Union Baseball

[Tigerman10]

2 hours ago, Gridiron60 said:

Union seems to be hitting their stride and continuing to improve by posts here. Arguably, I don’t keep up with M7 baseball but I’m betting the next meeting could go Union’s way. 

It’s Abingdon

 

 

 

 

and everyone else

 

[Gridiron60]

1 hour ago, Tigerman10 said:

It’s Abingdon

 

 

 

 

and everyone else

 

Like I said I’ve mostly seen what’s posted on here but you’re probably more in the know than me so I’ll take your word for it. I did see however since asking that Abingdon is undefeated so Abingdon #1 in M7 who would be top 2 after that?

[Bcats]

54 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Like I said I’ve mostly seen what’s posted on here but you’re probably more in the know than me so I’ll take your word for it. I did see however since asking that Abingdon is undefeated so Abingdon #1 in M7 who would be top 2 after that?

Abingdon was around 124 straight conference wins until last year in the conference championship John Battle upset them. Battle is the 2nd best team in our area and Abingdon just mercy rule them. Last year in the college world series they had like 3-4 kids in it, some are saying this year team isn't a strong as previous teams yet they're still undefeated. They keep at least 3 d1 kids on the team the past 10yrs or so. Last year they didn't win state but they lost in the regular season 1-0 to Gainesville the VA class 6 state champions 

[BigWinners]

4 hours ago, Gridiron60 said:

Union seems to be hitting their stride and continuing to improve by posts here. Arguably, I don’t keep up with M7 baseball but I’m betting the next meeting could go Union’s way. 

I believe Falcons on a diff level. Bears could beat Battle at home but Abingdon is a well oiled machine. 

[Unchained]

On 4/29/2026 at 2:08 PM, BigWinners said:

I believe Falcons on a diff level. Bears could beat Battle at home but Abingdon is a well oiled machine. 

I agree. I will also catch some flak for this, but something HAS to be done about Chris Kelly. He's extremely fortunate that that guy from GC didn't clock him yesterday evening. As he gets older, he gets worse and has honestly become a liability to the school. It's simply a matter of time before either A someone doesn't realize that he is intellectually disabled, or B simply doesn't have the morals, and he gets clocked. Several GC fans said that they are going to make sure a formal harassment complaint is filed with the VHSL. I have to wonder if no nonsense Harless will tolerate him come football season. I would hate to see anything bad happen to him. It has become a safety issue:(

[1inStripes]

That is one change I have expected with the football team that would make a lot of folks in BSG/Appy upset but is needed. 

[Unchained]

20 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

That is one change I have expected with the football team that would make a lot of folks in BSG/Appy upset but is needed. 

I have lost track of how many times myself and other Union folks have to explain to opposing irate fans that he is special needs. You'd think that if you heard him for more than 10 seconds, you'd know, but I've learned to never ASS-U-ME anything.

[goose111874]

2 hours ago, 1inStripes said:

That is one change I have expected with the football team that would make a lot of folks in BSG/Appy upset but is needed. 

Tried it a few years ago and it didn’t go over very well 

[Unchained]

21 minutes ago, goose111874 said:

Tried it a few years ago and it didn’t go over very well 

It didn't but things have gotten worse. The problem may be handled by the VHSL.

[BigWinners]

4 hours ago, Unchained said:

I agree. I will also catch some flak for this, but something HAS to be done about Chris Kelly. He's extremely fortunate that that guy from GC didn't clock him yesterday evening. As he gets older, he gets worse and has honestly become a liability to the school. It's simply a matter of time before either A someone doesn't realize that he is intellectually disabled, or B simply doesn't have the morals, and he gets clocked. Several GC fans said that they are going to make sure a formal harassment complaint is filed with the VHSL. I have to wonder if no nonsense Harless will tolerate him come football season. I would hate to see anything bad happen to him. It has become a safety issue:(

What happened? I didn’t go. 
 

 

Tuesday is Battle in BSG, gonna be a war. 

[Unchained]

9 minutes ago, BigWinners said:

What happened? I didn’t go. 
 

 

Tuesday is Battle in BSG, gonna be a war. 

