Chattanooga Cyclones: Cyclones News

Hunter Hudson received 3 offers this weekend, one from a D-1 School and 2 juco offers and one of our 2013s will likely receive an offer shortly from his practice and game performance last week.

The gate coverage responses have been phenomenal. We greatly appreciate everyone’s help in making this Southern Wood Bat tournaments special for all the teams and parents.

Tanner Moore was hired today to teach math and assist with the baseball program at Heritage High School. This is the job Tanner really wanted out of the several offers he had. Congratulations to Tanner! He will possibly be coaching current Cyclones Lee Gibson, Seth Hickman and Austin Morris at Heritage.

Saturday, June 6, 2012

11:15 Cyclones vs. Chatt. Cherokees

3:45 Cyclones vs. Fury (15)

Sunday based on seeding from 2 pool games.

The Cyclones SM Team finished second in the 18U division of Southern Wood Bat Memorial Invitational played this past weekend at Cleveland State and Lee University. The Cyclones SM defeated the Cyclones K team in game one 11-3 with Jordan Whitmire getting the win with relief from Hunter Hudson when Hudson had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, T.J. Binder 2 doubles, 2 rbi and 2 runs and Cody Rhinehart 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi.

The Cyclones lost to the Excel 18s 8-0 in game 2 when Caffrey and Rhineheart had the only hits and then beat CBC 18s 9-2 with Dakota Hudson throwing a complete game with 10 strikeouts and Binder having 2 hits and 3 rbi, Chris Caffrey 2 hits, and 2 rbi and Matt Allen 2 hits, 3 runs and a rbi.

They defeated Chattanooga South 9-1 when Cody Rhinehart earned the win and T. J. Binder had 3 hits, 2 rbi, Hunter Hudson 2 hits, 2 rbi and 3 sb and Rhinehart, Bobby Towne and Michael Allen each had 2 hits and a rbi.

In the Championship game the Cyclones lost to Excel 18s 6-2 when Cody Rhinehart had a hit, run and rbi, Bobby Towne had a rbi hit and Brent Smith a hit.

Excel entered the season ranked 8^th nationally among 18u travel teams and boasts a roster with 10 players who have signed or committed to D-1 schools including 5 to SEC schools and one of their coaches is former big league closer Todd Jones who saved 342 games in a 15 year career.

Excel 16s defeated the Diamond Simcox 16s 11-0 in 16U Division Championship game.

Friday- 3:00 Coastal Caroline University - Cyclones vs. Diamond Devils 17

Saturday 9:00 Conway Highschool - Cyclones vs. S.E. Stars 18

2:00 Coastal Carolina University- Cyclones vs. Fungo Red Sox 18

Sunday- 8:30 Myrtle Beach Highschool- Cyclones vs. East Coast BB 18

Tuesday

K-Team- Cleveland State 6:00

V Team- Notre Dame 6:00

Wednesday

SM Team- Ooltewah 6:00

V Team- Notre Dame 6:00

B Team- Cloud Springs 6:00

12U Team- Ooltewah Athletic Field 6:00

Thursday

K Team - Cleveland State 6:00

B Team- Notre Dame 6:00

Depending on how Lee does in the World Series there may be a 12U practice on Thursday or Friday.

Southern Wood Bat Memorial Weekend Classic - Gate Coverage

5:30 Cyclones K vs. Cyclones SM 4:15-6:15 Melanie McCoy

8:00 Cyclones V v.s Cyclones B 6:15-8:90 Chad Viars

10:00 CBC 18 vs. Chatt South 8:45-11:15 Jacqueline Caffrey

12:20 Cyclones K vs. Chatt South 11:15-1:30 Mike Allen

2:40 Cyclones SM vs. Excel 17 1:30-3:45 Lori Toth

5:00 CBC 18 vs. Excel 17 3:45-6:00 DeNita Michaels

7:20 Excel 15 vs. Excel 16 6:00-8:00 Penny Rhinehart

11:50 Cyclones V vs. Simcox 16 10:30-12:45 Kimberly Kennedy

2:10 Cyclones B vs. Excel 15 12:45-3:00 Beth Oliver

4:30 Excel 16 vs. Cyclones V 3:00-5:15 Tina Hill

8:30 Cyclones B vs. Excel 16 7:15-9:30 Craig Lancaster

10:50 Excel 15 vs. Simcox 16 9:30-11:45 Cindy Placek

1:10 Excel 16 vs. Simcox 16 11:45-2:00 Jennifer Gaddis

3:30 Cyclones V vs. Excel 15 2:00-4:15 John Garrison

5:50 Cyclones SM vs. Chatt South 4:15-6:15 Andrea Edgemon

CLEVELAND STATE

9:00 Chatt South vs. Excel 17 7:45-10:00 Kippy Van Daesn

11:20 CBC 18 vs. Cyclones K 10:00-12:15 Mary Everett

1:40 CBC 18 vs. Cyclones SM 12:15-2:30 Jeff Smith

4:00 Excel 17 vs. Cyclones K 2:30-4:45 Kat Gibson

12:30 Pool B1 vs. Pool B2 10:45-12:45 Al Tellam

Since everyone on these teams has historically had their own helmets, please make sure you bring them this weekend as we are not furnishing helmets.

Unfortunately, I can’t find enough rooms to block in Carrollton. There is a huge softball tournament going on at the same time as well as 2 big weddings. Bremen is 12 miles from Carrollton. Try to get rooms there or at Best Western or Super 8 in Carrollton.

The SM team will play on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I have been promised the schedule by Saturday. We will post when we have it.

Southern Wood Bat Kennesaw State International-June 8-10, 2012

10:00 Sportstech vs. OTC 18

12:30 Dalton Bombers vs. OTC 18

3:00 Colligate A’s 18 vs. Sportstech

5:30 Collegiate A’s 18 vs. Dalton Bombers

10:00 Cyclones SM vs. Sportstech

12:30 Collegiate A’s 16u vs. Dalton Bombers

3:00 Cyclones SM vs. Collegiate A’s 18

5:30 Collegiate A’s 16 vs. OTC 18

10:00 Cyclones K vs. Collegiate A’s 16

12:30 OTC 18 vs. Collegiate A’s 18

3:00 Sportstech vs. Collegiate A’s 16

5:30 Cyclones K vs. Dalton Bombers

K Team plays at U.T. at 12:00 and 5:00 on Thursday, June 7, 2012

SM Team plays at 2:30 and 5:00 on Sunday, June 10, 2012

Saturday

9:00 Cyclones vs. Fury

12:30 Cyclones vs. Sand Gnats

Sunday

10:45 Cyclones vs. Legends

2:15 Cyclones vs. Tigers

ALL GAMES ARE AT JACK MATTOX

West Southern Wood Bat Georgia International

3:00 Cyclones V vs. Dalton Bombers

5:30 Cyclones K vs. Sportstech

9:20 Cyclones V vs. OTC 18

11:40 Sportstech vs. OTC 18

2:00 Dalton Bombers vs. Cyclones K

4:20 OTC 16 vs. Cyclones V

6:40 OTC 16 vs. Dalton Bombers

8:30 OTC 18 vs. Cyclones K

10:50 OTC 18 vs. Dalton Bombers

1:10 Sportstech vs. Cyclones V

3:30 Cyclones K vs. OTC 16

5:50 Sportstech vs. OTC 16

All games are at West Georgia. The team listed first takes the 1^st base dugout and the team listed 2^nd takes the 3^rd base dugout. Run rule is 8 after 5 innings. If 1 cage - 1^st team takes cage from 1 hour until 30 minutes before game time and the 2^nd team from 30 minutes before until game time. If 2 cages - each team takes one only if both teams present. There will be a gate fee and there will be concessions - NO coolers allowed in stadium.

 PLEASE CONTACT CAROLYN WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012 AT 605-1225 FOR GATE COVERAGE

Good news and bad news. Good news is Brandon Turner has been hired as the paid assistant at Tennessee Tech. Unfortunately, since he is a paid assistant now NCAA rules prohibit him from coaching highschool kids in the summer. Congratulations Brandon! Brandon will be scouting the tournament this weekend for TTU.

On Friday, Lipscomb;s Gray Hutchinson had a hit in a loss to Belmont. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a rbi hit in a win over Tennessee Tech when Garrett Baugh and Zane Leffew both pitched. EKU’s Shaun Ball had a hit and run in a win over Murray State. MTSU’s former Cyclone Hunter Adkins pitched 4 1/3 against WKU in a loss.

On Saturday, Belmont’s Craig had 2 hits, 3 runs and a rbi in a win over Lipscomb. APSU’s Clinard had a hit, 2 runs and rbi in a win over APSU when Zane Leffew threw 2 scoreless IP.

Clinard and Leffew are on the 2012 APSU OVC co-champions. Dylan Craig is on Belmont’s 2012 A-Sun regular season championship team.

12U-Weekend of June 1 &2 at East Tennessee Hospital Tournament in Knoxville.

12U-You must bring a copy of your birth certificate to practice on Wednesday!

Coach Mead- Tuesday, May 22, 2012 Conditioning Class at Noon

Yoga-Tuesday, May 22, 2012 class at 4:45 for 45 minutes

V Team Practice

Monday, May 21, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. at RSA

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 6:00 P.M. at Notre Dame

K Team Practice

Tuesday, May 22, 2012, Cleveland State at 6:00 (combined with SM due to Ooltewah’s BB Banquet)

Thursday, May 24, 2012 Cleveland State at 6:00

SM Team Practice

Tuesday, May 22, 2012- Cleveland State at 6:00

Thursday, May 24, 2012 Ooltewah at 6:00

V team Practice

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Norte Dame at 6:00

B Team Practice

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 & Thursday, May 24, 2012 at Notre Dame at 6:00

12U Practice

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at field behind RSA at 6:00

APSU’s Jon Clinard recently got his 200^th hit at APSU making him only the 12^th player in their history to do so. Jon accomplished this despite a number of injuries in his career. He also is amount the top 10 in career stolen bases.

Sunday, May 20, 2012 -2:00- Field behind RSA

Wednesday, May 23, 2012-6:00-Field behind RSA

YOGA-10:00 A.M.

Mead Conditioning- Noon

We have got a "Cyclone-ONLY" super discounted rate of $89.00/night at the Troy Marriott-by far the best hotel in town. It is located literally 3 minutes from the field and you can walk to the Ruby Tuesdays and several fast food places. Call 334-566-0540 and ask for a Cyclone room.

They will hold this rate and the blocked rooms until June 10. The Troy schedule will go up next week. You can always call and book Friday and Saturday now and if you only need one night drop it as long as you do it by June 10. Once the schedule goes to the other teams they typically try to get in this hotel.

Thursday, May 17, 2012- both SM Team and K Team at Cleveland State at 6:00- disregard prior posted times.

12U Practice- there will be a Sunday afternoon practice most likely at the field behind RSA. Check back later for final details.

Saturday, May 19, 2012- Ooltewah High School

B Team Practice 11:00

V Team Practice 1:00

Sunday, May 20, 2012- Cleveland State

K Team Practice 2:00

SM Team Practice 3:30

Pants- everyone must have a pair of plain white and gray pants no stripes or piping. Coach K has a limited number of the best Southland pants from sizes 30-38, cost is wholesale price of $38.00 for pants that retail for $55-$65 per pair. Call, text or email Coach K if you want any.

Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson was named A-Sun Player of the week for his performance last week. Congratulations Gray!

On Friday, Lipscomb’s Gary Hutchinson had 2 doubles and 2 runs in a 7-6 win over Jacksonville. Jon Clinard had 2 rbi hit in a win over Moorehead State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a rbi and Garrett Baugh took the loss despite yielding only 1 run in 4 IP against Eastern Kentucky when Shaun Ball had 2 hits a run and rbi for the victors. Lee’s Cameron Brewster had a rbi hit in a loss to Missouri Baptist.

On Saturday, Hutchinson had 2 hits and 2 runs in a 6-1 win over Jacksonville game 1 and in game 2 he doubled and homered to drive in 3 and score twice in a 6-2 win. In a game 2 loss to FGL Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits, a run and rbi.

APSU’s Jon Clinard had 4 hits, a sb, 3 runs and 4 rbi in a game 1 win over Moorehead State and a hit, 2 runs, sac fly and rbi in a game 2 win.

In a game 3 win over TTU EKU’s Shaun Ball had a hit. Lee’s Brewster had a rbi hit in an elimination game win over Avila in the Regional tournament. Brewster also had a hit in another elimination game win over Missouri Baptist to set up a Championship game on Monday for a World Series berth.

On Sunday, Dylan Craig had a hit in a win over FGC. Cody Commons ended his season hitting .370 with 9 sb for Cleveland State and Derek Shugart hit .313 with 9 sb. Lee’s James Fowlkes is hitting .345 with 19 rbi, 33 runs, 9 sb and a .459 ob% and Taylor Comford .293 with a .446 ob%.

Cameron Brewster is hitting .286 coming off of an injury with some big late season rbi. Belmont’s Dylan Craig is hitting .303 with 32 rbi and 27 runs and a .379 ob%. APSU’s Jon Clinard is hitting .280 with 38 runs and 33 rbi while Zane Leffew is 2-1 in 24 2/3 IP. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens is hitting .386 with 17 homers, 43 runs and 50 rbi and 720 slugging %. Garrett Baugh has a team leading 4.19 E.R.A. in 43 IP. MTSU’s former Cyclone Hunter Adkins is 5-6 in 70 IP.

Coach Mead has had several people call wanting to schedule lessons that are part of the Cyclones package who believe you get 3 individual lessons-this is incorrect. Please carefully read the explanation of how these lessons work above- it is fully explained how they work. In short, you get 3 if you schedule group sessions of an hour with 3 other hitters or pitchers, 2 if scheduled with one other player and 1 if you schedule a session by yourself. These are available for 14U, V, K & SM team members starting May 15, 2012.

Coach K has group times available on Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Group hitting times: 11:00 & 12:00

If you want to hit in a group talk to someone to share a time or if you want to get an hour long single session and then reserve by calling Coach K. 309-4995.

4005 Poplar Springs Road

Ringgold, GA 30736

Directions from I-75:

Take Battlefield Parkway (2A) exit and go west towards Fort Oglethorpe. Go 1.1 miles; turn left at the 1st light onto Three Notch Road. Travel down Three Notch for 2.8 miles (go straight at the 3-way stop beside DJ's Country Store) and take the next right onto Poplar Springs Road. HMS will be on your left with the baseball fields at the back of the school.

Only V & K teams are practicing at Cleveland State today. There will be postings later today or tomorrow regarding all other team practices for the week- we are dealing with field condition and other issues.

Thursday, May 17, 2012 at Cleveland State at 6:00 P.M.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Cleveland State at 5:45

Southern Wood Bat Memorial Weekend Classic

5:30 Cyclones K vs. Cyclones SM

8:00 Cyclones V v.s Cyclones B

10:00 CBC 18 vs. Chatt South

12:20 Cyclones K vs. Chatt South

2:40 Cyclones SM vs. Excel 17

5:00 CBC 18 vs. Excel 17

7:20 Excel 15 vs. Excel 16

9:30 Cyclones B vs. Simcox 16

12:50 Cyclones V vs. Simcox 16

3:10 Cyclones B vs. Excel 15

4:30 Excel 16 vs. Cyclones V

8:30 Cyclones B vs. Excel 16

10:50 Excel 15 vs. Simcox 16

1:10 Excel 16 vs. Simcox 16

3:30 Cyclones V vs. Excel 15

5:50 Cyclones SM vs. Chatt South

9:00 Chatt South vs. Excel 17

11:20 CBC 18 vs. Cyclones K

1:40 CBC 18 vs. Cyclones SM

4:00 Excel 17 vs. Cyclones K

10:00 Pool A1 vs. Pool A2

12:30 Pool B1 vs. Pool B2

Cyclones SM Cyclones V

Cyclones K Cyclones B

Chatt South Simcox 16

CBC Excel 15

Excel 17 Excel 16

First K Team Practice - Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 5:30 at Cleveland State. We still have vast majority of our players playing.

First SM Team Practice- Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 5:30 at Cleveland State- K Team practice is at 6:45. We still have vast majority of this team’s players still playing.

All teams will practice next week. 12U, V & 14U will be advised of schedule at this weekend’s practice.

Jeff Burke a/k/a The Burkambino has once again pitched masterfully while also displaying his prodigious power. In a 5-3 win Jeff struck out 9, gave up 2 bb and 1 earned run while belting a grand slam and driving in the other run with a double. In 39 IP this spring he has given up 3 earned runs. He sat 87-88 for all 7 innings touching 90 several times in front of pro scouts.

Bobby Towne committed today to continue his education and baseball career at Cleveland State Community College. Bobby has been a huge part of our success over the last 3 years and Vickie and Doug have been tireless supporters of the program. Bobby has had a tremendous senior season at Walker Valley on the mound and as a lead off hitter and outfielder. He will join Chris Caffrey as a 2013 Cougar. Congratulations Bobby!

This entry has nothing to do with baseball and if you aren’t an animal lover you will not understand the sentiments expressed. This is about a posthumous tribute to a special member of our family.

Tanner was our 11 year old lab- mix family member who we raised from the age of about 6 weeks. God sent him and his sister, Goldie, to us about a year after we had lost our cat of 18 years-Mitten- a devastating loss in itself.

The first time I saw Tanner and his sister Goldie they were on our porch in a box when I returned home from fall baseball practice. Carolyn had heard something crying between our house and the creek bed that splits the front of our property. When she went to the front door to go out to check a mother collie-mix and several pups ran off the porch and away from the house. Carolyn tried to get them to stop so she could feed them, as it was obvious someone had deserted them by their appearance, but they were scared and kept traveling.

As she started the 250 foot or so walk from the front of the house toward the creek where she thought the crying was coming from a rust colored muscular lab mix pup came out from behind a tree and walked toward her and then led her back to the tree where a very terrified, very small golden colored female puppy lay shivering. This was Goldie, the obvious runt of the litter who was exhausted and dehydrated and simply couldn’t go any further. It was obvious that Tanner had refused to leave her and had chosen to stay behind to protect her. That was the first hint we had of what kind of special courage he had as well as his trust in people in general and Carolyn in particular.

Over the next 5 years he was always his sister’s protector. He was not only amazingly strong, muscular and athletic but he had a bigger than life personality, a smile that would melt your heart and despite his size and growing age he stayed a puppy in all his actions. He could jump incredibly high, reach full speed in a couple of strides and stop on a dime and did all of this non-stop. At about 5 years old he tore his ACL on his right rear leg. Oscar Wilson, our vet, told us that because of his breed and abnormally muscular build it was just a matter of time before he tore the other rear leg ACL. Within a year he did. He tore the right leg again several years later. He struggled with arthritis and mobility in his left knee joint especially after the 2^nd surgery on that leg, and it got to where he had very little cartilage in the joint and he had to have periodic injections.

If Oscar Wilson wasn’t such a great vet, and Carolyn had not made it her daily primary priority to take care of him he would never have lived 11 years, much less 11 glorious and unforgettable years.

Even though he had these limitations, he always saw himself not only as Goldie’s protector but also as the protector of our house and his domain. Every night when we let him out before we put him to bed he would "walk the line" of the fenced area on the side of our house we had for them to play in. It didn’t matter if he had to do it on 3 legs he had to walk that fence line to make sure no intruders were in or near before he was ready to rest for the night.

Somehow, he overcame each of these setbacks, even though it took months each time for him to do so. He never walked completely without a limp after the 1^st surgery and we were scared to death he would not make it back to mobility after the 2^nd and 3^rd ACL’s, but through his love of life, courage and Carolyn’s constant nursing he did it. There were other health scares and he increasingly required more medications, injections etc. to maintain a normal life, but he enjoyed life to his fullest capabilities every day. He adapted to the loss of his back leg strength by using his front legs and upper body. He would pull himself to his feet with his front legs and chest. His chest became massive. He would actually do things with his front legs and balancing his body that you only see gymnasts do.

In early April of this year he became lethargic and very lifeless-highly unusual for him even when he was coming off of his surgeries. He first had severe pancreatitis and overcame that and then he had Cancer surgery last Wednesday to remove a Spleen with various tumors which had grown to 4 times its normal size. He made it through that and had the best day he had in 5 or 6 years on Thursday. He was carrying his stuffed animals around the 2 rooms we had him isolated in, two and three at a time, and giving them to us and even crinkling his top lip and trying to talk to us which he only did when he really felt good. Him making it through that surgery and having such a great day on Thursday were 2 of the best days of our lives. We were ecstatic and so happy for him that he felt so good. I felt like I was glowing inside and I fell certain he felt that way was as well.

Just one example of his personality out of a myriad of potential ones occurred when we took him home from the cancer surgery. Two of the techs pulled us aside and said he sat almost non stop with one of his toys, a stuffed purple hippo, we had left in his cage the night before surgery when we visited him, holding it between his front paws and with his head resting on it looking straight at the entry door, waiting on us to pick him up. The techs said they had never seen an animal do that before. He knew from his prior surgeries which door we would come through and he was simply waiting on us to come to take him home so he could give us the toy- a game he loved to play.

We always really looked forward to Christmas morning and Tanner opening his toys-stuffed animals. He loved getting new stuffed animals especially ones with squeakers which he would have torn out within the first hour. He loved these animals so much we seldom threw one away. We accumulated them in a container in our den by the fireplace. Every day he would go to that container at least once and search through it until he got the one, two or three he wanted that day. We never figured out how he decided which one had to be played with that day.

On this past Friday, he suddenly got very ill and had a stroke. Before we could get him to Oscar he died in the back of our Suburban in Carolyn’s arms. He summoned up the energy to raise his head one last time and look into Carolyn’s eyes before he was gone.

Despite all he went through he never had 1 day where he didn’t brighten our lives. His inner strength, zest for life, and the way he charged through life a constant ball of energy, (he was ADHD to the max and obsessive compulsive traits which just endeared him to us all the more) always smiling and always loving us no matter what he was dealing with made him a constant source of inspiration, amazement, endearment, enjoyment and enlightenment for us.

Many of the Cyclone players and parents and/or coaches over the years knew him well from visits to the house or meetings in preparation to loading up to go to tournaments or from housesitting with he and Goldie if Carolyn and I were gone. He always met every visitor at the door with a smile and wagging tail. Those he already knew were often met with whines of excitement as well. A lot of them had him in their prayers over the last week and we are very thankful for their support of him and us.

If you love animals, especially those who you truly make a part of your family, the genuinely special ones can actually change your lives for the good and you can learn from them. Our lives will forever be better because he was in ours and he gave us far more than we ever were able to give him despite how much we loved him and yes, spoiled him. Rest in peace TanTan- Our memories of and love for you will endure for the rest of our lives in our minds and in our hearts.

4:00 Coach K’s conditioning (text by 4:00 P.M. on Saturday if you are attending 423-309-4995)

If your season is done and you are not a senior, you need to get on Yoga and conditioning ASAP! If you are in the playoffs and your coaches don’t want you to come- don’t. We understand their concerns about wearing you out and/or injury. However, please understand that you must get these in as soon as your season is done by attending every available session once the season is done if you expect to play.

10:00 YOGA

Noon- Coach Mead’s conditioning

Initial dates and times for these will be posted soon. Please read postings above to make sure you know how it works. DO NOT CALL ASKING HOW IT WORKS-READ WHAT HAS BEEN POSTED!

Yes-we know it is Mother’s Day but this is the only day the coaches can be there due to Lee’s schedule.

Wear long pants! This team will be referred to from now on as the "B" team.

Dakota Hudson has committed to Mississippi State. Dakota also had an offer from Kennesaw State University and had been recruited by Troy, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee, UAB, Jacksonville State, Lee and others.

Dakota becomes the 2^nd 2013 Cyclone to already commit to a D-1 school joining Zach Thompson who previously committed to Tennessee Tech.

Dakota was recruited by not only Butch Thompson from the Bulldogs but also the Head Coach Cohen. Coach Thompson has previously recruited several Cyclones in the past while at Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State. Congratulations Dakota!

Coach K is going to take a few days hiatus on the Pro, College and Highschool updates. TK

Coach Steven Brown’s college career came to an end last week but not before he helped lead Bryan College to a school record 41 wins. Coach Brown is one of the finest young coaches in this region and he is an even better person and we are very lucky to have him coaching our 14U with Justin Higdon this summer. TK

Very few 15-17s have done their Yoga and training. We do not want anyone to interfere with their school ball performance, but you need to get on theses as soon as you are finished in school ball as no one will be allowed to play until they have completed the 3 and 3 sessions.

Coach Mead is out of town- no Saturday conditioning. Yoga at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday and Coach K conditioning at 4 on Sunday. (Call 423-309-4995 to reserve a slot) 12U team practice at RSA at 5. Coach K and Coach Comford will be there.

Wes Hodges is hitting .262 in AA Richmond. Ryan Casteel is hitting .342 in lo A Asheville. Kyler Burke has a 1.71 E.R.A. in 21 IP in Lo A Peoria. Cory Gearrin has a .61 E.R.A. in 14 2/3 IP for AAA Gwinnett. Mike Minor is 2-2 for a Atlanta Braves with a 4.68 E.R.A. Mitchell Boggs has a 1.59 E.R.A. in 11 1/3 IP for the St. Louis Cardinals. Everett Teaford is 0-1 with a 5.73 E.R.A. for the K.C. Royals. Ryan Fraser has a 1-38 E.R.A. in 13 IP for High A Port St. Lucie.

Super-sophomore Jake Wyrick carried a no hitter for 5 1/3 IP in the first round of the 5-AAA District Tournament in a win for Cleveland over Rhea County. Jake struck our 14 and ended up with a 4 hitter. Since Jake made some mechanical adjustments about 3 weeks ago his K-BB ratio has been outstanding.

Hunter Hudson has been chosen as the 2012 7-AA Baseball Player Of The Year. Also, on the All-District team are Dakota Hudson, Nick Chambers and Shelden Brogden.

TTU’s Zach Stephens has been added to the 60 man 2012 Mid-Season Golden Spike’s Watch List. This is a very prestigious list from which 2012's top amateur baseball player is chosen. Coincidentally, TTU’s assistant and former Cyclone Brandon Turner was on the list while at Mississippi State. Another former Cyclone, Wes Hodges was also on the list while at Georgia Tech. The list is prepared by USA Baseball.

There will be a Sunday practice for the 12U team. Check back on Thursday for the time and location.

Due to a family illness, Coach K’s trip has been cancelled for this upcoming week and his conditioning class is back on at 4:00 on Sunday. Coach K’s Saturday and Sunday lessons are also back on.

Hunter Hudson is hitting .505 with 47 runs, 27 rbi, 7 homers and 50 sb in 29 games for Coach Simmons at Sequatchie County.

Chris Caffrey has signed with Cleveland State. Chris is enjoying a great senior season as he is hitting .438 with a .540 ob% with a .613 slugging %. He and Bobby Towne were instrumental in leading Walker Valley to the 2012 5-AAA district championship. Chris had a good fall for the Cyclones and we expect him to be an integral part of our summer of 2012 success. Congratulations to Chris!

Coach Tanner Moore who graduates from Lee next week will be available for group hitting sessions and individual sessions starting May 12. We want the V team players to book their group sessions with him as he will be the hitting coach for that team that team this summer.. He was a great 18U and Collegiate Cyclone player who started as a freshman at ETSU, played at UT and then was an All-American at Lee. He will coach with Coach Vinson on the V team. We expect to have an announcement soon about what school he will be teaching and coaching at this fall.

Former 18U and Collegiate Cyclone Star Blake McDade is now available for hitting lessons at RSA. You can contact him at 505-6183 to set up lessons. Blake was an all-conference player at MTSU and was drafted by the Rockies. He played 2 years professionally. He will be available in some evenings and some weekend hours.

Coach Eskew has made a remarkable progress in the last few days. He is eating better and walking more and the headaches are virtually gone. He even drove for the first time on Wednesday. David continues to vow that he will on the mound again next season at Lee. It appears everyone’s prayer for his, comparatively healing, quick recovery are being answered.

Brandon Turner, a former highschool and collegiate All- American, as well as a career minor league .300 hitter, will now be the 3^rd base coach and hitting instructor for the K team this summer. Brandon is volunteer assistant coach at Tennessee Tech and was on of the very best Cyclones 18U and Collegiate Cyclones players ever. He will also do hitting lessons at RSA on Thursday this summer. We are very pleased and lucky to have him this summer. It will be Brandon’s second stride as a Cyclone’s coach as he coached the 16U team to a very successful 2010 summer season. We encourage the K team players to book their group sessions with Coach Turner or Coach K. Some additional announcements regarding exciting coaching additions are upcoming soon.

Coach Travis Simmons is going to take a break from coaching as he takes on a new full time second shift job for Coca-Cola. Due to the schedule conflict between his new job and practices and games he is on Sabbatical at least until he builds seniority to get to 1^st shift. We will miss him greatly as he has been a very valuable coach and instructor for several years, but we wish him the best in his new job.

Coach K is pleased to announce that Coach Butch Thompson, Mississippi State’s pitching coach and recruiter will be the featured speaker at the 2012 Annual Cyclones Award Banquet. Butch has been a pitching coach and recruiting coach at 3 different SEC schools and has spoken at more Cyclones banquets then any other coach. He is a dynamic speaker who is in very high demand nationally. We are very, very lucky to have him agree to speak again.

Everyone on the 14U, V, K & SM team gets 3 group hitting or pitching sessions at RSA as part of their Cyclone package. You can do these in groups of 3 for an hour. You must book them directly with the instructor by text or call. You can utilize these starting May 15, 2012. We will post times for various instructors and their numbers so you can book these sessions. We will have set instructors for particular teams/age groups. If you book a time you will be charged for it and it will be counted against your three. Group times will be posted a week in advance. First come, first serve. If you book during an hour and you are the only one to book that hour it counts as your 3 group sessions. If you book an hour when only 2 book that hour, it will count as 1 1/2 sessions. A session where there are 3 present counts as 1 session. Your total "sessions" may not exceed 3.

Sunday- April 29, 2012

Coach K Conditioning is moved to 4:00 P.M. due to him returning from out of town on Sunday. Coach K hitting on Sunday- Henshaw 2:30; Oliver 3:00 and Witts-3:30. Call or text Coach K 423-309-4995 to confirm attendance.

Sunday- April 29, 2012

12U 1^st practice at RSA at 5:00-6:00. Coach K and Coach Mead will be running the practice.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Coach Mead’s conditioning class at 12:00 (call or text him at 316-3649 to confirm attendance). Coach K’s Saturday hitting is cancelled as he will out of town- call or text to reschedule. See above. Yoga at 10:00 a.m. at RSA .

Saturday & Sunday, May 5, 2012 & May 6, 2012

Coach K’s hitting and conditioning will not be held but will resume on Saturday, May 12, 2012 and Sunday, May 13, 2012. Coach Mead’s conditioning class will be at 1:00 on Saturday as usual and Yoga at 10:00 as usual.

