I know quite a bit about the kids...coached some of them. Watched the rest play as they grew up. I'm not suggesting that any kids are intimidated. Just that good pitching is going to beat good hitting most of the time. If SC doesn't have arms...
we must have crossed paths over the years... I'm in agreement with you 100%, I just took what you said the wrong way. Don't write SC off just yet, they're a better hitting team than WS and LB and solid defensively. I know what WS has and they are loaded top to bottom, but you still have to play the game. SC has a solid #1 pitcher in Miller whose as competitive as anyone, and they have 2 collegebound hitters in Jordan and Digby. It will be very interesting in a month or so, you have to agree with that.
How did these teams look in first scrimmages? I know that Langley beat PVI, Mt Vernon beat Langley, and PVI beat Mt Vernon. I suspect that some of this may have had to do with lineups and tryouts and cuts, but it seems that this round of scrimmages did not reveal much.
Hayfield beat Edison and South Lakes on Saturday.
Lots of balance in 2009 as senior class across the region has many fewer D-1s than last year. There will be a lot of Team A beat Team B who beat Team C while Team C beat team A situations.
Just found out that West Potomac beat Mount Vernon by 1 last night.
Any details on the MtV vs. WestPo game? Pitchers for each? Anyone hit particularly well? When does each team open and against whom?
Westfield, Madison, and Lake Braddock play a round robin this Saturday at Westfield.
quote:Originally posted by isaacvanwart:
Any details on the MtV vs. WestPo game? Pitchers for each? Anyone hit particularly well? When does each team open and against whom?
I spoke with an MV dad and all he said was the score went back and forth and MV had "pitching issues."
MV opens Monday against Bishop Ireton and again Tuesday against Gonzaga.
quote:Originally posted by isaacvanwart:
Any details on the MtV vs. WestPo game? Pitchers for each? Anyone hit particularly well? When does each team open and against whom?
I spoke with an MV dad and all he said was that the score went back and forth and that MV had "pitching issues."
MV opens Monday at Bishop Ireton and again Tuesday at home against Gonzaga.
I went to see the first couple of hours of the Centreville McLean scrimmage today. I was later told that McLean ended up outscoring C-Ville in 10 innings by a large margin but I saw the first 5 innings or so and Centreville was up 3 or 4 to nothing and looked better than McLean did.
Neither team swung the bats particularly well, and Centreville scored their early runs mostly because of walks and errors, but Centrevilles pitchers were getting ahead and Ashooh dominated for three innings. McLean's pitchers threw well and had good stuff...you can tell it's a good staff....but they were often behind in the count and didn't handle the bad weather nearly as well as the first two pitchers from Centreville.
Im told that McLean feasted on Centreville pitching after the first two guys got their work in, but they didn't do much against early pitching.
Neither team swung the bats particularly well, and Centreville scored their early runs mostly because of walks and errors, but Centrevilles pitchers were getting ahead and Ashooh dominated for three innings. McLean's pitchers threw well and had good stuff...you can tell it's a good staff....but they were often behind in the count and didn't handle the bad weather nearly as well as the first two pitchers from Centreville.
Im told that McLean feasted on Centreville pitching after the first two guys got their work in, but they didn't do much against early pitching.
Saw some of the Westfield-Madison scrimmage. Madison is very young. Westfield showed some pop in the cold weather.
Mount Vernon beat Gonzaga 2-1 last night behind a great pitching performance by Mike Murdock. MV played exceptional defense with only two errors and hit Chris Casale pretty well. Chris did come up huge in spots with some over powering k's. Zac Quigley got the hitting started with hitting a double to right center and also came up huge with a base hit in the 7th with the game tied 1-1. MV starts the Luke Sable era 1-0
quote:Originally posted by BBallJunkie:
Mount Vernon beat Gonzaga 2-1 last night behind a great pitching performance by Mike Murdock. MV played exceptional defense with only two errors and hit Chris Casale pretty well. Chris did come up huge in spots with some over powering k's. Zac Quigley got the hitting started with hitting a double to right center and also came up huge with a base hit in the 7th with the game tied 1-1. MV starts the Luke Sable era 1-0
Gonzaga looked average at best. On Quigley's last at bat, the pitcher fooled him on a first pitch curve, made him chase a low and away fast ball, then for some reason while way ahead in the count, threw one down the middle. With runners at first and third, G'zaga intentionally walked the bases loaded. The next batter, who could have been K'd with hard heat, draws four balls for the walk off walk.
