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Who looks to be at the top this season?? Great Bridge lost a lot, but with Wiley Lee, they should have a good season... Hickory always has talent but will they put it together this year?? Western Branch looking to be the top team this year with Pond and Olson?? Will it be Deep Creek's year with all of their talent?? Will Oscar Smith, Nansemond River, Indian River, or Lakeland fight for any of the top 4 spots??

Somebody that's got some answers lets hear it!!

There's been talk that the best game of the seaon is the first game between Western Branch@Deep Creek, coming off of what happened there last year with Pond and Stanfield being ejected in the 7th inning... Is Ryan Pond vs John Phelps gonna be the matchup of the year in not only the s/e district, but maybe the region?? Anybody with feedback please respond.
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In AA around the region, the game of the year may be the early season matchup between Smithfield and Grafton. Smithfield will most likely throw Josh Eason (Bound for NSU) and Grafton is likely to throw Robert Poutier (Bound for UVA). These two teams should battle, along with Poqouson, for the 1-2-3 spots in the Bay Rivers district.
Hickory, all though they have lost a lot of players to other schools, will still be pretty tough to beat with the 1-2 tandem of Mark Beppler and Greg Early. These two lefties can tantalize opposing batters like no other pitchers I have seen. Beppler has 3 solid pitches and great control. Early, also has 3 solid pitches. Many would describe these pitches as slow, slower, and slowest, but he does a great job mixing up his high 60s Fastball, and 56 mph changeup, with a good curveball/slider.
Goodluck to all the players and teams.
I'll add my two cents worth.
On paper W.B. would be the team to beat w/ three deep in pitching (which is probably more than most in the district have) Pond & Olsen both swing a pretty good stick.
G.B. lost a lot but Coach Lee will get the most out of what he's got & they still have the best junior in the country in Upton.
D. Creek will be tough w/ Phelps & if they've got a few other arms & can score a few runs will be in the hunt.
I.R. should battle in most of their games because they usually hit & Coach West will get the most out of his group too.
Hickory should be able to be in the mix w/ the arms they have but they too may have trouble scoring runs.
Perhaps someone else more familiar than I can comment on O.S., Lakeland, N.R.
With the parity in the S/E district this year it should make for an interesting season. Good luck to all.
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It may be true that Greg Early "shut down" people this fall on the White Sox, and nothing against him, but he won't have their defense in the field and i've seen where slower pitchers have a lot of sucess against higher quality or players because they are used to seein 80+ pitching, but they get handled vs just an average HS team because most HS teams can't handle kids who throw much gas....
Early is a competitor, and should be fine, but i think Hickory's problem will be how their attitudes will be this year, also team chemistry.
For those of you who doubt the effect of slow/slower/slowest pitching, talk to Hank Kraft at Ocean Lakes. In the early 90's, he pitched the Citadel to the College World Series with an 80 mph FB (with a strong tailwind). At the CWS, he beat Cal State Fullerton and kept LSU off balance in a loss.

He also set the SoCon all-time record for Saves.

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