SED 1st team predictions

Probably a lot of Great Bridge kids!!! haha...no joking just saying they are 18-0 and have played great baseball all year.

What becomes interesting is how these honors will work beginning next year.  I suppose there will be "All-Conference", and/or "All North or South"?!?!?  Who knows.

 

Regarding this season, and not to state the obvious, but Great Bridge has probably locked down the 1st team slots at P and 3B.  I also believe that GBs no. 2 has thrown very well this year and is deserving of recognition somewhere.  Their 2B might also be on the 1st team.

 

I don't know about them receiving any 1st team selections in the outfield.  Two of the three 1st team selections have to be from other programs.  Maybe all three.

 

I also believe that the 1st team catcher plays at a different Chesapeake school.

So, I see GB getting three on the 1st team.  Probably a couple more on the 2nd.

 

JMO

It seems that there are going to be some tough choices though for outfield and then the utility.

To my understanding, DISTRICTS will continue in existence next year.  Regions will be different, but you'll still have All-District teams.

Midlo,

Not sure that I follow!  For example the SED will play each other one time next year, while each program will then play 2 games with each team in their newly formed "conference".  Some of the SED will be 4A, some 5, and some 6.  I'm not sure how you have an "All-District" team in the SED, when they only play each other once, and the respective programs are not necessarily in the same classification.  Hence, they will not compete for the "Conference" or "South" tournaments, against one another.  There will only be 7 games played in what is now considered the SED, and no "district" record due to the new conference realignments.

 

Essentially, it seems, games between the current SED, will be considered "out of conference" for the purpose of the new setup.

 

It's all screwy!!!!!  

So who do you all have down for all district honors?

Casting your fishing line out a second time?

Frankly, I am enjoying the conversation about how the district changing will impact future years.  

 

I'll answer your question this way...each year the team is made up almost entirely of kids from the teams that finish at the top and very few kids from teams with losing records make it.  Therefore, pencil in plenty of spots for GB, HI, WB, and GR.  Not saying this is right or wrong, it's just what happens each year.

 

While all district honors are nice, and most kids selected are from the teams with the best records, it is also a popularity contest

I looked, but admittedly, not for long, who decides the All District, Region and State Teams?

For the most part, they get it right.  There are 1-2 each year that are debatable.

First of all, all of the coaches know who the best players are.  In a given season there might be less than 5 kids in the entire district that play to a level that is completely unexpected.  Don't forget that many of these kids play together, or against one another, all summer.

 

Otherwise, I'm not sure that there are "many, many pitchers" who are undefeated with 6 or 7 wins, when one considers that everyone other than GB has at least 4 losses.  To the bigger point though, just because a pitcher has a great record or quality stats, does not mean that they are deserving of being recognized as one of the district's best pitchers.  One pitcher may have thrown most or all of his games against the best teams, and have quality numbers, while another may have stellar numbers having thrown against the bottom of the district.  There is a very obvious difference in talent between the top half and the bottom half.  That must be considered when nominating players for this type of recognition.

 

 

P- Conner Jones- GB

P- Eason- HH....Maybe Zach Rutherford,

C- Kid from GB or WB

1B-

2B-

3B- Charle Cody-GB

SS- Dane Smith- GB

OF- Trevor Riggs- NR

OF- RF from Hickory??? (Don't know a lot of names)

OF-

U-

 

- I don't know a lot of the kids around the district only seen a handful of games this season, but I feel these young men are worthy. Please feel free to add in names!

The SS for GB is Higgerson.  Smith primarily DHs.  The RF from Hickory is Polansky.  Yes, he and Riggs should be considered "no-brainers" to be on the first team.  I'm thinking that Hickory has two first team outfielders, when you include Lowry.  I'm not sure what his offensive numbers look like, (though he has looked ok when I have seen him) but Maiorana (the catcher at WB), is by far, the best defensive catcher in the district.

 

Also, Carter (HH), Harrelson (GB), Lane (GB), Rivers (NR), and Rutherford (WB) should be in the conversation as well.

 

Grassfield, as a team, has performed very well, obviously, but I'm not sure that they have anyone that stands out as the best player(s) at their respective position(s).  They have done it the old fashioned way, playing TEAM baseball.  Kudos to them.

Only player from Nansemond River worthy of All-District consideration is Trevor Riggs. He has to be among the best at his position in all phases of the game.