The "Luke Sable" era will last until his son graduates next year.
Who will take over after him? You dont think he would stick around? the man seems to have been playing in the dirt all of his life! I would think the passion and the challenge of the game would keep him around. Guess not. How did MV look? How are you tied to MV? Avg at best? They looked pretty strong to me! They are def. stronger than any team MV will face in their conference. MV did push Chantilly to the limits last season in the Regionals and two huge errors kept them from advancing. This team looked well polished for the season opener!
Who knows who the next coach will be? Luke is a business man. He'll do it until the son graduates and another search begins. I've seen Yorktown this young season and they are solid. I've heard W-L is as well. I've seen Edison and they are in the middle with the Stuarts and Wakefields in the cellar as usual. MV will make it to the region. Not sure what the match ups are this year but hope you don't get the Patriot. West Springfield and Lake Braddock are very good. One other Patriot team could surprise some people this year. MV might have looked polished but their talent doesn't stack up to the better teams in the area. I think their lack of quality pitching will hurt them. Hopefully I'm wrong. I wish MV the best but my comments are based on what I've seen so far this season and in years past.
Did West Springfield play Lake Braddock yesterday? Seems early in year for that to happen.
quote:Originally posted by Spartan81:
Did West Springfield play Lake Braddock yesterday? Seems early in year for that to happen.
No, I saw the score in the paper as well. West Springfield was supposed to play Robinson last night but they will play tonight at WS. Lake Braddock opens up Friday night at TC Williams.
Congratulations to Mount Vernon on its win over Gonzaga, and to Coach Sable in earning a victory in his first game as Head Coach. Great job. Sounds like Mike Murdock is the real deal--shutting down Gonzaga is not easy, as they always have quality players. Casale is supposed to be a very good pitcher, and for MV to beat him is huge. I checked Gonzaga's schedule and they have four games this week. To have pitched Casale means that they valued getting this win. Great win for MV.
Agreed......good win for the Majors. It is worth noting, however, that Gonzaga followed up that game by getting beat by Landon yesterday, who is terrible. Doesn't look like Gonzaga has a very good team this year, but it's good to see MV get off to a solid start under their new coach nonetheless. They should be able to contend in the National.
Of course winning the first game of the season is huge. But, Murdock looked middle of the road against an average team. He didn't get the win. Those that followed on the mound looked worse, yet MV pulled it out. As mentioned, Gonzaga was beaten by a bad team last night and according to the Post, MV lost to Bishop Ireton (whom I haven't seen). I'm a huge MV fan in all sports so I'm not here bashing, just trying to keep it real. There's a long season to go before they are crowned. If and when they are, I'll be first in line to slap their back-side as they cross the plate.
MV lost to BI 8-6 in a back and forth game that MV could have easily won. MV took the lead in the 5th inning 6-4 and gave it back in the 6th inning. BI stormed back for 4 runs to take an 8-6 lead. MV did have the tying run at the plate in the top of the 7th. Game notes, Zach Quigley left the game in the 2nd inning with a knee injury. He was replaced by a SO that made several huge errors in key parts of the game. Ultimately he was taken out of the game and Mike Murdock played his fourth position of the night by replacing him at first.
MV may not win states or even compete for the regions but its good to see a program that had been down for so long compete with teams that should and does have better talent. There is no way a public school on Rt 1 should beat Gonzaga and then bounce back the next night and come 2 plays away from beating another WCAC team.