He continuously was running over to the GC side and talking smack to the GC fans, got in the face of a big dude who would have hurt him really badly. I was in the press box helping with scores and stats, but finally someone nabbed him and forced him, to calm down and get away from the GC side. He's always talked smack, but he's getting aggressive, and it's only a matter of time before things go horribly wrong:(

[BigWinners]

3 minutes ago, Unchained said:

He continuously was running over to the GC side and talking smack to the GC fans, got in the face of a big dude who would have hurt him really badly. I was in the press box helping with scores and stats, but finally someone nabbed him and forced his to calm down and get away from the GC side. He's always talked smack, but he's getting aggressive, and it's only a matter of time before things go horribly wrong:(

It’s gonna have to come to a time where he will have to either sit in the stands and not yell and antagonize or he’s just not gonna be allowed to come. I hate it, he’s mostly harmless, but it’s a huge liability and he’s been given a LOT of leeway. 

[Unchained]

Just now, BigWinners said:

It’s gonna have to come to a time where he will have to either sit in the stands and not yell and antagonize or he’s just not gonna be allowed to come. I hate it, he’s mostly harmless, but it’s a huge liability and he’s been given a LOT of leeway. 

Not just on the field either. He walks into businesses and takes items without reproach/paying. His own sister has posted on FB to not let him do this as financially he is better off than most of us. It's great that our community takes care of him the way we do, but ultimately businesses have to pay for their products, and if he sees that he's enabled, he will worsen. I feel like a douche posting that, but he has to be taught like a child, because he thinks like one. If someone were to hurt him, we'd be fighting, but UHS is going to have to be proactive instead of reactive. I don't have the solution, but sure can see the problem:(

[Gridiron60]

4 hours ago, Unchained said:

Not just on the field either. He walks into businesses and takes items without reproach/paying. His own sister has posted on FB to not let him do this as financially he is better off than most of us. It's great that our community takes care of him the way we do, but ultimately businesses have to pay for their products, and if he sees that he's enabled, he will worsen. I feel like a douche posting that, but he has to be taught like a child, because he thinks like one. If someone were to hurt him, we'd be fighting, but UHS is going to have to be proactive instead of reactive. I don't have the solution, but sure can see the problem:(

Is this the guy that comes in with the football team usually waving towel or someone else? 

[Unchained]

3 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

Is this the guy that comes in with the football team usually waving towel or someone else? 

Same guy

[Gridiron60]

2 hours ago, Unchained said:

Same guy

He’s definitely a very exuberant loving supporter of the Bears. Hopefully, someone can help guide him so nothing happens to him. People are nuts these days and some crazy could pop off before realizing the guy is limited as far as mentality level like a child. Even children can be taught boundaries, maybe there’s a person that can be that “teacher” for him. I agree, he shouldn’t be taking things from stores. I guess he’s so beloved, no one wants to say or do anything. 

[Unchained]

22 minutes ago, Gridiron60 said:

He’s definitely a very exuberant loving supporter of the Bears. Hopefully, someone can help guide him so nothing happens to him. People are nuts these days and some crazy could pop off before realizing the guy is limited as far as mentality level like a child. Even children can be taught boundaries, maybe there’s a person that can be that “teacher” for him. I agree, he shouldn’t be taking things from stores. I guess he’s so beloved, no one wants to say or do anything. 

Word for word exactly how I feel about this. I'm not saying ban him from events. That school is his life, and every school should have fans as devoted as Chris, but he needs a chaperone during especially baseball season. During basketball season, he is an "assistant coach", so he has to stay on the bench. During football season, he's on the sideline with the team and away from opposing fans. In our day, you would just look over him because you knew, but with this evil out there nowadays, I am afraid he's going to get seriously hurt or killed. He's not equipped to fight and bouncing his skull off concrete could/would be fatal. I am not trying to be an arse at all when it comes to him-just seeing a safety issue and trying to look out for him.

