Not off the Press: Coaching changes, a classic rivalry game and teams on the brink of being league champions
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The trio of baseball teams from Lynchburg-Clay, Whiteoak and Hillsboro have a lot on the line this coming week, along with the softball teams from Fairfield and Greenfield, as all have either a chance to clinch a league championship or position themselves for a final run at a title.
The easy way to describe all five of the teams' situations … in the words of the late Al Davis, "Just Win Baby!"
In baseball for the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs (8-2, SHL), it is very simple … if they defeat the North Adams Green Devils on Tuesday (at LC), the Mustangs will win the Southern Hills League Division I championship outright for the third consecutive season. As of right now, they can do no less than tie for the league title, as they have a three-game lead in the league with three league games remaining. Another way, though not as fun, is if the Eastern Brown Warriors lose another league contest.
For the Hillsboro Indians, it's a little more complicated. They currently sit in second place in the South Central Ohio League standings with a league mark of 7-2. The London Red Raiders are 8-1 in the SCOL, as they defeated HHS earlier this season 16-8 at LHS. HHS will face Miami Trace in SCOL play starting on Monday (at MT) and will host London on Wednesday.
Before London faces HHS on Wednesday, they must face the McClain Tigers (at LHS), who handed the Red Raiders their lone league loss this season at 2-1.
I like what HHS baseball coach said in a post-game interview on Friday, as he said they can't look ahead to their game with London because they have to take care of business with Miami Trace first. I agree, with games in the SCOL baseball season this year, anything is possible, and every last game will be important and can go a long way in the standings.
The SCOL is far from being decided, but it seems as of this writing it's going to be a two-team race with HHS ahead of third place in the standings by at least two games, and LHS leads all teams by at least three games.
As for the Whiteoak baseball team (9-1 in SHL), they and Fayetteville each have one league loss this season, as they are in a neck-and-neck competition for the Division II SHL championship.
The two league games for WHS this week are a Wednesday meeting with the LC Mustangs, and then on Thursday, the Wildcats are scheduled to travel to Fayetteville with a lot on the line that day, with a possible pairing of a rematch against the two best pitchers in the SHL, if Gage Carraher and Derek Peters toe the rubber that day.
This is a very important week for not only WHS, but Fayetteville as well, along with Lynchburg-Clay, London and Hillsboro. This will be a great week to keep track of the baseball standings in both leagues.
As for the Lady Lions of Fairfield and the McClain Lady Tigers in softball … it's as simple for them as it is for LC baseball … keep doing what they are doing, and FHS will repeat as Division II SHL softball champs, and MHS will repeat as softball champions of the SCOL, as neither team has lost a respective league game this season.
This will be interesting, to say the least.
• A coaching change for Fairfield boys varsity basketball
First off, I want to state on record that I respect new Fairfield boys basketball coach Everett Snyder, as I've worked with him in the past when he was the FHS boys soccer coach. I want to thank him for returning a phone call and having an interview about him becoming the new FHS boys basketball coach. I wish him and his team the best when the winter season rolls around in late November.
What I'm about to write has nothing to do with Coach Snyder becoming the new coach because in my time working with him, he's a good guy, and again, I wish him the best.
With that said, I'm going to miss Matt Carson being the FHS basketball coach, as he became the Lions' varsity basketball coach the same year I became a sports editor in Highland County, as we are around the same age.
The past five years, I've had the chance to get to know Coach Carson not only as a coach, but away from the court, and I have the utmost respect for him not only as a coach, but as a person as well.
Though Coach Carson resigned, we all know once the ladies and gentlemen in charge make up their mind, that's pretty much the end-all, be-all, isn't it?
My question to whomever makes these decisions or listens to outside influences is this: Why would any group or individual treat a person/employee who gave everything they had to a school, not only as a coach but gave their all away from the court, all the while earning a four-year bachelor's degree, being the athletic director and coaching a varsity basketball team (a position that is second-guessed more than most sports) all at the same time, this way?
I know I've already written a vague column on this topic, but since all the I's have been dotted and all the T's crossed, I have just a little more to say.
For a varsity coach to be hired at the age of 20 and to build the program he was in the process of building, with numerous trips to the district tournament in Athens (including once in the district finals), along with an overall winning record … those of us who support Coach Carson, we're not idiots, we know how the politics in high school sports goes these days.
I find the entire situation a missed opportunity of allowing a coach who did build a program from scratch (when Coach Carson took over, the Lions were coming off a one-win season). The overall outcome could have been something that lasted for decades.
Another thing that I respect about Coach Carson is he never will publicly say anything negative about an individual player in print, and I've interviewed him every season he was the Lions' coach.