19MajorDad24 your not keeping it real you are keeping it salty. Sounds like to me your son got struck out by Murdock. He out pitched a kid that signed with G'town. That in its own right says it all. An average team maybe in its own conference but across the board Gonzaga is not avg. If Gonzaga was a public school in the Northern Region it would be a top tier team being mentioned with Lake Braddock, Oakton, West Springfield, and so on. A public school that steps out to compete with the WCAC should not come away with a winning record esp since parents send their kids there for not only the education but for the sporting programs. MV is showing that they are going in the right direction and if people attend the games they will not be so quick to send their kids to PVI, Gonzaga, or BI for baseball.
Murdock has shut down two quality teams giving up 1 earned run over 11 innings. If MVs 1st team all district pitcher from last year comes back healthy MV will have the 1 and 2 they need to compete.
MV may not win states or even compete for the regions but its good to see a program that had been down for so long compete with teams that should and does have better talent. There is no way a public school on Rt 1 should beat Gonzaga and then bounce back the next night and come 2 plays away from beating another WCAC team.
19MajorDad24 your not keeping it real you are keeping it salty. Sounds like to me your son got struck out by Murdock. He out pitched a kid that signed with G'town. That in its own right says it all. An average team maybe in its own conference but across the board Gonzaga is not avg. If Gonzaga was a public school in the Northern Region it would be a top tier team being mentioned with Lake Braddock, Oakton, West Springfield, and so on. A public school that steps out to compete with the WCAC should not come away with a winning record esp since parents send their kids there for not only the education but for the sporting programs. MV is showing that they are going in the right direction and if people attend the games they will not be so quick to send their kids to PVI, Gonzaga, or BI for baseball.
Murdock has shut down two quality teams giving up 1 earned run over 11 innings. If MVs 1st team all district pitcher from last year comes back healthy MV will have the 1 and 2 they need to compete.
quote:Originally posted by BBallJunkie:
19MajorDad24 your not keeping it real you are keeping it salty. Sounds like to me your son got struck out by Murdock. If Gonzaga was a public school in the Northern Region it would be a top tier team being mentioned with Lake Braddock, Oakton, West Springfield, and so on.
I'm not sure what salty means but it sounds like you're offended which is not my intent. You registered on this site yesterday to promote MV and Murdock, and you also mentioned Quigley a couple of times. If you are Murdock, I'm not going to get into a pizzing contest with a high school kid. I've scouted the above teams you mentioned and Gonzaga is a notch below Oakton who is having a down year. They are many notches below LB and W. Springfield. Also, how did the MV/West Potomac scrimmage come out? They are a Route 1 team.
My son is in college about to be commissioned in the Marine Corps after graduation. He set a single season home run record at his school his senior season and made All-Met. He would have eaten Murdock for lunch.
Junkie, Im not big on message board spats.....and Im feelin' and respecting your love for MV over here. That said, your assessment of Gonzaga is WAY off.
If they were an NR team, they'd get pummelled by the upper echelon teams this year. PUMMELLED. Did you see what Stone Bridge did to DeMatha? 11-0 in 5 innings.
As I posted earlier, Landon is very weak and the fact that they beat Gonzaga does not bode well for Gonzaga's chances this year. The fact that Gonzaga lost at MV and DeMatha got smoked by Stone Bridge should serve as at least a small indicator that the WCAC is not all it's cracked up to be. I'll take LB, West Springfield, Robinson, Chantilly, Stone Bridge, McLean, Westfield, and South County over St. Johns, Paul VI, Gonzaga, Ireton, and O'Connell any day.
Just my opinion, but Im pretty confident that Gonzaga would get manhandled by the top NR teams this year. Guess we'll never know though.
If they were an NR team, they'd get pummelled by the upper echelon teams this year. PUMMELLED. Did you see what Stone Bridge did to DeMatha? 11-0 in 5 innings.
As I posted earlier, Landon is very weak and the fact that they beat Gonzaga does not bode well for Gonzaga's chances this year. The fact that Gonzaga lost at MV and DeMatha got smoked by Stone Bridge should serve as at least a small indicator that the WCAC is not all it's cracked up to be. I'll take LB, West Springfield, Robinson, Chantilly, Stone Bridge, McLean, Westfield, and South County over St. Johns, Paul VI, Gonzaga, Ireton, and O'Connell any day.
