GTBBaseball

[u][b]Machine Baseball 14's [/b] [/u] Overall record 40-12 Roster Names with future attending High School in the fall of 2011 / Will all be FRESHMAN this upcoming school year Allonte Wingate - Kelly High Chase Shugart - Bridge City High Joseph Clark - Buna High Coby Roddy - Little Cypress Mauriceville High Blake Lane - Port Neches Groves High Tryce Howard - Orangefield High Ramiro Sanches - Port Arthur Memorial High(2016) Jonah Watts - Bridge City High Blake Pruett - Bridge City High Ethan Franklin - Buna High Corbin Voegeli - Bridge City High Assistant Coach - Mark Watts [b][u]Score Results[/u][/b] Game 1 Win 3-1 vs Southlake Carroll(Both Pitching staffs toss "No Hitters") Game 2 Win 6-5 vs Dallas Bandits Game 3 Win 26-0 vs North Texas(No Hitter) Game 4 Win 5-2 vs Pro Source A's Game 5 Win 5-4 vs HP Scots - Lewisville Game 6 Win 3-1 vs Dallas Diabloz - DFW Game 7 Win 7-1 vs Southlake Carroll Game 8 AAYBA World Series Finals vs [i]Texas Hurricanes [/i] from DFW-Wylie / 7pm Saturday Night

I am not sure who "ShlyKBMT" is, but I want to send a compliment your way on the obvious hard work and time you have put in to "exposing" grass roots allstar baseball. I imagine your information has been something these parents have relied on to see who has won-lost games thus far. Keep it up, and a big "ataboy" sent your way! Chris Fackler

Quotes from Nick Charles... His message on the challenges in life, he said, is to "never give up on life." [i][b]"It's an imperfect world, but, boy, it's still beautiful."[/b][/i] "What is life?" he said. "It's 20 percent what happens to you and 80 percent how you react to it." "Find that little kernel every day that brings you pleasure and joy -- and fasten onto that. That's what's going to make life worth living. Always look for the best."

Machine Baseball 14's is looking for a couple games either midweek or on any given Sunday. We have competed against 16yr olds and have won, so please do NOT worry about the age difference. Preferably a 15 or 16 year old team, but will play a local 14yr old team. Preferable open dates to chose from: June 29 or 30 July 3,4,5,6, We want to prepare our young men, who are currently 31-9 overall this Spring, for the upcoming World Series in Flower Mound, Texas. We will organize umpires if opponent will split umpire fees, usually $55per team Will find a local high school field to perform on and are open to playing a double header. Please contact [email protected]

Here are some things to get "new" ideas and insight. 1) Games beginning at 8am on Sat and Sunday mornings. (play in Houston, wake at 530am, drive for 90minutes, get on field for 8am game) 2) Sunday schedules 90% of the time are set whereby teams must play 3 and sometimes 4 games in a single day(teaches survival, not focus n execution) 3) time limit games has turned into "sprint ball" with only 4 and sometimes 5 inning games(those who score alot early, usually win) 4) Ive heard many teach their teams-parents that the 2 games on Saturday "do not mean anything" for all they do is set your "seeding"... whats this teach our kids about the "competing and team baseball" if "they dont mean anything" 5) 11 n 12 man rosters batting entire lineup therefore with "time limit" games, most kids in the lineup only get 2 at bats in a given game 6) Umpiring crews calling 4 straight games and at times 6games in one day. Are they expected NOT to become complacent and lose focus? Concerns are 'players health' , pitchers 'arm care' , and the "development" of "team" baseball. What ideas can alter this system to develop "team" players and not play 4 inning games? Kids need to know baseball is a game of creating momentum shifts and making opponents "lose confidence and create self-doubt" so are there enough innings for "comebacks" and to teach "how to respond" with time limit games? Example of your typical tournament on any given weekend: You play 2 games on Saturday that the masses say "dont mean anything", then on Sunday you must play 3games just to earn right to play in the final game. Meaning play at 8am, 10am, then maybe a break, sometimes not, sometimes play 3 straight games with no break just to make the finals. Thats 6 games in less then 24hours, usually 4innings and a couple games 5innings, so your total "team" innings is 24-27inning for the weekend(and thats based on teams who are good enough to continue winning through-out the weekend and advancing). Im not sure there are ways to alter this, but maybe some can share ideas to alter the format of grass roots select ball.