1B from IR?? 1B from OS has higher average, bigger kid, same number of HR (2) as well as clutch walk off double in win vs. KF and game winning hits at Ocean Lakes, plus Tyler from IR had 3 SO vs OS in first game, I don't see any player at IR (3 wins) making the team, IMHO, remember all the crowing on here last year about how losing teams shouldn't receive as much consideration as winning teams...
And Dane hasn't played defensively most of the year, but is a good player.
Most of the first team spots are and probably should go to GB, HH, WB and a few to GF. OS also has a sophomore pitcher that did well this year....Packert.

We'll have to disagree, and that's ok.  We'll completely agree on Riggs and his play this season.  We'll disagree on his being the only player worthy of consideration.  While I'll concede that Rivers hasn't exactly been a vacuum at SS, he is very clearly one of the top offensive weapons in the district, at any position.  My observation has been that defensively, there has'nt been a SS in the district that stands out.  I've seen, or heard, of all of them making their fair share of errors.  It seems to be a young position throughout the district.  If all things are equal, and defensively, there has not been a standout, Rivers is very clearly the best offensive player at the position, and again, one of the top offensive players in the entire district, at any position.

 

For my money, the best SS in the district has been hampered by an injury all season, and will likely not participate in the voting.

 

P.S.  Not a comparison, but one might recall a couple of former Chesapeake shortstops who were not only on the All-District team, but were POY, and taken 1st and 2nd overall in the June MLB draft.  They didn't exactly inspire "how to" books to be written on their defensive prowess!!!

Is that McPherson?  Or was he mostly at 3rd?

There's another OF at river who should be just as deserving for some honors (maybe not first team )as well, when asked to pitch against GB he did so, and was effective. Has not committed a single error all season, and has struck out only 4 or 5 times. I might be wrong but he puts the ball in play alot.

Disagreement is nothing new to this topic, but I think you need a measure of objectivity in the discussion. The fact is it should be the best SS not the best hitting SS.  Not sure you can dismiss the aspect of the position that does not support the argument for all-district by assuming all SS are making their fair share of errors. What then would be the definition of fair share in a 20 game season? 5? 10? 15?  A wise poster mentioned on last year's thread on this topic that players on lesser teams did not see the #1 pitcher of the better teams therefore potentially inflating their statistics.  NR has not, and will not, face Connor Jones.... a definite stat killer.

Rivers is going to be a great player in the SED and would shine even brighter if played at more natural position for him in the OF where he will most likely play at the next level.

I'll put a different spin on this, and rather than saying who should be "First Team All-District", I'll simply give you my team.

 

That is, if I were to assemble a team of players from the SED, and we were to physically compete with other "All-District" teams on the field of play, this is the team I would choose, if I were the Head Coach.  This assumes that all players are healthy and you are allowed 18 roster spots.

 

From GB - Jones, Lane, Cody, Smith, Harrelson

From WB - Maiorana, McPherson, Rutherford, Hayes

From HH - Lowry, Polansky, Eason, York

From NR - Riggs, Rivers, Rice, Fitzwater

From IR - Milvo

 

 

I think this team would win A LOT of games

It is true that NR hasn't faced Connor.  They faced Harrelson, who by all accounts, has had a fantastic season, and may be one of the top 2-5 pitchers in the district this year.  It is also true that they have faced every other team's best pitcher, sometimes twice.

 

I agree that one must play defense at the games' most important position.  I'm just saying that I haven't seen great defense at the position from anyone.  So absent that, I revert to the other two facets of the game; hitting and running the bases.  On those two accounts there are few better.  Again, the most complete player at the position is in a sling!

 

I included examples in my previous post to suggest that there has been a precedent set on offensive production, when contemplating such a quandary, in regards to a lack of defense.

 

Another way to put it...

Should I consider player "A" who hit .310 with minimal production, hitting 6-9 in the order, with 8 errors.

Or do I consider player "B" who hits .450, with loads of offensive production, while batting 3rd in the order, with 14 errors.

 

I take player "B"...

 

and then consider moving him to CF! 

       

I agree. Rice was strong early in the year with 20+Ks while giving up 2 earned runs in 16+IP.  Over the last month he has had some factors that have contributed to a fall off in production.  In my opinion the all district honors discussion for pitchers really revolves around Jones, Harrelson, Rutherford, Eason, Carter and maybe a Grassfield pitcher.

Go Heels, I hope you were joking about your shortstop choices.  No first team shortstop should make 8 or 14 errors in a 20 game season.  I do not care what his batting average is, or what team he plays for.  If he has made that many errors, he does not deserve consideration for first, second or third team.  Rather, move him to the outfield where hopefully he can catch some fly balls.