[Fairlawncat]

Was talk on here last yr about a Union- Princeton hypothetical football matchup. Probably best for that not to happen for Chris, if a game were played at Princeton. That's the kind of place where it could be a problem. Gotta be careful at Gate City too. Might be different now, but back in the day, GC fans at their place were ok, but also a bit different. You could feel that they had the ability to pop off if the moment called for it.

 

[goose111874]

On 5/2/2026 at 8:11 PM, Fairlawncat said:

Was talk on here last yr about a Union- Princeton hypothetical football matchup. Probably best for that not to happen for Chris, if a game were played at Princeton. That's the kind of place where it could be a problem. Gotta be careful at Gate City too. Might be different now, but back in the day, GC fans at their place were ok, but also a bit different. You could feel that they had the ability to pop off if the moment called for it.

 

I think most people understand what’s going on locally and who he is.  Not really sure what’s going on with him lately though he seems to have become alot more angry than he used to be.

[Unchained]

18 hours ago, goose111874 said:

I think most people understand what’s going on locally and who he is.  Not really sure what’s going on with him lately though he seems to have become alot more angry than he used to be.

He has and that's my concern. As we age, we deteriorate mentally-just a fact, no way around it, but when you are intellectually disabled, that problem grows exponentially.

[Oopsie]

Time for Union baseball ( to as they say at wise central ) to go in a new direction ! Every year good players without a coach that can develop them to the next level ! Been there to long without much advancement in playoffs.  Buster Taylor and Jim Kelly took PV deep each year into post season without the playoff system in place now that rewards lesser teams with a berth. Only success present coach had was when he took over when Mac Shupe retired and won with his feeder system players. Yes it’s time for Union baseball to go in a new direction ! 

[Unchained]

27 minutes ago, Oopsie said:

Time for Union baseball ( to as they say at wise central ) to go in a new direction ! Every year good players without a coach that can develop them to the next level ! Been there to long without much advancement in playoffs.  Buster Taylor and Jim Kelly took PV deep each year into post season without the playoff system in place now that rewards lesser teams with a berth. Only success present coach had was when he took over when Mac Shupe retired and won with his returning players. Yes it’s time for Union baseball to go in a new direction ! 

Gotta admit as an old JJK guy, it made my eye twitch watching the Bears get mercy ruled and laughing and smiling after the game the other evening. I know kids are different these days, but the intense focus and passion to win just isn't there right now.

[1inStripes]

39 minutes ago, Oopsie said:

Time for Union baseball ( to as they say at wise central ) to go in a new direction ! Every year good players without a coach that can develop them to the next level ! Been there to long without much advancement in playoffs.  Buster Taylor and Jim Kelly took PV deep each year into post season without the playoff system in place now that rewards lesser teams with a berth. Only success present coach had was when he took over when Mac Shupe retired and won with his returning players. Yes it’s time for Union baseball to go in a new direction ! 

This may be as dumb of a comment regarding coaching as the discussion about Greg Testers coaching ability.  Shupe left Kelly in what 2002?  Wyrick won Kellys last title in 08.  At Union, baseball is considered to be the 3rd sport of the boys big 3.  That isn't the case at Battle for instance where it's 1st.  Kelly and PV never had to worry about being 3rd in the school hierarchy for of the big 3 in baseball.  PV it was 2nd to football.  Kelly it was 1st and wasn't close.  

[Unchained]

2 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

This may be as dumb of a comment regarding coaching as the discussion about Greg Testers coaching ability.  Shupe left Kelly in what 2002?  Wyrick won Kellys last title in 08.  At Union, baseball is considered to be the 3rd sport of the boys big 3.  That isn't the case at Battle for instance where it's 1st.  Kelly and PV never had to worry about being 3rd in the school hierarchy for of the big 3 in baseball.  PV it was 2nd to football.  Kelly it was 1st and wasn't close.  

I made the comment after the Battle game the other night that if the Bears played baseball in any district but the M7, they'd probably win it, but with Abingdon and Battle there, it sure is an uphill climb.

[Oopsie]

8 hours ago, Unchained said:

I made the comment after the Battle game the other night that if the Bears played baseball in any district but the M7, they'd probably win it, but with Abingdon and Battle there, it sure is an uphill climb.