State Tourney

Thanks for the update ballyall. You're going with New Trier unndoubtedly.

Any one from downstate who can enlighten us again about Edwardsville?

We're listening!

Update:FINAL
Neuqua Valley...7
Edwardsville......3

Gotwood--

While I have only seen a few of the other teams in person, NT just impresses me. They have amazing pitching, a few solid sticks, they are fast, and Mike Napolean teaches the game of baseball and aggressive play better than anyone I have seen.

Thoughts from others? Predictions? Can anyone stop NT?

ballyall:

I think you hit on the factor that may very well carry the Trevians over the top...Coach Napoleon. He is a big reason this team is so good.

That is certainly not a knock on any of the other coaches out there...they're very good as well as evidenced by their teams being in the Elite Eight, but I think these Trevians, led by Coach Napoleon, have a nose for winning.

Exactly--

With Napolean's teams it is the little things--taking an extra base, sliding to the correct spot on a bag, hitting a cutoff man, etc.

While the teams stats are impressive, I contend that it is these intangibles that make NT so darn solid.

quote:

Originally posted by ballyall:
...it is these intangibles that make NT so darn solid.

And rightfully so!

Update: FINAL
Brother Rice.......9
Dundee-Crown....8

Take a good look at how napolean runs his infield pre game and that will give you an idea of how his program is run. Attention to detail, all players involved, I love watching his team prepare.

Edwardsville had 5 errors and didn't turn a key double play. VERY UNCHARASTIC FOR AN EDWARDSVILLE TEAM. Congratulations Edwardsville and Coach Funkhouser on a fine season. Another 30 win season!

I was at the 2 games today at jackhammer stadium helpin out. A real exciting game with Brother Rice and I believe it's called Dundee High School or soemthing like that. The Dundee guys were smaller than the Rice guys no doubt but man these guys could hit. Came down to the last out and the final score was 8-9. New Trier pretty much pounced on Buffalo Grove 8-0. Overall a fun day watching the games for free since Sandburg had volunteer work today.

Wow! The metermaid has left the building! Say goodbye to Rita and hello to Washington!


FINAL
Washington...5
St.Rita.........4

Fantastic baseball in Joliet. And, fan energy is like a World S****r Cup event.

I love State Tourney Baseball.

Great baseball, great kids, and anything can happen.

Edwardville...gone.
St. Rita...gone.

Wow. Who would have thought.

Brother Rice looks strong on the bats and defense, but vulnerable on the mound. Really like Hickey and Schumacher, they can really stroke it, and look to be very tough outs. Pitching may be a bit thin at this point in the tourney. I saw 3 or 4 pitchers go today vs Dundee in a seesaw 9-8 game. Who are they going to go with tomorrow?

NT is solid up and down the lineup in offense and defense. Maybe as strong a HS team as I've even seen, and their 4-hitter Lashmet has major league power and bat speed - stellar. I have seen Frahler before, and he has good stuff and control. ERA at 0.78. And, they have a 6-8 flame thrower - Hebard, on the side waiting to see action. Look for a very exciting game tomorrow between these two powerhouses. This may be the best game of the remaining series games.


I really thought Edwardsville and St. Rita would advance, but that's life in the state tourney.

I gotta go with Nesqua Valley. Stronger season opponents and hitters - Kimball, Elliott, and Rowan. - all good seasons. Remains to be seen if the arms can hold up over a Friday/Saturday combination.

Washington is the lone surprise to me. Really don't see the hitting necessary to confront higher quality pitching, and the season schedule is weaker than other team who have been tempered by consistent quality team play.

Regardless. Congratulations to ALL these teams in making the Elite Four. It is an incredible accomplishment to make it this far in the IL state tourney, and speaks highly of all the teams and coaches for preparing themselves to play at this high level of baseball.

"This is about to get interesting".
See you all Saturday!

Welcome aboard the HSBBW JustGatorDone.

Thanks for the wrap up and your insightful glimpse at the remaining teams.

It's evident that you really enjoy this time of the year!

Long time love of baseball, and supporter to all who desire to play the greatest game created.

Newly found to HSBaseballWeb.

For someone with your keen and substantial interest in baseball you have definitely found a treasure trove here at the HSBBW.

"It takes all kinds" as the saying goes...and boy...do we have all kinds here on the HSBBW!

As I have been saying, you can etch that NT into the Championship trophy whenever you want.

New Trier edges out Brother Rice in the Semi-Final Game 7-2 and advances to the State Championship tonight at Silver Cross Field in Joliet at 7...if you're not coming get in your cars now and come down...its gonna be fun

Good luck Will

NT vs. Neuqua Valley Championship Game

This should be good, these were the two best teams here IMO. Neuqua Valley swings the bats and seems to be playing with a lot of confidence. Of course NT is loaded with horses up and down. I wish I could be there, good luck to both teams.

Keep working hard,
Justin Stringer
Do It Right Baseball
Lane Tech Baseball
www.doitrightbaseball.com
HSBASEBALLWEB SPONSOR

quote:

Originally posted by ballyall:
As I have been saying, you can etch that NT into the Championship trophy whenever you want.

hold off on that etch job ..

Mea Culpa

That is why you play the games. I still contend that NT takes a series of any length, but in this one game Neuqua was better.

