North Canton Hoover

[ncsports13]

hoover will win the federal league championship this year. there i said it. quote me.

[fevertime]

Good luck with that thought, because all the Fed teams are thinking the same way! Should be interesting.

[Caju]

hoover will win the federal league championship this year. there i said it. quote me.

Okay... Went ahead and complied with your request.:)
Now that we got that part figured out the rest of the league can use their best pitchers against teams other than Hoover in games they actually have a shot at winning. That strategy should help the pitchers record and the team record. Fight is on for 2nd! Should be interesting...

[ncsports13]

i love your optimism...keep on believing people!!!

[BBallMan]

Well Hoover has to be the favorite. I do think most of the teams will be gunning for them. Fitch with there strong lefty for sure.

[spectator123]

Well Hoover has to be the favorite. I do think most of the teams will be gunning for them. Fitch with there strong lefty for sure.

Explain how Hoover will be the favorite.

[Hometeam]

I think that Jackson will easily be in the hunt.

[playthegame25]

from the talk i heard around the league, i heard Jackson and Lake were the teams to beat... didnt hear much about hoover being in the tops

[hooverbaseball30]

we had a rough year last year

[sportsfan2413]

didn't lake win the fed league last year

[spectator123]

didn't lake win the fed league last year

Jackson won the Federal League

[SWATorNOT]

Well now that Hoover has won the league. Lets just play for 2nd, and 3rd place, wow, I know it's ok to think it, but to come on a message and just say we are going to win , puts a little extra step come time these other teams play N.C. H. good luck with that

[ncsports13]

ive said it once and ill say it again...hoover will win the federal league championship outright.

[sportsfan2413]

people better watch what they say. i mean look at everyone saying that the hoover girls basketball team was going to go to states and some said even win it...they didnt even make it out of districts. its good to be confident but lets not be cocky.

[SWATorNOT]

ok make a case for ur team, not just "we will win the league" players back? how many are good pitchers ? what part of the batting order is back ? come on tell us

[Caju]

ive said it once and ill say it again...hoover will win the federal league championship outright.

He didn't actually say"in baseball.":blush:

[fevertime]

didn't lake win the fed league last year

Lake won District and took 2nd in the Fed.

[sportsfan2413]

He didn't actually say"in baseball.":blush:

he said hoover will win the federal league championship this year in the baseball thread.

[Champ77]

Thats a bold prediction. Jackson and Lake will be tough. I hope for hoovers sake that Jackson and Lake dont see this prediction or they'll make sure to take care of business against hoover. Whats so great about Hoover that makes you so sure they'll win? I cant figure it out.

[nwfan8]

I take Jackson in the Federal League this year. Lots of players returning I beilieve and will be even better this year.

[SWATorNOT]

we are waiting to hear why they will win - hello are you there

[runnaman24]

The parity in the Federal League is amazing every year. The winning team usually wins by 1 or maybe 2 games over 2nd place. Any team can win any given year. Last year I didnt really think that Jackson was that great, their pitching wasnt outstanding, but they had a good defense and could put up some runs.

There are many questions for me about the season.
How will Jackson replace Irwin and Williams, plus their pitching? But they do return Caghan who is a good place to start.
Lake loses Carter and Lorenzo, 2 good pitchers and hitters. Will Pip, Chack and others pick up?
GlenOak could be one of the sleepers with Sutton leading the team, but they do lose Henderson and Knott.
Boardman always has the talent, but can they put it together under a new coach?
Fitch has some good pitchers, but I think they lost most of their better hitters.
McKinley will definitely be a challenge for the new coach losing almost everything from last year.
Perry loses lots of contributers in Sedlacko, Thompkins, Stutler, and Graham. They have lots of ground to make up.
And then there is Hoover, who had a disappointing season last year which most will try to forget. Expectations were high, work ethic was low. I surely hope this years team can work hard enough and turn it around.

