August 2009 Archives
I talked to their friend, teammate and fellow senior Kimi McDaniel. I asked her, 'What's the biggest issue at the moment that could prevent this team from advancing far in the state tournament?'
Here's what she said: "It's our attitude this year. There's so much drama on the team. This is not even the third week of school and people are already hating each other, won't play well together. I'm just like, 'OK, on the field it's different. None of this is personal. Just kick the ball.'"
McDaniel, outgoing, amiable and seemingly honest, had this to say later in the interview:
"We're working on trying to plan an overnight retreat and not mention soccer at all. Have fun games. Because everyone has their cliques. And if you don't know everybody, you're not going to know how they play. You don't know their attitudes. So if you yell, 'Go get the ball!' they're like, 'Oh my gosh. She's mad at me.' They're not. You have to know them on a personal basis for their tone or else you get beat down and they're not trying to beat you down at all."
Bloomfield isn't the only team dealing with that type of issue. It was hard to miss a few Farmington girls' players bickering on the bench during a game last week, and Piedra Vista's coaching staff got rough treatment when they decided to play the Lady Panthers' bench players after building an 8-0 lead over Gallup.
Par for the course, I suppose, for high school girls?
Running Offense: The Tigers' offensive line could be the best in the state of New Mexico. Granted, I'm not familiar with the best teams in the state, but with three players among the top 100 statewide as ranked by NMPreps.com on that one unit, they're tough to top.
It's hard to evaluate sophomore running back Bryce Grady, who rushed 11 times for 214 yards. Grady broke into the secondary untouched nearly every carry and averaged 19.5 yards a carry. The linebackers, as Santa Fe coach Raymond Holladay admitted, did a poor job of closing on Grady.
Still, the game boosted Grady's confidence in his first varsity start. He admitted he felt nervous taking over for Mike Hathcock on one of the top football teams in 4A. He did use his blocks well, didn't try to do too much, and hit the hole hard. He needed one cut -- or sometimes none at all -- and reached top speed fast, often by the time he reached the line of scrimmage.
Passing Offense: The Tigers didn't need Brycson King to win. That being said, Santa Fe effectively limited the passing game, especially in the first half.
King's interception should've been a completion -- Alan Orr was open -- but he let the ball hang in the air and allowed Jared Milliorn to recover for the pick.
The Demons shut down Aztec on three straight offensive possessions (wedged around John White's 60-yard punt return for a touchdown), forcing incomplete passes on third down twice and causing Jake Espinoza to fumble on the third. Then Espinoza took a screen pass 72 yards for a touchdown.
King did finish 15-for-21 for 201 yards. Many of his completions were conservative.
Running Defense: The Demons averaged 2.0 yards a carry and finished with 49 rushing yards, 19 of which came on their opening drive. Linebacker Bronson Glazier, defensive back Josh Smith and Matt Hegarty flew to the ball all night and the Tigers were bigger up front on this side of the ball as well.
Santa Fe turned conservative in the second half, and it was easy to read run.
Passing Defense: Aztec didn't fare as well here.
Montoya Moses' 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter resulted from a blatent blown coverage.
Sophomore quarterback Jason Fitzpatrick isn't winning any awards this year, and his pass turned Moses around in the end zone and hung for a long time. He could afford that luxury because nobody was within 15 yards of Moses.
Santa Fe moved the ball through the air in the first half, with 85 yards, and missed a few other opportunities where the Tigers' coverage fell a bit lax.
Special Teams: A blocked punt by Hegarty, a 60-yard touchdown return and six perfect extra points bode well for Aztec. Two long kickoff returns by Santa Fe keep this effort from scoring as an A+.
Overall: Espinoza fumbled twice and didn't catch another pass that can't be considered a drop, but one he could've caught. The team finished with 10 penalties. Two other fumbles and an interception will probably have coach Brad Hirsch talking ball security this week.
Still, the Tigers handled business and dominated physically.
Grade: B+
Kirtland Central falls: The Broncos lost 47-14 to San Juan. If you're interested, you can find stats of the game here.
San Juan, a Class 2A team in Utah, is ranked No. 17 in the state by MaxPreps for all schools, regardless of classification.
Hometown wins: Sports editor Darren Vaughan's high school team handled business tonight. Grand County (Utah) beat Monticello (Utah) 24-7.
My old school, Hoover (Ala.), beat Gardendale (Ala.) 51-21.
A sad story emerged out of Alabama tonight when Lincoln coach Keith Howard, 48, died of an apparent heart attack after experiencing chest pains during the game.
