Tidewater POY's

Beach:

Newmann
Butler
Wilkerson
Difulgio


Southeastern:

Gary Ward
Brett Harris
Chad O'Connor

Eastern:

Greg Abetz
Andrew Frazier
Marcus Breeden

Beach
Robbie Newman
Drew Wilkerson
James Taylor
Ben Tomchick

If Hickory finishes the Southeastern in first place I can't see how it wouldn't be Gary Ward from Hickory. Especially if he beats Western Branch in a good pitching matchup with O'Conner.

Honestly, for the Beach District, I can't see how you can go with anyone other than Landstown's Cameron Butler. The kid has done it all for the Eagles, behind the plate, at the plate, and on the mound. I know this is a team game, but in my opinion, I don't think there's any question that without him, not only would they not be the Beach District champs, they'd probably be somewhere in the middle of the pack.

I definately agree with you Chris, Cameron Butler is an excellent player, but I also cant beleive how you dont pick Robbie Newman as your Player of the Year. He has done it all for a mediocre Salem team, and hes hit 10 homeruns I beleive.

Newman has done very well, but I have to look at where their respective teams are sitting in the standings right now. Landstown has won a lot of very close games. Butler has a played a large role in each of those wins

321, Marcus has done a good job. I don't know why you left Coby Cowgill off ,but? I do believe this is the "Year of the Pitchers"There is not just one or two and they all have sit'm down ability.From the Peninsula to Great Bridge.Good luck to all the kids,the important part is (KIDS).Thanks

i have to believe that Newman (Salem HS) makes the all state team with 10 bombs and that will certainly be a heck of a honor

quote:

Originally posted by Stoney:
I definately agree with you Chris, Cameron Butler is an excellent player, but I also cant beleive how you dont pick Robbie Newman as your Player of the Year. He has done it all for a mediocre Salem team, and hes hit 10 homeruns I beleive.

For reference:
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/baseball-preview-great-...s-anne-are-top-teams

Baseball preview: Great Bridge, Hickory, Princess Anne are top teams.

Excerpt:
Don’t count out

Salem: Pitching and defense could make the SunDevils a factor in a wide-open Beach District race, and coach Pete Zell has three four-year starters to help: P/3B Dan Brion (.290, 3 HRs), SS Jimmy Grassano (.307 BA) and P/C Robby Newman (.360, 5 HRs).

Stoney,

Not to pick on you and I hold Robbie in high regard as a great ballplayer,but the point I am trying to make (and Chris probably see's also) is that Landstown was only on a few people's radar (those that knew that this years team was not the same as years past). Additionally, only a few were mentioning Landstown or Cameron Butler.

Go look at the recently released stats;look at the categories Butlers name appears in.(if the BA was expanded; it would show him near .400)

He batted lead-off initially, then was switched to clean-up and he took off.
-Hits for average
-Hits for power
-can steal a base
-catch's then sometimes comes in relief to close games; he would be a very good outfielder/mid-fielder if he had played those positions; versatile.

But the key is not his stats, if you remember I had mentioned in another thread that " I don't pay much merit to stats alone" to clarify; what do the stats mean for your TEAM in the W column.

Cameron's stats are huge as were his influence on games. Just last week against Cox he came in relief allow 1 hit, but struck 5 of 6(Chris correct me please if I'm wrong). That's stepping up Big Time as he has all year.

Edit: On Tuesday, he came in relief of Lawhorn in the eighth against Bayside with the scored tied 2-2 and recorded the win pitching 5 2/3rd innings of shutout ball; btw his rbi double in the bottom of the 7th forced extra frames.

Without Cameron, I would have to agree with Chris that Landstown would have ended in the middle of the Pack. But how did Landstown finish on top of the District? Hint: Pitching and Defense wins Championships. The Eagles D was vastly improved and at times played exceptional. Additonally, to win at the HS Level you need more than one top-tier pitcher; Landstown had two by adding Lawhorn. Lawhorn 6-0 in the District with wins over Cox,PA,Kellam,OL,FC and GR with a no decision against Bayside. (if the ERA was expanded,; his would be under 2.00)
Landstown played in and won alot of close low scoring games. (the lone lost to date was to Bayside at Bayside in 8 innings 3-2, Butler had 14 K's)

Butler was the catalyst that drove the team motivation with a "do-as-I-do" attitude.

IMHO,the TEAM exceeded my own expectations, but
I am probably not the only one.

P.S. Stoney, I love how you play the game "with passion". Don't every stop.