Just my opinion, but Im pretty confident that Gonzaga would get manhandled by the top NR teams this year. Guess we'll never know though.
vabaseballfan, good post. I'm not into message board spats either. I rarely post here. I was just trying to give my opinion as to who I've seen this year. Even though I haven't seen PVI or St. John's this year, I would put them with the best of the metro area's teams.
Rough night for Gonzaga last night v Landon. Mark Williams pitched a no hitter through 4, 2 errors behind him and single to left in the 5th inning, and Gonzaga was ahead 8-0. Coach put in new pitcher with 2 outs in the 5th, bases loaded. Series of errors in the field, and Landon hit the lights out - ended up winning 11-8.
VABBALLFAN, (Quality Assesment)
I am sure you know just like everyone else on this board knows that playing back to back games in your first week of the season is extremely hard. Especially since two weeks ago teams were indoors for a week due to snow. The Zags I am sure maybe have been on an acutal diamond a hand full of days since that snow event. They play and practice in a swamp! The game against MV was exhausting for both teams, physically and mentally. It was a playoff game in the first week of the season. MV certainly felt the effects and came out very lathargic against BI. Had a ton of errors and looked tired.
Zags would still be a top tier team in the NR. This year they may be down just like Oakton however they are still a very respectable team. Next year they will be right back at the top. I wouldnt count the Zags out just yet. They have some serious sticks that were kept off balance the other night. A good mix of fastballs and changeups will keep the best hitter off balance. Its good to see other perspectives. I am sure West Springfield would kill just about anyone in VA this year (My pick to be a serious state contender this year) and LB is the State Runnerups. My point is not to start a "spat"! Chantilly would get pummelled by West Springfield, Stone Bridge, and most likely Westfield. Does that not mean they are still a top tier team in the NR? LB has the best coach probably in the NR if not in the state! They will be a contender for a long time, WS is rich in baseball history, they have been a power house for years! Oakton is still a quality program in the NR, just like PVI, St Johns and Gonzaga are this year. The great thing about this game is that you have to play it! PVI lost to BI twice last year, who would have ever thought that?
I am sure you know just like everyone else on this board knows that playing back to back games in your first week of the season is extremely hard. Especially since two weeks ago teams were indoors for a week due to snow. The Zags I am sure maybe have been on an acutal diamond a hand full of days since that snow event. They play and practice in a swamp! The game against MV was exhausting for both teams, physically and mentally. It was a playoff game in the first week of the season. MV certainly felt the effects and came out very lathargic against BI. Had a ton of errors and looked tired.
Zags would still be a top tier team in the NR. This year they may be down just like Oakton however they are still a very respectable team. Next year they will be right back at the top. I wouldnt count the Zags out just yet. They have some serious sticks that were kept off balance the other night. A good mix of fastballs and changeups will keep the best hitter off balance. Its good to see other perspectives. I am sure West Springfield would kill just about anyone in VA this year (My pick to be a serious state contender this year) and LB is the State Runnerups. My point is not to start a "spat"! Chantilly would get pummelled by West Springfield, Stone Bridge, and most likely Westfield. Does that not mean they are still a top tier team in the NR? LB has the best coach probably in the NR if not in the state! They will be a contender for a long time, WS is rich in baseball history, they have been a power house for years! Oakton is still a quality program in the NR, just like PVI, St Johns and Gonzaga are this year. The great thing about this game is that you have to play it! PVI lost to BI twice last year, who would have ever thought that?
It's very early in the season.
- Stone Bridge shuts out DeMatha.
- Westfield pummels Forest Park.
- Stonewall Jackson shuts out Oakton.
- Madison is very young.
- West Springfield handles Robinson.
- PVI has played some very weak teams.
- Mount Vernon's program is on the rise.
- W&L is better this year than in recent past.
- Chantilly plays Centreville on Friday and Stone Bridge on March 30th. They don't play Westfield for several weeks.
- Stone Bridge shuts out DeMatha.
