Highland: Any Chance vs. Walsh ?

[tapNeo]

Walsh beat them twice this year in a double header 11-1 and 10-1. Does Highland really have any kind of chance in this game?

[BgStck45]

Highland might be able to keep the game close early, but Walsh has to much for them to handle. I don't think it'll be a blowout like the past 2 games.

[BENSPAPA8]

Jeff Rollyson knows baseball. Very happy for the Elite 8 Hornets 2 years running.

[OhioBobcatFan06]

Highland is a different team then the one that got rolled by Walsh earlier this year. Highland's ace Johnston pitched a gem today. I would assume Sedio will be on the mound tomorrow, he has pitched some good games in the tournament so far. Not counting the Hornets out, but Walsh should be the D-II State Champ. Keep those bats swinging Hornets!

[pnthrz4life]

Does Highland have a chance?

Do both teams have 21 outs?

[bulldawg25]

You still have to play the game , With that being said their coaching staff knows waht to do to get the "W".

They will not overlook Highland but will handle them in "Walsh" fashion.

GOOD LUCK IN THE STATES!!!

[BaseballRepresent]

I agree with bulldawg25. Highland has to get around starn...AND belair, the best two lefthanders in the state any division i don't care who you are gruver from austintown fitch included.

[tapNeo]

I agree with bulldawg25. Highland has to get around starn...AND belair, the best two lefthanders in the state any division i don't care who you are gruver from austintown fitch included.

Wow, that is a pretty bold statement "the best two lhp in the state". I have certainly not seen all the LHP's in the state, and I am certainly not taking anything away from these two kids, but if that is the case it's certainly a down year for LHP's in OH this year.

[OhioBobcatFan06]

Johnston from Highland is a pretty good LHP himself... 13 K's and only 2 hits yesterday versus Perkins in a shutout performace. Clocked at 86 versus Bay I believe, District Semi...

I really think Highland has a shot today at the least today. Sedio has really been on lately pitching, and Highland has got the bats going...

[kzr0]

Great run Highland. You achieved more than anyone could have imagined after losing that talented senior class from last year. Baseball is a wierd game and anything can happen. Thats why they call it the game of inches. Walsh 8 Highland 0

[tapNeo]

I really think Highland has a shot today at the least today. Sedio has really been on lately pitching, and Highland has got the bats going...

Walsh 17 Highland 0 (ENOUGH SAID)

[BENSPAPA8]

tapNeo, your using a quote is not required. No point was needed to be made.

HHS..........nice job and a nice run.

[Yourmama]

tapNeo, your using a quote is not required. No point was needed to be made.

HHS..........nice job and a nice run.

Point being if you are Div II and face Walsh, private school, you pretty much have no chance...

I really didnt expect this score, what the heck happened, wow!:eek:

[OSUSTAR1991]

Highland Played their hearts out just didnt have enough to beat a D1 excuse me D2 Walsh team which is stacked beyond belief but any way .................................................. .................................................. ..................... HIGHLAND YOU SUPRISED EVERYONE SO PARTY :Party:

[Future00]

Uh WJ doesn't get to decide what division its in....so take up your complaints in a public vs. private thread concerning the people who make the rules. Walsh's kids are still kids, they still play baseball, and they play hard. Don't hold anything personal against them.

[OhioBobcatFan06]

Walsh 17 Highland 0 (ENOUGH SAID)
:laugh:
It's easy to root for the favorite.
We could go back to my other quote from this thread... "Not counting the Hornets out, but Walsh should be the D-II State Champ." Support your team, never give up. I'm an optimist, enough said.

Great Season Hornets!
Back to Back District Champs!
:Party:

[tapNeo]

tapNeo, your using a quote is not required. No point was needed to be made.

HHS..........nice job and a nice run.

Hey Papa, I appreciate your insight, but please do not tell me what I can and cannot say. I know you have a personal alliance with Highland baseball, but I was just responding to an earlier post saying that Highland really had a shot at Walsh. Come on already. Highland baseball is not even on the same planet with WJ baseball. That doesn't diminish Highland accomplishment of making it to regionals, but for God's sake man, don't come on here making such stupid comments (as some readers did), that Highland actually had any kind of shot in a game vs. Walsh. They are a good Park N. Rec team at best. The Johnson kid might be the 5th or 6th best starting pitcher at best on the Walsh staff. I know the truth hurts, but just start reading the posts that some of these people wrote on the board about this game. They were completely ridiculous AND, I don't even think that this Walsh team is one of their best in recent years. After seeing this game this afternoon, I really started to think that it might be in the best interest of the game at the high school level that we divided Private schools into their own seperate league. I never thought I would hear myself thinking that, but the talent level was SO skewed in this game, that I didn't even enjoy watching the game. Maybe this is just a down year in the region, but these last two games in this region have been a complete joke.