14U’s first practice will be at RSA at 4:00 on Sunday, May 13, 2012 and there will be a 12U practice on that date at 5:00 at RSA.

First K & SM Team practices on May 12, 2012 and May 13, 2012 at locations to be announced. They will be in the afternoon. Only those whose school seasons are finished are allowed to attend. Do not come if your school team is still playing- TSSAA & Georgia rules prohibit participation while your season is ongoing.

Lee’s James Fowlkes was selected by the Coaches of the SSAC to the All-Freshman team. Congrats to James!

EKU’s Shaun Ball had 2 hits and a run in win over Marshall as he returns from a long injury rehab.

Coach K has a limited number of 29,30, 31 inch and 33 inch Louisville Slugger Pro Stock bats available at last year’s prices. Please contact him ASAP by test or email if you want one. Also, there are a limited number of Champro Batting Gloves and Akadema Batting Gloves of various sizes at very discounted rates.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 3 hits and 2 runs in a win over Western Kentucky. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a homer, single, 2 runs and 2 rbi in a win over Tennessee which has now lost mid-week to APSU, ETSU and MTSU in 2012. Tennessee Tech’s Garrett Baugh threw 2 scoreless IP and Zach Stephens had his 16^th homer, singled and had his 5^th Sac fly of the season to score 2 and drive in 3 in a loss to MTSU. Cleveland State beat Vol State 7-1 when Derek Shugart had a 2 rbi hit, Randall Coley had a hit and form Cyclone Deandre Allen had a homer, 2 singles a sb, 2 runs and 2 rbi.

Walker Valley’s Bobby Towne continued his incredible run of not giving up an earned run in improving to 7-0 with a shutout of McMinn County when fellow Cyclones Chris Caffrey, Bradley Smith and Josh Poole carried the majority of the hitting load. The WV trio also had a good hitting game on Tuesday. The Allen twins continue to lead a resurgent South Pittsburg team on the mound and at the plate and the young Kennedy twins continue to get their hits as Meigs County’s young players are starting to win games. Ooltewah’s Jared Ryan has had a very good back to back outings for the Owls and has made steady progress through the last summer and fall and now throughout the spring. Bobby Towne should certainly get strong consideration for the area player of the year.

The 14U and 12U playing in Birmingham on the 9^th and 10^th of June and not the 8^th. Plase correct your schedules accordingly.

On Friday, Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 bb and 2 runs in a loss to Kennesaw State. Gray Hutchinson had a hit in a loss to Stetson. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits, a run and rbi in a win over Eastern Kentucky when Shaun Ball had a pinch hit appearance walk-Ball has been injured and is trying to get back on the field. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits, a rbi and a run in a loss to SEMO. Lee’s (48-8-1) Taylor Comford had 6 putouts and a bb in a win over Belhaven.

On Saturday, Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits, 3 rbi and a run in a win over KSU. He also had an outfield assist. Lipcomb’s Hutchinson had a hit in a loss to Stetson. EKU’s Shaun Ball had 2 bb and scored twice in a win over APSU. TTU’s Zach Stephens had 2 doubles, 2 bb and 2 runs in a win over Southeast Missouri. In a game 2 loss to Jackson State, Derek Shugart had 2 hits and 2 runs and in a game 3 loss had 2 hits again.

On Sunday, Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits and drove in 2 of the Bruins 3 runs in a loss to KSU. APSU’s Clinard had a hit, run and rbi in a win over EKU. Stephens had a hit in a loss to SEMO.

Craig is hitting .304 with a .384 ob% with 23 runs and 30 rbi and 5 outfield assists. Stephens is hitting .429 with 15 homers, .805 slugging % and .528 ob% and Garrett Baugh is 2-2 in 31 2/3 IP with a team 2^nd best E.R.A. of 4.83. Lee’s Fowlkles is hitting .357 with a 457 ob%, 9 sb, 33 runs and 19 rbi and Taylor Comford .278 with a .443 ob%. MTSU’s Adkins is 5-4 with a 4.04 E.R.A. Cody Commons leads Cleveland State in butting average at .370 and Derek Shugart is hitting .330 with 28 runs and 9 sb.

In a couple of weeks we will start to post the schedules for the tournaments we host. At that time it is important that parents call to get gates to cover as per your agreement to do so. Because their will be different teams at different tournaments it is very important that the priority established below as to who needs to sign up from which teams be followed. We sill need parents form every team to sign-up at all tournaments, but we want more from the priority listed teams. If, you have not covered at least 1 gate by PG for your age group, then that player will not get to play. Otherwise we aren’t being fair to all the parents who do their share and especially those who do more than their share.

1. Memorial Weekend - 1) *B Team 2) SM Team 3) V Team 4) K Team

2. West Georgia Tournament- 1) K Team 2) V Team

3. KSU Tournament - 1) V Team 2) SM Team 3) K Team

4. Tennessee Tech Tournament - 1) SM Team 2) K Team 3) V Team

5. Southern Wood Bat World Series - 1)B Team 2) SM Team 3) V Team

* B Team was formerly designated as 14U Team

Great News! David will not need surgery based on last weeks MRI. So, he should have a much swifter and less painful recovery.

David has had a rough go of it but seems to be coming out of the woods. He is close to eating jell-O now and has had a dental procedure done which is helping relieve his pain. His swelling has subsided and his bite is aligning much better. Hopefully, he will not need facial surgery- more on that Monday. His family and David wanted me to thank everyone for their concern, support and prayers.

Walker Valley’s sophomore Bradley Smith has started to get substantial PT and is taking advantage of his opportunities with several multi-hit and/or multi-rbi games. Ringgold’s super sophomore Logan Baldwin earned a win against Ridgeland. Notre Dames Rich Chambers continues his break out season and Sheldon Brogden has gotten hot again. Ooltewah’s Jared Ryan continues his improvement on the mound as he got a complete game win over Coffey County. Rhea’s Hunder McClendon is having a break out year with the bat as well.

It is coming to the time of year where the best hitters and players typically rise to the top as there is more on the line at tournament time and the competition gets stiffer once teams get into the region. Good luck to all of our guys-this is when it is fun for those who really like to compete.

This is the 3^rd, and next to last notice on summer of 2012 final payments being past due. Unless you have made other specific arrangements the next notice will be the last before spots are released.

Yoga is at 10:00 again on Saturday and Coach Mead’s class is at 12:00 for 12s & 14s and at 1:00 for 15 and up on Saturday and Coach K’s class on Sunday is at 1:00. If you must come to a class outside your age group time on Saturday to make it fit your schedule it is ok. Please text Coach Mead 423-316-3649 or Coach K 423-309-4995 if you are attending giving your name and if to Coach Mead which time you are attending. If any class is cancelled due to lack of sign-ups (doubtful but we want to cover every contingency) it will be posted on the web, but only if cancelled; so, that there will not be another posting that a particular class is still scheduled.

Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson continues to swing a hot bat as he had 2 hits in a loss to Western Kentucky. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had his 15^th homer and a double to drive in 3 in a win over Belmont when Garrett Baugh pitched a scoreless 2/3 IP. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a rbi in a loss to MTSU.

Though April 15 Zach Stephens is tenth in the country in batting average at .431, tied for 3^rd in homers with 14, is tied for 29^th in rbi at 39, and is second in slugging % at .808. Dylan Craig is tied for 24^th in Sac flies with 5.

Cleveland’s Jake Wyrick has sorted out some mechanical issues and struck out 15 in a 1 1 hitter against McMinn last night. Fifteen strikeouts in a game is rare in highschool.

Dakota Hudson has really hit his stride his last 3 outings. Monday he struck out 14 in 5 IP against district co-leader Grundy County. Grundy’s only hit was a bunt late in the game- really? As an aside, Hunter Hudson stole 2 more bases and is on pace to get 50 on the season, a rare feat.

Walker Valley’s Bobby Towne continued his incredible senior season Monday night with a 2 hit shutout of District 5- AAA pre-season favorite Soddy-Daisy. Bobby also had 2 hits in the 5-0 win. Bobby is the perfect example of an individual who has made himself into a player. His success this spring is no surprise to Cyclones as he continually shutdown one top elite team after another this past summer and had a very good fall. Bobby has a perfect 0 E.R.A. on the spring and is among Walker Valley’s top hitters as well. His change-up, which he acquired while working with Coach Mead, is as good as you will see in high school anywhere- outlawed in 6 states!

We have an incomplete 12u player email notice list. Please email Tabitha at thamilton@kkflawfirm.com with your email address and player name to insure that everyone timely receives any email notices and communications on the Cyclones 12u team. Thanks.

We had a few more parents at Yoga and 25 players which was great. However, as we suspected player’s the Yoga class revealed that flexibility, balance and core strength is generally not close to where it should be, but we will help get it there.

In the 2 conditioning classes we had 26 players combined. As a general rule flexibility, core strength and upper body strength were substandard for what we expect. The agility and quickness, because some of those who participated had worked with Coach Mead previously on some agility/quickness classes, was generally pretty good. Coach K’s class, which is a little more focused on flexibility, core and upper body strength and less on agility and quickness, exposed a lot of people who need a stronger core and more upper body strength. We had a few people report being sick after the conditioning classes which is typical for a lot of first timers.

Get your classes in when you can without interfering with your school performance. It is especially important that the 12-15s try to find time to get these in as soon as you can as those teams practices will start at RSA about the 1^st full weekend in May and will include a conditioning component that is separate from the pre-practice sessions. If you haven’t gotten into decent shape by then you are going to be exhausted before the skill portion of the practices are over.

Mitchell Boggs- St. Louis Cardinals- MLB

Everett Teaford- K.C. Royals- MLB

Mike Minor- Atlanta Braves -MLB

Cory Gearrin- Atlanta Braves-AAA Gwinnett

Wes Hodges- San Francisco - AA Richmond

Kyler Burke- Chicago Cubs - LoA Peoria

Ryan Casteel- Colorado Rockies- LoA Asheville

On Saturday, Mike Minor threw a gem for the Braves yielding one unearned run in 7 1/3 IP. Also on Saturday, Mitchell Boggs earned a hold in a scoreless IP for the Cardinals dropping his E.R.A. to 1.41. On Friday, Everett Teaford threw 4 scoreless IP for the Royals.

In the minors, Ryan Casteel is hitting .389 at Asheville. Cory Gearrin is 1-0 with a 0 E.R.A. at Gwinnett. Ryan Fraser has a 2.04 E.R.A. at Port St. Lucie. Wes Hodges is hitting .286 with a homer and 3 doubles at Richmond. Kyler Burke has a 1.17 E.RA. in 7 2/3 IP. All these stats are through Saturday’s games.

On Friday, Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a rbi hit and hbp in a game 1 loss to Mercer. Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a rbi double and scored in a win over North Florida. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit, run, and rbi in a loss to Murray State. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins earned a win with 7 IP against Troy. Cleveland State’s Randall Coleyhad 3 hits and 2 rbi, Derek Shugart 2 hits and a run, and former Cyclone Deandre Allen 2 hits in a loss to Walters State. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a hit and run in a win over AUM.

On Saturday, APSU’s Jon Clinard homered and singled in a win over Murray State. TTU’s Stephens had 2 hits, a run and a rbi in a loss to SIU Edwardsville. Cleveland States Deandre Allen had a rbi hit in a game 2 loss to Walters and in a game 3 loss Allen had 2 hits. In a game 3 win over AUM. Lee’s (42-8-1) Taylor Comford had a rbi hit and James Fowlkes had a hit and 2 runs. Fowlkes, a freshman, is second on the team in batting average at .377 with 33 runs, 19 rbi, 9 sb and a .478 ob%. Comford is hitting .294 with a .455 ob%.

On Sunday Lipcomb’s Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits and the lone run in a 6-1 loss to University of North Florida. APSU’s Clinard had a hit and 2 runs in a win over Murray State and Stephens had a hit and run in a Tech’s win over SIU Edwardsville. Stephens is hitting .431 with 14 homers, a .808 slugging % with 39 rbi and 31 runs. Craig is hitting .304 with a .385 ob% with 23 rbi and 19 runs. Cody Commons is hitting .370 for Cleveland State, Derek Shugart is hitting .314 and form Cyclone Deandre Allen .292 with 24 sb. Garrett Baugh is 2-2 with a team 3^rd best ERA of 4.94 in 31 IP.

This is the second reminder that everyone’s final payment is due.

If you plan to attend conditioning on Saturday (Coach Mead - 316-3649) or Sunday (Coach K- 309-4995) please send a text. Anytime there are less than 4 per class committed there will not be a class. Check web tomorrow for possible cancellation announcement on Sunday’s class. The Saturday class this week is made. If you can not reach David today it is because his cell phone has been stolen. He is getting a replacement.

Lee Gibson is now hitting .381 with a .584 ob% percentage in the toughest AAA Region in the State of Georgia. Hunter Hudson now has 30 sb in 17 games. Drew Toth now has 20 sb. Drew turns 18 today! Jeff Burke hit a homer and double in the first game he pitched stricking out 9 and yielding 2 hits.

Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson homered and doubled to drive in 4 in a win over UTM. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 bb in a loss to Vandy when Will Cooper had a bb and sb. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a rbi hit and Garrett Baugh pitched a scoreless IP in a win over Alabama State. APSU’S Zane Leffew threw a scoreless IP in a win over MTSU.

As many of you may have heard, David Eskew was hit in the face by a line drive while pitching for Lee yesterday. David was transferred to Erlanger’s trauma unit last night. Preliminarily it appears he has a concussion, several facial fractures, a broken nose and several chipped teeth. Dave Mason, a former Cyclone and Lee teammate of David’s, was at the hospital along with David’s parents, Pam Fromm (whose so Chad played on the Cyclones and at Walker Valley with David), and Steven Brown (another Cyclone and Walker Valley teammate) as well as many other concerned friends, teammates etc. Coach K saw David at Erlanger today and he is in good spirits and his facial swelling has subsided substantially. It is hoped he will not require maxillofacial surgery, but that is yet to be decided. The first thing he asked Coach K was how his 12u Team was looking. He also emphatically stated he intends to return to the mound next year at Lee. There is no person on the face of the earth who is more honest, genuine, kind and thoughtful than David. Please put him in your prayers. We will keep you posted on David’s recovery.

Final 14U 2012 Summer

We will probably also add a couple of doubleheaders in midweek against the V Team.

* For selected 14u players to help during the week.

Parents are encouraged to attend the Yoga classes if they want to exercise with their players. We have increasingly had more parents coming and it is a great thing to see. Yoga not only increases flexibility, strength and endurance but also aids in digestion, stress reduction and improving sleep patterns. If you have knee or back pain it is highly likely that you can substantially reduce it by practicing Yoga 2 or 3 times per week. Coach K has lost 22 pounds and Carolyn 16 due in large part to practicing Yoga and Pilates and Carolyn conditioning with Coach Mead. As an example of strength increases, Carolyn can hold a plank for over 4 minutes, most of our players can’t do two minutes. Coach K can do 80 pushups in 80 seconds, most of our players can’t do 50. Yoga and conditioning is not only good for your health when done in a group it is fun.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and run in a win over Tennessee Tech when Zach Stephens had a hit. Lee’s Taylor Comford had a hit in a loss to Bryan when Steven Brown had a hit and run for the Lions.

Yoga- Saturday, April 14, 2012- at 10:00-11:00

Conditioning- Saturday, April 14, 2012-1:00-2:00 (Mead) call or text 316-3649 to confirm attendance

Conditioning-Sunday, April 15, 2012- 1:00-2:00 (Coach K) call 309-4995 to confirm attendance

Rhea’s Hunter McClendon has been hitting well over .400 the last few weeks as have been Chris Caffrey, Drew Toth and T. J. Binder. The Allen twins are both hot with the bat now as is Jake Stone. Zach Thompson, Jackson McClain, Bobby Towne and Dakota Hudson continue to threw well every time out and Drew Williams threw a shutout against Sevier County. Further South, Austin Morris and Lee Gibson continue to get timely rbi hits in helping Heritage to a very good record in a tough region and Logan Baldwin is really hitting it well at Ringgold. Hunter Hudson continues to lead the area in stolen bases by a large margin. Nick Chambers is having a break out season offensively at Notre Dame. Among younger Cyclones seeing varsity action Tyler Reed is pitching very well and the Kennedy twins are both throwing and hitting it very well and Corey Edgemon at McMinn, Kaleb Hill, and Nick Gaddis are all getting varsity PT.

SM Cyclones Hotel for Myrtle Beach, S.C. 843-347-9292 $89.99/ night Double non-smoking - ask for Cyclones rooms Thursday-Sunday (June 3). Comfort Inn & Suites 2480 U.S. Highway 501 Conway S.C. Have until Monday, April 16, 2012 to book. We have not booked these rooms-just asked what is available for anyone who wants them.

On Thursday Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 3 hits in a loss to Jacksonville State. On Friday, Dylan Craig had a hit and run in a game 2 win over SCUS. Tech’s Stephens had a hit and a run in a game 2 win over Jacksonville State. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins earned a win over ALR yielding no runs in 7 IP. Lee’s James Fowlkes scored a run in a game 1 win over Souther Poly.

On Saturday, Craig had a double, single and run in a win over SCU. In a game 2 loss to EIU Jon Clinard of APSU had a hit and in a game 1 loss Clinard had 2 hits. TTU’s Stephens had 2 homers and 4 rbi in a loss to Jacksonville State when Garrett Baugh took the loss. In a game 3 win to complete the sweep of SPU Taylor Comford had a bb and threw out the only runner who attempted a steal and Fowlkes scored a run in a Lee (38-6-1) win over the 13^th ranked team in NAIA.

In a dh split with Motlow State former Cyclone Deandre Allen had a hit and run in a game 1 win and Derek Shugart had a run and sb and Randall Coley a hit and in a game 3 loss Shugart had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi.

Stephens is hitting .464 with 14 homers, 37 rbi, 29 runs and a .917 slugging %. Clinard is hitting .282 with a 362 on base % and 18 rbi Craig is hitting .315 with 22 rbi, 18 runs and a .387 ob%. Fowlkes is hitting .383 with a .483 ob% and 574 slugging % with 30 runs, 19 rbi and 9sb. Comford is hitting .289 with 12 rbi and .458 ob%.

Since the posting about conditioning classes Coach Mead has gotten several calls about whether there is a class this Saturday. So, he has decided to do one on this Saturday at1. If you are coming please call him by tomorrow night, April 6, 2012 at 8:00 P.m. at 316-3649.

Hunter Mercer, one of the very best 15 year old hitters we have ever had as he has great balance, hand speed and direction, an advanced approach and can consistently backspin the ball, originally was thought to have a hairline fracture which would not require surgery and from which he could recover in 4 weeks. Unfortunately, the initial diagnosis was wrong and he will undergo surgery tomorrow and will require a 3 month rehab. Hunter has already contacted Coach K about resuming hitting and conditioning on the day he is released and he will be back with us in the fall. Hunter was projected as the #3 hitter on the V Team so this is a blow, but out of this misfortune for Hunter other players will get more opportunity to take on leadership roles and the offensive burden which is a good thing for other players development in the long run. Fortunately, we have several players on the V Team who can swing it and will look to them to step up in Hunter’s absence.

Ooltewah’s Binder boys, T.J. and Brody, have been hot this week for the Owls as have been Drew Toth and Drew Williams and Zach Thompson carried a no hitter into the 6^th inning against Cleveland. Sequatchie’s Dakota Hudson continues to swing a hot bat, won a 3-1 game against Notre Dame in which he hit 91 several times and Nick Chambers, as always, gave a gutty performance off the mound for the Irish. Logan Baldwin continues to swing a hot bat for Ringgold getting timely hits for rbis. Walker Valley’s Bobby Towne threw very, once again, in a 13 strikeout win over Bradley Central. Michael Allen continues to swing it well for the Pirates and is hitting over .400. Brent Smith has been hot with the bat for Rhea County.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a rbi hit in a win over APSU when Jon Clinard had a hit. Lee’s James Fowlkes scored 2 runs in a win over Cumberland when David Eskew threw 2 IP.

Michael Brown who has helped coach the Cyclones younger teams the last year and who previously played as an 18u and Collegiate Cyclone will leave to play independent league professional baseball in a few weeks in the Pecos League. He has been preparing at RSA over the last several weeks. Michael has committed to helping coach again this fall. We wish Michael good luck and offer our congratulations.

Reminder that everyone except graduating seniors must get in 3 conditioning and 3 Yoga classes prior to their season starting. To help get people started, Coach Mead will start with the mandatory conditioning classes at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Coach K will start with conditioning on Sunday April 15, 2012 at 1:00 P.M. Yoga class is available on any Saturday from 10:00-11:00. Coach Mead will also do a conditioning class from 11:00-12:00 on Saturdays if enough sign up in advance. Call Coach Mead at 316-3649 to book your spot in either class or 309-4995 to book on Sunday with Coach K. If you book you MUST show absent a true emergency. We strongly encourage you to start these classes now! The 12s and 14s are especially encouraged to get started now. If people do not sign up in these age groups we will start to schedule mandatory team workouts to assist in these getting done. The 3 conditioning and 3 Yoga classes are covered in your Cyclone package!

Proving that what the Cyclones teach pays off in college, Dylan Craig is 3^rd in the nation in SAC flies in D-1 baseball. Dylan is also the all-time career hits leader at Belmont and is tied for the career lead in triples.

Zach Stephens is at the top of several NCAA D-1 hitting lists. He is tied for first in homers at 12, is 8^th in batting average at .456, 1^st in slugging percentage, tied for 18^th in RBI with 33 and is 3^rd in on-base percentage at .556.

Ryan Fraser threw a scoreless IP -three up- three down against the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game yesterday. Ryan will break camp with the High A Port St. Lucie Mets.

V Team 2012 Summer

Players on the V Team eligible for the 16U WWBA and 15U WWBA according to age.

*16 year olds off or move to K Team to fill slots of 17s who are helping SM Team at PG starting the 29th.

2012 SUMMER SM TEAM SCHEDULE 

May 12-28                       Southern Wood Bat Memorial World Series

June 1-3                           Myrtle Beach Diamond Series Classic

June 8-9                           Southern Wood Bat KSU Invitational- UT (1 day)

June 14                            Single game at University of Alabama

June 15-17                       Mississippi State Invitational

June 22-24                       Southern Wood Bat Tennessee Tech Invitational

June 29-July 6                  Perfect Game 18u

July 6-8                            Southern Wood Bat Summer World Series (18s play as a team)

July 6-13                          Perfect Game 17u (for those applicable to)

2012 SUMMER K TEAM SCHEDULE

May 26-28          Southern Wood Bat Tournament Memorial World Series

June 1-3              West Georgia Southern Wood Bat

June 8-9              Southern Wood Bat Kennesaw State Invitational-UT (1 day)

June 14               Single Game at University of Alabama

June 15-17          Mississippi State Invitational

June 22-24          Southern Wood Bat Tennessee Tech Invitational

June 29-July 1      Southern Wood Bat Troy University Invitational

July 6-8                Summer Southern Wood Bat World Series (for those not in 17s PG with16s from 

                            V Team)

July 6-13              Perfect Game 17u

July 13-19            Perfect Game 16u (for those applicable to)

Zach Thompson become the 1^st 2013 Cyclone to pick to commit to accept a baseball scholarship on Saturday. Zach accepted the offer from Coach Bragga in person at Cookville before the Tech-Murray State game. He will join fellow Cyclones Garrett Baugh and Zach Stephens there (assuming neither signs professionally after their junior season next year) and Brandon Turner who is a coach there.

Zach has worked extremely hard over the last 9 months at RSA on conditioning, Yoga and with Coach Mead as well as at Ooltewah with Coach Hitchcox. He was our most consistent pitcher in the fall of 2012 and was first seen by Tech at the tournament we hosted there in October. Zach is an example that the right kind of dedication, instruction and hard work will pay off.

Congratulations to Zach!

On Friday Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits and a bb in a game 1 win over Jacksonville. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a homer, single and 2 rbi in a game 1 win over Murray State. APSU’s Zane Leffew stuck out 2 in an IP in a win over Tennessee Martin in a game 1 win. In a game one 7-5 loss to Vol State Derek Shugart and Cody Commons each had a hit and run, former Cyclone Deandre Allen a rbi hit and Tyler Kilgore threw a scoreless IP. In a game 1 win over Southern Wesleyan Lee’s (35-4-1) James Fowlkes had a rbi. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 4 earned runs in a 5 2/3 IP in taking a loss against South Alabama.

On Saturday, Zach Stephens had a hit and run in a Tech win. In an APSU win Zane Leffew threw another scoreless IP. In a game 3 win Cody Commons had 2 hits and 2 bb for Cleveland State when Allen had a hit, 2 runs and rbi. Commons is hitting .370 with 16 runs and 9 sb, Shugart .346 with 16 runs, 14 rbi and 7 sb. In a very rare dh loss in game 1 Taylor Comford had one of Lee’s 4 rbi and in the game 2 loss James Fowlkes had a hit, run and rbi. Fowlkes is hitting .375 with 20 rbi, 26 runs and 9 sb and Comford .310 with 12 rbi and .473 ob%.

On Sunday, Garrett Baugh earned a win for Tennessee Tech yielding 3 runs in 5 2/3 IP when Zach Stephens had a homer, single and 5 rbi. Stephens has 12 homers, a .455 batting average, 35 rbi and a .889 slugging %. He is in the top 10 nationally in all these categories. Baugh is 2-2 with a E.R.A. in 26 2/3 IP. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and rbi in a game 2 win over Jacksonville. Craig is leading Belmont in hitting at .327 with 16 runs and 21 rbi with a .384 ob%. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits, 3 runs 2 sb and 2 rbi in a win over UTM and Zane Leffew threw 2/3 IP.

Cleveland State’s Randall Coley had 2 hits, Cody Commons a hit and run, Derek Shugart a hit and former Cyclone Deandre Allen 2 hits, a run and rbi in a game 1 win over Cumberland when Tyler Kilgore threw a scoreless IP. In a game 2 win Commons had a hit.

APSU’s Jon Clinard had a run in a win over Alabama A&M. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and Garrett Baugh yielded only 1 earned run in 4 IP against Vandy in a loss. Lee’s (34-4-1) James Fowlkes had 2 hits, a sb and rbi in a win over Trevecca Nazarene.

Ooltewah’s Jackson McClain pitched well in a win over tough Independence and Zach Thompson was the ove powering in relief in that game when Drew Toth scored 2 more runs and super sophomore Brody Binder had 2 hits. Ringgold’s super sophomore Logan Baldwin threw 4 2/3 IP of yielding 2 hits with 7 ks to earn the win and drove in 2 with a double against Ridgeland. Notre Dame’s Nic Chambers pitched a 2 hit victory over Megis County when he also had 2 hits and 3 runs. Freshman Dustin Kennedy had one of Megis’ hits off Nic. Bobby "Down" Towne threw a 2 hit shutout with 13 ks and had 2 hits in a win over McMinn. Heritage’s Austin Morris had 2 hits and 3 rbi in a win over Cedertown.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig now holds the career total base hits record at Belmont with 295. His 1^st hit in Saturday’s game gave him the record at 294. Dylan was a freshman All-American at Belmont and has been All-Conference all 3 years at Belmont. Dylan started at RSA and with the Cyclones at age 14. Dylan should hold the career at bats, triples and runs scored record at Belmont by season’s end as well. He is currently tied for first for career triples with 21. Congratulations to Dylan!

On Friday Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a hit and run in a game 1 win over Mercer. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 4 hits, 3 runs and a rbi in a win over Stetson. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 bb and a run in a win over Southeast Missouri. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens hit his 10^th homer, single and had 2 rbi in a loss to UT-Martin. MTSU’s former Cyclone Hunter Adkins earned a win over FAU yielding 1 run in 7 IP, Lee’s James Fowlkes had 2 runs in Lee’s win over Brenton-Parker. Bryan’s Steven Brown had 3 hits and 3 rbi in a win over Montreat.

On Saturday, Clinard had a hit and bb in a win over SEMO. Tech’s Stephens had a rbi in a game 2 win over UTM. Belmont’s Craig had 2 hits and a run in a game 2 win. Vandy’s Will Cooper scored a run in a win over Georgia. Lee’s (33-4-1) James Fowlkes had 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi and Taylor Comford a 2 rbi hit in a game 3 win over Brenton-Parker. Fowlkes is hitting .395 with a .632 slugging % with 25 runs, 14 rbi and 8 sb. Comford is hitting .333 with a .500 ob%.

On Sunday, Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits and a run in a win over Mercer. APSU’s Clinard had 2 hits and a run a in win over SEMO when Zane Leffew earned the win in relief for the Governors. Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and a run in a loss to UTM. Tech’s Stephens has 10 homers, an 871 slugging %, a .447 ba with 22 runs and 26 rbi, and Garret Baugh is 1-1 for Tech with the second best E.R.A. on the team at 4.24. Belmont’s Craig is hitting .327 with 16 runs, 21 rbi and 3 outfield assists and APSU’s Clinard is hitting .323 with 18 runs and 14 rbi. Cleveland States Derek Shugart had 3 hits, 3 rbi, a sb and 2 runs, Cody Commons 3 hits, 3 runs, a sb and rbi, Randall Coley a hit, run and rbi and former Cyclone Deandre Allen 3 hits, 3 runs and 2 rbi in a win over Roane State and in a loss to Roane Allen had a hit and run, and Commons 2 hits. On Monday, Shugart had a hit, run and rbi, Commons 4 hits, a run and rbi, Allen 2 hits, 3 runs and a rbi and Coley a hit, run and rbi. Shugart is hitting .373 with 6 sb, 15 runs and 13 rbi Commons is hitting .361 with 8 sb and 14 runs, Allen .291 with, 18 sb, 16 rbi and 18 runs.

Dakota Hudson is hitting a robust .578 and Hunter Hudson .500. Drew Toth has 11 hits in his last 5 games. Matt Allen pitched well against Ooltewah but took the loss when Jared Ryan started for the Owls and earned the win. Chris Caffrey has hit the ball well with several extra base hits for Walker Valley.

This is the last reminder that the V Team (15-16 mixed) will meet at RSA at 4:00 on Sunday (March 25, 2012). Please bring your own fold out chair to sit on. Be prepared with hit and jersey sizes. If you have questions this is the time to be present and ask them. Coach K, Coach V and Coach Moore will all be present.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 3 hits and 2 runs in a loss to Murray State. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit, run and rbi in a loss to Western Kentucy. Craig is hitting .317 with a team leading 20 rbi and also has 3 ou field assists. Clinard leads APSU in hitting at .25 and also has 16 rbi and 14 runs.

WV’s Bobby Towne threw a great game to beat Ooltewah and hit well in that series as well. Brody Brinder had a walk off single to beat WV in game 2. T. J. is getting pitched around almost constantly for Ooltewah. Austin Morris and Lee Gibson continue to help lead Heritage to a great start, they are ranked in the top 10 AAA teams in Georgia.

APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits and 3 runs in a win over Lipscomb as Gray Hutchinson had a hit for the Bison. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a rbi hit in a 6-5 win over Western Kentucky. Tennessee Tech’s Garrett Baugh threw 6 good IP yielding 1 run for a no decision and Zach Stephens was walked 3 times in a loss to MTSU. Lee’s Taylor Comford had a hit in a game 1 win over Freed-Hardeman. In a dh sweep of Tennessee Wesleyan’s JV Cleveland State’s Cody Commons had a hit, run and rbi and former Cyclone Deandre Allen 2 hits, 2 runs and 5 rbi in game 1 and game in 2 Randall Coley had 2 doubles, 3 rbi and a run.

Austin Morris is off to a great start after completely rebuilding his swing at RSA this off season. He is hitting .398 with a homer and several doubles. Nick Chambers and Sheldon Brogden are off to a good starts for Notre Dame as Sheldon has 3 homers. Logan Baldwin touched 86 this past week and is the only sophomore position or pitching starter for Ringgold. Hunter Mercer is a rare varsity 9^th grader at Baylor and is hitting the ball very well in 9^th grade and JV games after making some adjustments in the off season at RSA. Hunter Hudson had 14 sb in his first 6 games.

Yesterday in a spring training game, Mike Minor threw 5 scoreless IP (no runs in 14 IP now) and was followed by Cory Gerrin who threw 1 scoreless IP. Ryan Fraser got called up to Big league camp last week and warmed up in the pen but did not get in the game.

On Friday Belmont’s Dylan Craig homered, doubled and drove in 2 in a win over ETSU. Craig now has 282 hits in a his career, the 2^nd most in Belmont history.

Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a rbi hit in a loss to USC Upstate. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens hit his 7^th homer, had 2 singles, drove in 3 and scored twice in a loss to Central Michigan. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits and 2 rbi in a loss to Ohio State. MTSU’s former Cyclone Hunter Adkins took the loss against Western Kentucky. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a hit in a win over Shorter. Cleveland State’s Tyler Kilgore threw an IP in a loss to Dyersburg State.

On Saturday, Stephens hit his 8^th homer, doubled, singled, drove in 3 and scored twice and Garrett Baugh earned the win over Central Michigan. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit run and rbi in a win over Ohio State. Lee’s (28-4-1) Taylor Comford had one of Lee’s 4 hits and scored a run in a game 3 loss to Shorter. In a win over Dyersburg State CSCC’s Derek Shugart had 2 hits and 2 runs and Cody Commons 2 hits, 2 bb and a run and in a game 3 loss Commons had a triple and run, former Cyclone Deandre Allen a hit, run and rbi. Shugart is hitting .389 with a .452 on base %, 5 bb, 12 runs and 9 rbi. Lee’s Fowlkes is hitting .387 with a .677 slugging % and 7 sb. Comford is hitting .333 with a .488 ob%.

On Sunday, Vandy’s Will Cooper had a pinch hit in a loss to Florida. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a homer, double, single, drove in 2 and scored 3 in a win over Central Michigan. Stephens has an impressive 9 homers, .472 batting average with 23 rbi, 21 runs and .931 slugging %. APSU’s Clinard had a hit in a game 3 loss to Ohio State and is hitting .319 with a 395 ob% with 13 rbi and 12 runs. Belmont’s Craig had a sac fly rbi in a 4-3 win over ETSU. Bryan’s Steven Brown had 2 hits and 3 runs in a win over Rhienhart.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig continued his recent torrid pace with 2 hits, 2 bb, a run and rbi in a win over Valparaiso. Dylan is now hitting .333 with a 413 ob% with a team leading 14 rbi and 11 runs. APSV’s Jon Clinard had a hit in a loss to Evansville. In a game1 loss to Rhienheart James Fowlkes scored a run, and Taylor Comford had 2 hits and a rbi and in a game 2 win Fowlkes homered and doubled, drove in 4 and scored 3 runs when David Eskew earned the win.

A lot of the Cyclones are off to great starts. Austin Morris has had 2 great outings on the mound. Bobby Towne and Zach Thompson had great first starts. Drew Williams, T. J and Brody Binder and Cody Rhinehart at Ooltewah are off to great offensive starts as is Lee Gibson at Heritage.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a single, triple, sb, 3 runs and 2 rbi in a 20-5 win over MTSU. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens hit his sixth homer in a win over Tennessee. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits in a loss to Memphis. Cleveland State’s Randall Coley had a hit and 2 runs, former Cyclone Deandre Allen a hit and run and Tyler Kilgore 2 scoreless IP in a win over TWC.

Dakota Hudson touched 90 m.p.h in his first spring outing. Coach K and Time Osborne from the MLB Scouting Bureau both got him at 90 several times. Mississippi State, MTSU and Tennessee were at the game with South Pittsburg.

The V Team Pre-Season meeting will be on Sunday, March 25, 2012 at 3:00 P.M. at RSA. If possible, both parents and the player should attend. At an absolute minimum, 1 family member should be present.

On Friday Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits and a rbi in a loss to Auburn. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit in a loss to Evansville. Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart had 3 hits and 3 rbi and former Cyclone Deandre Allen a hit, run and rbi in a win over Southwest Tennessee. Lee’s David Eshew threw 2 scoreless IP against Tennessee Temple and Taylor Comford had a hit. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins took the loss giving up 4 runs in 5 IP against Ball State. Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits in a win over Siena. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run in a game 1 loss to Evansville. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a hit, sb, run and rbi in a win over Loyola University and in game 2 win had a hit, run and 2 rbi. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits and Zane Leffew pitched an IP in a loss to Dayton. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits and 2 rbi in a game 2 loss to Auburn. In a game 2 win Lipscomb’s Hutchinson had a double, rbi and run against Siena. Cleveland State’s Shugart had a hit, rbi and run, and Allen a hit, 2 sb, a run and rbi in a game 2 win over Southwest and in game 3 loss Shugart had 2 runs and a hit, and Allen a hit. Shugart is hitting .422 with 5 sb and .481 ob%.

Lee is 25-2-1 and ranked 3^rd in the latest NAIA poll. Fowlkes is hitting .375 with a .583 slugging % and has 7 sb. Comford is hitting a .286 for Lee, but more importantly has only 2 passed balls in 12 games. In a game 3 win over Auburn Dylan Craig had a hit. In a game 3 win over Evansville Zach Stephens homered, doubled and singled to drive in3 and score 3 times as Garrett Baugh gave up 1 run in 2 IP. In a game 3 loss. Stephens is hitting .436 with a .782 slugging %, 5 homers and 15 rbi. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 3 hits, 3 runs and a rbi. Clinard is hitting .314 with 10 rbi and 11 runs in 13 games.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit in a win over Vandy and a hit and run in a 3-2 loss to Murray State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and a run in a loss to Kentucky. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a 2 rbi hit in a win over Alabama A&M. Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart had 2 hits former Cyclone Deandre Allen and Cody Commons a hit a piece to get 4 of the Cougars 5 hits in a game 3 loss to Chatt State. In a game 1 win over Tusculum’s JV Derek Shugart and Cody Commons each had a hit and run for Cleveland State and in a game 2 win Shugart had another hit and former Cyclone Deandre Allen 2 hits. Shugart leads Cleveland State in hitting at .424. Stephens leads Tennessee Tech in hitting at .419, homers with 4 and rbi with 10.

Soddy Daisy’s Talon Harris, a gifted athlete and more importantly a good person, was seriously injured in a single car wreck this past weekend. Please put him and his family in your prayers.

Please have player and at least 1 parent present.

On Friday, Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a hit in a game 1 loss to Connecticut. Austin Peay’s Jon Clinard had a hit and 2 runs in a win over Youngstown and Zane Leffew threw a scoreless IP. On Saturday Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and a rbi in a game 1 win over Dayton and 3 hits and a run in a game 2 loss to the Flyers and Lipscomb’s Gary Hutchinson had a hit and run in a loss to Mississippi State and Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a bb, sac fly, double and 3 rbi in a win over Butler in a game and in a game 2 loss he had 4 hits, 2 runs, 2 rbi and a sb. In a 4-3 win over Akron Jon Clinard had a hit, run and rbi.

MTSU’s Hunter Adkins (a former Cyclone) gave up 2 earned runs in 5 1/3 IP to earn the win over Louisiana Tech. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a hit and 2 runs in a game 1 win over Truett-McConnell.

On Sunday, Tech’s Stephens had 2 homers and 4 rbi in a win over Dayton and Belmont’s Craig had a hit and run in a win over Butler. In a win over Akron APSU’s Clinard had 3 hits, 2 runs and a rbi. In a game 1 loss Cody Commons had a hit, Derek Shugart a hit and run and former Cyclone Deandre Allen a rbi hit against Chatt State and in game 2 Allen had a hit and run and Shugart a rbi hit.

On Friday, Eastern Kentucky’s Shaun Ball had 4 hits, 2 runs and a rbi in a loss to USC-Up State. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins a former Cyclone threw a shutout to beat Ohio 4-0. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit in a loss to Georgia State. Cleveland States Cody Commons and Derek Shugart each had a hit in a game 1 win over Piedmont when Tyler Kilgore got the win. In a game 2 win Derek Shugart had a 2 rbi hit.

On Saturday, Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and 2 bb in a loss to Bradley. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits and 2 rbi in a 4-2 win over Georgia State. Tennessee Tech’s Garret Baugh gave up 2 earned runs in 3 IP in a loss to Illinois State. Lee’s Taylor Comford had a hit and 3 rbi and James Fowlkes a hit and run in a win over Mobile in game 1 of the series. In a win over Gordon former Cyclone Deandre Allen had a rbi hit, Derek Shugart a hit, 2 bb, a rbi and sb and Tyler Kilgore threw an IP with 2 strikeouts. In a game 2 loss the Cougars’ Cody Commons had 2 hits and a run.

On Sunday, APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run. In a loss to USC-Up State EKU’s Ball had one of their four hits. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a homer and singled twice in a loss to Illinois State. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a double, single, a run and rbi in a win over Mobile.

In a win over Lipscomb, Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and 2 runs. In game 1 of a sweep of Milligan Taylor Comford had a hit and James Fowlkes a run. In game 2 Fowlkes had a run and 2 rbi and Brandon Rader a pinch hit rbi. Fowlkes is hitting .438 and Comford .333. Cleveland State’s Cody Commons had 2 hits and run in a game 1 win over Georgia Perimeter when Tyler Kilgore pitched an IP with no earned runs.

James Fowlkes had a hit in a Lee win over Lindsey Wilson and Eastern Kentucky’s Shaun Ball had a hit and bb in a loss to Louisville.

Jamie & Nick Wilson (Oscar Wilson’s Son and Ben Wilson’s (Cyclone) brother) is trying to win a free Wedding. Please vote 1 time in a 24 hours period for Jamie & Nick. www.Nathanpeelphoto.com.Scroll to the bottom of the page to list and click on Jamie & Nick and then click vote. Only one vote per computer per 24 hours will be counted. VOTING ENDS FEBRUARY 28, 2012! Thanks for your support!

Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a hit and a walk in a win over MTSU. Lee’s James Fowlkes had a hit, run and rbi and Taylor Comford a hit and rbi in a win over Rio Grande.

Garth "Vader" Pendergraph, a former Cyclone from Bledsoe County, will undergo heart surgery this week for a condition that was discovered by EKG recently. Nobody ever played harder than Garth and he is a great young man. Please pray for Garth have successful surgery and be able to resume his career at Bryan College.

On Friday Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a sac bunt and rib sac fly to drive in one of Belmont’s runs in a 2-0 win over Evansville. Lipscomb’s Gray Hutchinson had a sac fly rbi, 2 rbi single and a bb in a win over St. Louis. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 3 runs in 3ip in a loss for MTSU against Kansas. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 3bb and 2 runs in a 9-6 win over Illinois State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit in a win over Missouri State. Eastern Kentucky’s Shaun Ball had a homer in a loss to ETSU. Lee’s Taylor Comford had a hit and 2 runs and James Fowlkes a run in a game 1 win over Emmanuel.

On Saturday, Eastern Kentucky’s Shaun Ball hit a 3 run homer in a win over ETSU in game 1 of a dh and APSU’s Clinard had a rbi in a 2-0 win over Illinois State in a game 1 of a dh. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits, a run and 2 rbi in a 10-8 loss to Missouri State when Garrett Baugh took the loss yielding 4 runs in 4 ip with 3 of the runs scoring in the last inning pitched. Craig had a hit and bb in a 2-0 loss to Kansas. Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart had a hit and Tyler Kilgore threw 1 2/3 scoreless IP in 1-0 loss to Vincennes and in a 9-1 win over Vincennes Cody Commons scored 2 runs and former Cyclone Deandre Allen scored once. Lee’s James Fowlkes scored 2 runs in a 4 game win over Emmanuel. In a game 3 winBall had a hit and run in EKU’s win over ETSU. In a 9-5 loss to Texas Tech Zach Stephens hit a 2 run homer.

On Sunday, Dylan Craig had a hit, run in and of assist in a win over St. Louis. Vandy’s Will Cooper had a hit and a run in a loss to Stanford.

Jamie & Nick Wilson (Oscar Wilson’s Son and Ben Wilson’s (Cyclone) brother) is trying to win a free Wedding. Please vote 1 time in a 24 hours period for Jamie & Nick. www.Nathanpeelphoto.com.Scroll to the bottom of the page to list and click on Jamie & Nick and then click vote. Only one vote per computer per 24 hours will be counted. VOTING ENDS FEBRUARY 28, 2012! Thanks for your support!

Lee Gibson (Jr.) has been contacted by Wake Forest and is visiting for junior day at Troy in March. Zach Thompson (Jr.) has been offered by Tennessee Tech and visits next weekend. Dakota Hudson (Jr.) has very big offers from KSU and Mississippi State and visits Troy on Junior Day in March. Boston College and Wake Forest have expressed interest in Jackson McClain (Jr.). Coach K has already received serious inquiries on four of our sophomores.

Since D-1 baseball and our coverage cranks up Friday, the "Where Are They Now" and Old Timer’s Tale of the Week will be discontinued until next November per usual.

In Lee’s first game win over Shawnee State Taylor Comford (12u Coach) had 2 hits and a rbi and in a game 2 win James Fowlkes scored one of the 2 runs. 12u Coach David Eskew is coming off shoulder issues and should start to see game action on the mound soon at Lee. D-1 games start this Friday!

We had a great turnout last Saturday with several of our younger players. As Wes Hodges explained at his camps- Yoga is a great, great conditioning tool for the serious baseball player.

We are looking for a runner for the Law Firm of Kennedy, Koontz & Farinash. Please pass along to anyone you may know looking for a part-time job. Preferably a college student. The experience would look great on a resume as well. Please email Coach Koontz at gkoontz@kkflawfirm.com if interested.

In 1936 baseball came up with the ultimate reward for those who excelled in major league baseball- The Hall of Fame. America was coming out of the Great Depression and the professional baseball establishment was looking for a grand gesture to start the turnstiles turning again and to celebrate the 100^th year anniversary of the game.

Those plans resulted in the founding of the Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Two elections were hold in 1936 to determine who should be inducted in the inaugural Hall of Fame class. One by the 226 members of Baseball Writers Association of America and the other by a special 78 member veterans committee.

Seventy-five percent of the vote was required to be admitted. Only five could garner enough voters: Ty Cobb (222 votes), Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner (215 each), Christy Matthewson (205), and Walter Johnson (189). The most amazing thing about those vote totals is who were the writers who didn’t vote for Cobb, Ruth, Wagner and Johnson and what were they thinking? Really? A Hall of Fame without those 4?

Rafael Celis was a catcher and infielder at Baylor who was an 18u Cyclone who played third, second and caught. He was a boarding student from Venezuela. He played on Baylor’s first state championship team with fellow Cyclones Wes Hodges, Kane Simmons, Bailey Pratt, Stuart Vinson and others.

His nickname was Fele’. Fele’ was very good defensively and could spray line drives to all fields. He was a great teammate and team player. He made one of the headiest defensive plays of any 18u Cyclones ever in a watershed 7-1 win over the South Carolina Diamond Devils in the fall at Riverdog Stadium when he fielded a ball at third, held the ball in his glove but faked the throw to first with his arm and the got the player at second out as he attempted to advance on the "throw". Fele’ was Freshman of the Year for the conference at Southern Polytechnical as a catcher and had a good career there as he helped build it into a perennial top 15 NAIA progam.

Fele’ is now a very successful businessman in Venezuela.

Dakota Hudson (2013 Sequatchie County) has received his second very impressive offer. He received a very good offer this past weekend from Mississippi State.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig was named by the conference’s coaches to the first team pre-season All Conference team for the Atlantic Sun Conference. Dylan has had the honor of being selected for 3 straight years but this year was the first he was an unanimous choice. Craig was also chosen as the pre-season Player of the Year. Craig has the sixth highest career batting average in Bruins history at .362, is 5^th in career total at bats, and runs scored, 4^th in hits, second in triples, holds the one, two and nine spots for most hits in a season, second spot for most runs in a season, and first and 5^th spots for triples in a season. By season’s end he should hold the career record for hits, triples and runs scored and possibly for at bats.

Lee’s Taylor Comford had a 2 rbi hit in the Flames’ opening game on Saturday over Talladega. In the second game freshman James Fowlkes scored a run. In a win over Hiawessee on Monday, Fowlkes had 3 hits and 4 rbi and Comford a rbi. On Tuesday Derek Shugart had 2 hits, 2 bb and 2 runs in a win and Tyler Kilgore earned a save.

Boston College signee Jeff Burke, who does not turn 19 until late this summer, will be back the second half of the summer. Both Jeff and all the Cyclone Coaches are excited Coach K worked it out with the BC coaching staff for Jeff to have a last hoorah with the Cyclones. Our 18u PG pitchers will be a big and formidable staff.

Zach Thompson has received a substantial offer from Tennessee Tech. His hard work this fall and winter is starting to pay off in the form of offers. He is the second 2013 Cyclone to already receive an offer joining Dakota Hudson. Dakota is expected to receive his second offer this weekend.

We would like for the players and both parents to be present.

Zach Thompson had a great camp at Tennessee Tech this weekend sitting 85-86 in his outing. He struck out 3 and induced 2 groundouts. All of Zach’s hard work conditioning, working with Coach Mead and at Ooltewah are paying dividends. He has totally reshaped his body, improved his conditioning and gotten stronger. An offer is expected in the near future.

The Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Fundamentals and Advanced camp drew a total of 32 players with the vast majority being Cyclones. The Advanced portion drew rave reviews from the players. It was a new concept camp designed by Coach K and Wes to give players substantial insight into the mental side of hitting, utilizing their lower half in their swing and imparting back spin to the ball for power to all fields. Those who attended have a huge lead start on the concepts which we look for our more advanced hitters to master. It is a camp approach we will build off of in the future.

Beau Wells was a catcher who played at Dalton High School and as a 18u Cyclone and Collegiate Cyclone. He was very good defensively with a consistent 1.98-2.02 pop time who was a clutch hitter. He was a consummate team player award winner as an 18u player who played at Furman University.

As a Collegiate Cyclone he was involved in one of the most famous plays in Cyclone lore. In a Southeastern U.S. Regional Stan Musial elimination game, the Cyclones were playing a team from North Carolina on the heelss of a win over a Tennessee team coached by former MLB Player Johnny Ray to reach the final three in double elimination tournament (we played as one of the 2 Georgia teams since we played out of the Atlanta League). We held a 3 run lead going into the last inning but the North Carolina team which was a complete roided up bunch had scored 2 and had a runner on second with 2 outs. The runner on second was a 6'2 220 pound jacked monster who could run.

A squib hit got by our first baseman and all the second baseman could do after he fielded the ball on the dead run to his right was back hand the ball toward Beau who was blocking the plate. The ball literally rolled into Beau’s glove as the runner covered his shoulder at full tilt into Beau (the league played professional baseball rules). We have a picture taken by a parent of Beau upside down at least 5 feet in the air with the ball in his glove. Beau hit the ground and white could be seen from certain angles but when Beau got up he had the ball in his glove. The plate ump called the runner out and the second heated argument of the game immediately ensued with Coach K and the Cyclones’ Matt Carlo (6'3 230) jaw to jaw with the runner and the other teams coach. After the parties were separated, an appeal of the decision was upheld and the Cyclones advanced.

Beau was recently married in a wedding Coach Koontz and Carolyn attended. Beau is now in advertising.

Everyone who truly knows the history of baseball is aware that the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching duo of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale was the best pitching tandem of the 1960-1965 era and at their best maybe the most imposing strikeout twosome ever. Both are in the Hall of Fame. However, not many are aware that their most long lasting imprint on the game of baseball was probably their dual holdout for more money in 1966. At that time there was not true players union. The reserve clause bound players in perpetuity to the team they signed their uniform players contract with. Players had no bargaing power at all. If they held out, they risked not playing and not getting a paycheck. They had not union representation.

In 1966 Drysdale and Koufax agreed to hold out together. No one else could have held out for as long and as much as they did and no two players had as much economical leverage as they did. When Koufax pitched the Dodgers drew an extra 10,000 fans and when Drysdale pitched they drew an extra 3,000 on average.

The leagues minium salary in 1966 was $7,000.00. Drysdale and Koufax met personally with the Dodgers GM and told him that they wanted $1,000,000 to be divided equally over the next three seasons, or $166,666.66 per year a piece, more than double what each had made the year before. In addition, they asked for a guaranteed 3 year contract, absolutely unheard of at the time. Even worse, Koufax and Drysdale hired an entrainment lawyer to represent them. In the end Koufax got $125,000.00 for the year and Drysdale $110,000.00.

It was the first major challenge to the structure of the power in professional baseball for over a hundred years. It was the precursor of Curt Flood’s refusal in 1969 to accept a trade from St. Louis to Philadelphia which directly challenged the reserve clause- a story for another day.

If you intend to come, please contact Coach Mead at 316-3649 by text prior to 8 on Tuesday. If you don’t, the class may be cancelled. Check here tomorrow!

If you are a new Cyclone at any age and expect to compete for playing time at a position other than pitching you are urged to attend the Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Hitting Camp on Saturday, January 28, 2012. All 12u-14u should at least attend the fundamentals sessions from 1-4 and all 15-18s should at least attend the advanced session from 4-6. If you are new and aren’t taking lessons at RSA, you need this Clinic to be prepared for what you will be expected to work on when you are on your own at Cyclones practices from a hitting standpoint and in games as far as expected mental approaches.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig added to his extremely long list of collegiate accolades when he was named to the pre-season first team All-Atlantic Sun team by College Sports Madness. CSM also named RHP Garrett Baugh to the 2^nd team OVC pre-season All Conference team

As a side note, CSM’s pre-season player of the year in the Sunbelt was Troy’s Tyler Hannah, the pitcher of the year Troy’s Tyler Ray and Coach of the Year- Troy’s Bobby Pierce now.

Dakota Hudson had an exceptional camp at Mississippi State sitting 88-89. Jackson McClain had a very good Ole Miss Camp showing more velo and command than any left-hander there. Lee Gibson kept himself on Troy’s 2013 recruit list with a good performance at their two-day hitting camp this past weekend.

Boals continues to impress with his arm strength and mechanical adjustments with Coach Mead and Zach Thompson was a machine in his last session with Coach Mead prior to the Tennessee Tech Prospect camp this coming weekend. Hunter Mercer’s progress as a hitter promises to make him a significantly improved hitter in 2012 positioning himself to possibly skip an age group for the fall due to his off-season efforts. Dylan Bryant (12u) continues to impress with his progress and dedication and should be ready for practice day one to grasp the concepts the 12uy will need to master.

Ron Guidry is the perfect example of a player who excelled in major league baseball despite his size. Guidry was all of 5'11 and 162 pounds for the vast majority of his major league career. He was a left handed pitcher who reached the majors in 1975 with the New York Yankees. He was one of the greatest pitchers in the Yankee’s storied history.

Guidry had 2 nicknames, both of which were very descriptive. One was "Gator". He was a true Cajun from Louisiana with a distinctive Louisiana Cajun accent who had actually hunted alligators in the Louisiana bayou. The other was "Louisiana Lighting". His arm was exceptionally quick-one of the quickest if not the quickest this writer every witnessed - and he could touch 98 m.p.h. with his fastball on occasion.

Guidry could throw hard, but what made him was perhaps the second best left-handed slider of the last few decades. Guidry had one of the best years of any MLB pitcher in history, this writer would argue the best, in 1978 when he went 25-3 (the highest winning % of any MLB pitcher ever to 20 games) with a 1.74 E.R.A., 16 complete games and 9 shutouts and led the league in strikeouts. On June 17, 1978 he struck out 18 against the California Angels, the American League record for a 1hp.

In his career Guidry won 5 Gold Gloves, and was a good hitter who could fly on the bases. From 1975-1988 he won 170 games, lost 91 had 26 shutouts, struck out 1,778 and had a 3.29 E.R.A.

Kyle Clayton was a 1hp who played at Cleveland High School and also played first base. As a Cyclone, Kyle was a pitcher only who occasionally played some first base and DHed. He was in fact a good hitter but played on some Cyclones teams full of great hitters. He played several seasons as a 18u Cyclone and was one of the very best big game pitchers ever to wear a Cyclones uniform. As an example, he pitched a complete game 2-1 win over a two time defending Perfect Game National Championship South Carolina Diamond Devil’s team in the fall of his senior year in what is a legendary game in Cyclones history. That Diamond Devil’s 18u team had 2 number one draft picks, Reese Havens and Justin Smoak, and 8 players who signed with Clemson or South Carolina.

Kyle and his parents were huge supporters of the program and Kyle’s teammates. Kyle signed with Kennesaw State out of high school and was captain his senior year. The staff at KSU still raves about what a positive influence Kyle was on his teammates and in the program.

Kyle and several of his 18u teammates played in the Geogia Collegiate Wooden Bat League as a college team before their freshman year and finished fourth in the league. Kyle coached the 13u Cyclones a couple of summers ago and was going to continue as a summer coach in 2011 but he got a job he couldn’t pass up as a teacher and coach at Altoona High School.

Real Sports Academy, Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 1-4, for hitting, and baseball specific conditioning and training-$70.00- From. 4-6; for advanced hitting skills, concepts and approaches $50.00- both camps for $105.00 if pre-registered. Limit 15 per session. Day of $5.00 more. Ages 8-18. Go to realsportsacademy.com or call 309-4995.

 RSA WES HODGES PRO CONCEPTS HITTING CLINIC REGISTRATION

Name:__________________________ Date of Birth_____________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

City:________________________State:________________ Zip Code:______________

Phone #s (home)_____________________(cell)________________________________

Email Address:__________________________________________________________

Parent’s Names:_________________________________________________________

Positions Played:________________________________________________________

Last select team played for:_________________________________________________

High School or Middle School Played for:_____________________________________

Ages 8-18 (1:00-4:00pm) fundamentals of hitting and conditioning $70.00 __________

.

Mail form and check for $70.00, $50.00 or $105.00 to RSA, c/o George E. Koontz, 9323 Standifer Gap Rd., Ooltewah, TN 37363. Make check payable to: RSA. Bring a baseball card or baseball and Wes will sign it for you. Directions to RSA and additional information are available at RealSportsAcademy.com. Cost if you pay day of Clinic is $5.00 more.

RELEASE:

I DO HEREBY RELEASE Real Sports Academy, L.L.C. and its owners, agents, employees, and/or sub-contractors and Wes Hodges from any and all liability for any claims of any nature or kind arising out of my son’s participation in the baseball clinic conducted at the Real Sports Academy on January 28, 2012.

Signature of Parent___________________________________________________________

Date_____________________

Printed Name of Parent

DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS - NO ONE OTHER THAN PARTICIPANTS IN THE CLINIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY DURING THE CLINIC. SESSIONS ARE LIMITED TO FIRST 15 REGISTRANTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE GETS SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION.

Cory Gearrin, the 4^th of 5 Cyclones to pitch in the big leagues has a fundraiser for Rhea County on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 5:30 P.M. There is a dinner, a talk by Cory and his HOF induction for $15.00. We have several Rhea County players currently. If you wish to attend, please contact Kippy Van Duesen at marinecorps12@msn.com or John Garrison at jgarrison@robinsonmfg.com for forms.

Wes Hodges got an offer he couldn’t refuse from the San Francisco Giants and signed a minor league contract fro the 2012 season. The Giants have very little experience at the upper levels of their system at 1^st base and none for players with substantial experience at 3^rd and 1^st. As such, Wes could easily be called up if a Giants injury occurs at 1^st and/or 3^rd. Wes is very happy in the Giants organization.

Hodges Pro Concepts Hitting Clinic - January 28, 2012

Wes Hodges is doing 2 different Clinics on Saturday, January 28, 2012. The first is a fundamentals clinic on hitting and baseball specific conditioning. Everyone of our 15 year old players and younger who have not been to Wes’ camps before should attend. Those who are older and new to our organization should also attend.

The second 2 hour clinic is perfect for all of our 16 and over players and more advanced 14s and up. It is unlike any clinic Wes had done before. In close collaboration with Coach K, Wes has devised a more advanced clinic that is heavy on the mental part of hitting, more advanced drills, approaches and situational hitting. The plan is to let everyone actually hit some- not just do the necessary fundamental drills.

Both clinics are limited to the first 15 to sign up so that everyone gets enough attention. For those who can, we urge you to attend both clinics for a reduced price. If you are a new Cyclone or prior Cyclone and you are not working at RSA in the off-season, we expect you to attend one or both clinics unless you pitch only. The forms are set forth below.

        Austin Morris and Hunter Mercer have made huge strides with their swings in off season work at RSA. Austin's swing has been virtually retooled. Hunter McClendon has made huge strides in conditioning as have Lee Gibson, his younger brother Josh (12u) and Drew Toth. Zach Thompson has completely transformed his body with alot of hard work and his bb has dramatically improved on what was already a good pitch. Gabe Rich and Bradley Smith have also made huge strides on the mound with Bradley having gained 6 mph since the summer. 2012 new comers Jordan Whitmyre and Thomas Boles have also made huge strides with Coach Mead.

        Jackson McClain is starting to round into shape on the mound working with Coach Mead and has started to add to his velocity and command. Dakota Hudson has only been able to start back with Coach Mead recently due to basketball, but is already building off of the mechanical adjustments initiated this fall. Dylan Bryant (12u) has made huge strides with Coach Vinson and has already added velocity while making significant adjustments in his swing with Coach Simmons. Coach Simmons indicated that Caleb Hill has also made great strides hitting.

     Kudos to all those players and the others putting in the extra off-season work at RSA.

            Dakota Hudson will be at Mississippi State's pitching camp with Coach Thompson this coming weekend. Lee Gibson will be at Troy's hitting camp next weekend and Zac Thompson will be at Tennessee Tech's prospect camp the same weekend.

       Phil Rizzuto was a Hall-of-Famer who played shortstop for some of the great Yankees teams of the 1940s and 1950s. Although only 5'6, he played 13 seasons in the pinstripes helping lead them to 10 pennants in 13 years and winning the 1950 American League MVP along the way.

