Northern Region Predictions

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By the way, I agree 100% about the importance of depth of pitching. Its probably relevant to remember, however, that LB has been the exception to that rule twice in the past four years in winning the NR and last year in getting to the finals. ... or if you just have a great coach as they have in Rutherford. I dont know if he gets enough credit for what has gone on there these past five years.

And this is precisely why LB gets my vote pretty much year in & out. Unlike others relying on a "stud" player or two to arrive on their doorsteps, LB has a verrry long tradition of teaching good quality baseball to a number of good athletes, and of having strong support from what is still probably the best supported athletic program in the NR (though others are catching up quickly).

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Wahl is gonna be hard for anybody to beat. Nobody is going to beat him on offense alone because WS hits the ball too well for that. It will take somebody throwing a great game against WS while he is pitching in addition to a very good hitting team.

I agree 100%.

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And this is precisely why LB gets my vote pretty much year in & out. Unlike others relying on a "stud" player or two to arrive on their doorsteps, LB has a verrry long tradition of teaching good quality baseball to a number of good athletes, and of having strong support from what is still probably the best supported athletic program in the NR (though others are catching up quickly).

Good point. I have been told by several coaches, that you can only expect 5 good players on a HS team. I think LB has more, do they have a pitcher that throws in the 90's? no, but they do have solid players, which is my point. Rutherford is not starting with kids that are bringing violin cases to tryouts. My opinion of a GREAT coach is, one who can turn ok players into champions. We just disagree, that LB doesn't already have the built-in talent. I think they do. Now, the fact that Rutherford can use all that talent to his advantage is a job well done. There are plenty of coaches who could not.

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Do you think WS will bring him out for every game? for an inning or two? Or do they have a regular rotation?

I think WS will probably use Simko or Morgan as their second pitcher with Snook throwing some innings as well.

Is Morgan a catcher?

Is Morgan a catcher?

I know he can catch but he played 3rd base for WS last year. I also saw him playing 3rd with the Tidewater Orioles a couple of months ago.

Due to his commitment to Wake, I found some YouTube clips on Morgan a while back. I would say he is a plus defender at 3B, so while I think he lists C as a secondary position, I doubt you'd see him there. 3B is always one of the toughest positions to fill defensively, so you don't want to squander a strong performer when you're lucky enough to have one.

I am intrigued by and agree with Green Monstah's and NoVA Baseball's comments about WestPo, especially the one about them being a "wild card" in league play. While there is no way that WP will be as strong as the other teams mentioned, they have a lot of young talent that could make them very tough on a game by game basis this year and deliver them a very good season next year. Their best pitcher, Glaser, is a Junior, and their best hitters, Ferri, Trenchard, and King are sophs. They have two solid, although not flashy, seniors, and a soph second baseman in Hagan who already has a full varsity season under his belt. They have one outstanding freshman in Murray and two very good ones in Hauser and McClure. Murray might start for the varsity and McClure could see varsity pitching action if some of the predictions about 3 and 4 game weeks come true. As for pitching, they don't have any real flame throwers, but they have a number of kids who can throw strikes. As for hitting, they will put the ball in play and will hit a few home runs, but lack a big power hitter like some of the other schools. I can't see them getting to .500, but I see them being possible trouble if they are not taken seriously.

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As for pitching, they don't have any real flame throwers, but they have a number of kids who can throw strikes.

I thought they had more than enough pitchers. WS, LB, and TCW will light up kids that can "just throw strikes". It will be interesting to watch.

I find it a bit surprising that so many think that WS will be a regional power this year. Keep in mind they lost an ace (Kent), a ton of leadership and run production (Renner/Tobin) and their #3 and 4 starters, who would have been #1 or 2 starters on many staffs (McMahon/Smith).

Aside from Wahl(Sr.), they return only three, yes THREE starters from last season - Morgan(Sr-3b), Snook(Jr.-ss), and Self(Jr.-2b).

I guess one would assume that Wahl would win all of his starts, but that's no guarantee. The rest of the staff is a HUGE question mark. I could be wrong but I don't think anyone on the roster besides Wahl saw any time on the mound last season. Simko(Jr.-p, transfer from PVI) figures to be the #2 starter, but that remains to be seen.

I give LB the edge this year to win the Patriot. Even if they lose twice to Wahl, I can see WS dropping a couple games that one might assume they wouldn't, simply because on the whole, they are green.

