MIF04

The SE Texas Sun Devils 16s went 5-1 in the WWBA National Championships in East Cobb, GA, being eliminated by the Mets scout team. All in all, a very good week for these young men. The recruiting coordinator from Clemson attended and followed our 1st two games here, gathering information on several players. The PG scouting bureau also sent their scouts for the same reason. As noted in another post, the 16s were also honored with the Perfect Game "Pro Award". . The SE Texas Sun Devils 18s went undefeated until losing in the semi-finals of the BEST Nationals in Cocoa, FLA. A very good run for these young men as well. This team was followed by the recruiting coordinators from several D1 colleges, including Stanford and Missiouri as well as regional scout for NY Yankees, each of whom made the trip to Cocoa just to watch us play.

The SE Texas Sun Devils 16s completed pool play 3-0 in World Wood Bat/Perfect Game National Championships to advance to championship bracket. There are 180+ teams in this national event. The 18s are 5-0 through pool play in the Best Nationals being played in Florida. The are the #1 seed going into the championship bracket. Congrats to these young men.

Proving that the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree, Ole Miss' Tim Ferguson was named to the SEC Freshman Honor Roll. Okay, okay...maybe the apple does fall far from the tree [Hidden Content] ????????? Link:

This is an 186 team tourney. SE Texas Sun Devils are the only Texas team to (a) win their pool and ( advance to championship bracket...which starts today. Good luck, guys....

SE Texas Sun Devils 18s are now 4-0 at Perfect Game/World Wood Bat Nathional Championships. They have clinched their pool and will advance to the championship bracket. Way to go, guys...

First, congratulations to Chad Landry and BC. I repeat that I think this is a great fit for both. Second, congratulations to Kyle Green and Vidor. The Pirates kept a good coach and can continue to build that program in the same positive direction it has been going. Okay...problem solved. What's next????

Sun Devils 16s win game 1 9-6. Trae Hester (Vidor) with the win. Jace Statem (OF) goes 4-4 with walk. Sun Devils play twice today.

If they don't decide by Monday, maybe I'll apply. I'll only need a token salary and I'd give that back to the baseball booster club. I wouldn't need to teach so they could hire a real teacher for the school. Now, I might change the name to the BC Sun Devils????? Indecision...how long can they drag this out?

Nice outing and congrats. For more info, go to www.usabaseball.com and follow page to Tourney of Stars.

The SE Texas Sun Devils 16s are in Arizona playing in USA Baseball National Championships. They have been selected to play 1 of the 2 games to be played in the major league stadium...an honor and treat for the kids and the program. That game is Sunday at 6 p.m. (Pac time).

The update from today includes: Landry had a meeting with BC (2nd interview?) but no offer. There is apparently some pressure from a limited few to pick someone else. Hard to believe that the "same old, same old" would still be the rule of the day...

Greetings all from the warm (117 degrees today) weather in Phoenix, AZ...which is quite a change from the high of 82 I was getting in Omaha. The life of a baseball guy... And, by the way: ignore the time of the post. Its only 11 p.m. out here so its not even past my bed time...yet. First, thanks to BEARS for the compliment (I think) of being a reliable source. As those who know me may guess, I do have some insight and information (not all of which I am at liberty to share). Let me just say that I have followed the BC situation for some time and have these thoughts: (1) Kyle Green made a very good decision staying at Vidor. It is "his" program, run "his" way. Plus he returns some talent to the Pirates' camp for next year so its not like his cupboard is bare. You could do a lot worse than start with Hester on the bump and work from there. Kyle has been a lot of places in a very short time. He's bounced around looking for success. I think he might like the idea of staying in one place for a while. (2) I don't know that I like the innuendos about Chris Fackler. I have known Chris for some time and (like most) there is some good and bad. I think he is a pretty good baseball guy. I don't know that I think he has the administrative side to run a HS program. I tried to hire him once. Actually, I did hire him for a week...but it didn't work out. He just wasn't "available" enough to do what we needed him to do. He went with Bobby Straface and the Big Timers (as my mother says, "You sleep with dogs, you get fleas") then left shortly thereafter with Sam Moore to start Golden Triangle Baseball. Do I think he'd be a bad hire at BC? Probably not. Do I think he'd be a great hire? Same answer. I just don't think he's a good fit at BC. (3) I don't think I've made any great secret that I am a big fan of Chad Landry. He is the kind of man, and the kind of coach, that people can get behind and support (something new, and needed, in BC). His family is well connected, and well thought of, in local baseball circles. I repeat a comment that I made earlier: if he had BC's talent the past 5 years at HF, he'd have the big trophy. BC should hire him simply because his HF team knocked out Silsbee 2 years ago in the last district game when BC's playoff position was in serious peril (think about that: he had to get a team going nowhere ready to beat a team who had their whole season on the line). Five years from now, this will have been the best hire in BC's athletic history. If they go another direction, you may see even the "Billy bashers" wishing for the "good old days"... (4) Now, if they don't hire Landry, what does BC do? But that's another topic for another day...and one I hope I never have to write. MEMO TO BRIDGE CITY: Hire Landry. Remind everyone that he was always on the short list from day one. He was one of the first to be interviewed. They felt they owed it to the community to talk to all potential hires (whether they applied or not) but it was truly a test of how they measured up against Landry. In the end, and while they talked to a number of outstanding applicants, Landry is the best man for this job. And while you're at it: give the baseball program its own booster club. Let the moms and dads who want to run the program do something they can have direct input in: giving funds and doing work. Use this as an opportunity to make BC baseball great again...