However, not the best selection of headline -- "Lincoln High head football coach has chest pains during game, dies." Instead of saying he died first, it brings your mind through the process: he went to the game, had chest pains, and died. A bit shocking.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
Piedra Vista 24, Durango 17
Aztec 63, Santa Fe 10
San Juan 49, Kirtland Central 20
Farmington 17, Gallup 14
Shiprock 24, Miyamura 13
St. Michael's 27, Bloomfield 24
Anyone else have any predictions of their own?
I've been a slacker this week and haven't blogged.
I've been working on our fall sports preview section, to be included in Friday's paper, and battling a bit of insomnia. But I'm back now and I'm brainstorming different features to include in the blog during the prep season.
If there's anything you want to see, let me know at csmith@daily-times.com.
Football Power Poll: Aztec's team is so far ahead of the others at this point that opposing coaches are all but admitting the Tigers will win District 1-4A.
They top the season's first power poll.
The game of the week features the Bloomfield Bobcats taking on nemesis St. Michael's, which knocked them out of the playoffs two years ago and won last year's season-opener by a point after stopping Bloomfield's two-point try a yard short.
Questions surround each team entering Friday's opening games.
Preseason Rankings
1. Aztec -- Can the Tigers win the 4A title?
2. Piedra Vista -- Can the Panthers' youth fulfill their potential fast enough?
3. Bloomfield -- Can the Bobcats' linemen be adequate enough to allow their skill players to succeed?
4. Kirtland Central -- Can the Broncos find an identity with no returning starters and Tom Adair taking over as coach?
5. Farmington -- Can the Scorpions' thin roster budge them from a wretched 2-8 season last year?
6. Shiprock -- Can the Chieftains propel themselves into Class 3A with another season of progression?
7. Navajo Prep -- Can the Eagles restore some pride to the sport of football?
*****
The Weird and Famous: Life in the big leagues is not all milk and cookies. You know that if you watched Stephon Marbury's 24-hour live stream, full of bizarre twists and the NBA player crying.
Add Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley to the list this year. Beasley, who got caught in a hotel room with marijuana and women during the NBA's rookie symposium last year, checked into a Houston rehab center this month.
Initial speculation indicated Beasley checked himself into the center on his on volition. It turns out the NBA mandated his clinical treatment as a part of the league's substance-abuse program.
According to the Houston Chronicle, "It remained unclear Tuesday how many drug tests Beasley might have failed in his rookie season."
The more sordid part of the story involved Beasley's Twitter posts which could be described as suicidal:
"Feelin like it's not worth livin!!!!!!! I'm done," he posted on Friday before deleting his account.
In Beasley's case, he's hurting himself more than anyone else. These breakdowns seem to be easier to sympathize with: Chris Anderson and Josh Hamilton come to mind. Still, it's another sad story.
Beasley has lots of supporters, including Dwayne Wade, so he's in a much better position to get support for his problems than the average person.
*****
Angry Milton: Milton Bradley is an angry man.
No, not the famous board game pioneer. The outfielder with a history. Like, tearing his ACL while trying to fight first base umpire Mike Winters. Or confronting Kansas City Royals announcer Ryan Lefebvre in the press box after a game.
The latest: Bradley says he faces adversity and hatred every day he plays for the Chicago Cubs.
"I'm talking about hatred, period. I'm talking about when I go to eat at a restaurant. I've got to listen to the waiters badmouthing me at another table, sitting in a restaurant. That's what I'm talking about. Everything," Bradley said when asked to clarify his comments.
That's one guy you don't want to look at the wrong way at the bar or on the sidewalk. Then again, if he comes after you, he might blow out his knee. But then he'd be really mad.
And can life really be that out to get you when you're making millions of dollars while everyone spends their time tiptoeing around you?
*****
Barkley USC's QB: Matt Barkley will be the first USC quarterback to start the season opener as a true freshman.
Coach Pete Carroll announced the decision unexpectedly. Carroll had named Aaron Corp the starter after spring practice. Some speculate a minor injury to Corp is worse than the public knows.
Others question the move by Carroll, who hesitates to name starters and promotes competition. He phrased the decision in such a way that it seems Barkley will keep the job no matter how he performs.
Then again, he could be trying to alleviate the pressure off his young QB, who faced criticism after throwing too many interceptions in practices and scrimmages.
*****
Football is back. Let the season begin!
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
I completed my ninth 14er of the summer this morning. San Luis Peak felt like a walk in the park compared to Crestone Peak last week from the lower parking lot.
I bet Usain Bolt would be an insane climber.
I wondered about two things today during my hike.
1) Why do we always forget things when we try to remember?
Example: You go to an ATM, stick your card in while thinking about something else and your fingers punch in the pin number on their own. Or, you think to yourself as you're walking to the ATM, 'What's my pin number?' and more times than not you won't remember.
