RIP09

If this is the same [glow=red,2,300]ripper[/glow] I used to know, theres no telling how they will do. CRUSHCOACH, I sent you a PM.

It was the implication that BH can't go nowhere with out the "Big Four". But we are definitely going to miss the 'Big Four' and their sticks Yes, many forget that they could hit also. Hales and Thamm @ .400. Silva hit 6-7 HR's. Hales (1B) and Thamm(OF) were also Honorable-Mention all-state on the Texas sports writers list. Believe me I didn't forget the individual seasons that Hales and Thamm had. They were definitely 2 of the better hitters on the team and in the state during the season but I was just touching on one of the reasons the team didn't advance. These kids didn't hit as well during the Bay City series and no one was there to pick up the slack. The team hit 70 points below their season average during the Bay City series. This is a big reason for the loss against Bay City. All good hitters are going to have a bad game now and then and if the rest of the team can't pick them up your in trouble. I believe this year's team will be a better hitting team from top to bottom than last years. Not to say that anyone will put up any better individual numbers than Hales and Thamm, but I think there will be more good hitters to pick up the slack. I can't wait to see how it plays out!

The concern of course will be the pitching but I think it will be okay. The hitting and the fielding will be much improved from last year. We'll just have to wait and see how the pitching holds up. I still think BH wins the district and gets at least to the 3rd round of the playoffs. I'm not going to put any limits on the possibilities with this group of kids. I can't wait for the season to start!

I heard Mitchel pitched well, Who else might step up. Ballard is trying out for third has anyone heard how he's doing. Are their anymore of the sophomores that might be pulled up. Mitchell has looked good on the hill. Not much room for any other playing time if everybody stays healthy. Ballard he will most likely be on JV he has been injured the last 2 years. There will be very few juniors on the Varisity baring injury you will not see any sophomores who does BH have at third this year?? Bellard is lookin ok at third after a year hiatus when he was hurt They have several options that have been mentioned at 3rd. Right now I believe Jared Baker, Bellard, Blaine McDonald are working there but you also have the option of putting Jake Ponder at third and putting Lyday behind the plate. Not sure how it will play out but I'd be a little concerned of how Bellard will do at the plate against good varsity pitching. You've got to remember he missed last year as a freshman so your going back to at bats against 14 or 15 year old pitching. Not sure how he'll adjust to say a kid like Smesny from Dayton. That will be quite an adjustment to make for any kid.

I agree with Eagle07. I'd also have to add lack of hitting to the list of problems for BH in the playoffs last year. Definitely not a pitching problem.

1. BH 2. LCM 3. PNG 4. Bridge City 5. Nederland 6. WB 7. Vidor 8. Huffman 9. Orangefield 10. Buna

I was very surprised as well. I've always had a ton of respect for the man as a coach and mentor to kids, especially after watching the documentary on him that ESPN aired several months ago. I'm very interested in seeing how he handles this. I agree also with the comment from OLGabe.

BARBERS HILL BASEBALL SCHEDULE 2009 Day Date Opponent Place Time Tuesday February 10 Bay City (Scrimmage) Bay City 5:00 Friday February 13 Bridge City (Scrimmage) Barbers Hill 5:00 Tuesday February 17 Manvel (Scrimmage) Barbers Hill 6:30 Friday February 20 Dobie (Scrimmage) Barbers Hill 5:00 Monday February 23 Bay City Barbers Hill 6:00 Thurs.-Sat. February 26,27,28 Columbus Tournament Columbus TBA Tuesday March 3 Manvel Manvel 6:30 Thurs.-Sat. March 5,6,7 Ewell Jackson Tournament Houston TBA Tuesday March 10 PNG PNG 6:00 Thurs.-Sat. March 12,13,14 Barbers Hill Tournament Barbers Hill TBA Tuesday March 17 Galena Park* Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday March 20 C.E. King* Sheldon 7:00 Tuesday March 24 Kingwood Park Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday March 27 Memorial* Baytown 7:00 Tuesday March 31 Dayton* Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday April 3 Crosby* Crosby 7:00 Tuesday April 7 North Forest* Barbers Hill 7:00 Thursday April 9 Galena Park* Galena Park 7:00 Tuesday April 14 C.E. King* Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday April 17 Kingwood Park* Kingwood 7:00 Tuesday April 21 Memorial* Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday April 24 Dayton* Dayton 7:00 Tuesday April 28 Crosby* Barbers Hill 7:00 Friday May 1 North Forest* Houston 7:00 *District 19-AAAA Games

I would also add Matt Peterson to the list from BH in 19-4a. He will be one of our best pitchers if not the best. Fastball in the mid 80's with the possibility of being consistently in the high 80's and a fantastic slider. No slouch at the plate either with plenty of power.

No not at all. Last year's team underachieved tremendously with the pitching staff they had. I know they lost an unbelievable high school pitching staff from last year but the hitting as a team was not very good. I believe they do have a few quality arms that will pitch very well and 3 others that will pitch well enough to keep them in games. I do think the hitting and the defense will be much improved from last year's team. I can see this team going at least 2 to 3 rounds deep into the playoffs based on the hitting and defense alone. If they get a little more from their #4-#6 pitchers than expected, this team could go very deep into the playoffs.

Give your names and positions of newcomers that you think might have an impact on the district in 19-4a?