Lori Walker-Magulac wrote a very heartfelt Letter to the Editor posted on the HCP website, and I'm glad it's not just me being outspoken on the entire subject because it's not sour grapes, but more just coaches, in general, not being shown much respect nowadays, as many in the community didn't enjoy how the whole situation went down as well.
I'd like to end this opinion with something Coach Carson said in what turned out to be his final game coaching the Lions this past March following a sectional final game against Manchester: "I hurt for them (his 2011-12 seniors) now because I wanted them to get to the Convo, but they know … we've talked about this a few times this year, how high school basketball is a small portion of their life they are going to remember forever. They are going to take a lot of things they learned here and will be successful people in the real world. They come from great families and are great people. I wish them all the best."
Coach Carson is right … high school basketball (or sports in general) is just a small portion of a person's life ... too bad some of the folks involved think they are James Naismith.
I wish the best for Matt in his professional and coaching future, and the best to Coach Snyder in his professional and coaching future as well. Both have accomplished, and are capable of, good things.
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• Another one-run game
The best game this past week was the Highland County, SCOL baseball game between the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers, as Shaffer Park.
It was not only a pitchers' duel between McClain's Ryan Case and Hillsboro's Tyler Griego, with each pitcher getting a no-decision, but it was just a wonderfully played game from the view of the bleachers or dugouts.
The game had everything … a squeeze play at the plate in extra innings that the Indians stopped, a two-run home run by Hillsboro's Paul Snyder to tie the game in the fifth inning, a two-run lead by McClain in the early innings, then for the dramatic ending … the Indians scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in walk-off fashion with pinch-runner Brandon Carter scoring the game-winning run as Corey Walker hit a single.
It was just one of those games like I've talked about in the past that make all the travel to different games through the year worth it.
As MHS baseball coach Brandon Streitenberger said following the game … "It was just a great baseball game."
• Random Thoughts
- This weekend was the official 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in Boston. I've been lucky enough to tick visiting that stadium off my bucket list of sports venues to attend. I went in 2005 when the Reds visited there. I was still in college and a fresh 21 years old. I'm glad I got to attend that stadium to have a beer and a Fenway Frank. Though the Reds lost the game, the fun fact of this entire ramble is during the game I attended, the starting pitcher for the Red Sox was Bronson Arroyo.
- I read in the HCP publisher Rory Ryan's column where folks had unhealthy obsessions, and something on "WWRRD?" I then learned that meant "What Would Rory Ryan Do?" (Corporate folks in the newspaper business lived by that motto at one time, I guess?) In terms of writing a column, I think "WWRRD?" means he would let his opinion be known, so I guess I had to let mine be known as well.
- As a fan of the White Sox, I'm was pretty pleased as I kept track on my phone of Phillip Humber's perfect game as I waited to be seated at the Olive Garden. Only time in my life where I didn't mind waiting 30-35 minutes to be seated at a restaurant. Best invention of my lifetime: sports on phones.
- I didn't mind one bit there being rainouts this weekend. Even workaholics like me need a short break every now and then.
- The Red Sox aren't very good right now, as the NY Post's Sunday headline stated: "Sox To Be You!"
- I see the Reds having a better home stand this week than their previous road trip.
- Anyone else ready for the NFL Draft to start this Thursday? I am.
- This is a great time of year to start watching hockey and the NBA (once the playoffs start in the NBA) if you don't normally follow the games.
- Congratulations to McClain senior Caleb Mootispaw, as he'll be attending Asbury University in Kentucky this fall as he'll be a member of the cross-country team.
• Quote of the Week
"This was the our most complete game of the season." — Tim Hunt, Hillsboro baseball head coach following Friday's game against McClain.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"This was a big league win for us. Whiteoak has a great pitcher, and we've had to adjust to different speeds at the plate the past few games. We waited late (Thursday) to score runs, but we had a couple nice two-out hits. We didn't power hit tonight, but we base hit." — Matthew Zimmerman, Fairfield softball head coach.
• Stat of the Week
The Lynchburg-Clay baseball team has outscored their opponents 84-20 in their current six-game winning streak.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
Whiteoak junior Gage Carraher is 5-0, with two saves this season. Carraher has 55 strikeouts in five starts and two relief appearances. In just his five starts, the junior ace has 50 strikeouts.
• One last item of business
If there is no rain this week, this could end up being a very important week in the spring season. Best of luck to all the teams who have an opportunity to add to the trophy cases of their respective schools.
As for my earlier thoughts on coaching changes, it is mostly about showing respect to coaches. They put in way more time and dedication than most of us realize, and as for those who like to complain to the decision makers, I wish they realized coaches most certainly don't get involved with high school sports for money because that would be a bad financial decision altogether. They do it for the opportunity to teach their players real life values, along with teaching them how to succeed on the field or court of play.
