8ball

The most recent information from his caring bridge site - posted by his mother this morning TJ spiked a fever last night. Got a lot of action from nurses. Blood cultures are growing and antibiotics on IV. We don't know why. He had chills and was achy all over. His temp is still 101.3 this morning. This is scary because he has no white blood cells to fight off infection. He still has fast labored breathing and a heart rate 3x his normal rate. We are waiting for a chest CT this morning. He has had two regular doses of Lasix and two "elephant" doses, and still has not been able to get rid of the fluid on his lungs. They have been monitoring his blood pressure as lasix can cause a drop in blood pressure. If his blood pressure drops he will have to go to ICU for meds and closer monitoring. We are so tired! We pray that things settle down soon! Please pray and ask all you know who pray to pray too. Thanks, Jill

National Institute of Health in Bethesda [spelling??] Maryland. He is participating in a clinical trial and his blood counts are very low, he is having some difficulty breathing, both are side effects of the procedures - He has been in NIH since July 13 -

TJ is in NIH receiving an experimental treatment for his Sarcoma. He is not doing the best, please pray for him and his family. You can follow his progress at http://www.caringbridge.org and then typing his name [tjrasinick] all lower case and no space.

Tazewell's baseball program is more than the facility -- although the facility is top notch and compares with DI colleges. Tazewell baseball starts with Lou - he has poured his heart and soul into this program. In a previous post someone said has anyone other than Billy Wagner went professional - I am not sure of anyone who has actually succeeded to Billy's level - but others have had the opportunity to play professionally - The one question I would ask anyone that questions Tazewell's baseball programs successes is 'how many student athletes continue playing baseball at the next level from Tazewell'. I think Tazewell graduated four seniors this season and all were given the opportunity to play at the next level -- This is not a fluke - it's is a pattern that you see from this program year after year. That one stat would be a great draw for parents and athletes. I don't know this young man, but his family maybe moving to the area - others have in the past and have been welcomed. As for the Pocy kids choosing Tazewell over Graham - they were given the opportunity to visit both schools and all that I have spoke to have stated that they felt more welcome at Tazewell -

I would agree - Tazewell lost 3 games last year and 2 of those were to Richlands - and would agree that coaching decisions contributed to both of those. Corner, however played his heart out - Richlands remembers his name and mark my word so does every other team in the district - If you want to get in a debate about who has the most heart - people need to find someone other than Corner. I would like to think that the Tazewell Coaching staff would discuss with their team - what the word TEAM means -- generally speaking you just don't target a member of your team you back those people up.

It really doesn't matter what Corner's time in the 40 is -- his intensity to win is possibly one of the top 5 in the state. I think it's says alot when a kid comes from a single A team, transfers in due to reasons beyond his control and not only makes 1st Team All SWD -- but earned the respect of every coach in the distict. Additionally, he would have started on any team in the district had he not chosen to attend Tazewell - his ability would have earned him a starting spot on any team. Tazewell is fortunate that he chose to be a Bulldog -- I personally love to watch him play --

They are nominated by their coaches traditionally - however coaches can nominate students from any schools - The on stipulation is that a student athlete can only compete in one sport - and they are selected as their sport is finished -

I just completed renovating a home last October -- the contractor we hired to help us out with the big stuff told us about a store actually 3 stores one in Christiansburg, one in Roanoke, and one in Lynchburg called the ReStore. It is where big contractors donate new and sometimes used materials to be resold for Habitat for Humanity. We found alot of tile - super nice - at the Roanoke store priced at $1 a piece for 12" and then a little more for larger and less for smaller - we found enough with trim to do both bathrooms and the backsplash and a border in the kitchen - we purchased a nice contrast at Lowes to finish the kitchen off. At the Christianburg store we found loads of new light fixtures - and faucets - as well as a brand new garden tub priced at $155 the same one we had planned on ordering for $1085 - super savings. This store also had alot of grout. We never made it to the Lynchburg store - but was told they had alot of good stuff too. We also purchased a new sleigh bed [king size] headboard and footboard with rails at the Roanoke store for $40 - solid cherry made by Lane - it had a very small less than 1" scratch on the backside of the headboard - You should check it out - you can go to anywho.com and type in ReStore and the location you want to visit for their phone number and hours -- You can save boat loads of money if you do some of the finish work yourself and if youcan get some small stuff for a good deal that's even more. Good Luck - and congratulations on your new home.

I thought you didn't like the coach is the reason your not playing soccer now.

Your right that Division III athletes do not receive athletic scholarships - however the "friends of the soccer team" can give huge $$$. I know several SWD players who have attended E & H and paid nothing -- the biggest difference with these DIII 'signees' are that they actually must have grades. So to me 'signing' to a DIII school and receiving monies to attend those schools probably means that you are both athletically talented and academically accomplished. I am not sure where the individual that made this statement [regarding the LOI for D3 schools] is from - but I can name student-athletes from Graham - Carroll - Tazewell - Richlands that have had a 'signing ceremony' for DIII schools. We should all congratulate these students for continuing their education.

Strong was not even the best shortstop in the SWD -- Tyler Kitss is by far -- Congratulations to those that deserve the honor -- and to those that were politically overlooked I express my empathy to you for adults trying to live vicariously through children. Bradley is good -- but he is again not the best in the SWD -- much less the state -- that is an honor that should truely be earned - not given.

I was in Tunstall yesterday -- they were hosting a [Region] baseball game, softball game and soccer game -- I walked around and watched some of each of them - it was really nice to have all three fields close enough to do this -- Anyway - Tunstall's baseball team's shortstop is in a word AWESOME. I have no idea what his name is or what year he is in school - but he has a cannon - and really quick feet. Quite impressive to see that much talent at a AA High School - Their softball field was beautiful also - I would agree that their fans are possibly a little over the top -- I saw evidence at all three fields - but not the worst -- just generally at all three venues a little in your face attitude was displayed, but like someone said every school has some of those fans.