       By 1956 Yankees' management had decided Rizzuto needed to be replaced on the World Series roster. Feeling that Rizzuto might lead himself to the conclusion that he needed to retire, the Yankee brass invited him to a meeting in the front office to go over the roster to help them decide who might be cut to make room on the roster for the post-season addition of Enos Slaughter, a much needed veteran bat. The brass let Rizzuto rule out most of those on the roster by his own reasoning as to why they should be kept. When they got to the last 2 or 3 names on the roster other than his own, and the brass had a reason why each could not be dropped, it finally dawned on Rizzuto that he was not there to pick some one to be cut but to be cut himself. A good example of the fact that professional baseball is a business.

This Wednesday, January 4, 2012 at 6:00 and this Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 1:00. Please text Coach Mead if you are coming.

The Summer 2012 scedules will start to comeout next week by email. If you email has changed send the new one to Tabitha at thamilton@kkflawfirm.com. The schedules will come out to the oldest teams first.

Where are they now?- Shaun Rice

Shaun played several seasons as a Cyclone 18u and as a Collegiate Cyclone. He was a LHP from Red Bank High School who excelled for the Lions and Cyclones. He was a teammate of Dylan Paris (HOF), and Chris Geppi (HOF) in 1994-1996 on 18u Cyclone teams and then on Collegiate Cyclone teams. He was one of the staring pitchers  on the 1996 Cyclones team which won a State Championship and advanced to the World Series. He earned a scholarship to Huntingdon College where he graduated in 2000. He is now a District Controller for Advanced Disposal - an environmental services company located in Montgomery, Alabama.

The Cyclones are registered for the 18u, 17u, 16u and 15u Perfect Game National Championships this summer. The total cost was $7,250.00.

The PG format has changed. It is a change we do not like, but had anticipated and it is yet another hurdle for truly local teams like ours to overcome to advance. Originally, PG had 6 teams playing in each pool. Two teams were allowed to advance from each pool. Then they went to only 1 team per pool and a couple of "wild cards" from all the other teams. This made it harder for teams with 15-18 players to advance and you were screwed if you ended up in a really tough pool. For example, with the defending national champion Florida Bombers like we drew 3 years in a row when they were defending champs.

Now, there are going to be 7 pool games in 6 days. This makes it harder still for a team with 15-18 players to compete. There is the depth of pitching factor and the fatigue factor for position players. Fortunately, due to our organizational approach we can field a 20-24 man roster by calling younger players up to older teams. It is an approach we have utilized successfully in the past, including last years 17u run to the round of 16 last year. We had to sell out the K team’s chances the next week in helping the 17s by fatiguing several of the key members of that team, and it showed as they were exhausted by they 3^rd game of the 16u week.

We still expect to compete well. We will use our organizational approach to stock the 18s with help from the K and V teams, the 17s with help from the SM and V teams, the 16s with help from the K and 14u and the15s with help from the K and 14u teams. The biggest struggle will be to get enough pitching for the 15u PG, but that age group is more for the experience of being in the environment and as a measure of where they are than for exposure or expectations of going deep into the playoff rounds.

Perfect Game is going to be grueling this summer. Those who are not in top shape will break down, especially those who will play in multiple PGS. To prepare for this, we will have mandatory conditioning and Yoga in April and May. It will not interfere with high school play. There will be enough options available to avoid that, but just a heads up it is coming as are mandatory summer conditioning sessions once per week. We are looking for and are going to demand dedicated players who want to compete at the highest levels possible so those who are with us are going to be in great, not good, but great baseball shape.

During the off-season months we have done an old timer’s tale of the week every time we do a Where Are They Now. By popular demand, the series restarts this week.

It’s no secret that Mickey Mantle was this writer’s boyhood, adolescent and adult hero. So, this years series will start with another Mantle story.

In 1952, Mantle hit 23 homers, batted .311 and made the All-Star team for the first time-all at age 19. The Yankees battled the Indians most of that summer for 1^st place in the American League. In the 1950s there were no playoffs, you had to win your league and the winner of each league played in the World Series. They claimed the title in late September in an 11 inning win over the A’s in which Mantle hit a homer and led off the winning rally with a single.

All of this is background. The story is about a defensive play Mantle made against the Dodgers’ great Jackie Robinson who was generally regarded as one of the best base runners of his time. The play occurred during the 1952 World Series between the Yankees and Dodgers.

Robinson lined a single to right center in a game that skipped into Mantle’s glove on the 3^rd hop. Robinson rounded 1^st and acted as if he would stop. Mantle had previously picked off runners at 1^st by throwing behind them in such instances. Casey Stengul had warned Mantle that Robinson might take advantage of such an attempt. So, Mantle came up hard and faked a throw to 1^st , Robinson headed for 2^nd as anticipated and Mantle fired the ball to 2^nd baseman Billy Martin who tagged out a shocked and peeved Robinson. Robinson got up, dusted himself off, and slightly tipped his cap to Mantle. A grand gesture by the veteran acknowledging a great play by the nineteen year old wunderkind.

Ben Wilson was a rhp at Boyd-Buchanan High School who pitched 6 seasons (each fall and each summer consisting a season) as a 18u Cyclone and 3 college seasons. He threw from a very low 3/4s arm slot and developed a filthy slider working with Coach K at RSA. He was on some great 18u teams and 2 Georgia Wood Bat League Championship teams which advanced to the Regional Championship games in St. Petersburg, Florida after winning the Georgia State Stan Musial championship. Teammate Paul Davis once observed that Ben looked like Billy Ray Cyrus and hung the nickname " Bennie Ray" on him - it stuck. Bennie Ray pitched collegiately at Lee until arm trouble ended his career after his junior year. He is now in medical school at the University of Memphis.

Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 1:30 P.M at RSA.- Notify him by text at 316-3649 that you are coming!

RSA gift certificates are available from Coach K for Christmas gifts. Also, there are a limited number of pro stock Louisville Slugger and Akadema 30-33 inch bats and Nike and Adadema batting gloves, Cyclones t-shirts, Cyclones hats, Cyclones water bottles and Cyclones licenses plates available for Christmas gifts. All of these are available at very low prices for the quality of the product. Email (gkoontz@kkflawfirm.com) or call Coach K at 309-4995.

Brandon Langston was a shortstop at LFO who played several positions and pitched for the Cyclones both as a 18u and Collegiate Cyclone. Brandon was a power hitter who was converted to pitching as a Cyclone. He finished 2^nd in the first SCS home run derby to Birmingham Baseball’s Matt Carlo, who later played 3 seasons as a Collegiate Cyclone. Brandon was All-SCS as a 18u Cyclone. He was on 2 Regional Stan Musial Teams as a Collegiate Cyclone. He pitched collegiately at Cleveland State and then was the ace of the East Tennessee State staff for 2 seasons. Brandon now works as a traveling troubleshooter for the National Company which installs and services solar equipment. He recently called Coach K and will be in Chattanooga over the Christmas Holidays.

Troy’s Bobby Pierce was named the South Central Region Coach of the Year by American Baseball Coaches Association for the 2011 season. In addition, Troy ranked 41^st nationally in average home attendance with 1,313- second in the Sunbelt conference to Louisiana-Lafayette.

Lee has offered Bobby Towne. Dakota Hudson and Logan Baldwin visited Mississippi State and had a great time at the football game. Dakota and Logan are attending MSU’s January pitching camp. Dakota is now scheduled to visit Kennesaw State. Gabriel Rich, who has worked extensively with Coach Mead since the end of the fall season, threw well at the Georgia State Camp and is now on their follow visit. He was 83-85 in extremely cold weather showing 3 good pitches.

Jim Bachus, McClain’s dad, had quadruple by-pass surgery on Friday. He did well in the procedure and his prognosis is good. He is at Erlanger Hospital. Please put Jim in your prayers.

Hall of Famer Ryan Vision is now available on Wednesday afternoons and evenings at RSA for pitching lessons. Call Coach K 309-4995 or Ryan at 834-0917 to schedule.

We had 15 last week! Still $5.00 for first family member and $3 each additional member!

One of our former players who coached for us at this summer who is a D-I player and who has been All-conference will be conducting an infielders clinic on Friday, December 23, 2011 and the clinic will also include Travis Simmons as an instructor. Ages 8-12 from 9 until noon and ages 13-18 from 1 until 4. The cost is only $40.00 if you pre-register. The class will be limited to the first 25 to sign up. Due to NCAA rules we cannot identify the player or his school. All Cyclones infielders are urged to attend. The registration form is provided below.

Lee has been nationally ranked# 3 by the NAIA Coaches Preseason Poll. The Flames have been in the top 25 for the last 54 consecutive weeks the poll has been published. Cyclones who are Flames this year are LHP-David Eskew, C- Taylor Comford, of-c- James Fowlkes,2b- Brandon Rader and 0f-Cameron Brewster. Eskew and Comford will coach the Cyclones 12u 2012 team.

Troy only signed 7 players in their 2012 class. T.J. Binder is the only one way position player and one of only 2 high school signees. Coach Pierce gave high praise indeed to T. J. as a hitter and the Cyclones were praised as well. Check out the article at www.troy.edu

The registration form for the Tom Griffin catching clinic is set out below. It is $50.00 if you pre-register by December 10, 2011-$60.00 thereafter. If you intend to do any catching for the Cyclones in the summer of 2012 it is mandatory that you attend this clinic. Coach Griffin is the best catching instructor in the Southeast, maybe the country.

Some of you still have not returned jerseys and belts. You need to do so by Wednesday, November 30, 2011 or the penalty fee will be assessed. You may return them to RSA, Coach K’s office or his home. Last Chance!

$5 for 1^st family member, each one thereafter is $3-ATHLETES AND PARENTS- WE HAD 14 LAST WEEK. NOT ONLY GREAT EXERCISE FOR STRENGTH, FLEXIBILITY AND INJURY PREVENTION, BUT LORI MAKES IT FUN!

The registration form for the Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Clinic is posted below. All Cyclones especially new ones, are encouraged to attend.

Name:__________________________ Date of Birth_____________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

City:________________________State:________________ Zip Code:______________

Phone #s (home)_____________________(cell)________________________________

Email Address:__________________________________________________________

Parent’s Names:_________________________________________________________

Positions Played:________________________________________________________

Last select team played for:_________________________________________________

High School or Middle School Played for:_____________________________________

T-Shirt size____________ (only free if your pre-register by December 15, 2011)

Ages 8-18 (12:00-4:30pm)

Each participant has a chance to win a bat, batting gloves, or autographed items of MLB players, etc in a raffle! You may purchase extra tickets.

Mail form and check for $95 to RSA, c/o George E. Koontz, 9323 Standifer Gap Rd., Ooltewah, TN 37363. Make check payable to: RSA. Bring a baseball card or baseball and Wes will sign it for you. Directions to RSA and additional information are available at RealSportsAcademy.com. A portion of the proceeds go to support local youth baseball. Cost if you pay day of Clinic is $100.00. Those who pre-register by December 15, 2011 receive a free Clinic T-Shirt.

RELEASE:

I DO HEREBY RELEASE Real Sports Academy, L.L.C. and its owners, agents, employees, and/or sub-contractors and Wes Hodges from any and all liability for any claims of any nature or kind arising out of my son’s participation in the baseball clinic conducted at the Real Sports Academy on December 28, 2011.

Signature of Parent___________________________________________________________

Date_____________________

Printed Name of Parent

DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS - NO ONE OTHER THAN PARTICIPANTS IN THE CLINIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY DURING THE CLINIC. SESSIONS ARE LIMITED TO FIRST 50 REGISTRANTS.

Coach Mead is taking a couple of more weekends off at RSA for much needed rest. He will resume Saturday group training sessions on Saturday, December 3 at 11:00 A.M. He will also recommence weekend pitching lessons on Saturday on that date. You can schedule 9-11 A.M. or noon-2 P.M. on those dates by calling 316-3649. Until then, Coach K will be doing a conditioning class on Sundays at 4:00- you must call or text to let him know you are coming. If you confirm you are coming you are responsible for payment. He will also do a limited number of hitting or pitching lessons from 2 until 3 and 4 until 5:30 on Sundays. Call 309-4995 to confirm for any of these. Again, if you book it you pay. You can come to group sessions without booking, but you run the risk that the class will not take place if no one has previously confirmed attendance. All of the group sessions are only $10.00 a person.

GET STARTED BACK GUYS!

Dakota Hudson and Logan Baldwin are both going on an unofficial visit to Mississippi State on Ole Miss weekend November 26.

2011 Chattanooga Cyclones Awards

SUMMER P TEAM

JAMES DYLAN PARIS MVP AWARD

T.J. Binder

BEST PITCHER AWARD

Patrick Parris

BEST HITTER AWARD

James Fowlkes

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Drew Toth

DAVID MEAD MOST IMPROVED

Bobby Towne

BRYCE THOMAS CONSUMMATE TEAM PLAYER

Matt Allen and Michael Allen

FALL S TEAM

JAMES DYLAN PARIS MVP AWARD

Gabe Rich

BEST PITCHER AWARD

Jared Ryan

BEST HITTER AWARD

Winston Whitener

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Josh Poole

DAVID MEAD MOST IMPROVED

Hunter McClendon

BRYCE THOMAS CONSUMMATE TEAM PLAYER

Nick Chambers

K FALL TEAM

MOST WINS

Dakota Hudson -7

LOWEST E.R.A.

Zach Thompson-.72

HIGHEST BATTING AVERAGE

Cody Rhinehart- .506

MOST RUNS PRODUCED

Cody Rhinehart

Total Runs Produced-52

Runs -27 RBI-25

DAVID MEAD MOST IMPROVED AWARD

Logan Baldwin

BRYCE THOMAS CONSUMMATE TEAM PLAYER

Bobby Towne

JAMES DYLAN PARIS MVP AWARD

Cody Rhinehart

T.J. Binder

K SUMMER TEAM

BEST PITCHER

Logan Baldwin

BEST HITTER

Brody Binder

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER

Nick Chambers

JAMES DYLAN PARIS MVP AWARD

Lee Gibson

BRYCE THOMAS CONSUMMATE TEAM PLAYER

Jake Wyrick and Will Erwin

DAVID MEAD MOST IMPROVED

Winston Whitener

The food from Rib & Loin was good, Coach Sansing’s talk was very informative, Daniel Howard was funny and Ryan Vinson gave a very sincere Hall of Fame Induction acceptance speech. A good time was had by all in attendance.

Coach Sansing’s talk was about the ever changing NCAA rules on recruiting scholarships and the APR. The recurring theme ( "leitmotiff" for those seeking to add to the vocab today) was the academic requirements are getting tougher next year, especially for junior college transfers. He also echoed what every coach will tell you, the recruiting evaluations and process are starting much earlier.

Coach K reviewed the year, a 48-13-1 overall record, Southern Wood Bat World Series Summer Championship - 7 tournament wins total, top 16 finish at Perfect Game for the P &K teams and the great progress of our exciting 13-16 year old talent base this summer and fall. The record for the last 8 years for the P & K team for the fall is 198-47-9 and for the summer is 228-74-9 with an overall record of 426-121-18.

A total of 72 players in the last 9 years have moved from the Cyclones on to Division I baseball or into the pro baseball. Six former Cyclones here now played in the big leagues and 8 are still playing professionally. Six of our 2012 seniors who played fall baseball have signed or committed already and all the others have at least one offer.

In the summer of 2012 the Cyclones will field 12U, 14-15u, 15-16u, 16-17u and 17-18u teams.

Brent Smith committed to Tusculum shortly after the Awards Banquet last night. Brent has had a very good career so far as a Cyclone and look forward to a great summer of 2012 from him. He will make a good player for Tusculum. Congratulations Brent. Tusculum was 33-18 last year in the SAC.

Only 1 Cyclone will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. Ryan Vinson. Ryan was a unanimous choice. No one else acquired the required votes.

Brent Smith has been offered by Tusculum College and is visiting Carson-Newman today.

Yesterday Jeff Burke singed with Boston College, T. J. Binder with Troy, Drew Toth with Tennessee Tech, and Cody Rhinehart with Bryan College. Ben Rollins has committed to Chattanooga state. Shelden Brogden and Chris Caffrey have offers from Cleveland State and interest from West Alabama and Shelden also has interest from Chipola in Florida. We expect more commitments in the near future.

Wes Hodges will be doing his annual Pro Concepts Clinic at RSA on Wednesday 28, 2011 from 12:30 until 4:00.

Wes Hodges has decided to call it a career and has retired from professional baseball. Wes had a great career as a Cyclone and at Baylor, then was an All-American at Georgia Tech leading Tech to a College World Series and then was a 2^nd round pick of the Cleveland Indians. Wes was an all-star several times in the minor leagues at various levels and played in the futures Game. He had a great career, but wants to start a business career and family. He will go back to Georgia Tech to get his degree.

We are all very proud of Wes the baseball player, but even more importantly Wes is as good as they come as a person. He and his wife Katy are simply great people. We wish them the best as they embark on new and exciting chapter in their lives.

Mandatory for all 2012 Cyclones catchers.

Dakota Hudson and Lee Gibson are among the twelve players invited to Troy’s junior day in early March. Both will be attending. Dakota is on an unofficial visit to Mississippi State this weekend and has been offered several other such visits. Shelden Brogden and Chris Caffrey have offers from Cleveland State.

Ryan Casteel Available for Catching and Hitting Lessons Immediately at RSA. Call 309-4995 for initial scheduling. Also, Travis Simmons 310-0180 and Aaron Simmons is available for hitting lessons- call 718-3800. Coach Koontz is available for hitting or pitching lessons call 309-4995. One of these instructors is available every day of the week.

On Wednesday at 6:30- cell 316-3649 to confirm attendance.

WINS

Hudson-7

Towne, Thompson - 4

Smith -3

Several with 2 or1

E.R.A.

Thompson-.72

Hudson-1.09

Towne-1.18

Baldwin-1.55

K/BB RATIO

Towne -3.7

Thompson-2.61

Hudson-2.0

Baldwin-1.45

WHIP

Towne-.87

Thompson-.87

Hudson-.88

Baldwin-1.17

BATTING AVG.

Rhinehart-.506

Baldwin-.426

Brogden-.388

Smith-.382

OB%

Rhinehart-.576

Binder-.518

Smith-.477

Baldwin, Caffrey-.471

TOTAL RUNS PRODUCED

Rhinehart-52

Brogden-49

Gibson-40

Caffrey-37

RBI

Rhinehart-25

Brogden-24

Caffrey-19

Binder-18

RUNS

Toth-29

Rhinehart, Gibson-27

Brogden-25

Caffrey-18

EXTRA BASE HITS

Brogden-9

Rhinehart, Caffrey-8

Toth-5

The Fall Perfect Game in Jupiter was won by the Marucci Elite. We have played against and beaten 3 of the 4 semi-finalists for this year, Marucci, Texas Sun Devils and the Reds Midwest Scout Team. We intend to keep competing against the best.

Coach Mead’s first off-season group training class for the serious baseball player will be at 6:30 on Wednesday, November 2. Cost is $10.00 per participant. Please call him at 316-3649 to confirm attendance so he can plan.

Chris Caffrey and Shelden Brogden have been offered by Cleveland State. Bobby Towne has visited Carson-Newman and an offer is expected soon. West Alabama has also expressed interest in Shelden Brogden and Samford has serious interest in Dakota Hudson after Sunday. Both West Alabama and Samford have interest in Jake Wyrick and Logan Baldwin.

Jake Wyrick sat 81-83 at Samford and Logan Baldwin 80-83. Dakota Hudson’s VELO was down at 86-88 but his bb was up from a previous average of 68 to 71.

Ryan Casteel is available immediately as in this Wednesday and Thursday for hitting and catching lessons. Call George at 309-4995 to schedule them. Starting next Monday he is available on Monday-Thursday and Sunday afternoons.

   The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) went 2-0 in the Samford University Showcase on Sunday making thier fall record 21-4. Dakota Hudson and Bobby Towne combined on a two hitter in 6-1 win over Greenwave Baseball when Chris Caffrey had 2 hits, 4 rbi, and 2 runs, Sheldon Brogdon 2 hits, and 2 runs, COdy Rhinehart and T.J. Binder a hit and a run a piece and Lee Gibson a rbi hit.

    In a 9-1 win over the Sportstech Stars Zac Thompson earned the win pitching in relief of Logan Baldwin when Brogdon had 3 hits, 2 runs, and 3 rbi, Rhinehart a hit, 2 runs, and a rbi, and Bret Smith and Gabe Rich a rbi hit a piece.

     On Saturday at Samford the younger Cyclones (S) Team defeated the Stars 9-8 and Greenwave Baseball 9-6. Against the Stars Nick Chambers had 2 hits, and 3 runs, Winston Whitener, a rbi hit and 2 runs, Drew Williams 2 hits and a run, and Hunter McClendon a 2 rbi hit when Jake Wyrick earned the pitching win. Jared Ryan earned the win and Gabriel Rich a save against Greenwave when Williams had a 2 rbi double, Chambers a rbi hit and 3 runs, Nick Gaddis had 2 hits and 2 runs and Whitener had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 rbi.

Cody Rhinehart has committed to continue his baseball and education at Bryan College. Although Cody did not play with R.J. Rowden when he was a Cyclone0 he will make the 2^nd Cyclone on the 2012 roster. Coach Steven Brown ends his career there this year. Cody has been a valuable addition to our program. Congratulations Cody!

Drew Toth has committed to continue his baseball and education at Tennessee Tech. He will join 2010 Cyclones Garrett Baugh and Zach Stephens at Tech in 2012. He will be coached by 2006 Cyclone Brandon Turner at Tech.

Tech has made vast improvements to their field and facilities in the last couple of years. Coach Bragga and his staff are to be commended. Congratulations Drew!

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) team (19-4) won the Tennessee Tech Southern Wood Bat Invitational this past weekend going 4-0. In game 1 the Cyclones defeated Birmingham Baseball 16-4 when Brent Smith earned the win and Cody Rhinehart had 3 hits, 4 runs and 3 rbi, Drew Toth 2 hits and 4 runs, Logan Baldwin 2 hits, 2 runs and 3 rbi and Sheldon Brogden 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi. In game two Bobby Towne earned the 8-0 win over the Atlanta Stars when Smith had 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run, Lee Gibson 2 rbi hit, Baldwin a 2 rbi hit and run and Chris Caffrey 2 runs, and a rbi hit. Dakota Hudson threw a one hitter in 10-2 win over the Proconcepts Scout Team when Drew Toth had 2 hits and 3 rbi, Baldwin 3 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, Caffrey a rbi hit and 2 runs and Rhinehart a 2 rbi hit. In an 11-0 win over the Cyclones S team Baldwin earned the win when Smith had 2 hits, 3 rbi and a run, Toth a 2 rbi double and 2 runs, and Nick Chambers 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run.

We are extremely proud of our 14-15 (2012 ages) year old fall team (V Team) which battled against teams 3 and 4 years older for the majority of the Fall. With the players we have added, including those coming in the Summer, these teams will be extremely strong in the summer of 2012 and beyond. We will play the 14s in about half 16u tourneys this Summer and the 15s will play in at least two 18u tournaments. We are excited to have young players who want that challenge and respond to it with consistent, relentless competitive spirit and effort. The future is bright for these players.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) fall baseball team swept a doubleheader from Huntsville Greenwave Baseball on Saturday at Jacksonville State University. Dakota Hudson earned the win and Bobby Towne a save in a game one 2-1 win when Cody Rhinehart and Drew Toth each had a hit and run and Brent Smith a double.

In a game two win the Cyclones won 4-1 with McClain Bachus earning the win with Logan Baldwin striking out 5 in 3 innings to earn the save. Smith had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, Lee Gibson a double and single, Rhinehart, Sheldon and Brogden a hit and run and Toth and Austin Morris each had a rbi. The Cyclones used wood bats and Greenwave aluminum.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) team went 3-1 in the Southern Wood Bat World Series played this past weekend at Lee University, Cleveland State and AT&T.

The Cyclones defeated Atlanta Sportstech 7-4 with Chris Caffrey earning the win when Logan Baldwin had 3 hits, 2 stolen bases, a run and rbi, Sheldon Brogden 3 hits, 2 runs and 3 rbi and Cody Rhinehart a rbi hit and 2 runs.

In a 4-0 win over Birmingham Baseball Blue Dakota Hudson and T. J. Binder combined to pitch a 1 hitter with Binder doubling and driving in 3, and Brogden and Baldwin each having 2 hits and a run. In a 12-0 win over Birmingham Red Bobby Towne pitched the shutout, Brogden had 3 hits and 4 rbi and Lee Gibson and Baldwin 2 hits and a run each.

In the game of the tournament the Cyclones lost 1-0 to Nelson Baseball 18s when Toth, Gibson, Rhinehart and Binder each had hits and the Cyclones left 8 hitters on base. Tanner Thompson and Logan Baldwin each threw well yielding only 5 hits combined and Gibson and Binder both made outstanding defensive plays to rob 2 out hits which would have scored runs.

Southern Wood Bat Fall World Series October 8 &9-Gate Coverage

Saturday

Lee

11:30 Birmingham Blue vs. Nelson Baseball 18 10:15-12:30 Lana & Craig Lancaster

2:00 Birmingham Blue vs. Sportstech                    12:30-2:45 Maggie Sims

4:30 Cyclones (K) vs. Nelson Baseball18               2:45-5:00 Kat Gibson

Cleveland State

10:30 Cyclones (S) vs. Birmingham Red               9:15-11:45 Jeff Smith

1:00 Cyclones (V) vs. Birmingham Red                11:45-2:15 Melody McCoy

4:15 Cyclones (V) vs. Nelson Baseball 17             2:15-4:45 Renee & Kelly Hill

AT&T

10:30 Cyclones (K) vs. Sportstech                          9:15-11:30 Mark & Mary Everett

1:00 Cyclones (S) vs. Nelson Baseball 17             11:30-1:30 Jacqueline Caffrey

Sunday

Lee

8:45 Cyclones (S) vs. Cyclones (V)                        7:30- 9:45 Joey Poole

11:15 Birmingham Red vs. Nelson Baseball 17  9:45-12:00 Gina Whitener

2:00 Pool A3 vs. Pool B3 (5^th)                                 12:00-2:30 Richard Dycus

Cleveland State

8:45 Cyclones (k) vs. Birmingham Blue              7:30-9:45 Penny Rhinehart

11:15 Nelson Baseball18 vs. Sportstech                9:45-12:00 Vickie & Doug Towne

2:00 Pool A4 vs. Pool B4 (7^th)                                 12:00-2:00 Andrea Edgemon

AT&T

2:00 Pool A#1 vs. Pool B #1 (1^st)                           12:45-2:45 Cindy Smith

4:15 Pool B #2 vs. Pool B #2 (3^rd)                         2:45-4:45 Randy Hill

Pool A                                             Pool B

Cyclones (K)                                Cyclones (S)

Birmingham Baseball Blue     Cyclones (V)

Nelson Baseball 18                     Birmingham Red

Sportstech                                     Nelson Baseball 17

Dakota Hudson touched 92 once at KSU. Wake Forrest will be recruiting at least 2 of our 2013 players based off of the weekend and KSU is going to recruit one and follow one. The Rays scout liked several of our players to follow. The teams combined went 7-1. It was a good weekend. The competition gets much tougher from here on out. Gear Up!

K team- Wednesday & Thursday at Cleveland State at 6:00

S team - Thursday at Ooltewah at 6:00

15u team- Wednesday at RSA at 6:00 and Thursday at Cloud Springs at 6:00

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) fall baseball team won the Southern Wood Bat Kennesaw State Invitational tournament this past weekend. The Cyclones defeated Atlanta Sportstech 11-0 when Dakota Hudson threw a 1 hitter and Lee Gibson had a hit, 2 runs and a rbi, Sheldon Brogden a hit and 3 runs, and Austin Morris and Chris Caffrey a 2 rbi double a piece. Zach Thompson pitched a 1 hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in an 11-0 win over the Competitive Edge Dodgers when Brogden had 3 hits and 3 rbi, T.J. Binder and Drew Toth had a hit and 3 runs a piece and Cody Rhinehart and Brent Smith a hit and 2 rbi a piece. McClain Bachus earned the win with relief from Bobby Towne in a 12-3 victory over the Georgia Roadrunners with T.J. Binder having 3 hits, 2 runs and 3 rbi, Gibson 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, Toth 2 hits,3 runs and 2 rbi and Smith 2 hits and 2 runs. In the championship game the Cyclones (K) beat the Cyclones (S) 9-0 when Brent Smith pitched the shutout and Chris Caffrey had 2 hits and 5 rbi, Ben Rollins 2 hits and 3 rbi and Brogden a hit and 3 runs.

The Cyclones (S) defeated Atlanta Sportstech 12-0 when Jared Ryan threw a no-hitter then beat Competitive Edge 6-5 when Brandon Dycus earned the win and Bradley Smith a save and triumphed over the Georgia Roadrunners 6-3 when Jake Wyrick earned the win. Leading hitters for the S team over the weekend were Gabriel Rich, Josh Poole, Kyle Kapher, Nick Chambers, Hunter McClendon and Winston Whitener.

The 15u team lost in the finals of the Smoky Mountain Classic in Knoxville this past weekend. They lost in extra innings when the "International Rules" were involved putting a runner on second. The team they lost to is the freshman baseball tea at Farragutt. It was a great performance by a team that is half 14s and half 15s. These kids do a great job of playing together as a team, executing fundamentals and competing. Coaches Vinson, Higdon and Brown are doing a great job with them.

The S Team played well in their ast 2 games and, especially on Sunday. The pitchers, for the most part, improved over last week’s performances. Defensively , the play was much better, in games 2 and 3. Nick Chambers will be recruited by CN off his performance - especially his leadership and a competitive attitude. Several other juniors from the S Team are now on the follow list there.

The K Team pitching continues to be very good. The team outscored its opponents 21-1 and it could have easily been much worse. Sheldon Brogden, Brent Smith and Bobby Towne meet with Coach Griff while on campus and are now being recruited by CN and Chris Caffrey and Cody Rhinehart will be soon. If Ben Rollins was not committed to Chattanooga State, he would be recruited as well. Dakota Hudson touched 89 and peppered 88 and Zach Thompson again touched 87. Bobby Towne was up to 83 and Brent Smith to 84. Mclain and Logan’s velos were the same as at Troy.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) team won the Carson-Newman Wood Bat Invitational this past weekend. The Cyclones beat the Desert Eagles(17) 3-0 with Dakota Hudson earning the win and Mclain Bauchus a save with the two combining to strike out 13 when Chris Caffrey had a double and run, T.J. Binder a hit and run, Cody Rhinehart a rbi hit and Austin Morris a triple. In a 7-0 win over Parkway White Bobby Towne earned a win with relief provided by Brent Smith with Lee Gibson having 3 hits, 2 rbi and a run, Cody Rhinehart 2 hits and 2 runs, Sheldon Brogden a 2 rbi double and Ben Rollins 2 hits, a run and rbi. In the championship game the Cyclones defeated the Desert Eagles 18 by an 11-1 score with Zach Thompson earning the win with relief help from Logan Baldwin when Brogden had 3 hits, 2 runs and 3 rbi, Gibson 2 hits and 2 runs, Binder 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run and Hudson a 2 rbi hit.