- Westfield pummels Forest Park.
- Stonewall Jackson shuts out Oakton.
- Madison is very young.
- West Springfield handles Robinson.
- PVI has played some very weak teams.
- Mount Vernon's program is on the rise.
- W&L is better this year than in recent past.
- Chantilly plays Centreville on Friday and Stone Bridge on March 30th. They don't play Westfield for several weeks.
Any pitcher, no matter how solid, is going to have an off day. I don't even know who Murdock is, but I do have experience with Mt. Vernon over the years. Sounds like he did what he had to do to get by Gonzaga.
Sometimes, it's the mark of good pitching just to get through the game without your best stuff...
Sometimes, it's the mark of good pitching just to get through the game without your best stuff...
I heard SJC beat Robinson pretty good in a scrimmage a few weeks ago!
I hear very good things about West Springfield, Stone Bridge, Westfields, and a few others on the public school side of the ledger. Having had an opportunity to see PVI & SJC up close, I expect they will still be the class of the private school side again this year. It would be great if there were a "metro championship" where they could all have a chance to settle it on the field at the end of the season.
quote:Originally posted by coach scoop:
I heard SJC beat Robinson pretty good in a scrimmage a few weeks ago!
Not exactly. Robinson was beating SJC through 7 (scrimmage went 10), 8-6. In the 8th, Robinson put in its sophs and first-year players, who played hard but who are still learning. Final was 11-8 SJC in 10.
Both teams' first units looked solid; I'd expect both to do well this year.
Publics don't like to play privates for the obvious reasons: privates are allowed to have year round practices, privates recruit players from across the area, including potential game opponents, public schedules are limited in the number of games, and more.
Part of problem with the metro idea is the timing. As the public schools that go on to state tournament (the regional winner and runner up) are booked up until the week before finals with state tournament games. I would think the regional semifinal losers, would be available, if approved. These are always very good teams and metro series would be nice consolation.
It would be fun, but doubt we'll see it happening.
Part of problem with the metro idea is the timing. As the public schools that go on to state tournament (the regional winner and runner up) are booked up until the week before finals with state tournament games. I would think the regional semifinal losers, would be available, if approved. These are always very good teams and metro series would be nice consolation.
It would be fun, but doubt we'll see it happening.
I guess we will see!
MV schedule: (Scrimmages agains PVI, Langley, West Po)
Gonzaga
BI
Edison
Falls Church
Yorktown
Robison
Annandale
South Lakes
Chantilly and Oakton in a double header
Bishop Mcnamara
Continued by district play
Not many teams will load a schedule like this to create better ball players. For a team that finished 8-13 two years ago to improve to 15-6 last season this is a sign of the direction they want to go. Now grant it this is by far no Patriot District Schedule however its an attempt to become a power house in the National District. Hats off to that program!
MV schedule: (Scrimmages agains PVI, Langley, West Po)
Gonzaga
BI
Edison
Falls Church
Yorktown
Robison
Annandale
South Lakes
Chantilly and Oakton in a double header
Bishop Mcnamara
Continued by district play
Not many teams will load a schedule like this to create better ball players. For a team that finished 8-13 two years ago to improve to 15-6 last season this is a sign of the direction they want to go. Now grant it this is by far no Patriot District Schedule however its an attempt to become a power house in the National District. Hats off to that program!
You are correct. This is the way to get better, and also to keep your better players, some of whom may be tempted to go to increasingly competitive private schools in your vicinity such as BI and St Steph to name two. Are the increasing number of baseball instruction schools/travel teams in the Alexandria area helping?
There is only one facility in that alexandria area that pertains to baseball instruciton. great place and great instruction however he coaches at a private school. He may be taking more than he is leaving! I would and do send players there because of the level of knowledge. Pinkman isnt far and neither is strikezone acadamy however its not in the backyard of MV or West Po. If I am sending guys to those instuctional facilities I would just take the day and send them to Snyder first if he was available.