I want to thank most coaches I've ever had for making me a better person, even though they may have had to raise their voices on more than one occasion because every day wasn't smiles and after-practice ice cream sandwiches.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
The easy way to describe all five of the teams' situations … in the words of the late Al Davis, "Just Win Baby!"
In baseball for the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs (8-2, SHL), it is very simple … if they defeat the North Adams Green Devils on Tuesday (at LC), the Mustangs will win the Southern Hills League Division I championship outright for the third consecutive season. As of right now, they can do no less than tie for the league title, as they have a three-game lead in the league with three league games remaining. Another way, though not as fun, is if the Eastern Brown Warriors lose another league contest.
For the Hillsboro Indians, it's a little more complicated. They currently sit in second place in the South Central Ohio League standings with a league mark of 7-2. The London Red Raiders are 8-1 in the SCOL, as they defeated HHS earlier this season 16-8 at LHS. HHS will face Miami Trace in SCOL play starting on Monday (at MT) and will host London on Wednesday.
Before London faces HHS on Wednesday, they must face the McClain Tigers (at LHS), who handed the Red Raiders their lone league loss this season at 2-1.
I like what HHS baseball coach said in a post-game interview on Friday, as he said they can't look ahead to their game with London because they have to take care of business with Miami Trace first. I agree, with games in the SCOL baseball season this year, anything is possible, and every last game will be important and can go a long way in the standings.
The SCOL is far from being decided, but it seems as of this writing it's going to be a two-team race with HHS ahead of third place in the standings by at least two games, and LHS leads all teams by at least three games.
As for the Whiteoak baseball team (9-1 in SHL), they and Fayetteville each have one league loss this season, as they are in a neck-and-neck competition for the Division II SHL championship.
The two league games for WHS this week are a Wednesday meeting with the LC Mustangs, and then on Thursday, the Wildcats are scheduled to travel to Fayetteville with a lot on the line that day, with a possible pairing of a rematch against the two best pitchers in the SHL, if Gage Carraher and Derek Peters toe the rubber that day.
This is a very important week for not only WHS, but Fayetteville as well, along with Lynchburg-Clay, London and Hillsboro. This will be a great week to keep track of the baseball standings in both leagues.
As for the Lady Lions of Fairfield and the McClain Lady Tigers in softball … it's as simple for them as it is for LC baseball … keep doing what they are doing, and FHS will repeat as Division II SHL softball champs, and MHS will repeat as softball champions of the SCOL, as neither team has lost a respective league game this season.
This will be interesting, to say the least.
• A coaching change for Fairfield boys varsity basketball
First off, I want to state on record that I respect new Fairfield boys basketball coach Everett Snyder, as I've worked with him in the past when he was the FHS boys soccer coach. I want to thank him for returning a phone call and having an interview about him becoming the new FHS boys basketball coach. I wish him and his team the best when the winter season rolls around in late November.
What I'm about to write has nothing to do with Coach Snyder becoming the new coach because in my time working with him, he's a good guy, and again, I wish him the best.
With that said, I'm going to miss Matt Carson being the FHS basketball coach, as he became the Lions' varsity basketball coach the same year I became a sports editor in Highland County, as we are around the same age.
The past five years, I've had the chance to get to know Coach Carson not only as a coach, but away from the court, and I have the utmost respect for him not only as a coach, but as a person as well.
Though Coach Carson resigned, we all know once the ladies and gentlemen in charge make up their mind, that's pretty much the end-all, be-all, isn't it?
My question to whomever makes these decisions or listens to outside influences is this: Why would any group or individual treat a person/employee who gave everything they had to a school, not only as a coach but gave their all away from the court, all the while earning a four-year bachelor's degree, being the athletic director and coaching a varsity basketball team (a position that is second-guessed more than most sports) all at the same time, this way?
I know I've already written a vague column on this topic, but since all the I's have been dotted and all the T's crossed, I have just a little more to say.
For a varsity coach to be hired at the age of 20 and to build the program he was in the process of building, with numerous trips to the district tournament in Athens (including once in the district finals), along with an overall winning record … those of us who support Coach Carson, we're not idiots, we know how the politics in high school sports goes these days.
I find the entire situation a missed opportunity of allowing a coach who did build a program from scratch (when Coach Carson took over, the Lions were coming off a one-win season). The overall outcome could have been something that lasted for decades.
Another thing that I respect about Coach Carson is he never will publicly say anything negative about an individual player in print, and I've interviewed him every season he was the Lions' coach.
Lori Walker-Magulac wrote a very heartfelt Letter to the Editor posted on the HCP website, and I'm glad it's not just me being outspoken on the entire subject because it's not sour grapes, but more just coaches, in general, not being shown much respect nowadays, as many in the community didn't enjoy how the whole situation went down as well.