The Cyclones (S) team finished 3^rd going 2-1 in the tournament. They defeated Parkway White 12-4 with Jared Ryan earning the win with relief help from Cameron Alday and Winston Whitener. They shutout Parkway Orange 5-0 with Brandon Dycus earning the win with relief help from Drew Williams and lost 6-3 to the Desert Eagles (17). Leading hitters for the S team were Williams, Gabriel Rich, Josh Poole and Whitener.

Coach K has located a few additional bats. Some 33 and 32 inch Louisville Slugger true pro stock pro quality wood bats. He will have some at CN if you want to get some of the last really good wood. Also, for the 14u and 15u, he has located some 30 inch bats. Please email him if you want a 30 inch bat.

Everett Teaford has a 3.21 E.R.A. in 28 IP for the Kansas City Royals. Mitchell Boggs has a 3.38 E.R.A. in 56 IP for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mike Minor is 4-2 with a 4.09 E.R.A. in 61 2/3 IP for the Atlanta Braves and Cory Gearinn has a 7.85 E.R.A. in 18 1/3 IP for the Braves and is 4-1 with a 1.80 E.R.A. in AAA in 50 IP. Wes Hodges is hitting .279 with 8 homers, 15 doubles for AA Richmond. Ryan Fraser has a 3.58 E.R.A. in 138 1/3 IP in A Savannah. Ryan Casteel is hitting .273 with 17 doubles, 2 triples and a homer in SS Tri-City. Kyler Burke continues to progress well in his transition to pitching and has a 2.86 E.R.A. in 44 IP at SS Boise.

The 2011 list of potential Cyclones Hall of Fame inductees has been reduced from the 12 considered and listed on the website on January 20. The final list of six from which 3 will be voted in is as follows:

1) Russell Montgomery - MIF - 18U & Collegiate Cyclone - (1995 - 1999)

2) Ryan Vinson- LHP - 18U & Collegiate Cyclone - (1995-1996 & 1998 - 2002)

3) J.J. Belk - OF - Collegiate Cyclones - (1997 - 1999)

4) David Timm- 18u and Collegiate Cyclone (1999-2004)

5) Travis Blevins - MIF - Collegiate Cyclone -(1997 - 1999)

6) Pat Rose- 18U and Collegiate Cyclone- (1998-2000)

Eligibility requires that the player have finished their career as Cyclone and have done so at least 5 years ago and played at least 2 full seasons having never failed to complete a season by any reason other than injury. Loyalty to the organization and teammates, and 18U and Collegiate performances are all considered. Three new Cyclones will be inducted each year and honored at the annual banquet. Dylan Paris, David Mead and Chris Geppi were inducted in 2010 and they immediately, sua sponte voted Coach Koontz in. The first 12 inductees’ pictures will be hung at RSA on the "wall of fame". At least the first 6 inductees must have played at some point in the 1990s.

The ballots will go out to Coach K and the 3 current HOF members next week. The inductees will be announced by October 1, 2011 and will be inducted in ceremonies at the 2011 annual Award Banquet. Hopefully, all inductees can attend.

The fall 15u team showed great promise in splitting the Saturday dh with the S team. These players are fearless playing against players 2-4 years older than them. The summer playing up has really helped the 14s and 15s we returned. These are the kind of players we want. We are excited about the future of those who we have picked up from tryouts, and those returning.. These players have what we are looking for.

Lacey is expected to deliver Baby Bella tomorrow. Despite Coach K’s best efforts, Dylan and Lacey are not using Cyclone as her middle name.

Going into the fall, the following is a list of Collegiate Cyclones who will play in 2012:

Austin-Peay- Jon Clinard, Zane Leffew, Belmont- Dylan Craig, Eastern Kentucky- Shaun Ball, Lipscomb- Gray Hutchinson, MTSU- *Hunter Adkins, Tennessee Tech- Garrett Baugh and Zach Stephens, Vanderbilt - *Will Cooper, Lee University- David Eskew, Taylor Comford, Brandon Rader, Cameron Brewster, and James Fowlkes, Carson-Newman College- Brad Dotson Bryan College- Steven Brown, A.J. Rowden, Cleveland State- Derek Shugart, Cody Commons, Steven Kilgore, Randall Coley, Ryan Johnson,Rome Sate- Kenzie Goins

*Indicates received their scholarship in the fall while a Cyclone but did not finish summer after high school as a Cyclone- thus a former Cyclone not eligible for HOF.

T.J. Binder has committed to Troy as of today. T.J. had huge offers from Wake Forrest, Troy, Tennessee Tech, Marshall and Lee as well as an offer from Tennessee. The prediction here is T.J. starts during his freshman year, is all conference as a sophomore and is an All-American as junior and/or senior. T.J. has worked hard for years to play at a top 25 school like Troy. Congratulations T.J.!

Dakota Hudson touched 88 at Troy and Zach Thompson touched 87. Chris Caffrey hit 84 several times and McClain Bachus and T. J. Binder hit 83. Sophomore lefty Logan Baldwin and Bobby Towne each touched 82. These will all elevate as we get in better shape and more pens in. Coach Mead and Coach K are really pushing the pitchers and they are responding.

On the Second time our S&K team members ran their miles all but 2 players on each team made their times and those who didn’t lastly improved their times. Good job guys!

**September 3               OTC Elite 15U               University of West GA   DH(11:00) 

  *September 8               5 inning game with      Ooltewah H.S.                  1 game

                                            Cyclones S Team 

*September 10&11        TBA  

*September 13                5 inning game with     Ooltewah H.S.                  1 game

                                             Cyclones S team   

   September 17-18         OFF                                     OFF                                         OFF

* September 23-25         Fall Grand Slam            Ringgold                   3 games (min.)      

* September 29             2 five inning Games        TBA                                   2 games

                                             Cyclones (S)

* October 2                     2 Select 16u teams         University of                    2 games

                                                                                         Huntsville

    October 7-9                  OFF (Southern Wood Bat Gate Coverage for Parents) 

    October 14-16              DH-T.B.A.

 This schedule is subject to some modifications. The dates with asterisks are definitely set. We will not play more than 18 games total.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) fall baseball team went 3-1 in the Southern Wood Bat Troy University Invitational Tournament this past weekend. In game one 6-3 win over the Wiregrass Cardinals 18s Brent Smith earned the win pitching in relief of Zach Thompson when Logan Baldwin had 2 hits and 2 rbi, Smith a hit, run and rbi and Cody Rhinehart scored twice. In a 5-0 shutout of Greenwave Baseball Dakota Hudson earned the win with relief help from McClain Bachus and Smith and Rhinehart each had 2 hits, a run and rbi, Sheldon Brogden a double and run scored, Baldwin a rbi hit and Austin Morris a hit and run. In a game three 8-5 win over the Collegiate As Lee Gibson had 2 hits, 4 runs and 2 rbi, Rhinehart 3 hits and 4 rbi, T.J. Binder a rbi hit and Smith a hit and run with Baldwin and Binder pitching and Chris Caffrey earning the win. In a 4-0 loss to Viper Baseball Hudson had the Cyclones one hit.

The younger Cyclones (S) team went 2-2 in the tournament with Drew Williams, Gabriel Rich, and Nick Chambers being the leading hitters with Brandon Dycus getting a win and Davis Culpepper a save against Wiregrass 17s and Jared Ryan wining the game against the Collegiate As with Chambers earning a save.

T. J. Binder now has offers from Marshall, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee, Troy and is awaiting an offer from Wake Forrest. Mississippi State and South Alabama were at the tournament at Troy. Two of our juniors and one of our sophomores are on Mississippi States follow list. Troy has follow interest in several juniors and sophomores. Drew Toth has indicated he has been offered by Austin Peay.

Jeff Burke has accepted a substantial 4 year baseball scholarship from ACC member Boston College. That’s right, he is guaranteed it for 4 years, not one. Jeff also had offers from the University of Richmond,Wake Forrest, Penn and Dartmouth. We are all extremely proud of Jeff and his perseverance through the process and several health setbacks. By age, Jeff should be a senior this age at Baylor. He worked extremely hard over the last several months and has now earned and received his reward. Congratulations Jeff! The Hof may be calling him one day.

Former Cyclone Mike Minor threw 6 shutout IP yesterday for the Braves striking out 9 to get a win against the Giants and Tim Lincecum.

The 2011 Fall K & S schedules will be posted Monday. The 15u will be posted when others will not be able to benefit from the work put in by us to put it together. Everyone has been emailed their schedule.

T.J. now has a substantial offer from Tennessee Tech.

Patrick Parris threw so well at Appalachian State’s Camp this past weekend that the coaches videotaped him to use his mechanics as a model of how you should pitch. That is a great compliment to P Train and Coach Mead. ASU saw P Train pitch at 17U PG and is now being recruited by ASU.

Dylan Craig has returned to RSA and Coach Paris to find the swing he had his last year as a Cyclone which he carried to Belmont to earn Freshman All-American honors. He feels his swing is now very close to where it was before. Dylan has been all-conference the last 2 years, but his stroke has not been quite the same since he left for summer ball after his freshman year at Belmont. Coach Paris was his hitting instructor from age 14 until he left for Belmont.

Ryan Fraser won his last start for Savannah throwing 5 shutout IP striking out 5 and yielding only 3 hits. Wes Hodges continues to stroke in AA for the Giants as he now is hitting .310 with 7 homers, 13 doubles and 26 rbi in only 176 ab. Kyler Burke has now thrown 27 2/3 IP in his transition to pitching with a 43.25 E.R.A. in short season for the Cubs. Mike Minor has a 3.22 E.R.A. in AAA with 100 2/3 IP for the Braves and Cory Gearrin 41.87 E.R.A. in 33 1/3 IP in relief. Cory and Mike have spent the season going between the majors and AAA. Minor has 33 IP in the majors and Cory has 18 1/3. The Cardinals Mitchell Boggs now has a 3.09 E.R.A. in the bigs in 43 2/3 IP.

Jeff Burke, who has been with us since he was 14, is now being recruited by Dartmouth, Boston College, Wake Forrest and the University of Pennsylvania. He has a substantial offer from the University of Richmond. T. J. Binder is being recruited by UT, Troy, Wake Forrest, Marshall, Kansas State, Tennessee Tech, Southern Miss, Lee and others. Jeff and T.J. have several visits upcoming. Zach McKelvey is being recruited by ASU and Georgia Southern and has a visit to ASU upcoming. Every senior has schools who have inquired about them and it has been indicated they will be actively recruited. In addition, Lee Gibson has attracted a lot of attention from several D-1 schools including 3 from the SEC and ACC and McClain Bachus has some D-1s following him. Logan Baldwin has put himself on several D-1 follow lists as a rising sophomores and including several ACC & SEC schools. Brodie Binder, Jake Wyrick and Logan Fugatt have attracted a lot of attention from D-1 Schools as well. Others have generated interest from smaller schools.

Jeff Burke, who is actually younger than some of our current seniors, has worked hard with Coach Mead on increasing his velocity and adjusting his mechanics over the last 4 months. He has increased his velocity 4mph over the summer and is still climbing. He was 89-90 in a bullpen at RSA earlier this week with Coach Mead. His slider is now a college level pitch at 75-77 mph. Coach Mead’s instruction and Jeff’s work at RSA and during practice has paid off. (See above). Put in the work, you get the reward.

Ryan Casteel is hitting .289 with 11 doubles, 16 rbi and 19 runs with a .360 OBP in low A for the Rockies while throwing out 34% of base runners attempting to steal and Blake McDade is hitting .209 in limited action for the same team. Casteel has been invited to the instructional league for a 2^nd season which is a great sign the organization is high on him. Ryan Fraser has a 3.59 E.R.A. in 112 2/3 IP which leads the Savannah Sandnats Wes Hodges in hitting .313 with 6 homers and 23 rbi in 41 games for the Giants A team. The Cub’s Kyler Burkes’s transition to the mound is making progress as he has a 3.20 E.R.A. in 24 1/3 IP with 1.19 WHIP in low A.

Mitchell Boggs has a good 3.10 E.R.A. in 40 2/3 IP in the big leagues with St. Louis lefty specialist Evertt Teaford has a 2.25 E.R.A. in 16 IP in the big leagues with Kansas City. Mike Minor has a 4.57 E.R.A. in the big leagues in 33 1/3 IP with the Braves and Corey Gearrin has thrown 18 1/3 IP for the Braves with a 7.85 E.R.A. which is so high due to 1 bad outing. Minor and Gearrin have been going up and down between the big leagues and AAA.

We are going to be doing a significant amount of conditioning and stretching at practices this fall. In addition everyone is going to have to run a mile for time. The K team players will need to run a 6:30 or better and the S team a 6:45 or better. If you can do it, we strongly urge you to attend Yoga at 4:30 on Tuesdays and/or 10:00 on Saturdays and at least 1 of Coach Meads group training sessions on Sunday at 2:00 and/or on Tuesdays at 6:00 at RSA. Again, you are urged to get ready for what is coming at practice.

Coach Mead is going to do speed, agility and training group classes at 2:00 on Sunday’s and 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays until school starts. Then the Tuesdays will go to evenings. It is only $10.00 per session. The 1^st session will be on this Sunday July 31, 2011. Please call him at 316-3649 to confirm each group session so he can plan for the number he will have.

T. J. Binder is scheduled to visit Wake Forrest this coming weekend and Jeff Burke visits August 20, 2011. Jeff is being recruited by Boston College, Penn and Dartmoth as well as Wake. T. J. is being recruited by Tennessee Marshall, Kansas State, Troy, Southern Miss, Jacksonville State and many others. Exciting news may be forthcoming on T. J. this week. Several other of our rising seniors have significant interest from schools who have not offered or extended visits yet, but we don’t have a rising senior who Coach K has not fielded at least one call about a potential spot next year in college. In addition, several of our underclassman are on follow lists at multiple schools, including at least 4 of 2014 players, as a result of their summer performances.

                            Heat and Excel Advance to Round OF 16 at PG 16U

The Houston Heat, who Patrick Parris no-hit, won their first playoff game 6-2 and their second 8-4 to advance to the round of 16. The Excel Blue Sox whom we have played several times over the past 3 years also advanced to the round of 16.

Richard C. Kennedy passed away this past weekend. Coach K was fortunate enough to have practiced law with Dick since 1979. Dick and Coach K founded what is now Kennedy, Koontz & Farinash in 1983. Dick was a brilliant lawyer, the best partner anyone could have and a great friend who will be so sorely missed by those who knew and loved him. No one ever had a better partner or friend.

Brandon Turner, arguably the best hitter to every wear a Cyclones uniform, has accepted a volunteer coaching position at Tennessee Tech where former Cyclones Zach Stephens and Garrett Baugh will be sophomores. BT also coached our 16u team last summer after assisting Coach K and Coach Simmons at the end of the summer of 2009 season. Brandon was an All-American at Mississippi State and retired from pro ball with over a .300 lifetime minor league average because he wanted to coach. Congratulations to Coach BT!

We have been advised by agents Matt and Michael Allen of the FBII (Federal Bureau of Baseball Investigations) that Bobby Towne’s change up has been banned in 5 states due to his performance at Perfect Game. We will adjust our fall schedule accordingly.

The 17u Perfect Game team best some of the best teams in the country this week in a tremendous display of determination, heart, unselfishness and team work. We have never had a team lay it on the line for 8 straight games any better than this team did at Perfect Game While this team has talented players, it is the least physically talented of the 3 teams which we have made it to the top 16 teams in the country at Perfect Game. That said, no Cyclones team ever has gotten more out of itself. The effort they put into overcoming an 8 run deficit to tie the Texas Blackhawks and the 9 run 5^th inning against a very talented Indiana Pony Express team when down 5-2 were true testaments to the heart, determination and guts at this team. Tremendously gutty pitching performances were turned by Bobby Towne (twice), Brent Smith (twice), Logan Baldwin (twice), Patrick Parris and Jeff Burke. T.J. Binder had a monster tournament going 11 for 21 with 9 rbi, Jeff Burke got one big hit after another and Lee Gibson, Sheldon Brogden, Drew Toth, Brody Binder, Matt and Michael Allen, Robert Parr and Zach McKelvey all made multiple major contributions to lead us to true team effort wins. You add in the other K team players who played a significant amount in Colby Chattin and Jake Wyrick and it was truly an organizational effort. This team even battled the Prospects Baseball U to the wire with our 15 year olds pitching us to a 1-1 tie into the bottom of the 5^th before succumbing to the talent of a team with players from 10 different states.

Very well done guys! We are very honored that all of you wear the Cyclones uniform. You epitomize the attitude and effort which are the hallmarks of what we preach and teach. We have never been more proud of any team than we are of you. To be one of the top 16 teams in the country and the only team left playing in the round of 16, which did not have players outside of a 60 mile radius, is a great accomplishment.

The entire organization owes a debt of gratitude to our senior players and especially to those who have been with us for several seasons. Randall Coley, James Fowlkes and Ryan Johnson have all been with us for 4 seasons (fall, Summer) or more. Kenzie Goins has been with us for 2 memorable seasons and Brad Dotson was with us for the first time this summer. Jeff Burke has been with us the longest, since he was 14. They all had very good summers although Kenize was forced to miss 3 weeks due to his foot injury. They were the heart and soul fo the P team which won 2 World Series and stoo toe to toe with the best teams from they Southeast all summer long. We greatly appreciate their athletic and leadership contributions. More importantly, we are grateful for their loyalty to the organization in finishing their pre-college and 18u careers with us as true Cyclones do. They will all be missed.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 17u team advanced to the round of 16 at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Championship for the 3^rd time in the last 7 years behind Bobby Towne’s 6 hit 1-0 shutout of fifth seeded Top Tier baseball from Illinois. It was Towne’s fourth consecutive shutout and 2^nd of the tournament. T.J. Binder had 2 hits including a rbi double to drive in 15 year old Logan Baldwin who had singled. Lee Gibson made a crucial defensive play at shortstop to help cement the win.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 8 game run through the Perfect Game World Wood Bat National Championships came to an end in the round of 16 when they lost to the undefeated Baseball Prospects 9-1. The Cyclones were tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the 5^th when the Prospects erupted for 6 runs. Logan Baldwin pitched well for the Cyclones yielding 1 unearned run in his 3 innings. T. J. Binder who was 11 for 21 with 9 rbi in the tournament had 2 hits and Matt Allen a hit and run. Binder finished the tournament ranked by Perfect Game as having the 4^th most quality at bats of any hitter in the tournament. This is the 3^rd time in the last 7 years the Cyclones have advanced to the round of 16 at the National Championship.

The Prospects roster had 28 players from 10 states. They advanced to the semi finals by defeating the Texas Blackhawks 13-5 in the next round.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 17u team won its game in the first round of the playoffs at the massive Perfect Game World Wood Bat National Championship. Only 2 teams from Tennessee made the playoffs and the Cyclones are the only team from Tennessee to advance to the final 32 teams. It is the fourth year out of the last 8 that the Cyclones have advanced in their age group further than any other Tennessee team.

They beast the Indiana Pony Express 12-10. The Cyclones erupted for 9 runs in the 5^th inning to take an 11-5 lead. Jeff Burke earned the win with relief help from Brent Smith. T.J. Binder had 3 hits, a run and 4 rbi, Drew Toth and Matt Allen 3 hits each with a run and rbi and Jeff Burke, Michael Allen, Brody Binder and Lee Gibson each had a hit, run and rbi.

Binder is listed by Perfect Game’s website as having the 4^th most quality at bats of anyone in the 216 team tournament.

Everett Teaford has become the 5^th player who wore a Cyclones uniform to play in the bigs. He has pitched 15 2/3 IP with a 2.30 E.R.A. with the Royals over the last 3 weeks.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 17u clinched their pool with a 10-3 win over Bucky Dent’s Bandits Royal with Patrick Parris throwing a complete game. Sheldon Brogden had 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi, Lee Gibson 2 hits and a run, T.J. Binder a homer and SEC fly to drive in 2, Jeff Burke a double and 2 runs and Brody Binder a 2 rbi pinch hit. The Cyclones will advance to the playoff portion of the tournament regardless of the outcome of their last pool game. The playoff rounds are made up of 48 out of the 216 top teams in the country participating in the tournament.

The Cyclones 13u team won the 14u Smokey Mountain Classic Tournament this past weekend in Knoxville. In a game one 8-3 win over the Knoxville Orieles Tyson Cooper had 2 hits, a run and rbi, Brandon Dendy 2 hits, a run and rbi, Noah Hill a hit, run and 2 rbi and Justin Glover earned the win with an inning of relief. In a game two 7-2 loss to the Cherokee Indians Hill had 2 hits and a rbi. In game three the Cyclones again beat the Knoxville Orieles with Devin Lancaster earning the win when Cade Evans had 3 hits and a rbi, Josh Aslinger a hit and run, and Hank Norton a 2 rbi hit. In the semifinals the Cyclones beat the Seymour Eagles 4-3 with Glover earning the win and Alex Darras a save with Dendy having 2 hits and a run, Glover 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run, and Darras a triple and run. In the finals the Cyclones earned the Championship with a 5-4 win over Diamond Baseball when Caleb Pezez had a walk off single, Aslinger and Darras pitched, Evans had 2 hits, Hill a double, run and rbi and Lancaster 3 hits, 2 rbi and a run and Darras a hit and 2 runs.

Ryan Fraser has had 3 top notch outings in a row. He is 6-5 on the year leading the Savannah Sandgnats in IP at 97 with a 3.06 E.R.A. and a 1.30 WHIP.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 17u overcame an 11-3 deficit to earn a 12-12 with the Texas Blackhawks in their 3^rd pool game at Perfect Games World Wood Bat Nation Championship. Fifteen year old Logan Baldwin pitched 4 innings of relief yielding only 1 earned run. Sheldon Brogden had 2 hits, a run and 2 rbi, T.J. Binder 2 hits and 2 runs, Brody Binder 2 hits, a run and rbi and Jeff Burke tripled, scored twice and had a rbi.

The Cyclones 13u once again won a 14u tournament this past weekend. They won the Smokey Mountain Classic by winning 3 games on Sunday after splitting 2 games on Saturday. Details to follow.

Cyclones Start 2-0 at Perfect Game National Championship

The Chattanooga Cyclones started 2-0 in their pool at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat National Championship. The Cyclones defeated the Prospect Stars Blue 4-2 behind a complete game by Brent Smith when Lee Gibson had 3 hits, Zach McKelvey a rbi double and run, Brody Binder a rbi single and run, Michael Allen a 2 rbi hit and Drew Toth a hit and run.

In a game 2 win the Cyclones beat the New Jersey Mariner Scout Team 2-0 with Bobby Towne throwing a shutout and striking out 9 when T. J. Binder had a rbi and run, Jeff Burke had 2 hits and a rbi and Lee Gibson scored a run.

Batting Avg. (Min .25 P.A.)

McClendon .364

Gibson .333

Binder .294

Baldwin .291

OB% (Min. 25 P.A.)

Wyrick .519

Chambers .444

Smith .440

Gibson .436

Runs

Gibson 17

Chambers 13

Bostain 11

Morrissey 8

Total Runs Produced

Gibson 23

Binder 22

Bostain 18

Erwin 17

RBI

Binder 15

Erwin 14

Baldwin 8

Bostain 7

K Team Pitching Leaders

IP

Wyrick 26

Bachus, Morrissey 23

Baldwin 22

Murrell 12 1/3

E.R.A. (Min 9 IP)

Baldwin 3.50

Wyrick 3.77

Ryan 3.88

Bachus 4.26

WHIP (Min. 9 IP)

Baldwin 1.56

Bachus 1.65

Wyrick 1.77

Erwin 1.93

K/BB Ratio (Min. 9 IP)

Bachus .87

Baldwin .82

Ryan .67

Over the years the focus of college coaches and professionals scouts as well as the level of competition has evolved..We have attended since 2003. In the early years we went to 18u and 17u. The emphasis by coaches and scouts were on these age groups and the best competition was there. Now, the emphasis and competition is at the 17u and 16u age groups. This is why we now attend these ages and not the 18u. Next year we will also attend at the 14u and 15u age groups.

Among the teams, the Cyclones have played and beaten in the past 2 years the Excel Blue won its pool at PG 18, the E.C. Astros 16u won their pool, the Diamond Devils Black 18u tied for 1^st in their pool, but lost on least runs allowed, the E.C. Saints finished 2^nd in their pool at 4-1, Team Gwinnett won their pool, and the East Cobb Braves 17u won their pool. The Blue Wave lost in the quarter finals, and the E.C. Braves advanced to the semi-finals.

In our teams 17u PG pool this coming week the Marucci Elite are ranked the #2 16u team in the 17u #10 team in the country, the Bucky Dent Royals went 3-1-1 at the 18u PG tournament, the N.J. Mariners are a scout team, and the Prospects Stars Blue 17u went 3-1-1 at last years 16u PG. Add the Texas Blackhawks and this is a very tough pool.

Thanks to all of the parents who worked gates this past weekend. The tournament was a huge success. We will soon list the parents who did 3 and 4 gates this summer, those who did 3 are going to get a half price lesson for their son at RSA and those who did 4 gates will get a free lesson at RSA. Thanks again.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (P) team went 6-0 to win the Southern Wood Bat World Series played this past Weekend at Lee University, Cleveland State and AT&T field. The teams included players from 5 states. The Cyclones won their first game 7-6 over the Chattanooga South when Matt Allen earned the win and Ryan Johnson a save. James Fowlkes had 3 hits and 3 rbi and Kenzie Goins and Randall Coley each had rib hits.

In a second game 19-1 win over Atlanta Sportstech Brent Smith earned the win when Sheldon Brogdon had 2 hits, 3 runs and rbi, Zach McKelvey had 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi and Goins had 2 hits, 3runs and rbi.

The Cyclones defeated the Bradley Bombers 9-2 with Bobby Towne earing a complete game win when T. J. Binder had a 2 rbi hit, Fowlkes 3 hits and a rbi and Jeff Burke 2 hits and 2 rbi.

In a 4-2 win over the Jefferson Patriots, Jeff Burke earned the win with Ryan Johnson earning a 2^nd save when Coley and Fowlkes each had a rbi hit.

In the semi-finals the Cyclones scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the Desert Eagles 6-5 with Burke getting the game winning hit. Kegan Frederick, Robert Parr and Matt Allen all pitched with Ryan Johnson earing the win. In the finals, the Cyclones beat the Ringgold Tigers 6-1 with Patrick Parris earning the win with relief help from Kenzie Goins. James Fowlkes hit a towering 3 run homer over the left field wall at Lee, Drew Toth had a rbi hit as did Bobby Towne.

The 16u Championship was won by Knoxville Thunder in a 2-0 win over CBC 15 with Jordan Lane throwing the shutout. The Thunder’s leading hitters for the tournament were Chase Chambers, Austin Kearney and Caden Ricketts.

Among other local teams playing in their age group Chattanooga South was 0-4, the Bradley Bombers were 2-2-1, the Ringgold Tigers were 5-1 and CBC 16 was 1-3.

Fraser Has Good Start Against Rome

Coach K, Mrs. K, Coach P, Logan Baldwin, Colby Chattin and Nick Chambers all attended Ryan Fraser’s start last night in Rome. He threw well, 6 IP, 1 earned run, but got a no devision.

Former KSU Assistant Coach Ryan Coe was there doing his pro coverage for the Braves and he said that Ryan has a legitimate shot to make it if he continues to progress as the rate he has so far.

In the latest edition of Collegiate Baseball awards for the year were given out. Belmont’s Dylan Craig was chose "Mr. Clutch" for his game winning inside the park home run against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs’ pitcher had a 2 hitter going with 2 out in the ninth before Dylan’s game winner.

Coach Bobby Pierce’s Troy Trojans placed 3 players on the Louisville Slugger All-American Team. They had one each on the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd teams. The Troy Baseball Team the K team played at Troy is 3-1 in their Perfect Game Pool this week.

The Cyclones 13u went 1-1 in the 14u Cleveland tournament this past weekend and would have been in the championship game against the 14u with a Sunday morning win against a team from Knoxville (which Coach Vinson assures me was a foregone conclusion). The 14u team was 3-0 including another win against the Fury 14s.

The K team made a huge step forward with a win over the 21^st ranked 18u team in the country by Perfect Game in a game where they easily could have been intimidated. The challenge now for the players is to consistently play at the level they now know they are capable. Thanks to all our gate people for their assistance. The West Georgia coaches are interested in several of our younger players including all 3 from Georgia.

Ryan Fraser is scheduled to toe the rubber against the Rome Braves at 7:00 P.M. on June 30, 2011. As many of his former teammates and our current players and parents who can should try to attend and watch Ryan throw. He is a great example of someone who made himself into a pitcher while in our program. Our current coaches will be going. The K team practices this week will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cyclones (P) Beat Chet Lemon’s Juice!

They Cyclones (P) team beat Chet Lemon’s Juice, one of the perennial top teams in the country, yesterday at Clemson 3-2 behind a sterling pitching performance by Patrick " P Train" Parris. The Juice have won several national titles over the years including Perfect Game in 2007. Congratulations!

Earlier in the summer, the Cyclones defeated the #21 ranked 18u team the E.C. Saints for the Memorial Weekend Southern Wood bat Title.

Several of our younger players have put themselves on follow lists at Mississippi State, KSU, Gulf Coast, and Troy. Lot of hand work to do before that results in offers, but better to be on a follow list than not!

The TBR recently released the statewide stat leaders. James Fowlkes tied for first in homers with 18, was 4^th in bb with 36, was 11^th with 28 sb, Patrick Parris 14^th in hbp with 11 while Matt Allen was 2^nd in sb with 48 and 10^th in bb with 30.

Zach Stephens is a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. He led Tennessee Tech in homers and rbi as a freshman.

Wes Hodges finally got his release from the Indians and very quickly signed with the Giants and will be with the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Ryan Johnson has committed to Cleveland State and signed his NOL to continue his education and baseball career there. He will join Randall Coley from this summer’s team as well as former teammates Tyler Kilgore and Derek Shugart.

Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens and Garrett Baugh were both named to the OVC All- Freshman team. Stephens lead Zach in homers at 10, rbi with 48, and a .559 slugging %. Baugh led the team with a 4.05 E.R.A. in 17 appearances. Stephens is playing in the Coastal Plains league this summer with the Moorehead City Marlines.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (K) team went 3-1 at the Troy University Southern Wood Bat Tournament this past weekend. The Cyclones beat the OTC White 11-0 with Kegan Frederick earning the win when James Fowlkes had 2 hits, 3 rbi and 2 runs, Drew Toth 3 hits and 2 runs and Bobby Towne 2 rbi. In a 2-1 win over the Wiregrass Cardinals 18s Patrick Parris earned the win when Shelden Brogden doubled and had a rbi, T.J. Binder had 2 hits and scored once, Fowlkes tripled and scored and Jeff Burke had 2 hits and a rbi. In 6-1 loss to OTC Black Binder doubled and scored and Fowlkes had a rbi. In a 6-4 win over the Huntsville Green Wave Brad Dotson earned the win and Ryan Johnson a save when Randall Coley had a double and scored, James Fowlkes scored twice, Binder had a 2 rbi double and Zach McKelvey had 2 hits and a run.