For WS to be a factor in the region, Wahl and Morgan will need to get substantial contributions from some names who so far are unproven.

Even though it was just a scrimmage, Centreville and Stone Bridge ripped up WS... They saw everyone pitch except wahl, with no other quality pitchers I can't see where all of the hype is coming from.

Did Simko pitch for WS?

I heard he pitched against Stone Bridge, I wouldnt know completely though... I had left to go get something to eat.

Lake Braddock and McLean scrimmaged tonight at McLean. The weather was great and the teams were pretty evenly matched. There are a bunch of good ball players on these two teams.

Agreed. There were a lot of very good players on the field at McLean yesterday.

Caught the first 5-6 innings last night. Two very good teams. I was impressed by McLean, but even more impressed with Lake Braddock.

Kenny Towns hit 2 mammoth HRs (one off Fitzgerald, one off Buckley) and stood out among many talented players. He may have earned himself an intentional walk or two if these two teams play again in the postseason!

I heard that South County lost a scrimmage to Hayfield this week... can that be confirmed?
Hayfield has a bunch of up and coming talent this year but it's still a pretty big shocker to see Hayfield beating Patriot District teams.

Hayfield did beat SC.......SC will struggle with youth, WS will struggle when Wahl does not pitch...LB has the strongest lineup with a nice mix of Seniors and a strong Junior class.....they will win the district going away.

Hayfield would have competed well in the Patriot this year. Last year's team had mostly sophs and juniors in the line up. This year with most of the starters back and a new coach, they should blow through the National District.

Titan, do you remember last year's slugfest between Hayfield and the Titans? The Hawks were an error or so away from winning that game.

I see that LB plays at Robinson tonight. Will that count in the standings or is it still considered a scrimmage?

I think WS opens the season with Robinson on Tue. and i'm pretty sure that one will count in the standings...then LB plays WS on Thu. the 25th.

The LB - Robinson game is a counter. I believe Robinson played Annandale last night in the season opener for both of them. I haven't heard who won the game.

Annandale over Robinson (score was 3-2 or 4-3).

Annandale has a very good pitcher...I think Ryan Schubert. I saw him pitch last year against our team and was more impressed with him than any other pitcher I saw in the Patriot League. Great mix of Fastball, Change and Curve. And, no, I am in no way connected with Annandale.

Apparently he had a strong outing vs. Robinson.

McLean defeated Marshall 9-0.

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Originally posted by 13LHPdad:
I think LB and WS will be tough. Watch out for Woodson.

Woodson is on fire. They have Robinson on Sat. Should be a good one.

Should get a good idea of what kind of team Woodson has this week. They play W. Springfield, South County, and Robinson this week

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Originally posted by bcb3:
Should get a good idea of what kind of team Woodson has this week. They play W. Springfield, South County, and Robinson this week

How did Robinson do down in SC??

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Originally posted by 19MajorDad24:
Hayfield would have competed well in the Patriot this year. Last year's team had mostly sophs and juniors in the line up. This year with most of the starters back and a new coach, they should blow through the National District.

Titan, do you remember last year's slugfest between Hayfield and the Titans? The Hawks were an error or so away from winning that game.

This isn't to pick on MajorDad because I know there are many others who agree with his dismisal of the National, but Hayfield has already lost 3 games in the District, to Mt. Vernon, Yorktown, and W-L, all by 5 runs or more. Anyone familiar with the National also knows that Mt. Vernon and Yorktown lost a lot from last year's teams. Hayfield may yet win the National, but blow through it? Clearly not. How about some acknowledgment that they play ball in the National!

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Originally posted by greenmonstah:
In the Patriot District I think it will go down like this, but who the he## knows?
1.Woodson
2. WS
3. LB or TC Williams (TC from what I hear has a ton of talent, from Sophs to Seniors and LB is always good no matter who they have)
4. TC Williams or LB
5. SC or West Po - SC is light on arms and West Po has a bumper crop of young arms.
6 SC or West Po
7. Annandale

I would look for West Po and/or TC Willams to bump South County out their usual district spot.

So - I'm really off on TC and Annandale and WPo so far.
Not sure what is going on with TC Willaims, some say injuries. Anyone? I thought WPo would be more competitive also.

