Bay Rivers District 2011 softball predictions

[Marty O'Brien]

new blog entry click here (http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/highschool/bayriversblog/2011/03/bay_rivers_district_softball_2.html)

[GHS dad]

Not bad predictions. I think Tabb is going to surprise many with their bats. They have good speed and smart base runners. I cannot see them finishing below 7th. As for Grafton's outfield, SOLID! A great freshman class.

[hogan]

I agree. I don't think there is any way that Tabb finishes that low.

[Marty O'Brien]

Then Tabb can be what Grafton was in girls basketball. ...our softball phantom and sneak up on everyone.

Of course they might not sneak up on those who follow ASA softball and know these girls well. And even casual followers of softball know Jeff is a heck of a coach, so that alone makes Tabb perhaps two places better.

But this, my third year back covering BRD softball is also the toughest to peg. ...there's Maggie, a very good York team, a possibly even better-than-both Grafton team, a potentially dangerous New Kent team and then. ...????? Tabb is hardest of all to peg.

If Poquoson is fourth or worse the crow I'll eat will go down easily. It should be, like girls basketball was most of the season, a close and fun year in the district. Be nice to hear from some of the ASA parents about who the best up and coming players are.

[YorkLegend]

Tabb will not be your spoiler this year. They just don't have the experienced pitching they need to contend. York beat them 10-0 earlier this week.
York added three awesome travelball girls (freshman)to the roster this year. One of the freshman hit a homerun in the first game. Four of York's seven hits came from those freshman. York has speed and power throughout the lineup. They had two homeruns in a scrimmage against Western Branch last week. They shut them out 9-0. They also tied Gloucester 1-1 last week. York has gotten the best travelball talent this year and it's going to make them tough to beat!

[GHS dad]

I agree with each of you. It is going to be hard to pick this year. It looks like it is going to be a fight for the top and as usual a fight in the middle as well. York does have a lot of talent. It's going to be fun watching the BRD this year. OK, I'm going on record. No disrespect to anyone I like watching all these girls display their skills. I think my top 3 could finish in any order.
1. Grafton 15- 3
2. York 15- 3
3. Poquoson 14-4
4. New Kent 13-5
5. Jamestown 10-8
6. Tabb 9-9
7. Smithfield 9-9
8. Bruton 8-10
9. Lafayette
10.Warhill
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE GIRLS !!

[YorkLegend]

You really are going out there on a limb but I like your predictions .... I think Grafton and York need to swap:).
Obviously it's gonna be a tough season for all the teams. Smithfield has got to be in the top five. After watching several of those girls play travel ball for years I know they have some real talent! I'm surprised that Bruton came back to beat them but I'm not familiar with the Bruton players.
Big game Friday .... York @Grafton! I hope the rain stays away so they can play.

[GHS dad]

I hope we get to play Friday as well. Although, with York coming off a tough loss Tuesday and Grafton a comfortable win, I'm not liking those dynamics. Clippers betters be ready to play. Wins are nice but just give me 18 girls that play their best and leave it all on the field.

[athlete1]

I have to disagree with York Legend. Been around this district forever. Have seen some of the best ball players there has ever been. District has changed alot in the last several years. Every year there is ALOT of talent that comes to various teams from their middle school but its a big jump to varsity even if you play travel ball. Tabb is rebuilding this year..very very young team. Jamestown has struggled for years and years. District has been weaker than it was in the days if Mills, Bauer, Poates, Olsen, Anush, Tunno, Dudney, Prosper, Walkers, Falin and many many more. York hasn't played anyone this year yet. We will see you can hit when you play teams like New Kent and Poquoson. What will break a team quick is saying certain girls are stronger than others especially when its not true. So many factors come in to play but none of the girls above ever acted or carried themselves like they carried their TEAMs. Unfortunately, things come into play that can't be controlled like playing favorites. Parents push and push to make it sound like certain girls are better and its sad to have to tell them it may teach them self discipline and how to manage time but GRADES are the only way these girls will go anywhere. If anyone tells you differently they are not telling the truth. If only parents will quit trying to live what they didn't suceed at through their kids. There are girls that never get messed with and always get to play same position and are never taken out of line up so they have more confidence than the other girls. Alot of that is coaches fault. You need to know your players and how to get through to each of them so the whole team grows and not just a few girls grow. This is a team sport and only working with and recognizing the same girls is not going to make the TEAM get better. Good luck to all of the teams out there to include Peninsula District:-)

[athlete1]

A question to all...Doesn't it stand to reason when you have never had to play any position except your primary like if you have always just pitched or always just played shortstop...that you should be really really good at it. I must admit it does impress me more to see girls have to jump all over because its what their team needs them to do. It really impresses me as well when they do what their told cause that is what I always did even if I didn't like it. Yes I heard people saying stuff if I made an error and No I didn't tell them I have never played here but I know how to play position just not use to playing it.

[YorkLegend]

Be nice to hear from some of the ASA parents about who the best up and coming players are.[/quote]

Wow athlete1 your really reading into the post I made. The quote above from Marty asked to hear from the ASA parents as to who the best up and coming players were. I was simply trying to answer his question.
Referring to the players playing the same position year after year .... if you talking about the three players I mentioned, none of those are playing their normal positions.
Of course, I have no idea if these girls or any others will be as good as previous players. I was simply trying to give a few freshman from York the credit they deserved for the game at Jamestown. I totally agree with you on the grades for the girls.