The Cyclones K team went 2-2 at Troy. They lost 7 to 4 to Trojans Baseball when Nick Chambers, and Brody Binder each had a rbi hit and Hunter McClendon had a hit and run. In a 5-1 win over OTC White Logan Baldwin threw a no-hitter and Logan Fugate had 2 hits and 2 rbi, Binder 2 hits, a run and rbi and Lee Gibson and Chambers a hit and run. In a 7-5 loss to OTC Black Baldwin had 2 hits and run and Lee Gibson had a 3 run triple. In a 10-4 win over the Wiregrass Cardinal 17s McClain Bachus, McClendon and Chambers pitched and Gibson and Baldwin each had 2 hits, a run and rbi.

The Troy Coaches got great reports on how the tournament ran this past weekend in their absence. We are the only organization they let run tournaments in their absence and that is due in part to the efforts of our parents. Thanks for the help. Coach Murphee from Gulf Coast was at the tournament and is interested in several players and turned in his report to Troy’s Coaches as well since he was previously a grad assistant there.

The MLB draft takes place on June 6-8, 2011. The first round takes place on June 6 with rounds 2-30 on June 7 and 30-50 on June 8. Below is a list of those identified months ago as potential draftees and their current projected status.

1)Will Cooper- were signability not an issue, Will could go as high as the fourth round and as late as the eighth. However, signability is a huge issue and therefore Will is likely to go un-drafted or drafted very late by someone who will take him as a "flyer" and make an offer well above slot money.

2) Dylan Craig- Dylan should be drafted on day 2. He is signable and he projects rounds 10-14. He really helped himself at a Mariner’s pre-draft workout. The As or Mariners are the best bets to draft him.

3) Chad Fromm- Chad was under the radar at Lipscomb this year. He helped himself at a Mariner’s pre-draft workout where he showed an average MLB fb and cb to 8 hitters. He could go on day 3 late. Again the bet is to Mariner’s.

4) Jon Clinard- Jon will not be drafted. He was hurt half of the year. Possible senior sign next year with big year.

5) Michael Brown - Michael had a great year. If he goes it will be late or as free agent likely to they Rays.

6) Shaun Ball - Shaun had a huge year with the new bat. He could go late on the 3^rd day. More likely that he will go to Eastern Kentucky and be drafted out of there.

The 14u Cyclones did well in the 16u Division of the Southern Wood Bat World Series over Memorial Day weekend. The 14u beat the East Cobb Shamrocks 16u team and lost 6-5 to the CBC 16 team. You could actually see the players get better from game1 to game 4. The 14s met the challenge of stepping up and got an opportunity to see the older teams play. They met a stiffer challenge this past weekend at Cleveland State playing 16 year olds with aluminum and won a game. We are trying to find out who can raise the level of their game and who truly competes. After this year, all those who remain Cyclones will often be competing against players 3 years old just like you do for high school playing time and when you go off to college.

Our goal is to prepare these players to be ready to compete and for college not to see how many 14u trophies you can win. Those won’t get a place on the varsity or a college scholarship. Learning how to compete and raise the level of their game against those bigger, older and stronger will pay huge dividends in the future. Those who remain as 15s will not only be challenged by a predominately 18u schedule but also a full summer and fall of travel to various college campuses across the Southeast We look forward to these players making the step up next year.

The Chattanooga Cyclones K team won the Memorial Weekend Southern Wood Bat World Series 16u Division played at Lee University, Cleveland State and AT&T over the weekend. In a game one win over the Cyclones (M) team Jared Ryan earned the win with relief from Winston Whitener when Logan Baldwin had 2 hits, 4 rbi and a run, Lee Gibson 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, and Colby Chattin 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run. In a game 2 loss to CBC 15 Jackson Bostain and Will Erwin had a hit and run, and Logan Fugate and Gibson had rbi hits. In a game three 7-4 win over CBC 16, Erwin earned the win pitching in relief of Chase Morrissey before Whitener earned a save when Erwin had 3 hits and a rbi, Baldwin a hit and run, Brody Binder a hit and 3 rbi and Jackson Cooper and McClain Bachus a hit and run. In a 6-0 win over East Cobb Shamrocks Jake Wyrick earned the win with relief help from Bacuhus when Erwin had 2 hits and 3 rbi, Binder 3 hits and a rbi, and Nick Chambers and Bachus 2 hits and a run. In the Championship game at AT&T the Cyclones defeated CBC 16 4-3 by scoring 4 runs in the last 2 innings. Logan Fugate, Jared Ryan, Bradley Smith and Hunter McClendon all pitched for the Cyclones when McClendon had 2 hits and 2 rbi, Binder a hit, run and rbi, Gibson a hit and run and Chambers a hit and run. The team is coached by George Koontz and Cyclone Alumni Travis Simmons and Jon Clinard.

The Chattanooga Cyclones (P) team won the Southern Wood Bat World Series 18 u Division played at Cleveland State, Lee and AT&T this past weekend. In a game one 10-4 loss to the East Cobb Saints, Brent Smith had a 2 rbi hit and Shelden Brogden a hit and run. In a game two 2-1 win over CBC 17, Patrick Parris threw a complete game 3 hitter when Smith had 2 hits and a rbi, Brogden a rbi hit, Randall Coley a hit and run and Zach McKelvey 2 hits. In a game three 10-1 win over the East Cobb Shamrocks, Bobby Towne pitched a complete game when McKelvey had 2 hits and 3 rbi, James Fowlkes and Brogden a hit, run and rbi a piece and Matt Allen and T.J. Brinder had 2 hits and 2 runs each. In a game three 8-6 win over the East Cobb Indians Brent Smith earned the pitching win and Ryan Johnson a save. Brogden had 2 hits and 2 rbi, Fowlkes 3 hits and a rbi and Bobby Towne a hit and run. In the Championship game at AT&T on Monday Brad Dodson got the win, Matt Allen a hold and Johnson another save when Drew Toth had 2 hits, a run and rbi, Fowlkes a hit, run and rbi and Patrick Parris a hit, run and 2 rbi. The team is coached by Cyclone Alumni Dylan Paris, David Mead and Aaron Simmons.

The K team will wear Blue and White and be at the field  at 9:30.

The P team will wear Red and White and be at the field at 11:45.

NOTE:  The 13U Cyclones won the 14U Memorial Day Weekend Tiger Classic in Ringgold GA.

The 13u Chattanooga Cyclones won the 14u Division of the Ringgold Tiger Classic this past weekend. In a game one 17-5 win over the Legends Cade Evans had 2 hits, 2rbi and a stolen base, Noah Hill 2 hits, 3 rbi and a stolen base and Alex Viars 4 rbi when Noah Hill was the winning pitcher. In game two the Cyclones defeated the Georgia Tigers 10-2 when Devon Lancaster earned the win, Hill had a 2 rbi hit, Josh Aslinger 2 hits and 2 rbi, and Evans a rbi hit. In a third game loss to the Georgia Indians Brevin Harris had a 2 rbi hit, Aslinger 2 hits and 2 runs, Hill 3 hits, 2 rbi and a run and Brandon Dendy a hit and 2 runs. In a 7-4 win over the Furry 14, Tyson Cooper had 2 hits, Evans a hit, run and rbi, Ben Wyrick a rbi hit and Viars 2 hits and 2 runs. Justin Glover threw a complete game to earn th win. The Cyclones won a 3 way tie for 1^st on least runs allowed. They are coached by alumni Ryan Vinson and Steven Brown.

Friday, wear white, blue trim and jersey. No uniforms if you aren’t fully paid absent prior arrangements.

Please remember that you must report your scores by text to 423-309-4995 after the game is concluded. Both teams need to report scores so any discrepancies can be addressed immediately. The scores will go on www.eteamz.com/supercyclones under "Cyclones News" at the end of the evening.

Troy’s Bobby Pierce not only led his Trojans to the regular season Sunbelt Conference Championship but the Trojans swept to the top 3 Awards at the Sunbelt Banquet last night. Pierce was named Coach of the Year, Trojan Tyler Ray was named Pitcher of the Year and Trojan Adam Bryant was named Co-Player of the Year. It is very, very rare for 1 team to win all 3 awards in a Conference. It is the second time Pierce has had it happen in his tenure at Troy. Also, the Trojans placed 4 players on the first All-SBC team and 2 players on the second team.

It is an absolute non-brainier that Pierce is the one perfect and only sure bet to resurrect the moribund Tennessee program.

Belmont’s Junior center fielder Dylan Craig was named 1^st team All Atlantic Sun Conference last night. It was the 3^rd time he has been on the team. Craig currently projects to go in the top 10-12 rounds of the draft.

The Chattanooga Cyclones 13u playing their first tournament of the year finished 2^nd in the 15 team Dalton Spring Grand Slam this past weekend. In a game one 4-3 over the Raiders, Devin Lancaster earned the pitching win with relief help from Cade Evans and Alex Viars. Evans had 2 hits and a rbi, Alex Darras had 2 triples and scored once and Brandon Dendy had 2 hits and a rbi. In a game two 10-6 win over the East Cobb Longhorns, Darras earned the win pitching in relief of Noah Hill. Evans had 2 hits and 3 rbi, Justin Glover had 4 hits and 3 rbi and Darras, Dendy and Hill had 2 hits each. In game three the Cyclones beat the East Cobb Warriors 6-5 with Lancaster and Evans pitching with Glover getting a walk off hit to score Tyson Cooper who had 2 hits and a run, with Lancaster also having 2 hits and 2 runs. In the semi finals, the Cyclones beat the Chattanooga Chiefs 8-0 when Justin Glover earned the win and Cooper had 2 hits , a run and rbi, Dendy had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi and Ben Wyrick a 2 rbi hit.

In the finals the Cyclones lost to the West Cobb Braves 10-8 after being behind 7-1 when Evans had 2 hits and 3 runs, and Hill had 3 hits with one run and 3 rbi. The Cyclones are coached by former Cyclone players Ryan Vinson and Steven Brown.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a rbi in a game 1 loss to Stetson. In a game 2 win he had 2 hits, a run and rbi. In a game 2 loss to Murray State, Zach Stephens had a rbi, double and 3 runs. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins earned a win for MTSU in a complete game win over Western Kentucky. KSU’s Jordan Dean threw 2/3 IP in a game 1 win over Jacksonville., Lipscombs Chad Fromm gave up 1 hit in an IP in a loss to FGCU. In a game 3 win over Stetson Craig had a sac fly rbi. In a game 3 loss to FGCU Fromm threw a scoreless 1/3 IP. In a game 3 loss to Jacksonville, Dean threw 1 2/3 IP yielding no earned runs. In a game 3 win over Murray State Stephens hit a solo homer.

After an 8 minute meeting with A.D. Mike Hamilton the Todd Raliegh era at U.T., which never should have begun to being with, finally came to an end. Mike Hamilton has now made one good decision about the baseball program. Lets hope he follows it up with an even better decision and hires Tory’s Bobby Pierce to resurrect the currently moribund program. Pierce’s Trojans won the Sunbelt title this last weekend and got to 40 wins, both without their #2 starter for the last 5 weeks of the season. That’s an amazing accomplishment. Pierce’s record puts him among the top 20 active coaches in wins and winning percentage.

Playing their first tournament of the year, the Chattanooga Cyclone 14u baseball tam went undefeated to win the Dalton Spring Grand Slam this past weekend. In a game one 19-4 win over the Predators the Cyclones scored 14 in the first inning. Gabriel Fomby had 2 hits, a run and rbi, Tyler Lowe had 2 hits, a rbi and 2 runs and Andy Wright had 3 hits, 3 runs and 4 rbi and Tyler Meroney earned the win. In a game two, 7-3 win over Adrenaline Caleb Hill had 2 hits, a run and stolen base, Ryan Mahaffey had 2 doubles, 2 rbi and a run and Lowe had 2 hits, a run and rbi and Chase Tidwell earned the win with relief help from Lowe. In a 5-4 win over Adrenaline in game three, Hunter Mercer had 2 hits, a stolen base and 2 rbi, Cory Edgemon got the game winning hit, Fomby had 3 hits and Hill earned the pitching win pitching behind Matt Rivera and Adam Brogden. In the Championship game the Cyclones beat the Georgia Stars 13-2 with Wright earning the win with relief provided by Mercer when Lowe had 2 hit and 2 runs, and Hayden Bradley had 2 hits, a run and rbi. The Cyclones are coached by former Cyclones Tanner Moore and Justin Higdon.

13u           At Notre Dame at 6:00 for fielding

Tennessee lost 6-3 to Belmont last night. The Vols are now 23-28. They are in last place in the SEC. One of the current assistants has the audacity to be campaigning to get the job while still working for Raliegh. The program is in total disarray. There is a very, very limited pool of people who can turn the program around at this point. Troy’s Bobby Pierce is clearly the only perfect choice to get the job done. It is a sad, sad situation for all of us who want to support the UT program. A change has to be made and made the day the season is over with a replacement in place by June 15 or essentially another recruiting year will be badly damaged. Troy (38-15) beat Samford (32-21) 14-1 yesterday.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig tripled, walked and scored a run in a loss to Florida Gulf Coast and Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a walk, bb and the only run in a loss to Samford. Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit, run and 2 rbi in a win over Culver-Stockston in game 2 of the Regional and in the game claiming Lee’s 5^th straight trip to a World Series Brown homered, singled twice and drove in 4. In a game 2 loss Craig had 2 hits and a run and in a game 2 win he had 2 hits and 2 runs. Wofford’s McKinney had 2 hits and both runs in a 2-1 win over Samford. In a game 1 win over UT-Martin, Zach Stephens had 3 hits, a run and 2 rbi, and in a game 2 win he had a 2 rbi hit. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins, a former Cyclone, gave up 3 runs in 6 IP in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette. He was a 5.84 E.R.A. in 77 IP. In game 3 win over #19 Stetson Chad Fromm threw 4 scoreless IP with 7 strikeouts. Tennessee Tech’s Garrett Baugh has the second lowest E.R.A. on the team at 4.05 in 33 1/3 IP. Tech’s Zach Stephens is hitting .330 with 46 rbi and leads the team with 9 homers. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm has a 2.57 E.R.A. in 28 IP with 35 strikeouts. Lee’s Michael Brown is hitting a team leading .376 with a team leading 56 runs, 8 homers with 52 rbi and 12 sb. Belmont’s Dylan Craig is hitting .337 with a team leading 5 triples, 37 runs, 27 rbi, and 7 sb. Wofford’s McKinney had a hit in a game 3 loss to Samford.

Cleveland State’s Gray Hutchinson has been offered by D-1 Lipscomb and is being recruited by Eastern Kentucky and Memphis as well as several NAIA and D-2 schools. Brandon Radar and Camron Brewster should soon receive offers from Young Harris.

Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean was a 1.32 E.R.A. in 13 2/3 IP with 14 strikeouts. APSU’s Jon Clinard, whose season is over due to meniscus surgery hit .330 with 17 rbi, 22 runs and 14 bb in 32 games. Teammate Zane Leffew has a 12.00 E.R.A. in 15 IP.

Savannah’s Ryan Fraser had his best pro outing yet on Thursday throwing 6 2/3 IP yielding 2 hits and 2 bb and no runs. He got a no decision in a 2-0 win. Columbus’s Wes Hodges is now up to .246 after a slow start and his power numbers are increasing as well.

Lee’s Michael Brown had 3 hits and 2 runs in a Regional win over Shawnee State. Cody Commons, Brandon Radar and Cameron Brewster all played well in the JUCO Tournament for Cleveland State as well as previously mentioned players in the article below. Also, Brewster was named the Presidential Scholar for the male athletes at Cleveland State.

Bobby Pierce has Troy placed for a Regional bid at 34-14. The Trojan’s RPI is 45. They have a 1 game lead in the Sunbelt Conference. By contrast UT is now 23-24 with an RPI in the hundreds. Mississippi State’s RPI is at #27 and they are projected to get to play in the Regional. They are 29-18. Coach Cohen took over there at the same time Coach Raliegh did at UT.

Ryan Fraser has a 3.34 E.R.A. in 29 2/3 IP with a 1.35 whip. Cory Gearrin threw a scoreless IP for the Atlanta Braves Wednesday night. We Hodges is starting to get back on track at AAA Columbus and is now hitting .228 with 11 rbi. The Cardinals Mitchell Boggs has a 2.37 E.R.A. in 17 2/3 IP with a 1.08 whip. Mike Minor has a 2.04 E.R.A. in AAA with a 1.06 whip. Everett Teaford has a 2.92 E.R.A. in 24 2/3 IP in AAA Omaha with a .81 whip. Kyler Burke and Ryan Casteel remain in extended spring training as does former Cyclone Cole Brand.

Walters State Shaun Ball was named to the first year All-TCCAA. Ball hit .396 in the regular season with 10 homers, 15 doubles, a 700 slg.%, 48 rbi and 54 runs.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits, 3 runs and a rbi in a game 1 win over Tennessee- Martin and then 3 hits, a run, 2 rbi and a sb in a game 2 win. Craig is hitting .333 with 35 runs, 29 rbi and 8 sb without an error. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits, 2 rbi and 1 run in a win over Lipscomb. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a rbi hit in a loss to USC Upstate.

Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart won a game over Vol State with a pinch hit grand slam, Walter State’s Shaun Ball won a game over Columbia State with a grand slam and Cleveland State’s Gary Hutchinson hit a 3 run homer in a different game win over Vol State. Jamie Harper pitched a 3 hit shutout for the Cougars in the tournament.

Cleveland State’s Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits and 3 rbi in a 87 win over Vol State in a crucial series for the Cougars when Cody Commons had a hit and 2 runs, Brandon Radar a hit, run and rbi and Cameron Brewster a hit and run. Lee’s Michael Brown had a 2 rib hit in an opening game loss in the SSAC torney. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 its in a game 1 loss to Lipscomb. In a second game must win for Cleveland State, Jamie Harper stepped up big time to throw a 3 hit shutout, Brandon Radar had 2 hits and 3 runs, and Hutchinson and Brewster had a rbi a piece in a 5-0 win. That win clinched a spot in the Region VII juco tournament. In a 3^rd game loss Hutchinson had the Cougars only 2 hits and sole rbi and Commons scored the only run. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a rbi hit and Garrett Baugh threw 4 1/3 scoreless IP to earn the win over Eastern Kentucky. In a game 2 win over Moorehead State Jon Clinard had 2 hits and 4 rbi. In a game 2 win over Eastern Kentucky Stephens had his 7^th homer of the year, singled and drove in 3. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins gave up 5 runs in 6 IP against Arkansas State. Wofford’s McKinney had a rbi in a game 2 loss to Charleston. Walter’s Shaun Ball hit his 9^th homer, drove in 3 and scored three in a game 2 win over Motlow State. In a 3^rd game win Ball hit his 10^th homer, doubled twice, drove in 4 and again scored 3 times. Craig had 2 hits and a run in a game 3 win over Lipscomb. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit in a game 3 loss to EKU. In a Wofford loss to college of Charleston in game 3 Josh McKinney had 2 hits and a run. Stephens is hitting .312 with 7 homers, a 539 slugging %, 36 rbi and 25 runs. Dylan Craig is hitting .317 with 30 runs and 26 rbi without an error all season. Clinard is hitting .330 with 22 runs, 17 rbi and 14 sb. Brown is hitting .365 with 6 homers, 15 doubles, 46 rbi, 52 runs and 12 sb. Hutchinson is hitting .312 with 27 rbi and 24 runs and Radar .313 with 23 runs, 20 rbi and 12 sb. Jamie Harper has a 3.59 E.R.A. in 57 2/3 IP. Garrett Baugh has a 4.66 E.R.A. in 29 IP. Shaun Ball is hitting .400 with 10 homers, 44 rbi, 47 runs and a .701 slugging %.

Everyone but seniors must get in 4 Yoga and/or conditioning sessions before the season starts. There are no exceptions. Until the four (4) are completed you will not play in a game. We had about 10 of the 15-17s get in this weekend.

Hitting, pitching and conditioning will be available by appointment from 10:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Monday-Thursday starting May 25, 2011. Coach Mead will be doing not only individual training but also a group session on Mondays and Wednesdays. A perfect example of someone who benefitted greatly from conditioning at RSA is Will Cooper. Will not only took a lot of hitting at RSA but did a lot of individual training that was tailored by Coach K and others to fit the needs of a baseball player. Our training not only focuses on the muscle groups baseball players utilize most but part of the drills actual incorporate baseball skills. We are dedicated to developing baseball and softball players and in individual sessions actually tailor the program to your position and your individual strengths and weaknesses. We aren’t trying to be trainers for football, basketball, volleyball and every sport under the sun, we focus on the Real Sports- baseball and softball.

Coach Mead has graciously offered to let people get in their "mandatory" conditioning on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 5:00 P.M. for the next few Sundays. If you want to come this Sunday, text Coach M at 316-3649. If you text that you are coming then you are committing to being there and paying the small $10.00 fee.

Brad Dotson has signed a scholarship to pitch at Carson-Newman College. He was first seen by Coach Griffin at RSA over the winter at the time Coach C did his winter catching camp there. They have been recruiting Brad since. Congratulations to Brad!

The K & P teams will start practicing Saturday May 14, 2011 at Cleveland State. Should Cleveland State advance from the jvco regional practice we will be at Ooltewah or Notre Dame. (P) team at 10:00 A.M. and (K) team at 11:30 A.M. Do not come if your school team is still playing.

13u session work- Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3:00 P.M. Cloud Springs

14u session work- Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 1:30 P.M. Cloud Springs

Lee’s Michael Brown was selected to the 1^st team SAAC All Conference team by the coaches this week. He was also named the East Division player of the year. Cyclones who are red-shirting due to injuries, Taylor Comford and David Eskew, made the All-Academic team.

Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean threw a scoreless IP against Georgia Southern. Lot of cancelled games.

James Fowlkes dropped bomb #77 against Bradley Central. He is chasing the area and Cyclone record held by Kyler Burke at 20. If James sets the record the likelihood of it being broken is virtually nil unless Bryce Harper’s clone shows up in high school here as the change to the BBCOR bats next will drop homers by at least 50% in high school.

Walter State’s Shaun Ball had a 2 rbi hit in a win over King College. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit in a loss to APSU when Jon Clinard had 2 hits and a rbi.

Super-soph Lee Gibson had a monster day for Heritage yesterday in a crucial must win regional game for the Generals to keep their play off hopes alive. Lee was 4 of 4 with a solo homer and 4 total rbi. Another sophomore, Colby Chattin had 2 hits and bb and scored twice (both were at Yoga Saturday, just saying!). For Ooltewah T.J. Binder had a couple of hits, Drew Toth 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi and freshman Brody Binder had a hit in a 8-6 win over UT signee Drew Massingale and McMinn.

Ryan Fraser has now thrown 13 IP for Savannah with a great 2.08 E.R.A. and 1.00 whip. The Royals Everett Teaford is 1-1 with a 3.27 E.R.A. in 11 IP with a .91 whip at AAA Omaha. The Braves Mike Minor is 1-0 with 1.93 E.R.A. in 18 2/3 IP with a .96 whip at AAA Gwinnett. Of course, Cory Gearrin got called up to the Braves from Gwinnett but hasn’t pitched yet. Wes Hodges is at AAA Columbus for the Indians. Ryan Castel, Blake McDade and Kyler Burke remain in extended spring training. Mitchell Boggs is now the closer for the Cardinals. He threw last night earning his 3^rd save sitting at 95-97 m.p.h.

Baylor’s Will Cooper is the position player of the week after hitting 3 homers, scoring 10 runs and driving in 8 Cooper is now hitting .486 with 47 rbi and 16 sb and 6 homers. Honorable mentions go to Matt Allen, Jeff Burke and Bobby Towne. Pitcher of the week goes to Matt Allen with honorable mentions to Bobby Towne.

There is absolutely no videoing allowed at Cyclones practices or of activities at RSA. If you want to video a specific player hitting or pitching, you must clear it with Coach Koontz for RSA and your team head Coach for the Cyclones. There is no problem doing this, just clear it first. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO VIDEOING OF TEAM OR GROUP ACTIVITIES THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY ONE WARNING!

Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit and run in the first game 4-3 game 1 win over Southern Poly. Tenn Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and a run in a game 1 win over Moorehead State and in a game 2 loss Stephens hit a 2 run homer and Garrett Baugh threw 3 IP yielding no earned runs on 2 hits. Wofford’s Josh McKinney, now hitting 2^nd in the Terriers lineup, had 3 hits, a run and rbi in a game 1 win over Western Carolina. Cleveland State’s Gary Hutchinson had a rbi double, Derek Shugart a hit, run and rbi and Cody Commons a run in a game 1 win over Roane State. In a game 2 win Hutchins had a double and sac fly, Brandon Radar 3 hits and a rbi, Shugart a hit and Cameron Brewster a hit and run. In a game 3 loss for TTU Stephens had a rbi. In a game 3 win for Cleveland State over Roane Hutchinson had 2 hits and a rbi and Jamie Harper gave up 1 run in 7 IP to earn the win. In a game 3 Belmont victory Dylan Craig had 3 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi. In a game 3 loss McKinney had a hit for Wofford. In a game 2 win over Columbia State, Shaun Ball had 2 hits and a rbi and in a game 3 loss he had 2 hits and a run. In a game 3 loss McKinney had a hit, run and rbi for Wofford. In a game 3 loss Southern Poly Michael Brown had a hit. Brown is hitting .376 with 15 doubles, 6 homers, 44 rbi, 52 runs and 12 sb. Tech’s Stephens is hitting .319 with 6 homers, 10 doubles with 33 rbi and 23 runs. Craig is hitting .323 with 26 rbi and 29 runs. Jon Clinnard is hitting .314 for APSU with 22 runs and 14 sb. Tech’s Garrett Baugh has a 5.19 E.R.A. in 26 IP and is 2-1. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm has a 1.50 E.R.A. in 18 IP with 21 ks. Radar is hitting .312 with 19 rbi and 19 runs and 11 sb. Hutchinson is hitting .308 with 10 doubles, 22 rbi and 24 runs.

Bobby Pierce’s Troy Trojans had 1 bad week when they lost their #2 starter to Tommy John surgery and the team lost focus, but as is typical of Pierce he got the team refocused and this past weekend they swept a very good Western Kentucky team which had been in 2^nd place in the Sunbelt Conference. Troy now has a 3 game lead over Florida Atlantic and at least a 4 game lead against the rest of the conference. Troy stands at 30-10 on the year.

In the meantime, the Tennessee Vols lost yet another SEC series falling to 5-13 in the conference and a 22-17 overall record. Troy’s RPI is 34, Tennessee’s is 72, tied with Western Kentucky, and 1 ahead of Memphis and 5 a head of Belmont and 10 behind ETSU! In the ISR evaluation, Troy is #36 and UT is #94, and in the ISOV evaluation Troy is #37 and Tennessee is # 92. The Newest Baseball America Poll has Troy ranked at 22.

Another interesting fact: Troy with a school population of 7,000 and town population of 20,000 is # 39 in the Country in attendance. UT is # 40.

Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm got the loss throwing 2 IP yielding 1 in a 16-15 loss to APSU when Jon Clinard had 3 hits, a sb and 4 runs. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and run in a loss to Tennessee Tech when Zach Stephens had the same. Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit and run in a loss to Cumberland.

Randall will soon move to 3^rd base as he continues his comeback from T.J. surgery. He is hitting .508 with a .580 ob%.

For whatever reason, the paper does not include everyone’s stats. Most likely, all stats from all schools don’t get turned in. As an example, Will Cooper is hitting in the .480s and Coley is hitting .508, but they aren’t listed anywhere in the stats leaders. They are surely others who would be among the leaders who aren’t Cyclones.

Ooltewah’s T.J. Binder has finally got both his timing and stroke back. Although T.J. is hitting over .400 on the season he had not gotten locked in until last night when he had 3 hits including a huge 3 run homer to help Ooltewah beat Soddy 9-8. Brody Binder, on the K team, started behind the plate as a freshman in the big district tangle and had a huge double. James Fowlkes hit the ball hard several times, continuing the adjustment he made the 2^nd half of the fall of staying down through the ball more consistently. Will Erwin (K team) threw a light pen at RSA on Sunday and should be ready to pitch once the summer season starts. He was easily 80-82 in just his second pen coming off of knee surgery.

Those of you who return to play high school in 2012 must get in 4 Yoga and/or conditioning classes before the season starts Memorial Day Weekend. Utilize rainy Saturdays to get one done. You need to get them done. There will be not waivers!

This weekend there will be no 14U group due to Easter. The 13U does 1:00 P.M. on Saturday. It will be 1 hour. You are still required to do conditioning or Yoga on Saturday.

Several players had great weeks. Jeff Burke earns pitcher of the week for a great outing against John Paul when he threw a 2 hitter. Brent Smith, Patrick Parris, and Bobby Towne are honorable mentions. Position player of the week is Bobby Towne who not only had a solid week hitting but some outstanding defensive plays. Honorable mention to Zach McKelvey who has swung a hot bat and T.J. Brinder and James Fowlkes.

Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a hit in a game 1 loss to Davidson. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a triple, 2 singles, a bb and 2 runs in a 1^st game win over ETSU. Lee’s Michael Brown hit a homer in a game 1 win over Southern Wesleyan to drive in 2 in a 4-1 win. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins, a former Cyclone, improved to 1-6 on the year with a win over Troy throwing 8 shutout IP. In a game 2 win Belmont’s Craig drove in 1 of the 2 runs in a 2-1 win over ETSU. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit in a loss to Jacksonville State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a 2 rbi hit in a win over Eastern Illinois. McKinney had a rbi in a game 2 win over Davidson. In a game 2 win for Lee Brown had a hit. Cleveland State’s Gary Hutchinson, Brandon Rader and Jamie Harper each had a hit in a game 1 loss for Cleveland State and Rader, Hutchinson and Derek Shugart had a hit in a game 2 loss when Shugart scored. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm pitched 2/3 of an IP against USC Upstate in a hold situation. Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean threw a 2/3 IP against FGCU. Craig had a hit and run in a game 3 win.

APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi in a win over Jacksonville State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit and run in a game 2 win over EIU. Wofford’s McKinney had a game winning rbi hit in a 2-1 win over Davidson in a game 3. Cleveland State’s Jamie Harper pitched a 2/3 IP earning a win and yielding 2 runs in a win over Columbia State when Gray Hutchinson had a rbi hit, Rader a hitand, Cody Commons a hit , run and rbi.

