No RESPECT for the smaller schools!!!!

[MHSBlueDevils]

It really bugs me to see how there is little talk around here about the smaller schools. Take a look at Mathews High School. Perhaps one of the best pitchers in the area. She has 650+ strikeouts and she has taken Mathews pretty deep in the playoffs so far. In the 2 games of the playoffs she has 21 strikeouts. I don't care who you are, that's pretty good. This same thing happen a few years ago when the Mathews baseball team WON the state title. No one gave them any props. It just disappoints me that no one gives them any credit.

[Dukes fan!!!!]

I know a couple of the girls on Mathews great young ladies. Good luck to you !!! Hope you go all the way!!!

[humblepie]

Dear Blue Devil fan.I read about the pitcher and the team you are speaking of in the paper all the time.Didn`t the Daily Press do a article on her a month or so ago.By her numbers she seems to be doing a fine job. Will she be continuing her softball career in college? Has Matthews ever played against teams in the Bay Rivers or Peninsula District? I know she plays travel ball . Been on a few different teams. Who is she playing for now?Great job anyways your right it doesn`t matter who you are. You still have to get the job done.

[MHSBlueDevils]

I didn't know that the paper did an article on the team. I'm living down in Charlotte for a few years while my wife completes her medical residency. They did play Jamestown and Bruton and beat them both. The pitcher is my cousin. She is a heck of a softball player. She has a few offers to go play softball in college. I think she has narrowed it down to Chawon and some small school back in Va.

[Lynn Burke]

It really bugs me to see how there is little talk around here about the smaller schools. Take a look at Mathews High School. Perhaps one of the best pitchers in the area. She has 650+ strikeouts and she has taken Mathews pretty deep in the playoffs so far. In the 2 games of the playoffs she has 21 strikeouts. I don't care who you are, that's pretty good. This same thing happen a few years ago when the Mathews baseball team WON the state title. No one gave them any props. It just disappoints me that no one gives them any credit.

The reason we have discussions of Peninsula District and Bay Rivers District teams on here is because fans and players join together to banter back and forth. We would welcome those who follow Group A and private school softball to chime in, too.

For now, softball is a single forum, but if the message traffic ever justified it, we would split them out.

[rivah230]

Congratulations to the Rappahannock Red Raiders in their 4-3 win over Mathews. The Red Raiders are now the Region A Champs. The key to this game was walks and errors. Mathews must now travel and we shall see.

For the record, there are plenty of other great players in the Tidewater District.

More to come.

[SportsGirl]

my school is a BRD team and we killed the 1st string pitcher for mathews in a scrimmage game this year. even though shes a great pitcher for Mathews, she needs to come over here in the PD and BRD area and see how good she is.

[drich]

Melissa Hudgins is a quality softball player. She is a good pitcher and a good hitter. I have seen every pitcher in the Bay Rivers get hit hard in a game; nobody has their 'A' game every day, so don't judge too harshly by one game...especially a scrimmage. This is not to say that she is better that all of the Bay Rivers pitchers. There is actually no point in making a comparison here. SHE GOT THE JOB DONE FOR FOUR YEARS!

[brightlights]

Facts are just that.....those smaller school have a lot less competition than the PD and BRD. Hudgins is a descent pitcher but her competitors are weaker ball players. I've seen her on the mound in quite a few JO( ASA, NSA, etc) games and she did not have nearly as much success. However, she is a hard worker and a great team player.

[rivah230]

Your facts are only your perspective. There is plenty of talent in the Tidewater District. In addition, Rappahannock, another local 1A school is playing at Radford this weekend. You are making all your assumptions from a Mathews team who may not have a monopoly on the local talent. I know because I have seem them all twice this season.

I have also seen the Bay Rivers players. On the average they are no better and no worse.

We can go back and forth but until the best couple of Tidewater District teams play the infamous BYD or PD it is all assumptions.