of the WS program, while also having some objectivity. In other words, he respects the program and thinks highly of it, but is not a pure "homer." This type of objectivity is refreshing, and all too rare on this site. I, for one, look forward to reading his posts.
If you take a moment and go back and look at Rollapair's comments about WS and the Patriot District over time, you'll find that he has been -- and remains -- very complimentary of the WS program, while also having some objectivity. In other words, he respects the program and thinks highly of it, but is not a pure "homer." This type of objectivity is refreshing, and all too rare on this site. I, for one, look forward to reading his posts.
quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood:
Rollapair, you have shown yourself as a wise old sage! Nice call on the predictions for the winners of tonight's games.
Another Northern Region final involving two Patriot District teams...who ever would have thunk it?
Posted February 03, 2012 02:47 PM
My $.02:
Patriot - LB slight edge over WS
(Ok, it wasn't thaaaat great of a prediction :-))
Congrats to Lake Braddock and West Springfield. No doubt, two of the best coached teams in the State.
Jess1, you are a wise old sage, too! Good job.
reason for O'Connor over Byrne is simple, very sore arm and coaches didn't feel it necessary to risk an injury to a college bound player. Additionally, had Langley not made the errors they did behind the # 3 pitcher the outcome may have been very different too.
quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood:
Army89, I don't see where Rollapair's comments were in any way a slight towards WS. Rather, they raised a question about possible coaching decisions on Langley's part. If their "stud" pitcher was hurt, and forced to play 1B, then that's one thing, but if the coaches were thinking about holding him back for the Championship game (which of course they will not play in), then that's another matter entirely. Unless we hear from somebody in the loop with the Langley program, we may never know.
If you take a moment and go back and look at Rollapair's comments about WS and the Patriot District over time, you'll find that he has been -- and remains -- very complimentary of the WS program, while also having some objectivity. In other words, he respects the program and thinks highly of it, but is not a pure "homer." This type of objectivity is refreshing, and all too rare on this site. I, for one, look forward to reading his posts.
and scoring more than 1 run would have helped as well
Thanks for the info, Langleyloop. Sounds like the coaches made a smart -- and difficult -- decision.
Tonight's Northern Regional final has apparently been postponed until tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:30PM.
quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood:
Tonight's Northern Regional final has apparently been postponed until tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:30PM.
Cosby Titans beat James River Rapids in the Central Region 11-1. James River will make the trip north on Tuesday to face the winner of tomorrow's NR finals.
The Northern District Winner will likely face Nathan Kirby from James River on Tuesday. Gatorade Player of the year. UVA Recruit, 2 No-hitters, consistently 91-93. Should make for a great matchup.
quote:Originally posted by 3plplay:quote:Originally posted by berryberrygood:
Tonight's Northern Regional final has apparently been postponed until tomorrow (Saturday) at 6:30PM.
Cosby Titans beat James River Rapids in the Central Region 11-1. James River will make the trip north on Tuesday to face the winner of tomorrow's NR finals.