Beach:
Butler
Tomchick
Newman
Jack
(the player from Cox that had the most impact for the teams turn-around)

From what I have read in the paper:

Eastern:
Cowgill
Abetz

SE:
Ward
Harris
OConner
Keeton

Peninsula:
The name I see the most is Carter

TCIS:
Serafine
Mitchell

Earlier in the year, I was expecting Salem to be one of the top dogs, with Newman being the leader of it all. Salem hasn't quite lived up to expectations but is still a pretty solid team. Although Newman has 10 dingers, his team is still, what, seventh i believe in the beach.

He has produced nice stats, and I predict he will make first team all beach.

Now only do you have to look at individual stats, but you have to look at HOW THEY HELPED THE TEAM. Landstown won its first ever beach district title, and the captain of the team is senior Cameron Butler. He guided the eagles from last years team, that didn't make the playoffs, to a district title.

He has been outstanding behind the plate; the kid puts his all into catching, blocks every ball, and guns out anyone who tries to steal.

When he pitches, you don't have to know anything about baseball to know he is shutting people down. His breaking ball is rarely touched and his fastball peaks in the uppper 80s. (Not to mention a knuckle ball that loves to dance by batters.)

At the plate, whether batting lead off or clean up, he gets the job done. I believe he leads the team in RBIs and HRs. (Set LHSs school record with most strike outs in a game- 14 at bayside, and also set school record for most HRs in a season, at 6 right now i believe.)

But overall, I believe he is a quality baseball player. He guided this relatively young Landstown team to a dictrict title, and i think that credential right there will help him earn Beach POY.

Just a few other other predictions-

FIRST TEAM ALL BEACH- Butler (Beach POY), Lawhorn Jr. LHS pitcher, Ben Tomchick PA Sr. pitcher, Wilkerson Cox Sr. 2B, Zaine Jack Sr. Bayside OF,
Robbie Newman Salem Sr. Utility? or catcher

SECOND TEAM ALL BEACH- James Taylor Jr.-Kellam, Patrick Harrington So.-Kellam, Blake Boyce-FC , Kyle Profilet- Cox, Pat Hall-OL, Frankie Lewis-OL, Cameron Day So. Landstown

I'm obviously missing some players but thats just a few people who pop in mind.

Goodluck to all the teams in this Saturdays Beach District Tournament at Landstown!

How's this for no respect for Beach District Baseball.....Virginia Preps has their list of top 100 players in 2008 and not one Beach District Player is on the list! The Beach District is usually the toughest in VA, with 8 state champs over the last 35 years (PA 05, Green Run 95, FC 93, Kempsville 77,75,73,72, and Bayside 76). Yet there's not enough talent in the Beach to get 1 player on the list?

http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1702&mi...id=113030068&style=1

With Newman hitting 10 bombs, Jack batting .500 and hitting 7, Tomchick, Lawhorn, and Butler's ERA's around 1.00 and VaPreps is stating there are 100 better players in VA then any Beach player? I find that highly unlikely.

As for players of the year, it's still too early....I'll wait until the season is over to make my decision. There's still a lot of baseball left and it will be interesting to see who can rise to the challenge in the post-season.

The beach usually gets all of respect.Ocean Lakes loses and still is no.7.Which indian River beat.

quote:

As for players of the year, it's still too early....I'll wait until the season is over to make my decision. There's still a lot of baseball left and it will be interesting to see who can rise to the challenge in the post-season.

No it's not. Selections are based on the Regular Season play. At least I do not think the policy has changed.

With that said and Landstown clinching last Friday, the coach's and writers could have already met or are scheduled to meet in the next couple of days.

Lawman - I'm with you.....I think the POY in the Beach is already a lock.....and between Cameron and Robbie......with Cameron getting the nod. He was just to valuable to his team as was Kyle.....I'm sure Kyle will be right in the mix next year.

I got the pleasure of coaching Cameron last summer and can't wait until Mid-June - he will help our team again - I'm actually excited about seeing him pitch at ODU against the other districts.....If you get a chance ask him about the short fence in Greensboro last year - he was not happy! HA!

quote:

Originally posted by saipanwarrior:
Lawman - I'm with you.....I think the POY in the Beach is already a lock.....and between Cameron and Robbie......with Cameron getting the nod. He was just to valuable to his team as was Kyle.....I'm sure Kyle will be right in the mix next year.

