Voters in the N.C. Coaches Association 3A tennis poll must have slept through the tennis season. That's about the only reason I can think of as to why someone is still voting Statesville No. 10 in the poll, but not Mooresville.
The Greyhounds won the 3A state championship last season and started the year ranked No. 2 in the state. I don't have a problem with that - they returned two of the best players in the area and deserved some respect as defending champs.
But it really makes no sense that Statesville is even getting a vote - or that it took so long for someone to actually vote for the Blue Devils.
Mooresville finished 8-1 in the North Piedmont 3A, its only loss coming to state champion contender Lake Norman. The Blue Devils also looked good in tough out-of-conference games. Statesville finished 7-2 in the NPC, which included an 8-1 loss to the Blue Devils. 8-1! Statesville played that match without one of its best players, Luke Gillis, but it wouldn't have mattered. Even if you plug in two victories if Gillis was there - which isn't guaranteed - it's still a 6-3 Mooresville win.
That match came April 14, and Statesville got multiple votes in the next two polls. This is the first week Mooresville got any votes at all.
Someone needs to wake up.
Showing posts with label Statesville. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Statesville. Show all posts
Friday, May 2, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Speedy Statesville
Monday's soccer match between Statesville and Mooresville may have been the most entertaining game I have covered during the spring season.
The Greyhounds - who start six sophomores and three freshmen - defeated Mooresville, the No. 8 ranked team in the state, 3-2 by using some incredible team speed.
That's what made the game so entertaining. Statesville's girls were flying all over the field, tracking down loose balls and ripping shot after shot. While the Blue Devils couldn't match that speed, they were the more technically sound squad, so those two dynamics really played out over the course of the game.
Statesville will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 team from the North Piedmont 3A to make the playoffs and they'll play on the road against one of the top teams from another conference. The Greyhounds will be underdogs, but like the team showed Monday, they can pull an upset by running the other team ragged.
The Greyhounds - who start six sophomores and three freshmen - defeated Mooresville, the No. 8 ranked team in the state, 3-2 by using some incredible team speed.
That's what made the game so entertaining. Statesville's girls were flying all over the field, tracking down loose balls and ripping shot after shot. While the Blue Devils couldn't match that speed, they were the more technically sound squad, so those two dynamics really played out over the course of the game.
Statesville will either be the No. 3 or No. 4 team from the North Piedmont 3A to make the playoffs and they'll play on the road against one of the top teams from another conference. The Greyhounds will be underdogs, but like the team showed Monday, they can pull an upset by running the other team ragged.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Mooresville/Statesville baseball thoughts
Tuesday night's game between Mooresville and Statesville was a wild one, and not just because I almost caught a foul ball.
North Piedmont Conference leader Mooresville scrapped together a come-from-behind 11-10 win over the Greyhounds. Mooresville is undefeated in conference play, and the Greyhounds remained winless. You can read my story by clicking here.
The Blue Devils are the best hitting team in the county. No question. They have a ton of power and know how to get on base.
The defense was a problem, though I think that had a lot to do with Statesville's field. It was Statesville's first home game of the season, and there were some issues.
A few bald spots stood out in the outfield, and the infield was almost like a slab of concrete. One batter chopped a pitch on the dirt in front of the plate, and the ball bounced about 15 feet in the air and traveled to the shortstop. That goes right back to the pitcher in most other parks.
As for the foul ball, Statesville's Jimmy Jordan hit a screaming line drive right at me (I like to sit in the stands).
I calmly went for the smooth underhand catch, and the ball thwacked off my hand (leaving a decent-sized welt) and fell into the bleachers. I may have to break my own rule and start bringing a baseball glove to games.
Also, I'd like to comment on a situation that a few of you asked me about after the game. Unfortunately, I was up against our deadline and couldn't respond. The situation in question occurred in the second inning with Mooresville winning 4-0.
Greyhound catcher Josh Booher was on first base with no outs and Malcolm Robinson had a 3-1 count. Robinson tried to catch his swing on a breaking ball that hit the dirt. Booher thought the home umpire signaled ball four and began to trot to second base. Mooresville whipped the ball to the first baseman, who tagged out Booher.
The field umpire called him out. When Robinson and the Statesville coaches argued it was ball four, the field umpire said "No, he went around."
After a two or three minute conference, the ruling stood and Robinson struck out on the next pitch. Statesville scored one run, but could have potentially had more.
The questions posed to me were: What did you think of the call? Did that cause Statesville to lose?
I don't know if Robinson went around on his swing or not. You'd have to ask him. But, I do think the field umpire was out of line.
The home umpire called ball four and did not ask the field ump. if Robinson went around on his swing. It wasn't his call to make.
That certainly wasn't the reason for Statesville's loss, though. I would look more at the 10 runners stranded in scoring position throughout the game as a big reason.
North Piedmont Conference leader Mooresville scrapped together a come-from-behind 11-10 win over the Greyhounds. Mooresville is undefeated in conference play, and the Greyhounds remained winless. You can read my story by clicking here.
The Blue Devils are the best hitting team in the county. No question. They have a ton of power and know how to get on base.
The defense was a problem, though I think that had a lot to do with Statesville's field. It was Statesville's first home game of the season, and there were some issues.
A few bald spots stood out in the outfield, and the infield was almost like a slab of concrete. One batter chopped a pitch on the dirt in front of the plate, and the ball bounced about 15 feet in the air and traveled to the shortstop. That goes right back to the pitcher in most other parks.
As for the foul ball, Statesville's Jimmy Jordan hit a screaming line drive right at me (I like to sit in the stands).
I calmly went for the smooth underhand catch, and the ball thwacked off my hand (leaving a decent-sized welt) and fell into the bleachers. I may have to break my own rule and start bringing a baseball glove to games.
Also, I'd like to comment on a situation that a few of you asked me about after the game. Unfortunately, I was up against our deadline and couldn't respond. The situation in question occurred in the second inning with Mooresville winning 4-0.
Greyhound catcher Josh Booher was on first base with no outs and Malcolm Robinson had a 3-1 count. Robinson tried to catch his swing on a breaking ball that hit the dirt. Booher thought the home umpire signaled ball four and began to trot to second base. Mooresville whipped the ball to the first baseman, who tagged out Booher.
The field umpire called him out. When Robinson and the Statesville coaches argued it was ball four, the field umpire said "No, he went around."
After a two or three minute conference, the ruling stood and Robinson struck out on the next pitch. Statesville scored one run, but could have potentially had more.
The questions posed to me were: What did you think of the call? Did that cause Statesville to lose?
I don't know if Robinson went around on his swing or not. You'd have to ask him. But, I do think the field umpire was out of line.
The home umpire called ball four and did not ask the field ump. if Robinson went around on his swing. It wasn't his call to make.
That certainly wasn't the reason for Statesville's loss, though. I would look more at the 10 runners stranded in scoring position throughout the game as a big reason.
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