2) Why is it that we go backwards for a time communication-wise in relationships after the beginning?
Example: You meet someone and talk spontaneously. You don't analyze it. You don't feel self-conscious. You just let it happen. Later, if you enjoyed it, the next several times, you overthink. Should I leave them alone for a while? Has enough time passed? Communication becomes more forced and unnatural as you try to monitor and filter what you say. You want the person to like you, too. But if you think about it, it's silly.
*****
All-Star Game: The Native American All-Star Game is Friday and Saturday at Ricketts Park.
Previously at Isotopes Park, the game was relocated this year. The Navajo are 1-5 in its history against the Pueblo, but will attempt to turn their fortune this year in the best-of-three series.
They have a solid 20-man lineup featuring players from most of the local high schools:
Pat Aspaas, Kirtland Central
Ian Arthur, Kirtland Central
Josh Bilison, Window Rock
Troy Billy, Tuba City
Darrell Brown, Window Rock
Xavier Hardy, Many Farms
Ryan Hemstreet, Tuba City
Nolan Hoskie, Gallup
Chandler Joe, Farmington
Joshua Joe, Westwood
Seith Joe, Westwood
Brent Jones, Chinle
Brian Keesie, Many Farms
Craig Littleman, Page
Ramon Littleman, Page
Vince Littleman, Page
Tyler Nakai, Shiprock
Colin Nez, Chinle
Steven Redshirt, Shiprock
Bryce Rockwell, Shiprock
Allen Silversmith, Chinle
Chris Skrelunas, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Tyrus Warren, Kirtland Central
Dominic Valdez, Piedra Vista
*****
Bolt a boost for T&F: We as humans are scientific geniuses.
We can clone people. We invented the hydrogen bomb. We can take off the ground and stinkin' fly in an airplane.
How is it that, through the year 2008, we believed that tall and sprinting didn't go together?
It's one of the most dumbfounding misconceptions ever.
There are three elements that comprise good speed:
1) Stride frequency
2) Minimal time in contact with the ground
3) Stride length
If you've got a 5-foot-9 guy racing against the 6-foot-5 Bolt, he's got an enormous advantage in the third category. If you can teach him to get out of the blocks, and he possesses similar fast-twitch muscles and burst, his top-end speed is going to be higher. He's going to run more relaxed because his stride is so much longer. And a longer stride doesn't have to mean less stride frequency.
I believe it's possible that Usain Bolt is clean. I sure hope so for the sake of my sport.
What that man has done at this world championships is, no hyperbole, incredible. He broke two world records, the ones he set at the Beijing Olympics. The 100 record we all expected to fall.
But the 200? The one that he broke by .02 seconds by running flat out, eclipsing Michael Johnson's long-standing and perhaps more impressive record by a fraction?
Then he experienced discomfort in his foot after a car crash and couldn't train on the curve as much -- perhaps the most important element for a 200-meter dash. And he ran a 19.19 (?!?).
*****
Links of the Week: This engaging piece on the Philadelphia Eagles fan base, and their reaction to Michael Vick, is typical for ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill, but once-in-a-lifetime for everyone else. Is there anyone today that does longform, investigative or emotional pieces better than Merrill? If you crave something original, creative, in-depth, insightful and crafted just so, read her stuff.
This guy may be a criminal genius. They're calling him the $83 bandit, apparently because of his propensity to walk into banks, hand the teller a note demanding $83 and walk out.
Now, if you're going to rob a bank, isn't it the perfect amount? Anything less and it's worthless. But the teller will think: Why $83? And then they'll be busy finding three $1 bills. And before they can as much as show alarm on their face, the man is gone. And is it really worth risking your life for a few $20 bills? The people that work at banks handle so much money, it's got to seem like one bad overcharge fee and nothing more.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
Lorett made his decision public after speaking with the baseball players during seventh period on the first day of school.
"What coach Lorett has done at Farmington High School, there's almost no words for it. Almost legendary status," Moore said.
Sean Trotter, a longtime assistant coach, will coach the Scorpions.
"The players know (Trotter) very well. There's many things that Coach Lorett provided for the program as far as a very good direction to go in. With Coach Trotter being right there for so long, he's learned everything that I think Coach Lorett could give him," Moore said.
"Of course he'll add his own new touches to it now, but I think the players are going to benefit greatly from Coach Trotter taking the helm and not really changing the system that much that here at Farmington High School has worked for a long, long time."
Trotter and Lorett are expected to comment tomorrow.
Note the Four Corners Thunder finished ninth in batting average and team fielding and sixth in ERA.
The Thunder, realistically, were the eighth-best team, ahead of the Bayamon (Puerto Rico) Giants and the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers.