I got the pleasure of coaching Cameron last summer and can't wait until Mid-June - he will help our team again - I'm actually excited about seeing him pitch at ODU against the other districts.....If you get a chance ask him about the short fence in Greensboro last year - he was not happy! HA!

saipanwarrior,
I got into along discussion at the game tonight with a longtime friend and father of player that played with my oldest in AAU/Salem.

First I hold nothing but my deepest respect and love for Coach Zell and Salem baseball. I want them to win everygame; except against Landstown of course.

But the emphasis from my friend was on Robbies HR's (which I believe he hit another tape-measure shot today). As I tried to explain,Robbie should be credited and recognized with an ACHIEVEMENT of the year category.

Cameron's nomination is being based on the "embodiment-of-work" with all that he was asked to do and which he did sucessfully to a high degree.

It's like the Ruth or Bonds argument, Bonds was a great player which teams feared(like Robbie) where as I give the nod to Ruth based on the fact that he won 94 games as a pitcher and those 7 World Series rings.

Maybe they both get Co-player of the Year; that would be fine with me. I think it's happened before where ironically those players selected
closely similar to the current players being discussed.

This meeting between the coaches to determine the "teams" depends a great deal on how willing the coaches are to fight for an indivual player. In some cases stats speak for themselves and in some cases stats are not enough. This year is probably one of the more difficult to determine some front runners, especially players on the losing teams. Not to be negative, but you also have to discuss the errors, especially ones that may have cost a game. Errors can make a great impact on decisions between two players.
My point; do not put too much into the "team" selections. They usually just create a lot of angry people. Remember the girls basketball coach from PA a few years ago!

Butler from Landstown: high profile positions, great stats (both offensive and defensive) and on the winning team.
Good luck to both teams going to regions!

lynn metheny

quote:

Originally posted by jsnisdman:
How's this for no respect for Beach District Baseball.....Virginia Preps has their list of top 100 players in 2008 and not one Beach District Player is on the list! The Beach District is usually the toughest in VA, with 8 state champs over the last 35 years (PA 05, Green Run 95, FC 93, Kempsville 77,75,73,72, and Bayside 76). Yet there's not enough talent in the Beach to get 1 player on the list?

http://virginiapreps.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1702&mi...id=113030068&style=1

With Newman hitting 10 bombs, Jack batting .500 and hitting 7, Tomchick, Lawhorn, and Butler's ERA's around 1.00 and VaPreps is stating there are 100 better players in VA then any Beach player? I find that highly unlikely.

As for players of the year, it's still too early....I'll wait until the season is over to make my decision. There's still a lot of baseball left and it will be interesting to see who can rise to the challenge in the post-season.

Add Cox '96.

I was wondering if anyone would care to comment on how the players are ranked on this website and why the beach players are not considered good enough to have any players ranked in the top 100.

quote:

Originally posted by XTRAINNINGS:
I was wondering if anyone would care to comment on how the players are ranked on this website and why the beach players are not considered good enough to have any players ranked in the top 100.

I think it could have been to lack of overage or input/representation for the district.

or it could of been fear of crossing the bridge tunnels.

Seriously, I think wgarlick will bring notice to those players.

Additionally, virginiapreps.com site is not heavly populated with membership from the SE region of the state; which could have some impact with bring awareness.

My official position is now Butler/Newman sharing the award.

In 2003, David Winfree(FC) and Phil Lawhorn (Salem) shared the award.

While playing different positions, Butler's play resembled the play of Lawhorn while Newman impresses as the power-hitting Winfree.

XtraInnings

The short answer is we didn't have anyone covering baseball in the Beach last year and I wasn't in contact with any of the coaches until this spring.

That will improve for the 2009 class. I'm working on the Eastern Region list for the top juniors, sophomores, and freshman as we speak. I get most of the info from the coaches, websites like this, and fans who email me.

I have increased my coverage of the Beach teams and I did articles on Zaine Jack from Bayside, Drew Wilkerson of Cox, and Ben Tomchick of Princess Anne for VirginiaPreps. I also did team profiles on Kempsville and Cox. My weekly Top 10 has a summary of the top players for each team.

I'm enjoy giving exposure to our Eastern Region players. My email is vapreps@wlgsports.com if you have a prospect who is getting under-recruited.

There are certainly players deserving to be on that list from the district. Please send us info on those deserving and we will try and track down and update the list.

We are totatlly dependent on coaches and scouts to help with the formulation of our lists and don't get much assistance from that particular district's coaches...

Email us vapreps@aol.com