[BENSPAPA8]

kindly get off your high horse neo, the fall is greater

[tapNeo]

Ben, I'm not on a high horse. I just state the facts as they are. You just need to be honest with yourself. I enjoy your insight at times, but at other times, you just don't belly up, and tell it like it is. Do us all a favor, post a comment on here that is truthful. Tell us that Highland baseball is nothing more than a glorified park n rec team, and I would respect you a whole lot more.

[OSUSTAR1991]

Ben, I'm not on a high horse. I just state the facts as they are. You just need to be honest with yourself. I enjoy your insight at times, but at other times, you just don't belly up, and tell it like it is. Do us all a favor, post a comment on here that is truthful. Tell us that Highland baseball is nothing more than a glorified park n rec team, and I would respect you a whole lot more.

to get respect you have to give it and you have no respect for Highlands Run therefore you do not get respect back ...........................................

[tapNeo]

my name is Ray

Ok Ray. We've had some debates before. You know I enjoy your insight. You know I tell it like it is. When I'm wrong, I'm willing to admit it. But Ray, your not being honest with us. Tell us how you really felt about Highland's chances going into this game. You know the Highland team and talent very well. It's ok if you just want to plead the 5th on this topic and let it go, but if you want to debate, then be honest. You knew all too well that the team that Highland put on the field had no chance vs. Walsh. That game was a total disgrace. If you really believed that Highland had any kind of a chance in this game, please state the reasons why you thought they would have a chance, otherwise a "No Comment" response would be fine. Thanks Ray.

[OSUSTAR1991]

Highland had a CHANCE verus walsh for three main reasons

1. Bryce Sedio's last couple of games have been lights out and if he could of been lights out today it may have helped highland hit(pitching)

2. Highland's Hitting has been on a tare recently and the bats were hot so going into the game it looked like it was going to be closer

3. Highland's Defense has been amazing recently

[BENSPAPA8]

You should remain humble in baseball NEO. There is no reason to be anything else than a respectful patron of the game.

I know many scouts, and they are respectful of the game of baseball and the failures that come with it.

Your comments deviate from a professional baseball guy and seem more like the father of a Walsh Jesuit student-athlete. Be happy, because as much as I respect Coach K, nobody from that program has done much since Rodgers, and many before him are out of baseball.

The community/public school Highland feeder system won't kick in for a couple years, and still they clawed their way to 2 consecutive Elite 8 appearances, a testament to the kids and coach Jeff Rollyson.

You are nothing more than a critic, and the great Mel Brooks portrayed a critic in his films as nothing more than someone who is unaccountable and whizzes on everything they can.

You should be ashamed

[OhioBobcatFan06]

Ok Ray. We've had some debates before. You know I enjoy your insight. You know I tell it like it is. When I'm wrong, I'm willing to admit it. But Ray, your not being honest with us. Tell us how you really felt about Highland's chances going into this game. You know the Highland team and talent very well. It's ok if you just want to plead the 5th on this topic and let it go, but if you want to debate, then be honest. You knew all too well that the team that Highland put on the field had no chance vs. Walsh. That game was a total disgrace. If you really believed that Highland had any kind of a chance in this game, please state the reasons why you thought they would have a chance, otherwise a "No Comment" response would be fine. Thanks Ray.
Chance: The likelihood of something happening; possibility or probability

If you played this game 100 times, I bet Highland could pull of a win at least once. Meaning they had a chance.
Everyone almost always has a chance. I have seen upsets between teams of far greater talent differentials then these two teams had.
You really need to go out and watch an inspirational sports movie or something, Hoosiers, Miracle, if you want baseball I guess The Rookie would do (sure their is a better one out there)... Seriously :shrug:
The reasons for me believing they could pull off a win at least 1 in 100 times... See OSUStars post

[tapNeo]

You should remain humble in baseball NEO. There is no reason to be anything else than a respectful patron of the game.

I know many scouts, and they are respectful of the game of baseball and the failures that come with it.

Your comments deviate from a professional baseball guy and seem more like the father of a Walsh Jesuit student-athlete. Be happy, because as much as I respect Coach K, nobody from that program has done much since Rodgers, and many before him are out of baseball.

The community/public school Highland feeder system won't kick in for a couple years, and still they clawed their way to 2 consecutive Elite 8 appearances, a testament to the kids and coach Jeff Rollyson.

You are nothing more than a critic, and the great Mel Brooks portrayed a critic in his films as nothing more than someone who is unaccountable and whizzes on everything they can.