Savannah’s (A) Ryan Fraser has had 2 appearances and has a 2-53 E.R.A. in 7 IP with a 4-1 K/BB ratio. He was 90-93 touching 94 in his last outing. He felt that his change up was the best it has ever been as he threw 4 shutout IP. Everett Teaford has started 1 game in AAA and got a loss. Mike Minor has thrown 6 IP in AAA at Gwinnett and had 1.50 E.R.A. He started 1 game for the Braves and threw in 4 1/3 IP. Mitchell Boggs has throw 8 IP for the St. Louis Cardinals with a 2.25 E.R.A.

There was an article in the most recent edition of the Collegiate Baseball which confirmed what we have intuitively thought for many years; outside of the top D-1 conferences just as many players get drafted from D-2, NAIA and juco schools as from the lower level D-1 (21-31) conference schools. In fact, more get drafted from juco (14.9%) than the bottom D-1 conferences (6.07%) The study showed that of the 1525 players taken in the 2010 draft, a higher % of players were taken in the draft from NAIA, D-2 and juco schools than from schools in outside the top 15 conferences in D-1 rated in the RPI. As an example, Lee University often has several players a year drafted. They have more players drafted than for example, Canisius, Manhattan or Milwaukee-Wisconsin (what these 3 teams have in common is being on UT’s schedule this spring). This highlights a big difference between baseball and sports like football and basketball. There is much more parity between the different levels of baseball than in the other major sports. A top NAIA or D-2 baseball team is much more likely to beat a D-1 school team than a football or basketball team is D-1 baseball schools very seldom play D-2 or NAIA teams now due to RPI implications and other reason, but the last 2 times Carson-Newman played UT in baseball years ago Carson-Newman won.

A closer to home example of baseball parity. In Coach Paris’ senior year at Carson-Newman they struggled early in the year. Then when Coach Paris returned from an injury they got hot the second half of the year. In the double elimination SAC tournament, in which Coach Paris hit .368 with a then C-N record 9 rbi, C-N won the first 3 games but lost to Lenior Rhyne in 2 close games, losing 7-6 in the championship game. In Coach Paris’ last college game after the that SAC tournament that C-N team beat Tennessee Tech at Tennessee Tech when Coach Paris tripled in a run ant then scored the wining run in a 2-1 win against Jim Ed Wade, a 3^rd round draft pick in that June’s draft. That Tech team won the OVC tournament the next week to go to a regional and Wade even won a game in that regional for Tech. What is the likelihood C-N could ever beat a UT team in football or a Tennessee Tech team that advances to regional play in basketball?. Not very likely.

So, what is the lesson from all this? If you harbor pro dreams, you do not have to play D-1 to get a decent shot; and if your choices, from a purely baseball standpoint, are between a lower level D-1 school and other options, you may want to consider other factors like how good the NAIA or D-2 or juco program is, who their coaches are, what conference they are in, and what are your chances to play for a conference title and beyond etc. Obviously, for the overwhelming majority of players the primary deciding factor needs to be the education available and monetary considerations.

Randall Coley has committed to play for Cleveland State next year. He is recovering well from his TJ surgery and looking forward to playing this summer. Randall has worked extremely hard to overcome injuries over the last 2 years and it is very gratifying to see very hard work and determination be rewarded. He will be reunited with the former Cyclone teammates Cody Commons, Tyler Kilgore and Derek Shugart as a Cougar. Other signings/commitments are imminent.

Justin Higdon was a rhp at Ooltewah High School. He was a starting pitcher for the summer and fall 18u Cyclones and was first a reliever and then starter on the Collegiate Cyclones. He pitched on 2 very good colligate teams including a Georgia Wooden Bat League Championship, Georgia State Stan Musial Champion and Southeastern Regional Stan Musial runner-up. In his final collegiate start Higdon beat the eventual Stan Musial World Series runner-up, Tampa Elite to force a final winner take all Southeastern Regional Championship game. Justin had a successful career at Carson-Newman where he pitched along side fellow Cyclone teammates Logan Simmons and Wes "Heah" McIntyre. Justin is now a very successful insurance salesman. He will be the pitching coach for the 2011 Cyclones 14u team. Justin is carrying on a Cyclone tradition which is virtually unmatched by any other select organization in the Southeast, of former players returning to give back to those coming behind them. All of our coaches are former Cyclone players. A tradition for which we are both very proud and very grateful.

Several members of the Cyclone family are getting married this summer. Bryce Thomas, Dave Mason and Kyle Clayton are all getting married this summer and Ryan Casteel is getting married in December. Whose next Travis?

Dylan and Lacey are have having a left handed little girl with power and speed.

The players 2011 hats and pants are in. The new jerseys will be in by May 10, 2011. The license plates are ordered and some parent’s t-shirts are in.

Larry "Bo" Osborne Passes Away

Tim Osborne is the area scout for the MLB Scouting Bureau and has been a friend of Coach K and Carolyn for over a decade and has also befriended numerous Cyclones players and parents over the years. Tim and his family suffered a great loss on Friday when his father passed away.

  Larry "Bo" Osborne played six years in the big leagues with the Tigers and Washington Senators. After a brief stint managing in the minor leagues, he was a scout for the San Francisco Giants for decades, serving as an advance scout for the last 16 years.

In 1960, he won the triple crown in the AAA American Association, beating Hall-of-Famer Carl Yastrzemski .342 to .339 for the batting title, while hitting 34 home runs and driving in 119.

In 2003, Mr. Osborne sized up a 60 year career in baseball for the Atlanta Journal - Constitution by saying:

"I thank the good Lord every day for giving me the ability to play...I couldn't have asked for a better life."

  Tim carries on his dad's legacy of serving Major League Baseball. Friday was a sad day for baseball and for Tim. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. 

Austin-Pevy’s Jon Clinard had 3 hits, 4 rbi, and 2 runs a win over Belmont. Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean struck out 3 in 2 scoreless IP in a win over Jacksonville State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a double in a loss to MTSU. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a hit in a loss to Asheville.

Jeff Burke had his bunting prowess on display this week against Ooltewah. He laid down a perfect bunt and then used his gazelle like stride to beat it out. He victimized a stunned T. J. Binder.

Cyclones Baseball Global Productions, L.L.C., has entered into an exclusive arrangement for Jeff to do a video on how to bunt. It will utilize Jeff’s nom de plume of "Bunter" Burke for marketing purposes.

The marketing catch line on the front of the video will be:

Learn bunting from the best bunter since Dylan Paris retired 2 decades ago. In Bunter’s own words, "Bunting is an art I can teach you; learn it, live it and love it as I do."

This video comes on the heels of the previously released "Dunking Made Simple" by Dr. Dunkenstein, yet another moniker of the multi-talented Burke. The catch phrase on that release, "Hey, if I can do it, anybody can be taught to do it." Both of these will soon be available on television through Propel/ Ginsu Marketing. A telemarketer from Burke Telemarketing Enterprises may be calling your home soon.

Jeff’s dad Frank, who acts as his agent, has approached Cyclone Baseball Global Productions, L.L.C., about an agreement to produce a video on base stealing under the sobriquet "Blaze" Burke. However, that offer has been resoundingly declined. Even the fertile imagination only allows for so much license to be taken.

Austin Peavy’s Zane Leffew threw 3 IP yielding 1 run in a loss to Western Kentucky. Lee’s Michael Brown had a homer, 2 doubles, a single, 4 rbi and 2 runs in a win over Bryan when Cyclone Coach Steven Brown had a hit and run. Lee is now #1 in NAIA! Cleveland State’s Gray Hutchinson had a homer, 2 runs and rbi in a los to Wallace State when Derek Shugart and Brandon Rader each had a rbi hit and Cameron Brewster had a hit and Jamie Harper threw 2 IP yielding a run. Rheinhart’s Ethan Starr Threw 3 IP against Southern Poly and 2/3 IP against Young Harris to get out a base loaded jam.

Several Cyclones had a big night Tuesday night. Rhea County’s Brent Smith homered twice and earned a pitching win over Bradley Central when Kenzie Goins doubled twice and tripled. James Fowlkes had a 3 run triple and Brad Dotson earned a win over Walker Valley. South Pittsburg’s Michael Allen had 3 hits and 2 rbi and Matt Allen earned a win over Signal Mountain with no earned runs. Boyd’s Nathan Murrell had 3 rbi in a win. Lat night Goins earned a pitching win and had 2 hits as did Brent Smith against Bradley Central. Sequoyah’s Randall Colley had 2 hits and 3 rbi in a win over Polk County.

Mitchell Boggs struck out all 3 batters he faced Monday night pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Bobby Pierce has gotten his Trojans up to #18 in the Baseball America Poll. It may be heard to keep them their due to their #2 pitcher’s injury this past week, but if anybody can figure out a way to maintain the momentum it is Coach Pierce. In the meantime UT was swept by South Carolina scoring 1 total run in the series and then was beat by Appalachian State last night

Mitchell Boggs- Cardinals-MLB-St. Louis

Everett Teaford-Royals- AAA (40 man roster)

Mike Minor-Braves-AAA Gwinnet (40 man roster and has already played in big leagues)

Wes Hodges- Indians- AAA-Columbus (40 man roster)

Cory Gearrin-Braves-AAA Gwinnet (40 man roster)

Ryan Fraser- Mets- A- Savannah

Blake McDade- Rockies- Extended for assignment to short season

Kyler Burke- Cubs- Extended to convert to pitching

Ryan Casteel-Rockies- Extended to await start of short season

*Cole Brand-Cardinals- Extended

*former Cyclone

Baylor’s Will Cooper had a big week with a grand slam, several doubles and 12 rbi. Position player honorable mentions go to Rhea’s Brent Smith and Notre Dame’s Jackson Bostain and James Fowlkes. Pitcher of the week goes to Patrick Parris who moved to to 5-0 on the season and now has a ERA under .80. Honorable mentions to Brad Dotson, Ryan Johnson and Walker Valley’s Bobby Towne.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit, run and bb in a win over S.C. Up State in game 1. Wofford’s Josh Mckinney had 2 hits and a rbi in 4-3 loss to Elon. Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit, bb and run in a game 1 win over Brewton-Parker. In a game 2 win over Brewton-Parker, Brown had 2 its, a run and rbi. Craig had a hit and run in each of the 2^nd and 3^rd game losses. In a game 1 loss for Tennessee Tech, Zach Stephens had a hit and run and in a game 3 win he had a rbi hit. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 2 ER in 7 IP in a MTSU loss to Arkansas Little Rock. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm struck out the only hitter he faced in a loss to ETSU in game 1. In a game 3 win over Brewton-Parker Lee’s Brown had 2 hits and a run. Walter’s State’s Shaun Ball had 4 hits, 2 runs and a rbi in a Senators win in game 1 over Cleveland State when Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits, Derek Shugart had 2 hits and 2 runs and Cody Commons scored a run. Lipscomb’s Fromm threw 2 1/3 IP with 4 strikeouts in a loss to ETSU. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit and run in a game 3 loss to Southeastern Missouri when Garrett Baugh threw 3 IP. In a game 2 win for Walters Ball had a hit run and rbi when Shugart doubled and scored and Hutchinson and Rader each had a hit. Cleveland State’s Shugart had a hit and Hutchinson a rbi and Cameron Brewster 2 hits in a 3-2 game 3 win for the Cougars and Commons a run.

Brown is hitting .399 with 47 runs, 38 rbi, a .601 slg% and .511 OB%. Craig is hitting .360 with 22 runs, 22 rbi and a .435 ob%. Stephens has cooled off, as can be expected of most freshman and is hitting .328 with at .576 slg% with 21 runs and 31 rbi. Fromm has an incredible 1.20 E.R.A. in 16 appearances for Lipscomb.

THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2011. If you plan to play on the 13u or 14u team you need to attend either baseball conditioning at RSA at 9:45 Saturday or Yoga at 11:00. The cost for Yoga is $5.00 and for conditioning it is $10.00 that is for an hour. If you are coming to conditioning text David at 316-3649. If coming to Yoga, text Coach Koontz at 309-4995. This is mandatory not optional.

Wofford’s Josh McKinney doubled in a run and scored in a loss to Duke. McKinney is hitting .314. Tennessee Tech’s Zac "Wheels" Stephens hit his second triple of the year, singled, scored and had a rbi in a win over Lipscomb. Austin-Peay’s Zane Leffew threw 2 scoreless IP in a loss to Evansville. Dylan Craig had 3 hits and 2 rbi in a loss to UT. Dylan Craig is hitting .378 with 19 runs, 22 rbi and a .450 ob%. Craig has only 7 strikeouts in 111 bats. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a hit, run and rbi in a win over Alabama A&M with Garrett Baugh threw a scoreless IP. Stephens is hitting .339 with 6 homers, a .607 slg% and .409 on base % with 30 rbi. Baugh has a team leading 4.09 E.R.A. in 22 IP. Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit, runs, rbi and 3 bbs in a win over TWC. Brown is hitting .400 with 44 runs, 37 rbi, a .622 slg %, 31 walks and 12 sb. He is having an All-American season. In a big win over Wallace State, Cody Commons walked twice and scored, and Gary Hutchinson walked twice and scored and Brandon Rader had a rbi hit as the Cougars won 3-2.

The Trojan juggernaut is on display again on Saturday on CSS against a good Florida International team. FLU was the pre-season favorite for the Sunbelt Conference Championship. The game is on CSS at 8 P.M., 7 P.M. central. Our new players need to see what an awesome facility we get to host tournaments at.

Bobby Pierce’s #20 Troy Trojans (23-5) pounded out a 14-6 win over Auburn at beautiful Riddle Pace Filed on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, UT was beaten on Tuesday by Presbyterian which has been a D-1 baseball school for 5 years. Butch Thompson’s Mississippi State team beat # 18 Southern Mississippi 5-4 on Tuesday.

As predicted here over a year ago, Kyler Burke has been moved to the mound and will be sent to extended spring training for the Cubs. Hopefull, Kyler can make a smooth transition.

Once again Jake Wyrick, Freshman LHP at Cleveland, is our featured pitcher as a result of his no-hitter against East Hamilton. Honorable mentions go to Jeff Burke and Patrick Parris. And James Fowlkes repeats as the position player as he continues to put up video game offensive numbers with yet more homers and rbi. Honorable position player mention goes to another Freshman, Brody Binder who is swinging a hot stick for Ooltewah and threatening to match T.J. in batting average.

Baylor’s Jeff Burke was 83-86 mph against Ensworth on his 2 seamer and pitched well yielding only 1 earned run in Baylor’s only win in the series. Will Cooper displayed his usual great bat speed and had 2 crucial rbi and Zach McKelvey drove in the winning run on a sac fly.

Yes, that was Coach Paris in the Sunday Free Press in an advertisement for FSG in Section C.

Bobby Pierce, who was passed over to pick current UT Coach Todd Raliegh, who is 2-7 in the SEC this year, has Troy ranked at #21 in Baseball America with a 22-5 record. You can see Troy play tonight against Auburn. Had Pierce been chosen 4 years ago, UT would be a perennial top 15 team now instead of the SEC doormat.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits and a run in a loss to Jacksonville in game 1. In a 5-4 loss to Dyersburg State Derek Shugart had a hit and run, Cameron Brewster a hit, and Gray Hutchinson a run and rbi. Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit and rbi in a win over Shorter in game 1. Craig had a hit in a game 2 loss to Jacksonville. Woffords Josh McKinney had a rbi hit in a game 2 loss to Appalachian State. Cleveland State’s Hutchinson had a hit in a game 2 loss. In a game 3 win for Cleveland State Jamie Harper threw a no hitter and missed a perfect game only because of 2 errors when Derek Shugart had a hit. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm threw 1 2/3 scoreless IP with 4 ks in a loss to North Florida. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a rbi in a win over Eastern Illinois. Zach Stephens had a hit in game 1 loss and in a game 2 win over Jacksonville State. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 4 runs in 3 1/3 IP for MTSU against South Alabama. In a game 2 win over Shorter, Michael Brown had a hit, run and 2 rbi and in game 3 win had 2 hits and 2 runs. In a dh sweep of Southwest Walter’s State’s Shaun Ball had 2 homers, a double, 3 runs and 5 rbi.In game 3 win Craig had a rbi hit. In a game 3 loss Chad Fromm gave up 1 run in 1 2/3 IP against North Florida. Clinard had a hit and run in a win over Southern Illinois. Tech’s Zach Stephens had a homer and single in a game 3 win over Jacksonville State when Garrett Baugh threw 2 1/3 IP yielding 1 run and striking out 3. In a game 3 loss Wofford’s McKinney had a hit. Craig is hitting .364 with 19 runs, 20 rbi and a .437 ob%. Stephens is hitting .359 with 6 homers, 8 doubles, 28 rbi, 17 runs and a .621 slugging %. Ball is hitting .422 (5^th in the state) with 8 homers (1^st in the state) with 31 runs, 31 rbi (5^th in the state) with a .733 slugging % (5^th in the state). Brown is hitting .398 with a .624 slugging %, .509 on base % with 36 rbi and 43 runs.

Senior James Fowlkes continued to pound out extra base hits last week including a 3 homer game and then had 2 homers early this week to push him to 9 homers in 11 games and is hitting over .600. He leads the area in homers. Freshman Jake Wyrick, one of our young K team lefties, struck out 15 and walked 1 in 6 IP in a 6-3 win over Jackson Christian in his 1^st varsity start. Jake has come a long way working with Coach Mead at RSA since December.

Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm got a save in a 2-1 win over MTSU. In the 3 game series sweep of Dyersburg State Shaun Ball of Walters State had 5 hits and 3 runs, and in a dh sweep of Catawba Valley had a hit and 3 runs. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits, a sb, 2 rbi and a bb in a 9-8 win over Western Kentucky. APSU’s John Clinard had a hit, sb, run and rbi in a loss to MTSU. Ball continues to lead Tennessee jvco ball in homers with 6, is hitting .400 and has 21 rbi and 26 runs and has a .735 slugging % and 516 ob%.

Brandon Turner was a ss/2nd baseman at Walker Valley High School where he played for his dad, the legendary Mike Turner. Brandon played in the summers and falls for the Cyclones 18u and 2 years for the Cyclones Collegiate team. He was a high school All-American. He normally hit 3^rd on the Cyclones team. He hit .399 as freshman at Mississippi State. He was drafted in the 12^th round after an injury -filled sophomore year and signed with the Marlins. He was over a .300 hitter in minor league baseball before deciding to get married and concentrate on coaching. Brandon obtained his degree from Lee University and now is working on his masters at Carson-Newman where he is a graduate assistant coach. He coached the 16u 2010 Summer Cyclones. Brandon and his wife live in Knoxville.

Brandon played on a dominant Cyclone Collegiate team which holds the record for Collegiate team wins and winning %, with Kane Simmons, Matt Ray, Aaron Simmons, Daniel Howard and others who all moved on eventually to play professional baseball. That team actually played semi-pro ball in that many of the players in that league were ex-professionals including ex-big leaguers.

Ryan Fraser has had several spring training outings. He started out with the Mets Advanced A team. He has pitched against several big leaguers, most recently John Buck and Mike Stanton of the Marlins. He has had some very good appearances and a couple where he got the ball up and was hit. Ryan is at a point where he is able to self-diagnose on his own what is mechanically off on his down days, a great sign. He gets a start today against the Nationals A team. Ryan will most likely be assigned to Savannah to start the year. A great road trip! He is also likely to be starting instead of closing the year.

Coach Bobby Pierce of Troy University, who will be the featured speaker at the 2011 Annual Awards Banquet, got his 300^th win at Troy on Saturday. Troy now stands at 19-4 and 5-1 in the Sunbelt. Pierce is in the midst of his 9^th year at Troy. He posted a 259-95 record building Chipola into one of the top juco programs in the country, then started a program from scratch at University of Alabama at Huntsville going 276-108 in 7 years there before moving to Troy. He has averaged 36 wins a year at Troy, which was below .500 overall in the last 3 years before his arrival. Pierce was an ALL-SEC outfielder as a player at Alabama and was Alabama’s top assistant coach for 5 years.

Butch Thompson, the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State, has the Bulldogs staff dealing. The Bulldogs now stand at 18-6 on the year and more importantly 4-2 in the SEC. After Sunday’s shutout the Bulldogs team E.R.A. is a sterling 3.41 having given up only 81 bb in 214 IP while striking out 197.

Coach Thompson feels that while this year’s staff is good, next year’s will be better than the staff he put together which took the University of Georgia to its first World Series under perno several years ago. Mississippi State is in a turnaround year for the program. Meanwhile, Tennessee fell to 2-4 in SEC tying with Kentucy for last in the SEC East. Kentucky’s only 2 wins in the SEC came against UT.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and SB in a game 1 loss to North Florida. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had 2 hits in a win over the Citadel. Lee’s Michael Brown doubled, singled and drove in 3 in a 7-3 win over Loyola University. Cleveland State’s Cody Commons had a rbi hit in a game 1 loss to Jackson State as did Cameron Brwester in a game 2 loss when Commons had another hit. Walters State’s Shaun Ball had a hit, 2 runs and rbi in a game 1 win over Wilkes and 2 hits, 2 runs and 4 rbi in a game 2 win. Belmont’s Craig had a hit and rbi in a game 2 loss to UNF. Lee’s Brown homered, drove in 3 and scored twice in a game 2 win over Loyola. In a game 3 win over Loyola Brown had a hit and run. Brown is hitting .396 on the year with 36 runs and 32 rbi, a .640 slugging % and .511 on base % with 9 sb.

On Sunday Belmont’s Craig had 2 hits and 2 rbi. Craig leads Belmont in hitting at .367 and ob% at .444, and is second in rbi at 17 and 3^rd in runs at 18, hitting 3^rd in the lineup. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit, rbi and bb in a win over Murray State in a game 1 win and 2 hits in a game 3 loss. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a hit and run in a game 2 win over Citadel and in a game 3 loss had 3 hits and 2 rbi. McKinney hits 5^th in the Terriers’ lineup and is batting .333 on the year with 13 runs and 15 rbi.

Cleveland State’s Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits and a rbi, Jamie Harper had a rbi pinch hit as did Cameron Brewster and Derek Shugart had 2 hits and a rbi and Cody Commons a hit and run in a win over Motlow State in game 1. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a stand up triple, 2 singles, 3 runs and a rbi in a game 1 win over Ball State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens homered, singled twice, had 2 rbi and a run scored in a loss to Purdue in game 1. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit in a los to Illinois State in game 1. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a hit in a loss to Furman in game 1. Lee’s Michael Brown had 2 hits and a run in a win over Trvett-McConnell. Walters State’s Shaun Ball had 2 hits in a loss to Vol State. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm threw 1 2/3 scoreless IP with 2 strikeouts in a loss to Kennesaw State. Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 4 hits in a win over Ball in game 2 and had a hit, run and rib in a 4-1 win over Ball State. In a game 2 win for Tennessee Tech over Purdue Zach Stephens had a rbi hit. In a game 3 loss to Illinois State APSU’s Clinard had a hit and his 8^th sb. In a dh sweep of Trvett-McConnell on Saturday, Michael Brown had a hit, 2 bb and a run. In a game 3 loss to Purdue Tennessee Tech’s Stephens had 2 hits and Garrett Baugh threw 2/3 IP yielding a run but getting tagged with the loss. In a game 3 loss to Furman, Wofford’s McKinney had a hit. In a game 3 loss to Motlow Hutchinson had Cleveland State’s only hit and Jamie Harper struck out 10 and gave up 1 unearned run in 6 IP. In a game 2 win for Walters over Vol State Ball had a hit, run and rbi and in a game 3 win he had a run.

Zach Stephens (TN. Tech)(leads teams) - .388 b.a., 4 hr. 687 slg%, 22 rbi & 15 runs

Michael Brown (Lee) (leads team in b.a.)- .405 b.a., .631 slg% 23 rbi & 25 runs

Shaun Ball (Walters State)-.400 b.a., 6 hr., .700 slg%

Dylan Craig ( Belmont)-.320 (2^nd on team), 9 rbi, 10 runs, .403 ob%

Brandon Rader (Cleveland State)-.357 (3^rd on team), 13 runs, 11 rbi

Josh McKinney(Wofford)- .300, 11 runs and 11 rbi

Zach Stephens is on pace to be a freshman All-American and Michael Brown and Shaun Ball have shots to be All-Americans.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit in a game 1 win over Kennesaw State. Wofford’s, Josh McKinney had a hit in a win over Harvard in game 1 Lee’s Michael Brown had a homer, double, single, 2 rbi and 3 runs in a loss to the University of Mobile. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a run in a loss to Arkansas State. In game 2 against KSU in a win Craig had 2 doubles, a hbp, 3 runs and a rbi. In a win over Youngstown State Zach Stephens had a hit and 2 rbi in game 3, in game 1 he had 2 hits and a run in a win, and in game 2 he hit a 2 run homer when Garret Baugh threw 1 2/3 scoreless IP. In a 2 wins over Mobile Brown had a double, single, sb, 2 runs and a rbi. In a game 3 loss to KSU Craig had a double, 2 singles, a hbp and a run scored. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had 2 hits, a run and rbi in a game 2 win over Harvard, and in a game 3 win he had a 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run. APSU’s Zane Leffew gave up 4 runs in no IP in the game 1 loss. In a game 3 win for APSU Clinard had a hit and run. In a game 1 loss to Chatt. State, Brandon Rader had a hit, in a game 2 win Rader had 2 hits and a run, Gray Hutchinson 3 hits, 2 runs and a rbi, Cody Commons a run, and Cameron Brewster a hit, run and rbi, and in a game 3 loss Rader had a hit and run, Hutchinson a hit and run, Brewster a run, Commons 2 hits and Jamie Harper a hit. In a game 3 win over Bluefield Bart Roark had 2 hits and 2 rbis and in a game 2 win he had 2 rbi hit. Bryan’s LJ-Rowden got a win over Union College.

Craig is hitting .320 with .481 slugging %, .403 ob% with 10 runs and 9 rbi hitting out of the 3 spot. Stephens is hitting .388 with 4 homers, 8 doubles, a 687 slugging %, 15 runs and 22 rbi hitting fourth. Baugh is 2-0 with a team leading 1.80 E.R.A. in 15 IP. Brown is hitting .405 with a .631 slugging %, .490 ob%, with 6 sb, 25 runs and 23 rbi hitting 3^rd. Rader is hitting .357 in the 2 hole and Hutchinson is hitting .297 with 12 runs and 13 rbi and is hitting .394 in his last 9 games hitting 5^th. Walter’s State’s Shaun Ball hit his 6^th homer, singled, drove in 3 and scored once in a win over Jackson State in game 1 and in a game 2 win scored once and in game 3 had a hit and run.

Rhinehart’s Ethan Starr had a double, 5 rbi and 3 runs in a win over Wolford. Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean threw 2 2/3 scoreless IP in a loss to Georgia Tech. Belmont’‘s Dylan Craig had a rbi sac fly in a win over MTSU. Austin Peay’s Jon Clinard scored a run in a win over South Dakota State. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 3 hits and a rbi in a loss. Cleveland State’s Gray Hutchinson had a homer and single, Cameron Brewster a hit and Jamie Harper a pinch hit rbi single in a loss to Sumter C.C..

Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm threw a scoreless IP in a win over Morehead State. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins threw 6 2/3 IP yielding 2 earned runs in a win over Kentucky. APSU’s Jon Clinard had a hit in a loss to Southern Dakota State.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a single, bb, triple, and rbi in a 2-1 win over Mercer and had a hit and run in a game 3 loss to Mercer. Austin Peay’s Jon Clinard had 3 hits, 2 bb, 3 runs and a rbi in a loss to Eastern Michigan and in a 2^nd game win he had 2 hits and a rbi. Lee’s Michael Brown had 2 hits and a run in a game 1 win over Emmanuel. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a rbi in a game 1 loss to Pittsburg and in a game 2 win he had 2 runs. MTSU’s Hunter Adkins gave up 10 runs in 4 1/3 IP. In a game 1 win over Ohio, Zach Stephens had a double, single and 3 runs. In a game 1 win over Spartanburg Methodist, Shaun Ball hit a 3 run homer (his 5^th) and in a game 2 loss he had a hit, hbp and bb. In a loss to Roane State in game 1 Ball had 2 hits and in a game 2 win had a hit, run and 2 bb. Milligan’s Bart Roark had 2 hits and 2 rbi in a win over Emory and Henry. APSU’s Clinard had 2 bb, a bb, 2 runs and rbi in a win over Alabama A&M. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm gave up an unearned run and struck out 2 in an IP in a loss to Purdue. In a game 1 win over Southeast, Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart had a hit and 2 runs, Gray Hutchinson 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run, Brandon Rader a hit and run, Jamie Harper 2 rbi pinch hit and Cody Commons a hit. In a game 2 win Shugart had a hit, run and rbi, Rader 2 hits and a run, Commons 2 hits, a run and 2 rbi; and Hutchinson 2 runs. In the game 3 win Shugart had a hit, Rader a hit, 2 rbi and a run, Commons a hit and Hutchinson a rbi hit.

PRELIMINARY SUMMER SCHEDULE - 2011

13U

Additional dates may be added for mid week.

PRELIMINARY SUMMER SCHEDULE - 2011

14U

Additional dates may be added for mid week. Try to build your vacation around the Troy trip. It is only an hour and twenty minuets from Panama City.

Adam Howard played 2 seasons with the Collegiate Cyclones. His last season he was the number 1 pitcher on the team, which made it to the playoffs in the Georgia Wooden Bat League.  The next June he was drafted by the Diamond Backs an All-American season at Walters State and signed for a 10^th round bonus. He ultimately made it as high as AAA Professionally. Adam is currently the pitching coach for former Cyclone Jared Gaston at a JVCO in West Texas.

This week the tale is more general than specific. Today in the big leagues many hitters take offense if someone throws at them or sometimes even close to them for crowding the plate, pimping a homer or some other violation of baseball’s unwritten rules.

                They need a lesson on baseball. Don Drysdale,  Sandy Koutax and Bob Gibson would throw at hitter for simply digging in against them. Someone who crowded the plate would get hit time and again by them until they moved off the plate. If they didn’t move the ball would eventually be thrown at their head.

                A great example of enforcement of the code came in 1974 when Doc Ellis thought the Cincinnati Reds had shown up his team up by running up the score and laughing about it. On May 1, 1974 Ellis hit the 1^st four Red’s batters he faced and missed the fifth with four efforts. After that game, the Pirates went 83-62 and won the National League East after opening up 6-12 before Ellis took on the role of enforcer.

Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens continues to destroy the baseball. He had a homer and single with 2 runs and 3 rbi in a win over Belmont when Dylan Craig had a hit, run and rbi. Stephens also robbed Craig of a triple. In a dh split with Trevecca Michael Brown had 3 hits and 2 runs. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm pitched a scoreless 1/3 IP against MTSU when Hunter Adkins took the loss yielding 3 runs in a 1/3 of an IP. In a dh split with Georgia Perimeter Gray Hutchinson had 3 hits and 3 rbi and Derek Shugart had a hit and 2 runs. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a rbi hit in a win over USC-Upstate.