I spoke with MVP Deven Marrero today. Marrero said he wants to win a College World Series with Arizona State and has been wanting to go to college for a long time.
A 17th-round draft pick, Marrero feels his defense is MLB ready. He said he's working on improving his strength and becoming a better hitter.
Team Batting
1. Midland Redskins .345
2. Dallas Tigers .340
3. Florida Legends .321
4. Dallas DBAT Mustangs .268
5. East Cobb Yankees .231
6. South Troy Dodgers .191
T7. Illinois Sparks .167
T7. Danville Hoots .167
9. Four Corners Thunder .155
10. Bayamon Giants .077
Team Pitching
1. Midland Redskins 2.33 ERA
2. Florida Legends 2.65
3. East Cobb Yankees 3.15
4. Dallas DBAT Mustangs 4.08
5. Illinois Sparks 4.12
6. Four Corners Thunder 4.20
7. Dallas Tigers 4.48
8. Danville Hoots 5.83
9. South Troy Dodgers 7.00
10. Bayamon Giants 13.12
Team Fielding
1. Danville Hoots 1.000 pct.
2. East Cobb Yankees .977
3. Midland Redskins .973
4. Illinois Sparks .966
5. Dallas DBAT Mustangs .942
6. Bayamon Giants .941
7. Dallas Tigers .939
8. Florida Legends .924
9. Four Corners Thunder .916
10. South Troy Dodgers .893
Batting Average
1. Eric Acevedo, Florida .533
2. Dane Phillips, Midland .476
3. Deven Marrero, Midland .471
Slugging Pct.
1. Eric Acevedo, Florida .800
2. Manny Machado, Florida .789
3. Chase Durham, Dallas Tigers .786
On-base Pct.
1. Brian Goodwin, Midland .619
2. Deven Marrero, Midland .591
3. Eric Acevedo, Florida .588
Hits
1. Dane Phillips, Midland 10
2. Six tied at 8
RBIs
1. David Vazquez, Florida 8
T2. Graham Saiko, Midland 6
Deven Marrero, Midland 6
Preston Beck, Dallas DBAT Mustangs 6
Eric Acevedo, Florida 6
Doubles
1. Jonathan Walsh, Dallas Tigers 3
2. Eight tied at 2
Triples
1. Julian Santos, Florida 2
2. Five tied at 1
Home Runs
1. Chase Durham, Dallas Tigers 2
Graham Saiko, Midland 2
Manny Machado, Florida 2
4. Nine tied at 1
Total Bases
1. Manny Machado, Florida 15
2. Graham Saiko, Midland 14
3. David Vazquez, Florida 13
Walks
1. Stephen Perez, Florida* 8
2. Brian Goodwin, Midland 6
3. Three tied at 4
* Perez also had three stolen bases (tied for first) and three sac bunts (first).
Opposing Batting Avg.
1. Eddy Pidermann, Florida .000
2. Ben McKinney, East Cobb .059
3. Rafael Pineada, Dallas Tigers .105
Innings Pitched
1. Alex Panteliodis, Midland 14.0
2. Corey Brooks, Dallas DBAT Mustangs 13.1
3. Taylor Rogers, Midland 12.0
Strikeouts
1. Taylor Rogers, Midland 14
2. Corey Brooks, Dallas DBAT Mustangs 13
3. Alex Panteliodis, Midland 12
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
A skunk nearly got in my apartment on Tuesday.
I leave my apartment door open a lot to cool it off. I was finishing up dinner when I heard the familiar crackle of leaves and underbrush at the opposite corner of the building.
There are several cats that roam around the area, so I thought nothing of it when an animal crept through the shadows next to the building. When it came right up to the entrance, three feet from my hardwood floor, I stood up and went to see it.
It wasn't a cat. A long, white stripe ran down the middle of its tail and it got a terrified look on its face. Not as terrified as mine as the skunk raised its tail in defense and I slammed the door just in time.
I didn't get to climb anything this week because of the Connie Mack World Series. Still, it yesterday turned out to be a great day off.
I checked out the Riverwalk. I may be a nerd but I must say it was delightful to walk down a path next to a river. It reminded me of a more maintained version of the Cahaba River trail back in Hoover. I saw a deer at the "river overlook" as well and I'll be going back there to write at some point. It's a tranquil spot.
I also got to eat some ice cream, cherry jubilee. To the woman working at the Baskin Robbins, I hope your daughter is feeling much better today.
*****
Tiger bait: The PGA Championship started today with Tiger Woods taking a first round lead. Woods shot 5 under, one stroke better than Padraig Harrington.
It's not a guaranteed win -- Woods has won seven of 11 majors after leading the first round -- but many suspect Tiger to take his first major win of 2009.