You should be ashamed


Ok Ben, I will leave it alone. You know that I'm not just a critic. I am certainly willing to give the proper credit when it's justified. As I told you before, my only objective on this forum is presenting the facts. I asked you to be honest in your comments, but you danced around the subject, but I do understand the sensitivity of the subject at hand. With that, I will let this post drift away into the archives. Have a good night my friend.

[zman]

Highland had a CHANCE verus walsh for three main reasons

1. Bryce Sedio's last couple of games have been lights out and if he could of been lights out today it may have helped highland hit(pitching)

2. Highland's Hitting has been on a tare recently and the bats were hot so going into the game it looked like it was going to be closer

3. Highland's Defense has been amazing recently

I honistly thought Highland has as much chance as Norton had against Walsh in 2005. Both were middle of the pack Suburban league teams.

[OSUSTAR1991]

I honistly thought Highland has as much chance as Norton had against Walsh in 2005. Both were middle of the pack Suburban league teams.

"HONESTLY" you thought that then you havent watched highland play i have only been to about 14 of their games and i " HONESTLY" thought they had a better chance than NOrton did way back in 05 and the SUBURBAN League is and over looked LEAGUE its a really tough LEague to be in

[BENSPAPA8]

Bobcat, don't get bent out of shape. NEO is trying to say that a community team cannot compete with a team that pulls the best available talent from several communities, like an all-star team.

What he refuses to accept is that these private school all-star teams still only have a few college level gems.

Tallmadge and Wadsworth probably have more college talent offensively. It only takes a few pitchers to win a crapshoot tournament, with all due respect....

HHS made the Elite 8 for 2 years running, and their feeder system has yet to kick in. Rolly is a great coach, Kenny is a great coach. They will eventually get another shot.

[OSUSTAR1991]

Well Put Benspapa8

[All Day]

Ok Ray. We've had some debates before. You know I enjoy your insight. You know I tell it like it is. When I'm wrong, I'm willing to admit it. But Ray, your not being honest with us. Tell us how you really felt about Highland's chances going into this game. You know the Highland team and talent very well. It's ok if you just want to plead the 5th on this topic and let it go, but if you want to debate, then be honest. You knew all too well that the team that Highland put on the field had no chance vs. Walsh. That game was a total disgrace. If you really believed that Highland had any kind of a chance in this game, please state the reasons why you thought they would have a chance, otherwise a "No Comment" response would be fine. Thanks Ray.

This quote shows really how much you know about baseball. If you respect the game and understand how it is played, you know that anyone can win on any given day. One stud pitcher, one defensive meltdown, one blown call from an ump can completely change a game and allow the underdog to come out on top. Was Highland an underdog? Most certainly. Did they have NO chance? Most certainly not. And to say this game was a "disgrace"...You amaze me more every post with your determination to belittle all high school kids that do not attend Walsh Jesuit. They are kids having fun, working their butts off for a game they love just like your godly, above-all Walsh Jesuit Warriors. Good season Highland. Keep it rolling Walsh.

[sportsfan45]

Tapneo I think your using the word FACT wrong a fact is both teams had a chance to win because they all had 9 players on the field and the same number of innings and at bat's....So to say Highland was 50/50 to win no but the fact is they could have.....This highland team was better than that Norton team but it's baseball and anyone can win....I think all benspa wanted to mean is your comment you put was very uneeded. we all know who the better team was and that game showed it too but you dont need to shove back in there faces...Because of you your team WJ is loosing respect from people ...Good run Highland

[Hornet Dad]

Tap

The class distinction started with the yellow school bus and the air conditioned coach liner, next came the bush league 1st & 3rd get in a run down to score a run when your already up by 7or 8, and then topped of with the pulling of the starting pitcher after he warms up but doesn't throw a pitch so he can walk off to his OWN aplause.

My son did not disgrace the game, his teamates or himself yesterday.

I'll take coach Rolly & Linn over K everyday all day.

[bballnutz]

Tap

The class distinction started with the yellow school bus and the air conditioned coach liner, next came the bush league 1st & 3rd get in a run down to score a run when your already up by 7or 8, and then topped of with the pulling of the starting pitcher after he warms up but doesn't throw a pitch so he can walk off to his OWN aplause.

My son did not disgrace the game, his teamates or himself yesterday.

I'll take coach Rolly & Linn over K everyday all day.