Here is what I see for the Vikings:
Pitching they have T. Nicholson and Meek who both have the potential to be solid starters with Pritt and Hastings as a solid relievers.
Derosiers is can block behind the plate and has a good arm.
Georgiades (if he plays), 1st base, has a great stick.
2nd, SS, and 3rd base will be rotated on who is pitching with Vukovich, Meek, or E. Nicholson(healthy). They all can play solid defense and have pretty good bats.
Spehar is a speedy CF who can hit well and cover some ground.
Then there is a group for LF and RF all whom I have seen have ups and downs through the spring and summer. Rose, Kohler, or Ross.
I dont think this team has any major stars, but they have the POTENTIAL to be good, just because you have ability doesnt mean anything on the field.
Championships are not won in the spring, but only played. Hopefully whoever wants to win the FLC has been preparing for a couple months if they dont play another sport.

[MainMan37]

I really hope that some hoover players arent on here talking the team up like last year. we all know how that ended up

[fevertime]

Runnerman, Lake's Lorenzo is only a senior this year, he will will be a big plus for Lake , unless he moved out of town!

[spectator123]

Jackson's pitching is back this year. Their two starters were 12-1 in the FL last year. We had one pitcher graduate.
Pitching should be better this year.

[runnaman24]

Runnerman, Lake's Lorenzo is only a senior this year, he will will be a big plus for Lake , unless he moved out of town!

Did not know that he was only a Junior, you are correct that he will be a huge plus for the Blue Streaks.

I really cant pick a favorite this year. I think whoever goes at least 10-4 in the league will win the league. Jackson, Lake, Boardman, Hoover, and Fitch will fight for the first 5 spots with GlenOak and Perry able to sneak some big wins against the first 5, then McKinley will be rebuilding in my opinion.

[runnaman24]

Jackson's pitching is back this year. Their two starters were 12-1 in the FL last year. We had one pitcher graduate.
Pitching should be better this year.

I thought Jackson lost Anderson and someone else? oh well

I think that Jackson will rely ALOT on their pitching and defense if that is the case. Their offense will have to pick up the slack from the good hitters that left.

[chico9]

Hoover will go as far as their pitching will take them, which is shaky IMHO. After Meek, they have question marks. Pritt may surprise some people. The attitude has to be better than it was last year, or the result will be the same. The summer team had a few "me" players that better get their minds adjusted.

[jacmckvik]

Hoover Will Never Win With With Hite As Coach,SIMPLE As That! EVERY OTHER COACH IN THE COUNTY WILL TELL YOU THAT.

[chico9]

Hoover Will Never Win With With Hite As Coach,SIMPLE As That! EVERY OTHER COACH IN THE COUNTY WILL TELL YOU THAT.

I'm assuming you meant the Federal League title? Or did you mean district, regional, or state? If you meant the Fed--you're wrong! Hite's 2006 team won the Fed, and had a 20-win season.

I will agree with what I think your point is. That is, Hite doesn't bring a lot to the table. He isn't a hard working coach, couldn't care less about the summer team, and is not a great organizer. That 2006 team took it upon themselves to work hard and get it done. They had off the charts senior leadership, and some huge contributions from some juniors. That's what will have to happen any year that Hoover wants to win. To be fair, Hite does do a good job with game strategy.

[jacmckvik]

Chico,your right when you talk about the 2006 team. Those guys were special.But thats exactly my point. Coaches win with hard work just like players.The 2005-2006 players[ who came up one game short in 2005 of making it back to back fed titles] were already exercising a work ethic that had been there for a long time,that work ethic is being destroyed right before the Hoover Faithfuls eyes. The word around the horn is ,any coach who does not work his whole program, and that includes summer ball is going to fail.How succesful do you think a boys or girls basketball coach would be if offseason got the attention that Hoover baseball gets!? I hear from other coaches that you have one Varsity asst. coach that cares about the whole program,but gets no support what ever.Not a good situation!

[chico9]

...were already exercising a work ethic that had been there for a long time

jacmcvik: The above part of your post is the only part I disagree with. Mel had lost the drive to make his players into a team. And they had some unbelievably great individual talent. They just wouldn't play as a team. The rest of your post I'm in agreement with.

[Caju]

Do you feel the coach should control the summer programs and good players should not be permitted to play for "elite" teams? I think the coach should show an interest in younger players and his own players, perhaps even to the point of helping them find a team for summer baseball. The kids need to know that if they want to play high school ball they'd better be working their butts off out of season. A high school coach can only do so much and the rest is up to the kids and their parents.