I can't speak to the players from other teams...I just did not see them enough but with no clear cut 1st team short stop, I will state that the left side of the GB infield has seen more ground balls this year than ever.  People know of C.Cody's abilities, but C.Higgerson started last year as a Freshman due to his outstanding defense.  As a sophomore, he has perhaps made 2 errors all season behind 2 ground ball pitchers.  Those who saw the GB-GR game this past week will remember him even calling off Cody to make a play deep in the hole.  There are many candidates, but this kid is already getting looks from schools and has continued to impress. 

 

Conversely with so many groundballs, the GB outfield did not have to make plays or get tested.  All of them did their jobs well, but my guess is there are 3 on other teams that might be more deserving purely based on chances and put outs.

 

McPherson is out the question all together. I think he picked up a bat twice all year. Before surgery he was just in the lineup at SS and was DH'd for. At the SS position it's got to be the kid from HH or GB. You can't select a kid that has errors upon errors like NR's kid. I beleive he's in the double digits for errors. I think our SED selection last year had ONE error and knocked the cover off the baseball, was also POY! Either way we will all agree to disagree, but at the end of the day, those coaches in that classroom on selection night do a good job.

El gato, 

I agree that 8-14 errors is a high number for All-District consideration.  What I'm suggesting is a very high likelihood that EVERY SS in the district this year is in the ballpark. 

I have personally witnessed two errors by Higgerson, and have been informed of others, after games.   Highly doubtful that he is in the low single figures.  I do think he has a bright future!

"As a sophomore, he has perhaps made 2 errors all season behind 2 ground ball pitchers"

 

GoHeels: Upon further review, he has 5 errors on over 50 chances/putouts.  I welcome the debate but holding down the infield on this team deserves some credit imo.

Yes there is enough talent to go around, but lets see what happens when the dust clears

FYI, I have not made a choice.  I presented an argument that says if all things are equal, and there are ZERO shortstops in the district who one would consider to be superior defensively, then one must consider what they've done in other aspects of the game.

 

To make a direct contradiction to your statement...both Upton brothers were high school shortstops.  Both made a very healthy amount of errors.  Your argument suggests that neither of them should have been 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team All-District.  

 

You are correct about one thing though!  They did get moved to the outfield as soon as they signed their MLB contracts!!!!  (or shortly thereafter)

We can't forget about burcham from GF the kid has swung it well and played right field for them, and then didn't rutherford play infield outfield and pitch? So would it be more fitting for him in the utility spot? And Indian rivers catcher milvo has done a solid job for them behind the plate and swinging the stick

Actually, Justin was a three-time All-District player at SS.  (and POY)   I'm not suggesting that he didn't play an innning in the outfield.   I'm saying that he was a SS.  He was also named the National High School POY in 2005, as a shortstop.

Ball 4,

No. Justin worked at some CF but he was a SS for most of his Sr. year.

2 others to look at is from hickory spencer carter and from indian river is ismael montes!

 

Ball4, Conner Eason does not need anyone to speak for him. His pitching speaks for himself. As a Sophomore, He is one of the best left handers I have seen in a long time. He has more than a fast ball, and He is able to command both sides of the black with all of his pitches. This is Rare, especially for a Sophomore. As far as his dad, he is a class act. I have known him all my life. Keep your personal issues to yourself on here.

GoHeels, we both know why the Uptons played shortstop.  They were (and are) better outfielders. Why penalize players for playing out of position (and pick them by position under the current selection process).  Rather, I would pick the best 12-15 players regardless of position.

I'm still trying to figure out the points of your posts.  Connor's dad, Jerry, is a great guy. I consider him a friend. He doesn't promote his son at all.  He lets Connor's play speak for itself. So, does that answer your question or is there an underlying concern you may have?

 

So, to review...you have now posted inaccurate info about the Uptons, insulted a Hickory coach and passed on inaccurate and potentially damaging "info" on a NR pitcher. What's next?

Why they played shortstop is irrelevant to this discussion.  I agree they are better outfielders, but our OPINIONS regarding their skill-set makes no difference to the FACT that they played and were voted as shortstops, while in high school.

 

Also, these teams are voted by position, and while I see the merits of that, I also think there should be some tweaks.  For example, why a SS and 2B, when one could vote on MIF?

 

I see some benefits of taking the best 12-15 players, but that also has its downfalls.  There is no perfect system for anything, and the coaches do the best they can.

ElGato,

 

Since you know why the Uptons played SS in High School, I would like to hear your reason.  

GoHeels, would you go so far as to select infielders as group or would you split up the infielders into corner and middle infielders? What about the outfield?

 

Wildcats17, most coaches put their best players up the middle, especially when they are younger.  High school is no exception.