Greenmonstah:

Halfway thru the season, here's how I see it:

1. Lake Braddock
2. WS
3. South County
4: Woodson
5. TC Williams
6. Annandale
7. West Potomac
8. Lee

Lake Braddock is best all around team, and if Wahl isn't pitching for WS, Lake Braddock is stronger. South County also has strong hitters. TCW...word is best player (Forer) is out for the year. Annandale is surprisingly good hitting team. West Potomac is just too young: 6 Sophs and 1 Freshman starters.

Got the scoop on West Po - and eye you are correct - they are young and have not faced Varisty Level/Patriot Dist pitching, they have 2 Jr. Pitchers. I have this info on TC: Adam Forer(Sr) MI ACL tear - 1st team all district player out for the season; Stephen Weldman(Jr)P #1 I have no idea what the injury is; Jack Delaney (soph)MI Tommy John surgery out for the season.

SB beat Marshall 12-4 and play Mclean Tues night at Mclean 6:30 any predictions on that?

Mclean in 7.

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Originally posted by brewball:

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Originally posted by 19MajorDad24:
Hayfield would have competed well in the Patriot this year. Last year's team had mostly sophs and juniors in the line up. This year with most of the starters back and a new coach, they should blow through the National District.

Titan, do you remember last year's slugfest between Hayfield and the Titans? The Hawks were an error or so away from winning that game.

This isn't to pick on MajorDad because I know there are many others who agree with his dismisal of the National, but Hayfield has already lost 3 games in the District, to Mt. Vernon, Yorktown, and W-L, all by 5 runs or more. Anyone familiar with the National also knows that Mt. Vernon and Yorktown lost a lot from last year's teams. Hayfield may yet win the National, but blow through it? Clearly not. How about some acknowledgment that they play ball in the National!

I was wrong. I underestimated the strength of the other teams and was way off on Hayfield's returners and coaching change. I wasn't dismissing the National District. I was just wrong in my assessment.

Did not see the game last night but Stone Bridge and McLean playing a close game with each other should not surprise anybody at this point......even if one team is supposed to be much better.

BTW, West Springfield has a much more impressive local resume than McLean does at the moment to me, altough that isn't McLean's fault at all. The Patriot is a far better league than the Liberty and unless Im mistaken WS hasn't lost a game in that district in a couple of years. Impressive how they just keep cranking out wins even with a lot of turnover on their roster.

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Originally posted by vabaseballfan:
Did not see the game last night but Stone Bridge and McLean playing a close game with each other should not surprise anybody at this point......even if one team is supposed to be much better.

BTW, West Springfield has a much more impressive local resume than McLean does at the moment to me, altough that isn't McLean's fault at all. The Patriot is a far better league than the Liberty and unless Im mistaken WS hasn't lost a game in that district in a couple of years. Impressive how they just keep cranking out wins even with a lot of turnover on their roster.

Not sure who claimed otherwise regarding West Springfield. Didn't see that post.

I thought his comments were aimed at me!

I simply made a few comments about McLean and none about anyone else.

Didnt really mean to "aim my comments" at anyone. I was just bringing up WS kind of randomly but I thought I would since I havent seen much about them on the board lately.

Doubles, I noticed your post about McLean's district win streak. Impressive. I just wanted to shed some light on the fact that WS's is even longer and against a deeper league. Not to take anything away from McLean, though. I have seen most of the NR's best and McLean is right there with anybody for sure.

I beieve it is:

Patriot vs Concorde
National vs Liberty

Talk above about West Potomac. Honestly, they are not a good HS varsity baseball team this year. But just as honestly, they are going to be a good HS varsity team next year and a very good HS varsity baseball team in 2012.

Their best pitcher is a freshman (he may also be their best hitter). He'll get to about 6'4", 200 lbs and will be throwing southpaw heat at about 90 mph by his junior year, in 2012). Next five or six best players are sophomores who start. One senior who plays alot (catcher). Next year will still be a learning year, but they will be vastly improved. 2012 will be their year.

This all assumes that they can keep these kids at West Potomac. My guess is that any number of them have the chance to transfer to PVI, BI, or Gonzaga and help those teams. I know that any one of those teams would love to have a big lefty throwing 90 mph in a year or two.

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This all assumes that they can keep these kids at West Potomac. My guess is that any number of them have the chance to transfer to PVI, BI, or Gonzaga and help those teams. I know that any one of those teams would love to have a big lefty throwing 90 mph in a year or two.

If they are going to be really good in a year or two, other than academics, why would they leave West Pot to go to any of those schools?