[chico9]

Many high school coaches try to require that all prospective varsity players play for the high school summer team. It is a reasonable request IMHO for MOST players. However, a varsity coach should never penalize a stud player by making him play on the summer team, IF he can land a spot on a team that plays tougher competition, plays more games, etc. So, coaches want players playing for their team, with the threat of them not getting to play in the following spring if they don't, vs. super players and parents desiring to play above the varsity team, if they are able, to see if they can get a shot at college schollie $$$$. At NC, the coach doesn't really give a flip what kids do in the summer.

[Rookie]

Chico, I agree with you that pitching and attitude will be key to this years team‘s success. This team needs to understand that only 9 people can be on the field at a time. Somehow someway someone needs to make the nonstarters understand that they have to be in to the game and ready to contribute when they are called on and that they need to support the people who are playing. Another area that needs to improve dramatically is defense. Hoover cannot commit 3 or 4 errors a game and expect to win.

I think that Hite would like his players to play for the NC summer teams but doesn’t penalize them if they don‘t. I am pretty sure that a couple of players that will be on the Hoover team this year played for the Thunder 18U team last summer. The important thing is that kids play summer baseball. One downside to playing for a non-NC team is that a player may not play the position in the summer that he will be playing on the school team in the spring. I really don’t see why a coach would have a problem with a player choosing to play on an elite summer team.

How was the Hoover summer baseball program different under coach Long?

Chico, check your PM's

[rocknrollmarty]

Well I think Hoover will be at the middle or the bottom again of the Fed. It is good thou that the kids think positive, but let's face it, Jackson & Lake are the ones to watch again. Jackson has the pitching & hitters! Lake has the best defense. Hopefully Lake has the pitching & hitting to go with the defense. I am not sure who they have as far as pitchers go besides Lorenzo & Broughton! I think Glenoak may surprise us as well this season.

[chico9]

[QUOTE=Rookie;2991171]

The important thing is that kids play summer baseball.


Rookie, I agree with most of what you say. It is obvious that you have a good "handle" on Hoover baseball. I quoted the above sentence because I am not in total agreement with what you say there. I know what you are saying; I would amend that statement to say "The important thing is that kids play a lot of summer baseball in a program where there is the opportunity to learn (which means practicing), discipline (which means establishment of effective rules and procedures), and good attitudes (which means putting "team" ahead of "me")." I believe that starts with the high school varsity coach laying down the law, and showing the kids that he cares greatly about what happens during the summer, even though he's not allowed to directly coach them for more than 10 days, I believe.

[jacmckvik]

jacmcvik: The above part of your post is the only part I disagree with. Mel had lost the drive to make his players into a team. And they had some unbelievably great individual talent. They just wouldn't play as a team. The rest of your post I'm in agreement with.

chico9, what I meant is,those kids had a good work ethic growing up,and it had nothing to do with anything or anyone in the program.

[chico8]

Jerry, you dont have the slightest idea as to what you are talking about

[Johnny Fithian]

Who cares about hoover. Have they ever been good. Pretty much no. They are pretty much average all the time. It is pathetic how you come on here and talk up your horrible team coached by a guy that cant tie his owns shoes(true fact). Also, I think Jackson will win the Fed if Boardman doesnt let Jason Fithian Pitch everygame. He is getting looked at by YSU and Pitt.

[wordhasit5339]

Playing against Hoover this summer I can tell you they are a decent team but they don't have the mental edge. Any team that jumps out on them early will control the rest of the game and walk a way with the W. Hoover doesn't have the depth others may think a lot of players don't replace very well. The younger players still need to learn how to step up to postions that main not be their main postion.

[wordhasit5339]

Hover can't get by Jackson

[ncsports13]

hoover can and will get by jackson...atleast a split. they play early in the season so its hard to tell.

[chico9]

chico8:shrug: (?)

[chico8]

Chico9, what have you done that makes you such an expert of Hoover Baseball?

[chico9]

Chico9, what have you done that makes you such an expert of Hoover Baseball?

I don't think you'll find one person on the face of this earth (myself included), that considers me "...an expert of Hoover Baseball". I do care about it, and support it, and want it to do well.

[Caju]

chico8:shrug: (?)

Now I get it, you guys are brothers! My 5 older bros were always pickin' on me too...
Good answer to the last post 9