I'd like to end this opinion with something Coach Carson said in what turned out to be his final game coaching the Lions this past March following a sectional final game against Manchester: "I hurt for them (his 2011-12 seniors) now because I wanted them to get to the Convo, but they know … we've talked about this a few times this year, how high school basketball is a small portion of their life they are going to remember forever. They are going to take a lot of things they learned here and will be successful people in the real world. They come from great families and are great people. I wish them all the best."
Coach Carson is right … high school basketball (or sports in general) is just a small portion of a person's life ... too bad some of the folks involved think they are James Naismith.
I wish the best for Matt in his professional and coaching future, and the best to Coach Snyder in his professional and coaching future as well. Both have accomplished, and are capable of, good things.
[[In-content Ad]]
• Another one-run game
The best game this past week was the Highland County, SCOL baseball game between the Hillsboro Indians and McClain Tigers, as Shaffer Park.
It was not only a pitchers' duel between McClain's Ryan Case and Hillsboro's Tyler Griego, with each pitcher getting a no-decision, but it was just a wonderfully played game from the view of the bleachers or dugouts.
The game had everything … a squeeze play at the plate in extra innings that the Indians stopped, a two-run home run by Hillsboro's Paul Snyder to tie the game in the fifth inning, a two-run lead by McClain in the early innings, then for the dramatic ending … the Indians scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in walk-off fashion with pinch-runner Brandon Carter scoring the game-winning run as Corey Walker hit a single.
It was just one of those games like I've talked about in the past that make all the travel to different games through the year worth it.
As MHS baseball coach Brandon Streitenberger said following the game … "It was just a great baseball game."
• Random Thoughts
- This weekend was the official 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in Boston. I've been lucky enough to tick visiting that stadium off my bucket list of sports venues to attend. I went in 2005 when the Reds visited there. I was still in college and a fresh 21 years old. I'm glad I got to attend that stadium to have a beer and a Fenway Frank. Though the Reds lost the game, the fun fact of this entire ramble is during the game I attended, the starting pitcher for the Red Sox was Bronson Arroyo.
- I read in the HCP publisher Rory Ryan's column where folks had unhealthy obsessions, and something on "WWRRD?" I then learned that meant "What Would Rory Ryan Do?" (Corporate folks in the newspaper business lived by that motto at one time, I guess?) In terms of writing a column, I think "WWRRD?" means he would let his opinion be known, so I guess I had to let mine be known as well.
- As a fan of the White Sox, I'm was pretty pleased as I kept track on my phone of Phillip Humber's perfect game as I waited to be seated at the Olive Garden. Only time in my life where I didn't mind waiting 30-35 minutes to be seated at a restaurant. Best invention of my lifetime: sports on phones.
- I didn't mind one bit there being rainouts this weekend. Even workaholics like me need a short break every now and then.
- The Red Sox aren't very good right now, as the NY Post's Sunday headline stated: "Sox To Be You!"
- I see the Reds having a better home stand this week than their previous road trip.
- Anyone else ready for the NFL Draft to start this Thursday? I am.
- This is a great time of year to start watching hockey and the NBA (once the playoffs start in the NBA) if you don't normally follow the games.
- Congratulations to McClain senior Caleb Mootispaw, as he'll be attending Asbury University in Kentucky this fall as he'll be a member of the cross-country team.
• Quote of the Week
"This was the our most complete game of the season." — Tim Hunt, Hillsboro baseball head coach following Friday's game against McClain.
• (A second) Quote of the Week
"This was a big league win for us. Whiteoak has a great pitcher, and we've had to adjust to different speeds at the plate the past few games. We waited late (Thursday) to score runs, but we had a couple nice two-out hits. We didn't power hit tonight, but we base hit." — Matthew Zimmerman, Fairfield softball head coach.
• Stat of the Week
The Lynchburg-Clay baseball team has outscored their opponents 84-20 in their current six-game winning streak.
• (A second) Stat of the Week
Whiteoak junior Gage Carraher is 5-0, with two saves this season. Carraher has 55 strikeouts in five starts and two relief appearances. In just his five starts, the junior ace has 50 strikeouts.
• One last item of business
If there is no rain this week, this could end up being a very important week in the spring season. Best of luck to all the teams who have an opportunity to add to the trophy cases of their respective schools.
As for my earlier thoughts on coaching changes, it is mostly about showing respect to coaches. They put in way more time and dedication than most of us realize, and as for those who like to complain to the decision makers, I wish they realized coaches most certainly don't get involved with high school sports for money because that would be a bad financial decision altogether. They do it for the opportunity to teach their players real life values, along with teaching them how to succeed on the field or court of play.
I want to thank most coaches I've ever had for making me a better person, even though they may have had to raise their voices on more than one occasion because every day wasn't smiles and after-practice ice cream sandwiches.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.