There is another individual that is starting up his own camps, Jake Moon has started Omaha Baseball. He is a product of CS Fulerton and is doing some great stuff with hitters and pitchers. The problem with that area is the price on a building is way to high to put a baseball facility only there.
The travel teams are minimal, Ft Hunt has a great one that feeds West Po and they have a ton of young talent. I heard that MV may start an ODL team in the summer to help with more competitive baseball. We will see, a lot of young former players are back in the area that are eager to turn this program and area baseball around, starting with its little league.
There is another individual that is starting up his own camps, Jake Moon has started Omaha Baseball. He is a product of CS Fulerton and is doing some great stuff with hitters and pitchers. The problem with that area is the price on a building is way to high to put a baseball facility only there.
The travel teams are minimal, Ft Hunt has a great one that feeds West Po and they have a ton of young talent. I heard that MV may start an ODL team in the summer to help with more competitive baseball. We will see, a lot of young former players are back in the area that are eager to turn this program and area baseball around, starting with its little league.
BBallJunkie, do you remember the 5 years that Coach Linza was at MV? He won 3 district titles, 4 spring break tournaments, was region coach of the year in '05 and was 1 poorly defended bunt away from going to states one year. It hasn't been that long since MV was perennial winners.
Also, not to seem argumentative, but the MV schedule is a result of the late hiring of the head coach. He had to fill in who had flexability (the privates) and the spring break tournament (the Patriot and Concorde teams). It's a tough schedule no doubt and will prepare them for the stretch in the National.
Also, not to seem argumentative, but the MV schedule is a result of the late hiring of the head coach. He had to fill in who had flexability (the privates) and the spring break tournament (the Patriot and Concorde teams). It's a tough schedule no doubt and will prepare them for the stretch in the National.
Yep I remember Lenza, he feasted on Oxon Hill and other sub par teams. What was his record against the NR best or in regionals? And he also invented Jimmyball!
The guy did some good things and should have with all that talent been a poorly defended bunt away from a state championship and not regional elimination. Cant take anything away from him! Do you remember Coach Stergen? He took MV to regionals in his first year! They got smacked by Lake Braddock and served up about 8 HRs but finished second behind West Po in their Gunston District. West Po was state Runner-ups that year. Should he be congratulated? Remember Bill Dempkoski? He took MV to Regionals last season, great turnaround of record, finshed tied for second in the National District! MV has talent in the area, it loses a lot of it to BI, PVI, St Steph and other local schools. they have even lost players to Riverdale Baptist. All schools have these issues, some are better at setting up a tradition that is past down for generations such as the Joel Saunders WS state Championship team, and the strong LB programs.
Thanks for the input, I am glad you agree its a hard schedule!
The guy did some good things and should have with all that talent been a poorly defended bunt away from a state championship and not regional elimination. Cant take anything away from him! Do you remember Coach Stergen? He took MV to regionals in his first year! They got smacked by Lake Braddock and served up about 8 HRs but finished second behind West Po in their Gunston District. West Po was state Runner-ups that year. Should he be congratulated? Remember Bill Dempkoski? He took MV to Regionals last season, great turnaround of record, finshed tied for second in the National District! MV has talent in the area, it loses a lot of it to BI, PVI, St Steph and other local schools. they have even lost players to Riverdale Baptist. All schools have these issues, some are better at setting up a tradition that is past down for generations such as the Joel Saunders WS state Championship team, and the strong LB programs.
Thanks for the input, I am glad you agree its a hard schedule!
Yep, Linza loved to rack up the wins. Sure, let's congratulate all the recent coaches. Who was it that took over after Linza? Oh yeah, you mentioned him in a previous post, Jake Moon. How many games did he win?
After his MV days, Linza coached JV at Robinson and then was asst. coach at the varsity level for a year as well. His JV team in 2006 went 12-2 and "won" the Concorde District (their two losses were outside the district). After being passed over for the head coach job at Robinson last year, he moved on to PVI as an assistant on their championship team in 2008.
I understand he's now the asst. AD at McLean. Would love to see him back in coaching, however.
I understand he's now the asst. AD at McLean. Would love to see him back in coaching, however.