The word out of BC this morning is that Green said "no". Maybe NOW they'll get the right guy????

Does anyone have the 21-5A all district team?

Jagneaux is head coach at Houston Westside, a 5A program with a good track record. On the other hand, it has had a good run of talent and plays in a top heavy district (Westside, Bellaire and Lamar and nobody else...not a tough playoff run). He has applied for jobs over here in past. Years ago, he was the frontrunner at WOS and pulled out. A few years ago, he applied at West Brook and was given the job...only to pull out again. BC, even if they hire him, would have to hold their breath until he actually showed up in August. I repeat: Landry. Great baseball guy, strong ties to the local baseball community, etc. If he'd had BC's talent the last 4 or 5 years, there'd be some hardware lining the halls over at HF. No knock on the other guys, just my humble opinion...

A quick 'shout out' to the LSU Tigers who defeated UC-Irvine last night to advance to the CWS...and our own Johnny Dishon who homered during the game. Congrats !!!!

Malcolm Bronson (Jasper) in 11th round to Royals Hunter Cervenka (Bay Sterling) in 27th round to Red Sox FYI: last year, Carmen Angelini (SS- Lake Charles Barbe) went in 10th round to NY Yankees but signed...when he was paid at or near 1st round money. He had also committed to Rice.

Malcolm Bronson (Jasper) taken in 11th round by KC Royals. Congrats to him, his family and his program.

After day 1 (1st 7 rounds): Trey Haley (Nac Central Heights) in 2nd round to Cleveland Indians. Brent Marshall (Bay Sterling) in 7th round to NY Yankees. Rounds 8 to the end begin this morning. Follow at www.mlb.com on their draft tracker.

For the record, Coach Bryant blew in and blew out with the political winds. They helped in and they hurt him. As the old saying goes, "live by the sword, die by the sword". I was never his biggest fan and thought he benefitted more from a string of remarkable talent (state championship talent, I might add) that never achieved to that level. With that being said, the real chore is picking a coach that can maximize (rather than just rely on) the talent that continues in BC (you gotta be amazed at the talent that just keeps coming through there). I would imagine there will be a number of candidates. I am not privy to that list nor do I have any 'inside information'. I do think that Coach Landry at HF would be a great candidate. I don't know (except for they always reliable 'rumor mill') if he is even interested but he is a good baseball man who gets more out of his talent that not. And he is well-versed in dealing with parents, etc. who are meddlesome to say the least (HF has its share...BC does not have this market cornered). He has ties to BC and is well-connected in local baseball circles. I understand that no one asked me...these are just my thoughts as an 'interested observer' of BC baseball.

In steamin' hot Coral Gables: Ole Miss 14 Bethune Cookman 1 Miami 3 Mizzou 0 (top of 3rd)

For the record, the Missiouri pitcher (Crow) was the real deal today...no wonder he'll be the 1st pitcher taken next week. He is very, very good and, when he's on, he is virtually unhittable. My hat is off to him. I have not seen a better collegiate pitcher all year long. Maybe he'll take the BC job????? JK....couldn't resist....

Noon Friday....I'm on it. I say TF, the Frosh at OlE Miss, is gonna own Andrew Crow. ;D ;D ;D Go Rebels ! If that happens, I may buy everyone on South Beach drinks til July 4th.....

The Houston regional is a tough one but I would rank it 3rd or 4th along with these: Michigan (hosting as #2 seed) Arizona (preseason #1) Kentucky (led SEC in most offensive categories) E. Michigan Miami (#1 seed) Missiouri (#1 pitcher in country) Mississippi (preseason #2) Bethune Cookman Long Beach San Diego Cal Fresno State Most of the regionals are fairly competitive. I will take the Aggies' regional as the easiest...but that is on paper only. I do think Houston Regional is tough. Rice is, well, Rice. Texas is, well, Texas and Sam Houston split this year with Rice. St. John's had a lot of buzz but fell off tremendously in their conference tourney and last week of the season. For you TV buffs: noon on Friday: ESPNU: Ole Miss vs. Missiouri. Missiouri has announced Andrew Crow as their starter (#1 in the nation with 12-0 record and projected first college pitcher in draft). Ole Miss? They got that Ferguson kid out there at SS....

Last I heard, Kris had signed with Frank Phillips JC in Borger, Texas. I did try to run him down today but he did not show up in any of their stats, etc...so I really don't know now.