Glad to see Corbin getting the opportunity. I know coach Forse at Galveston is really wanting to include SETx ballplayers with GC Baseball. Congrats Corbin and to the entire Bell family. Fackler

Super Regionals begin today, whats a stake, earning a berth to the College World Series. Super Regionals over the years have seemed to be more enjoyable for the unknowns seem to appear and rise to the national scene. "Upset's"? With so many PAC10's heading East, the extra "motivation", Most notable UPSETS over the past decade, Sunbelt mid major, Univ La Lafayette-Ragin Cajuns upsetting then #1 South Carolina AT South Carolina to earn the CWS Berth in 2000 Southern Mississippi @ Florida Gators 2009 to earn a berth to the CWS, in which the LSU Tigers won the Nat'l title UC-Irvine upsets #1 Virginia @Virginia in 2007 which then an unranked Oregon State program won its 2nd of back to back National titles Then one of the most memorable controversial plays in 2008 in Baton Rouge, the UC-Irvine Hidden Ball Trick @LSU in the Super Regional. [Hidden Content] 11:00am - Miss State @Florida - espn2 Sat 12:00pm - UC-Irvine @Virginia - espnU 2:00pm - Stanford @North Carolina - espn2 Sat 3:30pm - TX A&M @Florida State - espnU Sat 5:00pm - UConn @South Carolina - espn2 6:00pm - A State @Univ Texas - espn Sat 7:00pm - Dallas Baptist @Cal - espnU 7:00pm - Oregon State @Vanderbilt - espnU

Some more insight on the draft 2011. Did some research last night and this morning. 50 rounds and 1530 players total drafted [u]792 Pitchers total drafted [/u] (51% of draft were pitchers) This is the norm year in year out with the amateur draft. 746 were over 6ft in height Tallest pitchers were 6ft 8inch(4total)- could have missed a guy though, old age small print 1530names 5.8% were under 6ft, 36 were 5ft 11inch, only 10 pitchers under 5ft 10inch   Shortest pitcher was 5ft 5 from Asbury College(ATL Braves)(1 - 5ft 6, 1 - 5ft 8, 2 - 5ft 9, 5 - 5ft 10) 574 - Righties / 218 Lefties [u]738 Position Players[/u] 135 were catchers / 135 were SS / 262 were outfielders For those with local interest. 159 total players claim Texas as their home state or play college baseball in the state of Texas / 41 high school Seniors 43 total players from state of Lousiana, 9 being high school Seniors 25 'Southland Conference' players were selected (Tromblee, Ford - Lamar Univ) Houston Astros 50 total draftees, 24 were pitchers Texas Rangers 51 total draftees, 32 were pitchers Colorado Rockies 51 total draftees, 24 were pitchers 1st 200 selections 76 high school Sr's / 15 Junior College / 109 NCAA 1st 10 rounds 113 high school Sr's(34%) / 31 Junior Colleges(9%) / 186 NCAA / 1 no school(Angels RHP) Stricly speaking for "professional baseball", here are 2 questions that come to mind.... Is Jr College the best route to be developed for the amateur draft? How many of these high school players end up on a 40man roster in 5 years?(comparing this to scholarships and playing 3 yrs of D1 baseball)

Whats intersting about Taylor is he colided with the Cone kid on an outfield play that snapped his neck. Cone was the Rangers 37th pick Monday Night.... What a "good" story. Ataboy to the Texas Rangers!

Would def be nice to see DBU, the Longhorns, and the Aggies all make Omaha.