Tennessee Tech’s Garrett Baugh earned his 1^st collegiate win throwing 7 IP yielding 1 run and Zach Stephens had 2 doubles, 2 runs and 2 rbi in a win over Berea College.  

Wofford’s Josh McKinney had a hit in a loss to Clemson. Austin-Peay’s  Zane Leffew gave up 3 runs in 3 IP pitched against Ole Miss.

Walter’s State’s Shaun Ball had 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run against King College. Belmont’s Dylan Craig hit a 2 run inside the park homer against Mississippi State in the top of the 9^th to secure a 2-1 win on Friday. Craig also had a bb. Lee’s Michael Brown hit a 3 run jack in a 7-0 win over Iowa Wesleyan and had a rbi single and bb in a 2-1 loss to Wesleyan on Friday. Lipscomb’s Chad Fromm threw a scoreless IP against in Marshall in a 3-2 loss. Kennesaw State’s Jordan Dean threw a scoreless 1  1/3 IP in a 5-4 loss to Memphis. Wofford’s Josh McKinney had 2 hits, 2 rbi and a run in a 10-2 win over Butler. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 rbi in a win over Eastern Michigan when Garrett Ball threw a scoreless 9^th inning. Former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 3 runs in 5 IP in a loss to Jacksonville State. Lee’s Brown had 2 hits, 2runs, and 2 rbi in a 3^rd game win over Iowa Wesleyan. In game 7 of the series Belmont’s Craig had a hit and run in a 5-3 loss to Mississippi State. In Lipscomb’s 3-2 win over Marshall Chad Fromm threw 2/3 of a scoreless IP. In Wofford’s win over Presbyterian McKinney had a hit. In a game 2 loss to Eastern Michigan Zach Stephens had a hit and run. APSU’s Jon Chinard had a bb and run in a win over Illinois State. Walter’s State’s Shun Ball had a double, 2 singles, a SB, run and 2 rbi in a win over VSC Salkehatchie. In a dh split with Georgia Perimeter Derek Shugart had a hit and run in game 1, Rader a hit, Cameron Brewster 2 hits and Jamie Harper threw 5 IP giving up 2 runs and in game 2 when Brewster had a rbi hit, Gray Hutchinson a hit, Shugart a hit and Rader 2 hits and 2 rbi. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had a single, double, homer with 4 rbi in a loss to Eastern Michigan.

1)                  Dylan Craig- Belmont- Junior- Dylan has proved his ability to hit by setting the season and 2^nd most season hit records at Belmont. He is a plus defender with an average arm with high 6.5 to low 6.6 sixty times. He should be drafted this season. A good year can get him in the top 6-8 rounds.

2)                  Chad Fromm-Senior- Lipscomb- Chad touched 94 last spring. He has great arm strength and sits 88-91 on his fb and 82-84 with his slider. He is close to max effort every pitch but if his command improves he should be drafted.

3)                  Jon Clinard- Junior- APSU- Jon is a switch hitter who has a very high baseball IQ. He has all the intangibles. He runs a 6.7 and has solid arm strength to play 2^nd professionally. His size will work against him. A great season offensively could get him drafted but he currently profiles to more likely be a senior sign next year.

4)                  Shaun Ball- Sophomore- Shaun has fringe average speed and arm strength, but he hits and hits with some power potential from the left side. He needs to prove he can play the outfield and produce doubles and homers with the new bat. He also is more likely to be a pick either next year or a senior sign.

5)                  Will Cooper- H.S.-Senior- Will runs a high 6.6, has above average arm strength and has power with wood. He greatly improved his draft status last summer with the Cyclones and at the East Coast Showcase. He is a physical specimen and looks like a pro body now. Were signability not an issue, which it is, he would probably go between the 6^th and 8^th rounds and possibly as high as the 5th.

Coach Bobby Pierce has his Troy Trojans off to a great 6-2 start which includes a series win against 2009 World Series participant and perennial top 25 Southern Miss which entered the series undefeated. Pierce was a finalist for the Tennessee job when UT Athletic Director Mike Hamilton picked Todd Raliegh. Pierce’s college coaching record is 821-381. Raligh’s record is 310-267.

Almost every collegiate Cyclone is off to a very hot start swinging the new bat. Below are some of the batting averages to this point:

                Lee-Michael Brown- .442, 13 rbi, 13 runs (leads team in total runs produced)

                Cleveland State- Brandon Rader- .429, 9 runs, 7 rbi ( leads team in b.a.)

                                                Cody Commons= .364

                                                  Derek Shugart- .300, 9 runs

                Austin Peay- Jon Clinard - .375

                TN TECH- Zach Stephens- .538, team leading 6rbi (leads team in b.a.)

                Belmont- Dylan Craig- .500 (leads team in batting average by 250 points)

                Wofford- Josh McKinny-.412, team leading 10 total runs produced

                Walters State – Shaun Ball- .450, 3 homers

Every one of these hitters were coached by Coach Koontz and Paris and 5 of them took extensive individual lessons from Coach Paris.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had a hit and bb in a 6-2 loss to Vandy.  Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens had 2 hits and 2 rbi and Garrett Baugh pitched 2 scoreless IP against MTSU in a loss. In a dh sweep of the TWC JV Cameron Brewster had 4 hits, 4 rbi’s and a run, Jamie Harper had a pinch 2 rbi, hit and 2 rbi’s in a second game, Brandon Rader had 4 hits, 1 rbi and 4 runs, Cody Commons 2 hits and 2 runs and, Gray Hutchinson a hit and 2 runs. Lee’s Michael brown had 2 hits and a run in a win over Rio Grande.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig had 2 hits, 2 BB, a sb, run and rbi in a game win over O.U. Craig is hitting left for the Bruins. Lee’s Michael Brown doubled, singled, scored and had a rbi in a game1 in a win over Illinois Tech and tripled, scored once and drove in 1 in a second game win over Tech. Bryan’s C.J. Rowden earned a win over Indiana Wesleyan. APSU’s Jon Clinard had 2 hits, a sb, a run and rbi in a win over Valportso. Wofford’s Josh McKinney hitting 2^nd-had a hit, run and 2 rbi in a win over Xavier. Tennessee Tech’s Zach Stephens got his first college hit in a 6-1 loss to # 24 Coastal Carolina and Garrett Bough gave up 2 runs in 2 2P with 2 strikeouts and Stephens had 2 hits, 2 runs and 4 rbi in a loss to Virginia Tech. Craig had 2 hits, a sb, a rbi and run in a game 3 win for Belmont and was intentionally walked twice and had a hit in in a game 2 win. Wofford’s Mckinney scored twice in a win over Iowa in game 2. In game 2 with Valparaiso APSU’s Zane Leffew gave up 2 runs in 2 2P. In a dh sweep of Illinois Tech Lee’s Michael Brown had 2 doubles, a single, 2 runs and 3 rbi. In a loss to Portland former Cyclone Hunter Adkins gave up 1 run. Rheinhart’s Ethan Starr was 3 for 6 last week with 2 bb, 3 runs and 3 rbi. Craig had 1 hit in a Belmont loss on Monday. In APSU’s game 3 Clinard had a hit , bb and run. In a game 3 win over Wabash College Shaun Ball had a hit. Kennesaw State’s John Dean threw a scoreless IP against Ball State with 3 strikeouts. Tech’s Zack Stephens had 2 hits in a loss to Boston College and had 3 hits and a run in a loss to George Mason. In a win on Tuesday Brown had 2 hits for Lee.

Lee’s Michael Brown homered in a loss to Union College. Walter’s State Shaun Ball, who hits 3^rd for the Senators, had 4 hits in a dh sweep of Union College.

Follow your favoriteD-1 Cyclones on this website starting tomorrow.

Lee’s Michael Brown had a hit in a loss to TWC. Cleveland State’s Derek Shugart had 2 hits, 2 runs and a rbi in a game 1 win when Brandon Rader had 2 hits and 3 rbi and Gray Hutchinson a double and in a game 2 win over Tusculum’s  JV when Shugart tripled and scored, Rader had  a rbi hit, Hutchinson doubled and Cameron Brewster had a rbi.

                David Mead, who was a #1 draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 1999, played 8 years of professional baseball, and who previously worked at the Rush is doing group, individual and team training in strength, agility and speed training at RSA.               

                Group sessions are available on Saturday at 9:45 AM for $10.00 per participant. Individual training sessions are available as well.  These sessions are not “cookie cutter”. They are designed to help the individual athlete enhance his/her abilities for his/her sport and position.

                Those who train with David get stronger, leaner and quicker without adding unwanted bulk and worse yet, losing flexibility. This is a problem in many programs, but not ours.

                Call David at 316-3649 for more details or to book a time.  

Lee’s Michael Brown had 3 hits and a rbi and a run in #2 Lee’s extra inning loss Friday to Shawnee State. In a win over Tennessee Wesley Brown was walked 3 times and scored once.  Walter’s State’s Shaun Ball had a hit, run and 2 rbi in a win over San Jauinto and in a dh sweep of TWC JV he had 6 hits, 5 runs and 3 rbi. On Saturday Lee’s Brown had 4 hits, 2 runs and 3 rbi in a dh sweep of Shawnee. Brown is hitting .529 on the year with a .716 ob% after 7 games. In a dh loss to Gordon Gray Hutchinson had a hit and rbi, and Brandon Rader had 3 hits and Derek Shugart had a hit and 2 runs. Walter State’s Ball; homered, 3 singled and scored twice in a loss to Louisburg State and homered, singled and drove in 2 in a loss to Southern Navada.

Dylan-Craig has been selected to the Preseason Atlantic Sun All Conference team by the coaches. Craig, like Jon Clinard who was recently selected preseason All-OVC, worked extensively with Coach Paris at RSA. Craig hit with Coach Paris for 4 years.

                Craig projects to be drafted this June. See story above for his stats and more background.

Austin-Peays junior Jon Clinard was named pre-season All-Conference at 2^nd base, a position he will probably not play consistently, by the OVC coaches. Clinard was previously on the OVC All- Freshman team and in 2010 was 2^nd team OVC at 2^nd base. Jon will likely play a lot in the outfield this year and intermittently at 2^nd and/or SS. Jon hit .333 last year with 30 rbi, 52 runs and 29 sb. Jon can possibly set the APSU career stolen base record this year.

                Jon is a switch-hitter who worked extensively with Coach Paris at RSA in high school and became a switch-hitter.  He is a tireless worker. He could be drafted this year but more likely profiles as a senior sign.

Belmont’s Dylan Craig was recognized by College Baseball Insider as the best defensive out -fielder in the Atlantic Sun Conference as well as the toughest hitter to strikeout and the most underrated hitter in the Conference. CBI gets its information strictly from college coaches. Craig holds the Belmont record for hits in a season at 92 with the second best session being his at 89. He also holds the record for runs scored in a season at 63. He was freshman of the year in 2009 and the SE Baseball Com’s Atlantic Sun Honor Roll as a sophomore as well as being all conference in 2009 and 2010.

                Craig is a junior this year and should be drafted in June of this year.

Its college baseball time in Tennessee! In opening action for Cleveland State Brandon Rader had 4 hits in a double header against Roane State which Gray Hutchinson had 2 hits and a rbi in the second game as well as 2 defensive gens at 3^rd. in Lee’s first game win over Virginia Intermont  Michael Brown had a hit 2bb, a 2b and 2 runs. In a 2^nd game win Brown had 2 runs and 2bb. In game 3 win Brown doubled in a run.

Dizzy Dean was elected to Hall of Fame in 1953. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in a season doing so in 1934.

                Dizzy was a southern born and bred who was known for his on the field and off-field antics and his braggadocio. Before a game at the height of his career Dizzy could strike out Vince Dimaggio, Joe’s brother who was an excellent player himself, four times in a game. He struck him out the first 3 at bats and then when Vince popped up to the catcher in his fourth at bat Dizzy yelled at the catcher “drop it! drop it”. The catcher did and Dizzy struck him out winning his bet. After he retired Ole Diz did color commentary on the baseball games of the week. And colorful he was. He would say a player “slud” into third base, and often used ain’t, and once opined, that a hitter “shouldn’t  hadn’t ought-a swang at hit!”

                He often had English teachers write to him about his bad English and how he was setting a bad example the you ones in the audience. In his response to one such complaint on the air said “a lot of folks who ain’t sayin ain’t, ain’t eatin. So teach you  learn’em English and I’ll learn’em baseball.”

                Personally, I watched Ole Diz religiously growing up and I ain’t suffered in nary a ale affect from it.

We have several players that need to be recognized for their off season efforts both at RSA and on their own. Bradley Smith, Jackson Bostain, Patrick Parris and Hunter Mercer have all worked extremely hard this off season and are already reaping the benefits of going above and beyond. Raw talent is a great attribute to have, but especially in baseball it will only carry you so far.  We have many others like Chase Morrisey, Brent Smith, Nathan Murrell, Bobby Towne and of late  Zach McKelvey and Sterling Stewart. There are many others who are working, but these are going above and beyond.

The catching clinic that Ryan Casteel put on this past Saturday was awesome! Ryan is a gifted instructor for catching. Those who attended not only received instructions ,but literally hundreds of actual reps on transfers, throwing and blocking. Ryan is available for individual sessions at RSA for the next 3 weeks

                T.J. Binder, Brody and Roberts made significant improvement during the camp. We are likely to be blessed with strong catching for years to come.

The Cyclones K team has 3 lefthander’s on the summer roster who project to be very good in the future. In addition, Chase Morrissey had solid summer and fall seasons last year and is expected to step up. Once Will Erwin is completely healthy he should be in the mid 80s and a lot is expected out of newcomer Jared Ryan and Austin Morris is very solid from the right-handed side.  These are not the only quality arms. Although this team of 15s and 16s will play 18u most of the summer, there is a lot of potential on the pitching staff and it should be fun to watch them test themselves against a difficult schedule.

The latest edition of Baseball American has Kyler Burke listed as having the  strongest outfield arm amongst all Chicago Cub’s minor leaguers and current big leaguer Mitchell Boggs is projected to the Cardinals closer of the future.

Former Cyclone Corey Gearrin is traveling in this region with the Braves’ Caravan. This is a good indication that he is in the Braves’ future big league plans.

The previews of some of the Tennessee baseball programs posted by TBR featured several Cyclones. TBR states at Cleveland State that likely starters are in fielders Gray Hutchinson, Derek Shugart and Brandon Rader. In the outfield Cameron Brewster and Cody Commons are expected to start. Jamie Harper is expected to be a weekend rotation starter and dh.  At Walters State 2010 all conference 2^nd baseman Shaun Ball, is now the starter in centerfield. Ball has signed with Eastern Kentucky.

                Lee University’s preview projects Michael Brown as the starter in right field. Two important players from last year, starting catcher, Taylor Comford, and Freshman Pitcher of the Year David Eskew will have to take medical red-shirts.

RSA WES HODGES PRO CONCEPTS HITTING CLINIC REGISTRATION

Name:__________________________ Date of Birth_____________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________

City:________________________State:________________ Zip Code:______________

Phone #s (home)_____________________(cell)________________________________

Email Address:__________________________________________________________

Parent’s Names:_________________________________________________________

Positions Played:________________________________________________________

Last select team played for:_________________________________________________

High School or Middle School Played for:_____________________________________

Ages 8-12____ (12:30-2:00pm) Ages 13-18____(2:30-5:00)

Mail form and check for $50 to RSA, c/o George E. Koontz, 9323 Standifer Gap Rd., Ooltewah, TN 37363. Make check payable to: RSA. Bring a baseball card or baseball and Wes will sign it for you. Directions to RSA and additional information are available at RealSportsAcademy.com. Payment due day of registration is $55.

RELEASE:

I DO HEREBY RELEASE Real Sports Academy, L.L.C. and its owners, agents, employees, and/or sub-contractors and Wes Hodges from any and all liability for any claims of any nature or kind arising out of my son’s participation in the baseball clinic conducted at the Real Sports Academy on February 12, 2011.

Signature of Parent___________________________________________________________

Date_____________________

Printed Name of Parent________________________________________________________

DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS - NO ONE OTHER THAN PARTICIPANTS IN THE CLINIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO STAY DURING THE CLINIC. SESSIONS ARE LIMITED TO FIRST 50 REGISTRANTS.

This is the last reminder for the 13 u and 14 u team meetings this weekend. 13 u at RS A on Sunday at 1 and 14 u at 2. Please bring your own folding chair to sit in. Anyone who wants hats, bating gloves or bats or, who wants to order Akadema products- now is the time. Come prepared to know your sizes !!!

We are excited to announce the coaching assignments for the summer of 2011. We believe this to be as good as any group we have ever had, if not better.

P Team - Head Coach- Dylan Paris

Pitching Coach - David Mead

K Team - Head Coach - George Koontz (out fielders/pitchers)

Asst Head Coach - Travis Simmons (corner IF-catchers-hitting)

Pitching Coach - Kyle Clayton

Asst Coach - Jon Clinard(middle infielders and hitting)

14 u Team - Head Coach - Tanner Moore

Assisting Coach - Dave Mason

13 u Team - Head Coach - Ryan Vinson

Asst Coach - Steven Brown (position play)

Coach Koontz and Aaron Simmons will also "rove". They will fill in where needed due to coaches absences’ or where additional help on a team is neeeded.

Ryan Casteel will be doing a catching clinic at RSA on Saturday, February 5, 2011. The cost is a very affordable $25.00.  Any Cyclone catcher who did not attend Coach Griffin’s camp is expected to attend this one if you want to catch this season.

Call or text David at 423-316-3649

Ryan Casteel Catching Clinic-$25.00- Saturday, February 5, 2011

                Learn the catching fundamentals and/or advanced Pro Concepts from a professional catcher. Fundamentals- Noon to 2:30; Advanced Pro Concepts 2:30-5:00-Limited to 12 per session. Real Sports Academy- Call 423-309-4995 or go to Realsportsacademy.com

Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Hitting Clinic $50.00-Saturday, February 12, 2011

Ages 8-12 from Noon until 2:30; Ages 13-18 from 2:30 until 5:00; limited to 20 per session- Real Sports Academy- Call 423-309-4995 or go to Realsportsacademy.com.

PRELIMINARY SUMMER SCHEDULE - 2011

P TEAM

* The 18s not participating in 17U Perfect Game Play

Additional dates at SEC facilities may be added

Jon Clinard is now engaged to Drew’s Toth’s sister. Ryan Casteel proposed to Bethany on New Year’s Eva and they are now engaged as well. Congratulations to both couples!

Andrew Smith played at Cleveland High School and was a 18u and Collegiate Cyclone. He was a middle infielder who played on teams in the early 2000’s with Bryce Thomas, David Tym, Chris Polilestro and others. Andrew was a solid defender with above average speed and was a good situational hitter. He played at Cleveland State and Shorter college. He was an honor student in high school and college. He is now a teacher and coach at Pepperell High School in Georgia.

On July 24 of 1983 George Brett was one of the best players in the game and Goose Gossage one of the best closers. Going into the 9^th inning the Yankees were clinging to a 4-3 lead. With 2 out and 1 on Brett hit a 2 run homer that appeared to give the Royals a 5-4 lead.  After Brett crossed home plate Billy Martin, the Yankees manager, who had noticed that Brett’s bat had pine tar too far up the handle near the barrel in violation of the rule prohibiting tar from being on the “barrel”, protested. The umpires inspected  the bat and agreed there was a violation and called Brett out resulting in a win for the Yankees. Brett came running out of the Royals dugout and had to be restrained from attacking the home plate umpire. An appeal was filed with  American League President Andy McPhail and he eventually overruled the umpires. The game was later completed on August 18 and the Royals won 5-4.

The 2011 Preliminary P & K Team Schedules are provided below. There may be some adjustments, but this will give everyone something to work off of. The only aluminum bat games will be at Mississippi State. The rest are all with wood, the way the game was meant to be played.

Our Perfect Game slots are secured and paid for the 17U and 16U World Wood Bat National Championships. These are the 2 age groups which are the most heavily scouted by colleges and professional scouts. Over 150 teams were declined requested invitations for the 17U and a large number for the 16U groups as well. The cost has escalated again to where the 17U is now $1,750.00.

We are pleased to announce that former Cyclone and Bradley All-State catcher, Ryan Casteel, now a Colorado Rockie minor Leaguer, is doing catching lessons at RSA. If you are interested, please call Coach Koontz at 423-309-4995

            The prediction here is that James will be an NAIA All-American before his career concludes at Lee, if he has 4 completely healthy years. Congratulations James!

The Wes Hodges Clinic is this Saturday afternoon December 18, 2010 and the Tom Griffin Catching Clinic is this Sunday afternoon December 19, 2010 at RSA. Once again, all new Cyclones and those 16 and below are expected to attend and all Cyclones position players/catches are encouraged to attend. The forms and more details are provided below.

Cory Gearrin (Braves) and Everett Teaford (Royals) were recently added to the 40 man rosters for their respective teams. Three other former Cyclones currently are on their MLB team’s 40 man rosters beside them - Mike Minor, Mitchell Boggs and Wes Hodges.

Coach Koontz has several 32 and 33 inch pro quality Louisville Slugger 271 bats left. The are $45.00 which was the cost. Next year they will cost substantially more. Call 309-4995 if you want one. Limited supply.

Coaches Koontz, Mead and Paris took Yoga at RSA on Saturday along with several others. All were highly impressed with the benefits not only for us old timers, but also for a young athlete, especially a baseball player. It will greatly increase flexibility, and therefore speed as well as the strength of not only muscles but also connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons, thereby greatly reducing the risk of injury. It also is a great enhancer of balance and core strength. Coach Mead has done it before, but it was the first time for Coaches Koontz and Paris. All will be taking the class weekly from now on. Our players and parents are encouraged to try it on Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. at RSA.

Will Cooper has been named an 2011 Under Amour Preseason All-American. He has been invited to attend the All-American tournament in Arizona in January. Congratulations Will!

GRIFFIN CATCHING CLINIC REGISTRATION

Name:___________________________________________ Age: ______________

Address:_____________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Phone #s (home)______________________ (cell)___________________________

Is Parent Attending: _________ Name of Parent: ___________________________

Last Select Team Played For: ________________ Positions Play: ______________

Middle School or High School Team: _____________________________________

The Clinic is $45.00 per player. Ages 8 – 18, only if pre-registered. $50.00 for day of clinic registration.

Please return by mail or hand-delivery to : George Koontz

9323 Standifer Gap Road

Ooltewah, TN 37363

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO REAL SPORTS ACADEMY. THEY MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 17, 2010, AND THE CLINIC IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 25 PLAYERS IN EACH AGE GROUP.

Ages: 8 -12 _____ (12:45 – 2:45) Ages: 13 & Up _____ (3:00 – 5:00)

Instructor: Coach Tom Griffin – Head Coach – Carson-Newman College.

You may have 1 parent present during the drop-off and pick-up at camp. You may not have anyone else accompany you during the camp or loitering at the facility.

Signature of Parent______________________________

DATE:_________________ Printed Name of Parent___________________________

GRIFFIN CATCHING CLINIC REGISTRATION- DECEMBER 19, 2010

Name:___________________________________________ Age: ______________

Address:_____________________________________________________________

Email Address: _______________________________________________________

Phone #s (home)______________________ (cell)___________________________

Is Parent Attending: _________ Name of Parent: ___________________________

Last Select Team Played For: ________________ Positions Play: ______________

Middle School or High School Team: _____________________________________

The Clinic is $45.00 per player. Ages 8 – 18, only if pre-registered. $50.00 for day of clinic registration.

Please return by mail or hand-delivery to : George Koontz

9323 Standifer Gap Road

Ooltewah, TN 37363

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO REAL SPORTS ACADEMY. THEY MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 17, 2010, AND THE CLINIC IS LIMITED TO THE FIRST 25 PLAYERS IN EACH AGE GROUP.

Ages: 8 -12 _____ (12:45 – 2:45) Ages: 13 & Up _____ (3:00 – 5:00)

Instructor: Coach Tom Griffin – Head Coach – Carson-Newman College.

You may have 1 parent present during the drop-off and pick-up at camp. You may not have anyone else accompany you during the camp or loitering at the facility.

Signature of Parent______________________________

DATE:_________________ Printed Name of Parent___________________________

We have added a substantial amount of additional strength and conditioning equipment at RSA. We are going to start scheduling RSA lessons utilizing RightView Pro videoing of swings and pitching machines for comparisons with pro players swings and pitching mechanicals starting December 1, 2010. You can reserve a RightView lesson by calling 309-4995.

Now that the summer and fall seasons are concluded, we will resume the Old Timer’s Tale of the Week series. It will continue until May.

It’s no secret that the author of the series grew up idolizing Mickey Mantle. The Mick was a very flawed person in his personal life and off-the-field behavior but he was a phenomenal athlete and a great teammate. Everyone who truly knows baseball history is aware that Mantle tore his knee up on a drainage plate in the outfield at Yankee Stadium during the 1951 World Series. Prior to that injury he recorded the fastest time in the history of baseball from the left handed side of the batter box to 1^st base -3.1 seconds and 3.3 seconds from the right side! To put that into perspective, neither Bo Jackson(RH) nor Dieon Sanders(LH) came close to those times during their baseball careers.

After the 1951 injury Mantle still was exceptionally fast, but not as fast as before. Mantle played 2 years without any surgery at all on the knee. In late 1953 he finally had surgery. 30% of the cartilage was removed from his knee. That is all that was done.

Recently, the author of a new book, "The Last Boy- Mickey Mantle" had several orthopedic doctors review Mantles x-rays’ and medical records from 1951-1953. They also reviewed old film of Mantle running and swinging a bat after his injury. They concluded that Mantle did not severely strain his ligament and tear his cartilage in 1951 as was thought at the time, but had in fact tore his ACL and MCL and his cartilage. The cartilage damage was repaired in the 1953 operation, but neither the MCL nor the ACL injuries were ever repaired. An MCL tear can repair itself to a significant degree over time, but anACL tear can’t be repaired without surgery. In other words, Mantle hit over 500 of his 536 homers (3^rd all time at the time of his retirement before the steroid era) and played 15 years on a torn ACL! Absolutely an amazing feat.

The book quotes noted sports orthopedist Dr. Stephen Haas in explaining how it was possible. "Mickey Mantle can be classified as a neuromuscular genius , one of a select few who are so well wired that they are able to compensate for severe injuries like this and still perform at the highest level, overcoming a particular impairment at a given moment. It is a phenomenon comprised of motivation, high pain threshold, strength, reflexes and luck."

The 2010 award winners for the fall teams and the summer P,K and T teams, as announced and presented at the 2010 Awards Banquet, are listed below:

2010 CYCLONES SUMMER (P) TEAM

James Dylan Paris MVP Award- James Fowlkes, Will Cooper

Bryce Thomas Consummate Team Player- Randall Coley

David Mead Most Improved-Trevor Evett

Best Pitcher- Ryan Johnson

Best Defender- James Fowlkes

Best Hitter- Will Cooper

2010 CYCLONES SUMMER (K) TEAM

James Dylan Paris MVP Award- Jeff Burke

Bryce Thomas Consummate Team Player- Josh Strong

David Mead Most Improved Award- Garth Pendergrass

Best Pitcher -Jeff Burke

Best Defender- Evan Speicher

Best Hitter- T. J. Binder

2010 CYCLONES SUMMER (T)TEAM

Best Hitter- Drew Toth

Best Pitcher- Patrick Parris

Best Defender- Bobby Towne

Team Player- Bradley Travis

MVP- Brent Smith

Most Improved-Mitch Dolinger

2010 CYCLONES FALL (K) Team

James Dylan Paris MVP Award- Jeff Burke- B.A..411 Total Runs Produced-35 Wins-3 E.R.A.-2.36

Bryce Thomas Consummate Team Player Award-Evan Speicher

David Mead Most Improved Award- Lee Gibson

Most Runs Produced Award- T.J. Binder

Runs- 23 RBI- 22 Total Runs Produced-45

Highest Batting Average- Will Cooper .456 13 extra base hits 44 total runs produced

Lowest E.R.A.-Ryan Johsnon

E.R.A.-1.73

Most Wins Award- Brent Smith -5 wins

2010 CYCLONES FALL (S) TEAM

James Dylan Paris MVP Award- Bobby Towne

Bryce Thomas Consummate Team Player- Robert Parr

David Mead Most Improved Award- Bradley Smith

Best Pitcher- Chase Morrissey

Best Hitter- Zach McKelvey

Best Defender-Garth Pendergrass

The 2010 Banquet was the biggest hit yet with our parents and players. Coach Thompson gave an exhilarating and motivational speech. He imparted not only a lot of instruction about how to "Figure it Out" as a player, student and person, but also about the recruiting process, academic requirements and what college coaches look for. He wanted us to thank all of the parents and players who have emailed him since the Banquet.

The initial Hall of Fame induction ceremony went well to induct Dylan Paris, Chris Geppi and David Mead into the Cyclones Hall of Fame. The photos of each which will be hung on the Hall of Fame were presented and they will be provided with a plaque of their own to commemorate the occasion. Dylan’s number 3, Chris’ number 9, and David’s number 35 were officially retired.

The various awards winners are listed below in a separate article.

In 2011, their will be a separate Banquet for the 13 and 14 year old teams.

The registration form for the Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Clinic is set forth below. This is the best camp of its kind around. It will cover fielding, base running, hitting, conditioning and agility, nutrition and taking care of your equipment. There will also be a raffle of MLB signed items, bats and batting gloves.

Wes was a Cyclone on some great teams, Tennessee Player of the Year at Baylor for Division II, an All- American at Georgia Tech and has been in professional baseball for 5 years playing the last 2 in AAA.

All Cyclones are encouraged to attend. All new Cyclones and Cyclones 16 and under are expected to attend. The concepts Wes teaches are at the heart of what we teach and it is great information for younger and new players.

The registration form for the Wes Hodges Pro Concepts Clinic is set forth below. This is the best camp of its kind around. It will cover fielding, base running, hitting, conditioning and agility, nutrition and taking care of your equipment. There will also be a raffle of MLB signed items, bats and batting gloves.

Wes was a Cyclone on some great teams, Tennessee Player of the Year at Baylor for Division II, an All- American at Georgia Tech and has been in professional baseball for 5 years playing the last 2 in AAA.

All Cyclones are encouraged to attend. All new Cyclones and Cyclones 16 and under are expected to attend. The concepts Wes teaches are at the heart of what we teach and it is great information for younger and new players.

BATTING AVERAGE

Cooper-.456

Goins-.426

Burke-.411

Binder-.408

Fowlkes-.406

RBI

Cooper-23

Binder-22

Burke-20

Toth-16

Goins-15

OB%

Fowlkes-.531

Goins, Coley-.514

Cooper, Burke–.507

Binder-.500

TOTAL RUNS PRODUCED

Binder-45

Cooper-44

Burke, Fowlkes-35

Toth-32

Goins-28

RUNS

Binder, Fowlkes-23

Cooper-21