He won the tournament before the previous three majors and finished sixth at the Masters and U.S. Open and didn't make the cut at the British Open.
His two straight wins entering the PGA Championship are similar, but his first round isn't -- he played much better this time.
Woods hasn't played his best at a major since winning the U.S. Open prior to surgery. He's not as consistently good as he was a few years ago, but as many tournaments as he's won this year, he's bound to play that well in a major at some point.
Coming off perhaps his worst performance in major history, he's going to be anxious to prove himself. He's got the intensity of a Michael Jordan. I think he wins this tournament by at least three strokes.
*****
Connie Mack unpredictable: The baseball at Ricketts Park has lived up to its billing during my first Connie Mack World Series.
Throughout the high school season and into the summer, many of the games are predictable. Aside from the twice-a-year Farmington and Piedra Vista game, usually one team is better than the other and most games hold to form.
The CMWS has been difficult to predict. The host team won their first game in a blowout. The defending champion East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees didn't make the semifinals. The Dallas DBAT Mustangs are alive despite getting thrashed 10-1 in their opener against the Florida Legends and missing a few key players.
The semifinals are tonight with the Midland Redskins the only undefeated team. Both Dallas teams are still alive though and could make the first Lone Star State final if they advance.
*****
Hungry Aggies: The New Mexico State athletic department is asking for donated snacks for hungry athletes.
Charged with cutting $1.5 million from the budget, the football staff is trying to do its part. They e-mailed fans to ask for snack donations. People have already responded.
"It's good stuff like trail mix or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," linebacker Jamar Cotton said. "We had a guy bring in a bunch of watermelons. That was great. The team was excited. It was like little kids getting lollipops."
*****
Links of the week: The Dallas Cowboys really took hazing the rookies to an extreme. Check out these haircuts that look disgusting.
I'm not sure that I'd go this route, but one man proposed through a 59-person whisper chain, setting a world record.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
Here are the official lineups for the Dallas DBAT Mustangs and the Four Corners Thunder:
Mustangs (Visitors)
8 - Tyler Collins
DH - Josh Turley*
9 - Max Muncy
5 - Preston Beck
4 - Alex Yarbrough
2 - Abel Baker
7 - John Michael Twichell
3 - Ryan Ford
6 - Brett Doe
*Corey Brooks is pitching.
Thunder (Home)
8 - Tyler McKnight
4 - Dylan Evans
6 - Aaron Coats
3 - J.T. Bean
2 - Chas Tabone
DH - Jake McCasland*
7 - Danny Simonson
9 - Morgan McCasland
5 - Ben Southworth
*Andrew Blum is pitching.
The Four Corners Thunder face elimination tonight in their third game of the Connie Mack World Series.
They've already fulfilled expectations by beating the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers 7-3 in their Friday opener. It might seem counterintuitive, but the Thunder might've placed a bit of extra pressure on themselves with the win.
Expectations for the host team are always low, and the win might've boosted their hopes fast. The team had been hearing a lot about the host team's futility in recent weeks, and the win launched a new waive of confidence to the competitive bunch.
It'll be interesting to see how they respond to the Dallas DBAT Mustangs and their big bats; the Mustangs his back-to-back home runs in their last game.
Import Andrew Blum, who played for the Mustangs' 17-and-younger team during the regular season, will start on the mound for the Thunder.
The Thunder started Dylan Evans yesterday in a move that surprised me a bit. The Mustangs will know Blum well. We'll see how he fares.
Blum struck out 84 and walked 18 in 66 1-3 innings as a junior for Plano West. His 1.69 ERA helped him to First-Team All-District 8-5A honors.
Jake McCasland should be available today after four days' rest.
Here are the official lineups for the Midland (Ohio) Redskins and Florida Legends:
Redskins (Visitors)
9 - Mason Williams
6 - Deven Marrero
2 - Brandon Sedell
5 - Graham Saiko
DH - Dane Phillips*
3 - Conrad Gregor
7 - Blake Dieterich
8 - Brian Goodwin
4 - Matt Reida
*Dane Phillips is pitching.
Legends (Home)
5 - Stephen Perez
DH - Shane Rowland*
6 - Manny Machado
2 - Danny Canela
7 - David Vazquez
4 - Eric Acevedo
3 - Rudy Flores
8 - Julian Santos
*Aaron Arboleya is pitching.
The Danville (Calif.) Hoots are headed home after losing 7-6 to the Dallas DBAT Mustangs.
Some other tidbits after a full day of baseball:
* Someone discovered red luggage in the bathroom at Ricketts Park. The more I think about why someone would need luggage at the stadium, the more bizarre this seems.
Is someone camping out? Are they "showering" in the sink between games? Surely they aren't hiding in the bleachers. The cleanup crew is doing a thorough job combing them as I type.