McNeese had a 58th pick in SS Jace Peterson(starting strong safety in football for McNeese) as well as Lee Orr in the 13th round. Would like to see Bronson from Jasper suit it up on the baseball field for McNeese, a 8th rounder by KC Royals as a Sr in high school, also starting safety for McNeese. Not sure on Dillon, walks to K's ratio was a lil high and ERA was high, didnt miss enough bats this season(.393 opponents batting avg against him), had a tough season this year. Sam, as for CJ and Gabby, really hope it pans out for both of them. What's interesting is an Ex Lamar catcher popped his ex school with a 2nd rounder. Ricklefsen, as he always seems to do, got Gabby before many knew what his talent level was... the list of 'pro-tool' guys Ricklefsen has signed since he began coaching in 88 is pretty special due to being at 2 mid major programs, McNeese and Lamar. One heck of an "evaluator" on talent. Thnk about it, Ricklefsen played for Wayne Graham, helped "Build" that McNeese program in late 80's through the 90's with Tony Robichaux, and now with coach Gilligan bringing in guys like Hoffpauir, Hensley, Sanchez, Ambort, Delome, Harrington, and more.... The draft was down this year a tad, so says the experts, but who knows until 3 years from now... I think the Astros pick was huge with Springer, ridiculous numbers at UConn. 6'3 200 16,18 and 12 homeruns in 3 seasons and 12, 33, and 31 stolen bases in 3 seasons also. Team USA guy who can flat out play, 6.5 runner at 6'3" 200 with Pop, a tad below a Josh Hamilton, but a remarkable skill level, a baseball guy, and tremendous upside. Another intersting draftee, Bryce Harpers brother who transfered from Cal back to Southern Nevada JC to "oversee" Bryce, heads to Univ South Carolina, was the a 30th pick by the Nationals, with only 18innings of work this season... Nationals popped TCU's Purke also. Bryce is creating havoc in the minors, his numbers are pretty dang strong, 14homeruns, but blew a kiss at a pitcher 3 nights ago and is getting heck for it. Heres the video [Hidden Content]. Also the "Great One" Wayne Gretzky's boy Trevor was drafted by the Cubs in the 7th round. We got to see this kid play as a 16yr old in Phoenix a few years back, Old man Wayne is in great shape, and his son shocked us with his size, 6ft 3inch 1st baseman with pop who intends to attend San Diego State and play for Tony Gwynn. "Rudy" the hard nose relentless football player at Notre Dame, his nephew got drafted, he will be in Austin this weekend for Arizona State. And super agent Scott Boras's son was drafted in the 30th round by Milwaukee

DBU Home attendance Sam Houston State @DBU 185Paid Attendance Texas Tech @DBU 625Paid Attendance Are 'Cal' and 'DBU' fans going to travel to a neutral site? Large stadiums are nice but who's putting their fanny's in those seats? Plus larger venues are another expense. Ticket takers, concessions, field crews, use of facilities, and so forth, but you play on a schools campus, less money is spent to host or execute a 3game series. Heck, Maybe they can sale Ohio State #2 jerseys to enhance the overall income :) But you never know, Bandwagons are touring when post season success hits a program.. so who knows. The NCAA is looking at this one certain SUPER REGIONAL as a financial "uh-o" and you can bet your rump next season this fiasco WILL be looked at by the committee. They have to be disappointed that Baylor let that 9th inning get away last night. DBU @Baylor is a HUGE difference economically and with fan base support for a Super. Its about pairing teams, and the fact TCU and RICE slipped up hurt the pairings. Clemson @ SCarolina would been another great draw, but Clemson didnt close the deal. Oregon State @ Vandy? AState @Texas? 2 huge fan bases who could be at home instead of going across country to the East to play 2of 3. But its easy to "see it differently" after the fact. Personally glad to see a small "shift" in the advancement of programs, UConn and DBU were both well deserving to advance.

Super Regionals SEC - Vandy, Florida, Miss State, S Carolina PAC 10 - Arizona State, Cal, Stanford, Oregon State Big East - UConn Independent - Dallas Baptist ACC - Virginia, Fla State, North Carolina Big 12 - Texas Big West - UC-Irvine Final Regional 1230pm Today A&M - Arizona / Big12 vs Pac10 Looks like the PAC10 wasnt as bad as many thought this year. And they should be ticked off cause every one of them(with exception of Cal) will be on the road for Super Regionals. And UCLA had the number 1 and 3 pick in the MLB draft. The NCAA is scrambling right now, where to host DBU and Cal. Niether facility "holds" nor built for a super regional. When you look at Cals fan base and attendance, San Francisco @Cal 127paid attendance, Stanford @Cal 652paid attendance, USC @Cal 432paid attendance. But with every PAC10 club on the road, you would think, the NCAA's have to give Cal this Super Regional. A 6th place PAC10 school who went .500 in confernce(13-13) may HOST a Super while the remaining PAC10's are on the road.