Congrats to them

especially with their one hit. i've witnessed some strange stuff in my lifetime, but tonight's game sure takes some figuring out.

Huge congratulations to Nequa Valley and head coach Robin Renner. I mentioned in a thread sometime back he is one of the top coaches anywhere. He'd be the first to give all the credit to his players but he runs a first-class program.
They do nothing but work and teach the game over there and play it with class and hustle. They are pretty young and have a bunch of talent returning.
Great to see one of the true "good guys" in the game win a title. Coach Renner does a ton for kids in and outside of his program as well as raise huge sume of money for underpriviliged kids in the community.

Fungo Master,

I certainly may be confused. Are you saying that Nequa Valley won and had only had one hit?

If you or anyone was there I'd love to hear about their game. Thanks in advance.

Here's the link to the play by play and box score for the IHSA site. Yep, it looks like 5 runs on 1 hit in the big inning:
http://www.ihsa.org/activity/ba/2006-07/2box8.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Gamer:
Yep, it looks like 5 runs on 1 hit in the big inning:

Ouch! Thanks for posting the link.

I think congratulations are in order for the entire city of Naperville! Naperville Central State Champs last year and Neuqua Valley State Champs this year.


Congratulations!

The Neuqua Valley HS Illinois Class AA 2007 Boy's Baseball Champions are indeed a...


.
.
.
.
.


What is...The Neuqua Valley HS Illinois Class AA 2007 Boy's Baseball Championship Team!

Thrill of a lifetime for Pete Back the centerfielder and #9 hitter for Neoqua Valley.

He got the double that drove in 3 runs and the title of State Champions!

Congrats to NV and to Pete Back.

Congratulations to Nequa Valley on their IL State Championship win.

And, congratulations to New Trier, Brother Rice, and Washington on their accomplishment of the Elite Four.

What a great weekend of baseball. Joliet hosted a fun and professional tourney.

BR is a very talented team, their batsmen are aggressive and rarely fooled. And, given they were mostly juniors, they will be back next year.

On paper, I couldn't even see how Washington was in the final four, but boy could those boys play. After falling behind BR 6-0 in the Consolidation game, they came roaring back and won 10-6. Wow.

And NT... I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This may have been the most talented baseball team the state has seen in a long time. Duncan 20-0 (1.12 ERA) in his HS career. Frehler 20-1 (.078 ERA) in his HS career. (That includes post season play). And, they were always matched up in the toughest matchups, making their records all that more impressive. The fact neither were listed as First Team All-State casts a huge cloud in my mind on what the Trib/SunTimes or the IL HS coaches association are looking for in an All-State selection.


Championship Game Summary:
NT hit the ball hard and deep, constantly, but usually were hit directly to a defensive player.
NV played a very tough D, and had ONE timely hit.

In the 2nd inning, after All-State Lashmet hit a shot and Gardner hit a single, they had 2nd & 3rd with one out. Pritz hit a 385 ft frozen rope to center field that had bases clearing triple written all over it. Intead, NV's centerfielder made a phenom fully stretched out catch. NT's Lashmet tagged and scored, and Gardner tagged and scored from 2nd, but NV appealed 2nd base tagup and was called out.
NT 1-0.

NT starter Hebard has raw talent at 6-7/235lb., but he struggled with control every inning. In the 4th, he hit the wall. He made an error on a bunt, and walked two loading the bases. Then, he made an errant throw on a pick off to 3rd. (NV 2 NT 1 on a no hitter so far).

Two more walks, and NT mercifully took him out. Replacement pitcher, not Duncan or Frehler?, promptly walked another and the bases were loaded again. Next up, NV's 9th hitter, who reported said he couldn't remember the last time he had a hit. He ripped a 1-2 pitch to left center gap and cleared the bases. (NV 5 - NT 1 on one hit).

NV's Gibson, a pitcher with average speed and stuff, but that night he pitched just well enough. After he walked his first batter in the 5th, NV brought in their lefty ace, Krol, who had pitched the night earlier. He looked good with mid to low 80 speed, and pitched well enough to get out of any trouble mustered over the next two innings.


Hats off to Nequa Valley in their championship run. What an amazing accomplishment, and lifetime full of memories! And, NT should feel good about their dominant season, and the character they showed all year long.

Looking forward to next year! Good luck to all in your summer ball pursuits.


PS: Note to tourney officials. Having teams play at 9am on Friday, then 9am again on Saturday, and then waiting all day in the sun and heat to play a chamionship game on Saturday night at 7pm is simply too much. Holding the championship game a day later, or the following Monday allows teams to get the rest they need worthy of a championship game. I'm sure cost and/or not being able to play on Sunday has something to do with it, but NT's team looked like their energy/adrenelin was spent by the time they got to the 7pm championship game.

Did the tournament officials prevent NT from leaving the park and going someplace where they could get out of the sun and heat? I don't understand this comment. Those teams played as their brackets demanded. That's as simple as it gets.


NT best team this state has seen in a long time. Define "long time."

i don't agree either, if anyone had the advantage this weekend it sure NT (with their very deep pitching staff). it was laid out way way way long ago and it needs to be done saturday night, that is the way it is. if NT pitched like they should have they would be state champs.