* Former Piedra Vista boys basketball coach Rick Hoerner does a fantastic job with the public address system. He handled the first game between the Yankees and Dodgers. It may not have worked out for him as a coach with the Panthers, but I think he's got Major League talent. He also does a good job with the radio broadcasts occasionally.
* The price of the rather Frito pies here at Ricketts has soared faster than inflation to $4.50. It's tasty, but you can get three times as much food from Taco Bell for the same price without sacrificing much in quality.
* A flash photographer with great seats behind home plate constantly took pictures just as DBAT Mustangs pitcher Josh Easley let loose. That had the potential to be disastrous if it blinded Easley during a line drive back to him.
* A foul ball into Section 13 hit a man in a floppy hat and blue shirt. It appeared he was bleeding from the nose considerably, although I'm in the press box and don't have binoculars. His diagnosis was unclear -- I asked several times -- but he was escorted out of the stadium during the fourth inning.
Several people huddled around him for an inning with their back turned to the field as a hard foul ball headed their way catapulted back to the field at the top of the protective net.
* The games today finished in great time, especially with our 11:30 p.m. deadline -- the Hoots-Mustangs were in the top of the fifth before the Thunder-Dodgers game had started on Friday.
* Some of the day's best defensive plays:
- East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees first baseman Stafford Booth caught a chopper down the line near the back of the dirt and flipped underhanded to the pitcher to beat Jim Brennan in the bottom of the first.
The East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees beat the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers 8-0 in six innings.
The defending champions survived elimination 24 hours after losing their opener 2-0 to the Illinois Sparks.
They went 11 innings with just one run but scored seven in the fifth and sixth innings today.
"It's good for our confidence," manager James Beavers said. "I think even we started putting pressure on ourselves early on, going, 'Hey, we've got runners on base and nobody's getting them in.' We just could not get a break."
Pitcher David McKinney combined with Daniel Norris for a one-hitter. McKinney retired 14 straight batters after Branden Cogswell's first-inning hit.
Cogswell's final line: 5 1-3 innings, 6 Ks, 1 HBP, 1 H, 0 ER.
The Four Corners Thunder will play the late game tomorrow against the Dallas Tigers.
Game 9, originally scheduled for 5:15 p.m., is now on the docket for 7:30 p.m. The move, announced today, appears to be motivated by attendance.
The stands are fairly empty for this afternoon's Yankees-Dodgers game and the city hopes more fans will show up for tomorrow's early game ahead of the host team's contest.
Also, I learned the Midland Redskins' flight into Albuquerque was canceled, forcing the team to bus to Farmington from El Paso. Apparently some members weren't thrilled with the commute.
The East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees and the South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers are the first two teams to face elimination from the Connie Mack World Series.
Both are a bit of a surprise: The Yankees are the defending champs and the Dodgers played as well as any team in the field during their six-game run through their regional tournament.
The Thunder shoved them into dire straights, while the Illinois Sparks blanked the Yankees in the first round.
Here are the official lineups for the Yankees and Dodgers:
Yankees (Visitor)
5 - Chase Butler
4 - Matt Hyde
6 - Kyle Farmer
DH - Zane Evans*
8 - Daniel Norris
7 - Zach Lowery
3 - Stafford Booth
2 - Spencer Kieboom
9 - Brandon Thomas
*Ben McKinney is pitching.
Dodgers (Home)
DH - Kyle Charron*
6- Brandon Cogswell
8 - Jim Brennan
2 - Tom Murphy
3 - Steve Anderson
5 - Willie Carmona
7 - Pat Puentes
4 - Jose Ramirez
9 - Mike Fish
*Mike Hughes is pitching.
Here's a list of the scouts present at the Connie Mack World Series.
College
Auburn University
Arizona State University
University of Kentucky
Florida International University
Vanderbilt University
University of New Mexico
MLB
Atlanta Braves
San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks
Minnesota Twins
Tampa Bay Rays
Detroit Tigers
New York Yankees
Milwaukee Brewers
Philadelphia Phillies
Florida Marlins
Baltimore Orioles
Seattle Mariners
MLB Scouting Bureau
Here are the official lineups for the Hoots and Redskins:
Hoots (Visitors)
4 - Brian Hamm
9 - Tino Lipson
5 - Stephen Piscotty
DH - Chris Keck*
8 - Joey Epperson
7 - Carter Loud
2 - Scott David
6 - Mike Reuvekamp
3 - John Vaccaro
*Michael Theofanapoulos is pitching.