Heres the LIVE feed online [Hidden Content]

A few interesting decisions made within the past hour... Rice and Cal tied at 3.. Rice has bases loaded, 1 out.. Cal gets a strike out on the 9hole a and weak grounder from their leadoff to 2nd base which ends inning, no runs... THEN, Rice calls for a 30minute lightning delay... Cal's big Righty has went 2 2/3rds shutout ball but you can bet now he wont be coming back out in the 8th after sitting more then 30minutes from the "delay". And then Rice will have their 2,3,4 coming to the plate when play resumes. TCU coaching move was interesting in bottom of the 6th.. Down 4-3, bases loaded, They go to the pen for a lefty with a 9 ERA to face Elders(Oral Roberts top power guy - .325 hitter with 11homeruns).. 2 pitches into the count, GRANDSLAM to RF, Puts ORU up 8-3... a 9ERA guy to face ORU's top hitter with bases loaded... They leave the freshman Crichton sitting in the pen with 9decisions and a 1.9ERA and run out that lefty to get Elders... interesting... Texas State goes to their game 1 starter in relief in the 9th with runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out verse Texas.. he then walks the bases loaded, falls behind 2-1 and gives up a dead middle of the plate FB to lose the game. NCAA Regionals Baseball.... Decision making seperates the "quality from good"....

Actually just exhausted on how the "power conferences" for so so many years got "in" to the NCAA's and mid majors got pushed out.... End of season tournaments hurt mid-majors overall, they dont create "money" for their conference... yet the power conferences make income, quality media coverage and allows a lower seed to earn a "bid"... But when New Mexico at 20-39 gets in their conference tournament, then win it, that takes a spot from another deserving program, as did Alcorn State. Now however I do feel mid majors DO NOT get respect from media and average fans on how good these clubs play the game. With BBCore now in the game and locker rooms down sized to 35players max, these mid majors are going to rattle some teams in the regionals. The 3 regionals which appear as a "o watch out" regional is UCLA in LA, TCU in Ft Worth, and the Houston Regional with Rice... not sure the number 1's get out alive in those 3. UCLA has no offense with an amzing pitching staff. TCU is going to have fits with Oral Roberts and DBU in there, and Rice makes for a curious team this season. But heck, its why they play the games, so we shall see... NCAA Post season is as interesting as the Final Four in basketball. Its unfortunate these Texas programs(7made the tourney) will beat one another up, but it is what it is.... 1 or 2 of these mid majors, IF they get quality starts from their starting pitchers, early in regional play, going 8innings deep, making it where they dont 'exhaust' their bullpens, then it wont suprise me if they move on to a Super Regional... but then most mid majors, if not all, wil be on the road for the best 2 of 3 which Im not sure they can sustain winning a super regional...

Id like to create a forum on what parents, coaches, outsiders, players, etc... to get their insight on the "pro's and con's" of select baseball. I have written some articles and will later post them, but would like to read and learn more insight from others "outside or within" the circle. There is a "HUGE" difference in Select Baseball between the younger ages, 8-12, up to 14, compared to that of 16-18yr olds, so there will be a different perspective Id imagine from many on this topic. Please state with your insight, what level of play you are basically referring to. Different areas that I can see worth discussing... The decline of importance of "Team" first which directly effects high school baseball programs The "select teams" not incorporating the high school coach with decision making of 'his' high school players playing select ball(pitch counts, positions to develop their player for the following season, not including the high school coach in the recruiting process with scouts-coaches... The "self-entitlement" players-parents seem to adhere to as each season of select comes and goes The "lack of knowledge and discipline" taught to the "select player" OR the advanced nature of development some programs provide. The "over use of pitchers" or overuse of catchers The "Select Schedule" format, whereby teams play 4,5, and at times 6 games in 2 or 3 days. The format-foundation with all quality prospect teams at one site, to make it easier for college recruiters to see many players perform at one site in a 3-4 day span... The quality of competition these players get to be challenged, exposed to each weekend The umpires who call 3,4, and as we have experienced, 6 games in one day back to back to back, creating complacency, not being in proper position on the field and subpar knowledge of the rules The 3 minutes in between innings where pitchers warm up and fielders take warm up ground balls in an hour a 40minute time limit game, leading to a total of 4inning baseball games, and 24-30 or more minutes waisted watching teams get out on the field after the 3rd out... The format where 11 or 12 kids get to bat reducing the startegic part of the "game within the game" taught and developed by coaches and players. The expenses of select tournament fees, hotel fees, drinks, gate fees, The price and fees needed to attend player "Showcases"(example Perfect Game" has increased its showcase charges to $599 in 2011) and many more issues and concerns I'll address later.... Thanks in advance, Chris Fackler

