Region Matchups

[Stelley]

49 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

Lee Central Richlands and Lebanon all are really young as well.  Lebanon picks up a strong young player in Huff next year.  Lee returns everyone.  Richlands returns most of their talent.  Im not sure Central has any seniors.  Next year could be really interesting again in 2D softball.

Lebanon should be talented for years to come. Varsity JV and 8th grade I think combined at 7 losses all year

[1inStripes]

3 hours ago, Stelley said:

Lebanon should be talented for years to come. Varsity JV and 8th grade I think combined at 7 losses all year

True.  I know a lot of those ladies.  Lebanon consistently puts talent on the field. I would say for the last 5+ years you would be hard pressed to find too many times their varsity, JV and MS teams combine for 10+ losses.

[Westisthebest]

6 hours ago, swvavol said:

It should be a good game.  The region tournament showed the difference between the two districts.  Richlands had no offense, especially against the better teams on their schedule.  You would think that with as many travel ball helmets that stepped into the box, they would have been a little better at the plate 

Richlands returns all of their starters. Were all freshman and sophomores. But say all you want about our girls hitting. We faced some of the best this year and they do in travel as well. We might not be strong from top to bottom consistently but they're good and young. We were one of only a handful of teams to even score on Eastside with 2 d1 pitchers. Just go compare some scores if you're gonna say something like that. Lee's offense didnt impress me if thats what you're going by. They could only score 6 on tazewell and 5 were in the first inning.  Good luck to Lee and Central, but I dont see Lee getting by with the 30+ seconds per pitch in the state tournament like they do around here. This isn't travel ball. 

[Weatherman]

8 hours ago, swvavol said:

It should be a good game.  The region tournament showed the difference between the two districts.  Richlands had no offense, especially against the better teams on their schedule.  You would think that with as many travel ball helmets that stepped into the box, they would have been a little better at the plate 

The Mountain 7 District is brutal in most sports, and softball was no exception. Teams spend their seasons beating up on each other, and you think one team is not very good when they lose, but when it comes region tournament time the M7 usually has at least 3 of the 4 best teams. That's not to say the SWD doesn't have any good teams, they just don't have as many.

[swvavol]

2 hours ago, Westisthebest said:

Richlands returns all of their starters. We’re all freshman and sophomores. But say all you want about our girls hitting. We faced some of the best this year and they do in travel as well. We might not be strong from top to bottom consistently but they're good and young. We were one of only a handful of teams to even score on Eastside with 2 d1 pitchers. Just go compare some scores if you're gonna say something like that. Lee's offense didnt impress me if thats what you're going by. They could only score 6 on tazewell and 5 were in the first inning.  Good luck to Lee and Central, but I dont see Lee getting by with the 30+ seconds per pitch in the state tournament like they do around here. This isn't travel ball. 

Trust me, I’ve seen that group for years, so I know a little about them.  Even in travel ball, offense isn’t their strong suit.  I’m sorry, but you can’t compare the pitching top to bottom in the two districts.  In the M7, it was a battle every night.  It would have been a major upset if Richlands didn’t finish second in the regular season in the SW.  They did what they were supposed to do.  But this time of year, lack of offense will show up 

 

[1inStripes]

4 hours ago, Westisthebest said:

  Good luck to Lee and Central, but I dont see Lee getting by with the 30+ seconds per pitch in the state tournament like they do around here. 

I see travel ball umpires being tougher on the pitch clock than HS umpires.  Teams shouldn't be taking their signs behind the rubber either but on it.  There are a few who basically just get a modified run through because there is no enforcement on simulating taking the sign as there should be.  Pitchers get on the rubber, get the clock rolling and force batters into the box.  You can't enforce time on pitchers if you don't enforce it on batters.  As long as it isn't taking away from the game it really doesn't matter.

[BigWinners]

Tough loss for the Bears.  But if the core stays intact, they should be right there in the running next year assuming Skeen stays put. 

[VHSLhelper]

1D BB : Eastside 7, Chilhowie 2

1D SB : Eastside 12, JI Burton 1

2D BB : John Battle 10, Lebanon 5

2D SB : Central 11, Lee 2

[goose111874]

On 6/5/2025 at 12:57 AM, BigWinners said:

Tough loss for the Bears.  But if the core stays intact, they should be right there in the running next year assuming Skeen stays put. 

Someone said they only lose one starter so should be tough and I think a lot of the kids are sophomores and a couple freshman 

[BigWinners]

10 hours ago, goose111874 said:

Someone said they only lose one starter so should be tough and I think a lot of the kids are sophomores and a couple freshman 

Two seniors but the point stands.   Need some reliable hitting and consistent fielding tho. 

[Stelley]

12 minutes ago, BigWinners said:

Two seniors but the point stands.   Need some reliable hitting and consistent fielding tho. 

Only graduating two players from the past two years is pretty good recipe for success

[BigWinners]

On 6/6/2025 at 12:41 PM, Stelley said:

Only graduating two players from the past two years is pretty good recipe for success

Need some more timely hitting, better fielding and cut down on the dumb errors and hope Skeen stays put. 

[Stelley]

56 minutes ago, BigWinners said:

Need some more timely hitting, better fielding and cut down on the dumb errors and hope Skeen stays put. 

I’d assume he would stay. Already had heard a rumor that he was going to transfer to Leb this year but didn’t.

[Weatherman]

Mountain 7 District softball produces 2 Region D Champions and 1 Region D Runnerup that had beaten both teams: Abingdon, Central, and Lee.

 

[BigWinners]

On 6/7/2025 at 8:59 PM, Stelley said:

I’d assume he would stay. Already had heard a rumor that he was going to transfer to Leb this year but didn’t.

Hope you’re right I’m hearing potentially DB

[1inStripes]

A move to DB would get him more games potentially and some better competition at times but not much else.  Although they advanced this year, Kingsport baseball has been in a decline for quite a while.  Coaching is better at the top at Union.

[SwvaOG]

On 6/9/2025 at 7:58 AM, 1inStripes said:

A move to DB would get him more games potentially and some better competition at times but not much else.  Although they advanced this year, Kingsport baseball has been in a decline for quite a while.  Coaching is better at the top at Union.

Whoaa...I'm not sure about this one.  DB and its feeder orgs are still pretty good and I'm not sure Union coaching is better.....more vocal for sure...not sure about overall talent.  DB has the luxury of good training and assistants...its the whole program and it is considerable better than a historically average 2A program.  A pitcher has to see better hitting talent to get better.  Additionally, he will have access to better camps, leagues, medical/sports training and baseball knowledge in that region.   

The best thing he could do is go play for Francisco, TBH...but DB is a close second.  I watched the kid pitch and he is using every bit of what he has, particularly upper body,  to get his velo......not much of a strong lower frame.  He needs a better two and three pitch if he wants to go to the next level.  At that level you have dudes that are 6'3, 210 and can just rock off their core and lower body and hit 90+ with much less effort. 

Regardless, if he leaves, it will be a big loss for Union...the M7 is a tough 2A baseball conference....and the SWD isn't a slouch. 

[1inStripes]

I got family at DB.  It's not what it was.  Really at any male sport other than maybe basketball.  They have better facilities and access but they use so little of it effectively.  Most of the feeder orgs, for school ball aren't very good, and travel teams pull from outside of Kingsport to compete.  The other thing that's about to affect DB in a really big way IMO will be when Tri-Cities Christian gets fully operational at The Crossings.  Especially for a sport like baseball, but really at all sports.  DB better hope TCC can pull a bunch kids out of JC and Boone too because over the last decade, SH, Boone and Crockett have all been better at spring sports on a more consistent level.