Midland Redskins (Home)
4 - Matt Reida
6 - Deven Marrero
DH - Brandon Sedell*
5 - Graham Saiko
2 - Dave Phillips
3 - Conrad Gregor
7 - Marcus Davis
8 - Brian Goodwin
9 - Mason Williams
*William Howard is pitching.
Although the game will start earlier than last night's Thunder-Dodgers contest, it appears we're heading for a start time near 8:30 p.m.
A few extra tidbits from the Thunder's 7-3 win Friday:
* Two fans visited the press box complaining about the loud music.
* New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham threw out the first pitch from five feet in front of the mound. He hit the catcher's mitt a bit high but with good velocity.
* The scoreboard flashed, "Play Ball!" over and over before the game, which started at 9:09 p.m. -- more than an hour past its 8 p.m. scheduled start.
* Jake McCasland registered 91 on the scoreboard radar. Jerome Montoya-Maston topped him by hitting 92.
* The Thunder were the home team because they won a coin flip, which decides the home/visitors for every CMWS game.
* A man watching the game from the center field fence got berated by the public address announcer: "Get down from the fence. Now!" Turns out it was actually the person streaming a live internet broadcast. Oops! The two shared a laugh in the press box after the game.
Here are the official lineups for the Thunder and Dodgers:
Dodgers (Visitors)
7 - Kyle Charron
6 - Branden Cogswell
8 - Jim Brennan
2 - Tom Murphy
3 - Steve Anderson
5 - Willie Carmona
DH - Chris Sand*
9 - Mike Fish
4 - J.P. Sportman
*Kevin Scrobola is pitching.
Thunder (Home)
8 - Tyler McKnight
7 - Morgan McCasland
6 - Aaron Coats
3 - J.T. Bean
2 - Chas Tabone
1 - Jake McCasland
4 - Dylan Evans
5 - John Ugai
9 - Chris Breed
Jake McCasland will start on two days' rest for the Four Corners Thunder.
McCasland, a UNM commitment, pitched Wednesday for the Cincinnati Reds' affiliate at the Area Code games in Long Beach, Calif.
He threw 18 pitches over two innings and needed just four pitches to get through his final inning.
The Thunder just started taking infield. The Yankees will also get 10 minutes, putting our start time somewhere near 9 p.m.
Kevin Scrobola will start for the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, a Farmington police officer just entered the press box and dumped a handful of pink pig keychains with the words "Farmington Police" scrawled behind the ears. Appropriate?
Fans expecting an 8 p.m. start for the host team's opening game will have to wait a little longer. The opening ceremony at the CMWS just ended at 8:18 p.m.
We'll see how long this game lasts -- that'll dictate whether or not my gamer makes tomorrow morning's paper.
It's easy to tell which teams have a history at the CMWS -- the Danville (Calif.) Hoots got half the applause of the East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees.
The Four Corners Thunder, of course, got the loudest applause -- and had the most professional, organized jog from the first base line to the third base line.
The "You're my boy, Blue!" Old School sound clip interjected while the umpires were introduced drew several chuckles in the press box.
The Dallas Tigers beat the Bayamon (Puerto Rico Giants) 14-1 in six innings during the opener.
I saw another mini dust storm Wednesday. I feel like a tourist, but I get excited when I see a tumbleweed -- I've never seen one in my life. I am still awaiting my first monsoon season to arrive, although I just heard a rumble of thunder, so it could be rolling into the area.
Also, climbing Crestone Peak from the lower trailhead on zero sleep was not such a good idea. Nineteen miles, about 7,000 feet in elevation gain and sore legs. The good news is I didn't hit the skunk or the myriad of deer in the middle of the road.
The Connie Mack World Series is here today. The Dallas Tigers, one of the most talented organizations with several high draft picks, won't have all their players. The Area Code games in Long Beach, Calif., run from Aug. 5 to 10, overlapping the Connie Mack World Series.
Tigers head coach Gene Autrey said many families couldn't afford both, not to mention the logistical problems, forcing the teenagers to choose one or the other.
"My opinion doesn't mean much, but in my opinion, the Area Code should be last. They should try their best to accommodate," Autrey said.
"Farmington's a big deal. I'm sure plenty of (the 200 players) had the opportunity to go to the Area Code. It puts the club in a tough spot because most of the teams that are in Farmington are the best that are around. Obviously they're going to have the players that the Area Code people want. It puts the families and the players in a tough spot as far as having to pick one or the other, my brother (pitcher J.T. Autrey) being one of them."
The Area Code games are affiliated with MLB. The Four Corners Thunder's Jake McCasland is on the Reds-affiliated roster. I think it's safe to say there will be at least as many, likely more, professional scouts at the invite-only showcase in Cali.