Tx A-M Corpus Cristi just advanced to the semi finals of the SLC tournament, they have accumulated 36wins, beating teams such as Big12 Champs Univ Texas, Pac 10 Champs Oregon State and Big 12 Texas Tech this season. Any chance the Southland places 3 teams in the NCAA's? Or will it be business as usual with 8 teams from the SEC, 8 from Big 12, 8 from ACC? Tx State, SFA, and Corpus ALL Deserve a shot if 20percent of all of D1 programs advance to the NCAA, The Southland deserves 20percent of their conference participating as well. Not many teams this year have the "bar" of 40win seasons this year, so hoping those 3 schools get respect from the committee to  advance.

If WOS does it the right way, they hire within, the assistant who has been there the past 3seasons. He will do an excellent job and Im hoping he gets strong considerations for his passion, hard work, and commitment to WOS Baseball! Fackler

Notifying 2011 graduate players to attend "Galveston College" tryouts this weekend and/or next weekend. SATURDAY MAY 21 and SATURDAY MAY 28 / 9:40am both Saturdays / One position tryout - $30 / 2 positions tryout -$50 Those who are considered "college type players", heres your chance to make a college squad as a "roster spot walkon". Galveston will have much more money next season in recruiting, so 2012 graduates are welcomed to attend as well. Need more information, email me at [email protected] Fackler

One golden rule many should take in consideration; 1 - Never view a coaches integrity or character by wins and losses 2 - Never pass judgement on a coach until an ENTIRE season has concluded from start to finish. Coaches KNOW their teams, we as fans, only "think" we know... Those of us who "post" on this board, taking wins, losses, issues, and awards so serious is admirable at times yet can be bordering classless two frames later.... We are all "fans" of our community program and baseball as a whole...  sometimes much more passionate then we should be, but remember, "fans" stands for "fanatics".... Congrats to Robbins, Green, and the entire list of All District players.. nobody can EVER take that honor from you guys... ever! Another season of baseball in 4a in the books and we all should carry the hopes many programs paid attention and learned how to improve next season... Fackler

Shoot me an email and I can give you a list of 16s and 17s in our area and SWLa. [email protected]

I'd "tip-toe" past that Giant and make darn sure he is still snoring till I get past him.... PNG travel the journey quietly!

If PNG can get consistency from 1-5 in lineup...then get some good quality at bats, regardless of hits, but just enough to make Brenhams arms work to get those 6-9 hitters out, I think a "series" is born. I like what PNG has formed into the past 3 weeks and Sparrow is no longer a rookie and Knox, Jalali, Provost, Stone, and Gizzi are competitive enough to make it easier on the avg guys in the lineup. Defense has to play 'non impact-error free' baseball and their bunt coverage game HAS to be under control and get those "free" outs when Brenham bunts and executes its offense. If you force Brenham to beat you, you have a chance, but if you give them extra at bats in an inning, it will be a tough uphill grind on PNG's pitchers and overall confidence as a unit. Don't allow the "26" and "9" to have 'impact" at bats, take a pitch away from their arms, and some how some way find a way to dent into their team confidence... They have been stringing together alot of wins, so some chance of putting some adversity in that dugout of Brenham, something they obviously haven't seen in a while, and who knows how they respond.... I personally feel the upset is there for the taking as long as PNG doesnt make it personal and draw "extra" emotion out of Brenhams ballclub.. Beat Brenham quietly and they might can sneak away with a series. Brenhams the real deal, disciplined, tradition, with "difference makers", so its going to be interesting how it plays out.... Good luck to Coach Brevelle and that Indian Program, Fackler

GABBY AND STONE pitched Wednesday Night at Lamar, 2 days off. 60plus hours rest.... todays the 3rd day....