Baseball Musings

Baseball has taken full force and the standings are beginning to take shape. There have been a few surprises along the way but overall it has been a somewhat standard season on the diamond within the Hogo.

Lets go through each team and discuss the hype... in no particular order.

Rural Retreat (2-5, 0-3)
Good: Winning a few games.
Bad: Allowing way too many runs. The Indians need to step-up the defense big time if they want to dodge last place in the district.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: The Indians need to get the rest of their kinks out when they take on Oak Hill and Narrows (home and away) in the coming weeks. They have a good opportunity to knock off some teams that are currently struggling like Northwood and George Wythe. But even then, they will need to improve their fundamentals and cut down on the errors.

Holston (5-4, 3-0)
Good: The Cavs have won five games and are currently undefeated in district play, tying them for first with district power, Chilhowie.
Bad: The teams they have beaten have no wins over teams with wins. In fact, between George Wythe, Rural Retreat, and Northwood, their only wins have been over Bland. Ervinton has no such thing as a win. Holston's record is deceiving.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: The weak part of the schedule won't last for long, the Cavs will be tested soon as they take on country rival Patrick Henry, cross-border foe Johnson County, and another doubleheader against Oak Hill Academy. Four games in three days may show us who Holston really is and how deep they are.

George Wythe (2-6, 0-2)
Good: Well.. Those young guys are getting some valuable experience. Things can only go up for first year skipper, Jerad Ward.
Bad: Getting trounced by everyone. Not to mention, a near scare against a winless Bland County team.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: It may be too early to throw this season away a consider it useless. The Maroons have eight district games left, a few wins here and there could land them in a decent spot come district tournament time. The Hogoheegee is weak top to bottom which is good news if you're a weak team.

Northwood (1-9, 0-3)
Good: Lebanon and Fort Chiswell are tough clubs. Although they were mercy-ruled once against each, they were also not mercy-ruled once. It may not seem like much of a positive, but any time your team can learn and adapt, it's a good sign. Besides, the less mercy-rules, the better.
Bad: They have been whacked a few times. Most notably, against Holston 14-2. Holston has five wins and appears to be playing decent baseball, but no one thought they were 12 runs better than Northwood. The Panthers need to rally fast if they want to dodge the cellar.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: Games remaining against Rural Retreat, George Wythe, and Bland could get the Panthers on the right track and help build some confidence. Or, conversely, it could destroy any ounce of hope remaining. They will have to decide that for themselves.

Patrick Henry (3-6, 1-0)
Good: After starting off the year losing 52-14 in their first four losses, the Rebels bounced back and topped always talented Johnson County, TN.
Bad: When they lose... they lose. In their defense, they have played some stiff competition. Although JSB is in an off year, they would still cruise through a typical Hogoheegee schedule. Honaker is undefeated, Johnson County is good, Lebanon is good... so we can cut PH some slack.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: They have a chance to show just how good that tough, early season schedule has made them in the coming week as they square off against Holston, GW, and Chilhowie. A win over all three would turn the district standings into a pretzel.

Chilhowie (6-2, 3-0)
Good: When John Battle left the Hogoheegee two years ago, they handed the torch to Chilhowie who has let it burn bright. The Warriors have outscored district opponents 40-10 in their three games. However, those three wins were over the same three teams who have done nothing this year except abuse Bland. Chilhowie also has two strong wins over MED perennial power, Grayson County.
Bad: Losing to Marion and Galax. These aren't bad clubs but for a team with Region C aspirations, it's not a good sign.
Coulda/Shoulda/Woulda: Upcoming games against Graham and Richlands will be good tests for Chilhowie before reentering district play. Unless the rest of the Hogoheegee finds better pitching, hitting, and defense, it appears to be Chilhowie's to lose.