McCasland plans to pitch "a few innings" at the Area Code games and return in time for the CMWS. He might feel pressure to participate, growing up in Farmington, where skipping the CMWS after dreaming about it as a kid would be more difficult, yet he still chose to go to the Area Code games. This is just speculation, but McCasland's trip out West may preclude him from starting Friday's opener.
The choice for the Tigers players, and likely others at the CMWS, must've been harder.
*****
Yearning visitors: The "Farmington experience" might not sound attractive to a Dallas native at first pass.
One of the largest cities in the South, Cowboys training camp is starting, school is rapidly approaching and there's still a few summer nights of barbequing after spending a day perusing the malls.
Several players and coaches feel differently and would like nothing more than to spend a week in the high desert.
"We're so excited to be there," Autrey said. "(The players) have all heard about how the whole town of Farmington just embraces all the teams and they're just looking forward to going out and playing good baseball."
Autrey thanked all the fans ahead of time and reiterated that it's an honor for his team to visit Ricketts Park.
Dallas D-BAT Mustangs manager Sam Carpenter echoed Autrey's sentiments.
"They're all excited. They've heard about Farmington all their lives," he said. "They are chomping at the bit for the Farmington experience."
*****
East Cobb's Connections: Every successful Connie Mack team has talent. Many have long traditions of sending players to the MLB.
The Midland Redskins are the most documented, with Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin headlining.
Last year's champions, the East Cobb Yankees, have just as much of a legacy in recent years.
Here's their list of MLB players from 2009:
Current Players
Jeremy Hermida
Marlon Byrd
Dexter Fowler
Stephen Drew
Gordon Beckham*
Micah Owings*
Matt Capps
On MLB rosters this year
Brandon Boggs
Matt Murton
Mitchell Boggs
Tyler Greene
Kris Benson
Jimmy Barhmaier
*'Connie Mack World Series MVPs
*****
From the boards: There were a few interesting comments on the Topix forum about the CMWS.
4cornersFan had this to say about the lack of TV coverage:
"I wish the CMWS would get TV coverage!!! For pete sake they televise the Little League Regionals & WS. A bunch of 12 y/o's playing on a 200' field. The level of play displayed at the CMWS is superb!
"I have seen plays that could make ESPN highlights! Don't get me wrong. Little league is ok, but no way are they better than the AABC. Little league rules are just that...little league!
"The AABC & Connie Mack Rule. Someone at ESPN or FOX Sports should take note."
And I got a chuckle out of Connie Mack Fan's response to Hitchhiker, who suggested the Midland Redskins and East Cobb Yankees shouldn't be allowed back because he was tired of seeing the same teams.
"Are you for real? What rule changes would you like to see? How about, "the team with the least runs wins the game"? Because that's what it would take to keep teams like the Midland Redskins and the East Cobb Yankees out of the CMWS. It's these teams that make this such a special tournament and event for our small community. Once a year, some of the most talented amateur baseball players in the nation come through our small town to showcase their abilities. Many of these players go on to be superstars at the professional level. We get the opportunity to see many of them play their final games as amateurs. And this is all because the have-nots are not allowed to compete in this tournament. That was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read regarding sports."
Have to say I agree with that one.
*****
SportsCenter commercials: Looking for a laugh to get you into the weekend mode a little early?
How about some old SportsCenter commercials.
Some of my favorites:
The Star Wars characters join ESPN.
The Y2K scare on the SportsCenter set.
The Big Buddy commercial. Stu Scott packs an 8-year-old kid's shot.
A best-of cut.
Here's ESPN's archives. Explore for yourself.
*****
Good luck to all the teams participating in the CMWS, including the Four Corners Thunder. Enjoy.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
I got back in town Saturday from a three-day peak bagging excursion in Colorado. I nabbed four 14ers -- Handies, Sneffels, Redcloud and Sunshine.
We're working overtime to finish the Connie Mack World Series insert by Wednesday at noon.
The field is finalized as of today. Here are the qualifiers:
Dallas Tigers -- National Qualifier
Florida Legends -- American Qualifier
Puerto Rico Giants -- Puerto Rico Region
Four Corners Thunder -- Host
South Troy (N.Y.) Dodgers -- North Atlantic Region
Illinois Sparks -- North Central Region
East Cobb (Ga.) Yankees -- Southeast Region
Dallas D-BAT Mustangs -- South Plains Region
Midland (Ohio) Redskins -- East Central Region
Danville (Calif.) Hoots -- West Region
You'll notice that the Durango Thunder, which won the City Tournament, has changed its name to represent the entire Four Corners.
Here's a full look at the bracket (the link at the bottom right that says "2009 CMWS Bracket").
Stay tuned for more CMWS coverage. We have some interesting feature ideas for the next two weeks.
Stay true and keep pounding,
Christopher
