Old Coach

Gabriel Nevala (Nederland) is pitching for Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama.

Gabe Nevala | #10 | RHP | Marion Military Institute - http://www.mmitigers.com/sports/bsb/2014-15/players/gabenevalasoa5

GREAT GAME from both teams. The lead changed hands a couple of times. Mental errors on both teams hurt them but still a great game. It will be interesting to see how the third game plays out...will the senior loaded BH come out on top or the scrappy youngsters win in the final game of the series. Not too many gave Nederland a chance of being in this place at the beginning of the year...they weren't picked to make the playoffs. But here they are playing tough against a good team with tons of pitchers. The third and deciding game should be something special...for both teams.

I was there and didn't hear anything like that. What I saw was a young team work through their first inning jitters, support their pitcher and come from behind and win against a good team. That really impressed me. Now, we will see how they handle the second game. Go Dawgs!

Don't know about BH, but Nederland is getting better with each game. The team is young with only 2 seniors. It took this long for these young players to believe in themselves even though they were undefeated last year. This should be a good test of whether they will play up to their ability and how far they will go in the playoffs.

I saw the Nederland vs Lumberton JV game also.  It was hard watching a very good team fall apart before your very eyes.  I thought Nevala pitched a very good game inspite of not feeling well.  He showed mental strength and confidence in his teams defense to help him out.  For example, a LONG fly ball to center field caught by the CF over his shoulder to end the inning.  Great play!

My question is what was the coach thinking taking out a pitcher who had a shut-out for four innings only to have to put him back into the game to shut down Lumberton's rally.  If Nevala would have pitched the 5th inning, the way he was going, game would have end 12-0.  But instead, it ended up 13-10 with the game in doubt until Marshall shut Lumberton down in the 7th inning.

What was the coach thinking?