I was told last night that they have all the games rescheduled -- and they have been allowed to play through Monday -- however any game that is cancelled will not be rescheduled -- I am not sure what happens if they don't get the games in but hopefully they will.

Tazewell is undefeated in the district but lack a boat load of district games which will be played this week. They have not played Abingdon at all - they still have Richland at Richlands - Carroll County home - and I think they still lack both Graham games they went to Graham but did not get 5 innings in so it does not count. So right now it's great that Tazewell in undefeated, but the number of games left still leaves alot to be said - I believe that Abingdon is also undefeated, but I don't know the games they have left. This should prove to be a busy week of spring sports -- hopefully the rain will stop and everyone can get all their games in, otherwise it will be left up to the ADs to decide how to set up the district tournament which is scheduled to begin next week.

Tazewell 2 Richlands 1 they will play again this week - i think friday at richlands but i am not positive about that - will check and see for sure

I am not a fan of beauty pagents -- actually the best pagent I have been to in a very long time was the Miss Tornadoe Pagent a few weeks back. I will however have to applaud Miss California on answering her question honestly. She will spend the next year even at the 1st Runner Up making all sorts of public appearances involve many young girls -- I think she now has a plateform from which she can impress upon young girls to stand up for your beliefs. I am not sure that she used to most eloquent language in her answer - but she made her point. The question was loaded and should have never been asked -- I wonder if he will be asked to judge again next year?!

I was not impressed with the comments by the Richlands coach -- he may not have meant it, but he made negative comments about at least two of his players - coaches need to motivate not demean -- you achieve nothing positive with comments like that. He may need to take a look at himself before his team can achieve where most think they can. Again, just my opinion.

I was teaching -- I can remember making every attempt to contact the students and/or the families of the students that had went to VT -- we really have quite a few that end up as Hokies -- it was probably that day that I realized just how many! That was a very long day. We all need to remember this day and those that lost their lives that day.

Varsity Softball @ Richlands next Wednesday

Tazewell's field is nice thanks to the very hard work of their coach and the baseball boosters club. Billy did very little [compared to what the total cost was] when it came to building that complex - Billy has always contributed back to the players - he gives more to the kids playing than just cash to the program. No doubt his success has put Tazewell's Baseball Program on the map, but that field is a dream of the coach -- one he has worked very hard for -- and the baseball parents. They work year round to make it what it is -- and that would be --Very Nice!!

This is correct -- the VHSL All Star Games are held in July in Hampton, VA. The athletes that play in these are selected by the VHSL coaches association -- so needless to say not every senior gets a chance to play. Additionally, you can only play in one - for example if a kid is selected to play in the basketball all star game they they cannot play in the baseball all star game -- Selection for these games comes in the order of the seasons which they are played -- Fall sports are selected - then winter sports - then spring -- most kids accept the invitation to play in the first one they are offered even if this is not their favorite sport -- they understand that it is an honor and want to be able to play in one -- The games that are being played around here are for ALL SENIORS -- it's a great idea -- a good chance for the kids to play together again -- all the athletes I have talked with have really enjoyed it as well.

I agree - Corner is quick on the first step --

Title IX - states that facilities must be equal for both girls and boys sports -- we all know that is not ever going to happen -- several years ago [2005?] a group of Tazewell County parents contacted Title IX and Tazewell County scored about 50-60 out of 100 points on being compliant with Title IX -- this information was presented at a SB meeting and they were to look into it -- I sure they have never. As for the football field house -- it should probably be just for the guys, but an additional facility should be available to the girls -- the previous post is correct -- the weight equipment used by the boys is not really what most of the girls would want -- they would desire lighter weights -- most girls want to be stronger not a body builder. Also, a separate facility is best so that everyone is comfortable and they can focus on weight training not the opposite sex. Additionally, the bulk of the fund raising and manual labor for the RHS field house came from the football program -- it really isn't fair for some to set back and watch others work - and they want to reap the rewards. Possibly basketball is the one sport where equality is occuring in Tazewell County. The move from girls' basketball to the winter to be with the boys program is a direct result of a Title IX case -- girls and their families in Northern VA went to court saying that girl's bball in the fall was not covered by the press as well as the boys were in the winter and it was over shadowed by football -- so they won a bit of $ and the girl's program was moved to the winter and volleyball to the fall. I don't really feel that this was good for our area due to the lack of gym space, but the ruling covered all of VA. I think if the schools would look and see what they could do to make it more equal this would satisfy most --

Tazewell played everyone -- they moved around positions and the last three at bats they all batted left handed or practiced slapping. Several regular starters only played 4 innings - and would sub into bat or just cheered -- they only kept 13 players on varsity this year and one is recovering from ACL surgery so she cannot play -- Graham is improving -- and the pitcher for the first game was pretty good - they seem to get shook up when they make an error and then proceed to make two or three errors. The pitcher for the second game is making good improvements as well -- they both pitched alot of pitches which makes for a very long and tiring night. They have a new coach [i think this is her 2nd year and she is doing good things with this team]. The games would have been called after the 3rd but according to the officials there is a rule that all district games must go 5 innings -

How do you suppose you can thank Mitchell - his vote was for Hunter [Tazewell's nominee that year] the remaining four coaches split the vote -- Richlands voted for Keene as they should and Carroll voted for Watts as they should -- Graham and Grundy can be thanked for the honor given to both girls -- not Mitchell.