The coach liner was paid for by the booster club. Sorry your booster club didn't step up to the plate on that one. It is my understanding that the 1st & 3rd play was unintentional. The kid actually got picked. Even if it was a play and they were up 7 or 8 runs, it was the 2nd or 3rd inning. Are you suggesting that in tournament play a team should stop putting runs on the board that early in the game? I suppose pulling the pitcher so he can walk off to applause is a bit over the top. I will give you that one. I am sure that both coach Rolly and Linn are excellent coaches. You should understand something, though. I think it was Bum Phillips who once said that "I could takes yours and beat mine and I could take mine and beat yours". Coach Kaczmar's program is in a different universe than every other program in Northeast Ohio. I know that it is hard to appreciate it when you constantly come out on the losing end of things. Yes, the rules make it possible for a school like Walsh to be what they are. You need to take it up with the guys who make the rules. As long as the rules are what they are, Walsh will continue to thrive. Hoban and St. VM have the same advantage that Walsh has and look how bad St. VM is. Hoban underachieves as well. I think that validates how good Coach Kaczmar's program really is. I send my kids to Walsh because I am willing to sacrifice (and believe me $9,500 a year is a sacrifice) for my kids. It is just a bonus that baseball happens to be my family's passion as well. Hornet Dad, you happen to live in America where you have some control over what "class" you belong to. You can resent those from Walsh because they choose to live and raise their kids a different way than you do. But I will bet that whatever "class" you belong to, it is because of your own efforts, or lack of, than it is because of someone else. It would be nice if we could just talk about the players and the teams without the discussion always ending up as a public/private or "class" argument.

[kzr0]

Wow bballnutz getting a little personal. I have never got on this thread and ripped anyone, any coach or any kid. I for one respect what Coach K has done for his players in getting them exposure for colleges. I also respect his program and the ways the kids respect the game. Because you have chose to spend the 9500.00 to send your kid(s) there that is your choice and does not make you a better parent, more concerned for your kid, or even think you want better for your kid than say a public school. I would be willing to bet Papa and Hornets Dad both want as much for their son as you do. I guarantee no one in thje last ten years has come out of the Walsh program any better a hitter than Ben K. is. Because they chose to have their sons play within their community that helped develop them as youths and with their friends and save the 9500.00 to use toward college, if needed, that does not make them any less of a parent or any lower of a class. I would hold nothing over you for sending your son to Walsh so don't hold anything over their heads because they didn't. And when it comes to private vs public there is no debate. Private always has the advantage to recruit the best. The difference is private might go 7-9 deep in line-up while public might only go 4-5. Private will have 3-4 aces while public will have one, maybe two. Also when you rip on St V.'s baseball, don't forget there is also a basketball program they have that overshadows Walsh. Does that mean your basketball coach doesn't have a program " in a different universe" .Watch how you answer that because he is a class act. I will still root for Walsh next week because they are from NE Ohio. I believe they will win and those boys deserve whatever good fortune comes there way because they play hard and they play the right way. The other difference in private vs public is when it is over you only have 15-20 sets of parents instead of a whole community behind you ,win or lose, and that is what I like about the public school.

[pnthrz4life]

I would just like to address tapneo's ignorance and arrogance. It is totally arrogant to believe Walsh baseball as the almighty high horse after beating a team's number two pitcher. It is also arrogant to think Belair and Starn are that much better than Johnston of Highland. I would say Johnston would be in Walsh's top 3, but because he does not have the defense of Walsh, his numbers aren't as nice.

Then, comes the ignorance. For someone to be around baseball and think a team does not have a shot is blasphemous. Baseball is a game of individual battles over a long period of time. The pitcher needs to make a pitch better than the hitter's ability to hit, and if the hitter hits it, the defense gives the pitcher the advantage to get the out. The pitcher for both sides, no matter how much better he is, only need to be better 21 times. One pitcher being totally dominant for 20 outs and losing one with a homer hit loses to a pitcher who squeaks by for 21 outs.

Also, you forget the risk of injuries and lucky hops in games. Baseball is always in the air as to who will win. I don't care if you pay 20 grand to play baseball at a fancy private school or play on a team from the ghetto, it isn't over until mercy is called or 7 innings are played.

[Hornet Dad]

bball

The word "disgrace" got my ire.

Until the rules change it will always be private v public.

Yes our booster club didn't step up kudos to yours.

I agree you keep playing until its over, but the hitting was taking care of that just fine.

Are you suggesting that Coach K could run a public school div 2 program and have the same success?

I don't resent Walsh, the players, parents or their programs, they play by the rules.

[BENSPAPA8]

There will always be solid players/families that opt for a Parochial education and not attend their community public school. That is fine and a personal choice. There will always be solid players who choose to attend their community public school, that is fine, a personal choice, and 99% of the time that is the norm.

Walsh Jesuit pulls from several communities, as does CVCA right across the street, as does every Parochial school. From an educational standpoint, that is a personal preference. When athletics ONLY become the impetus for the decision, some parents feel going to a "powerhouse" program is some sort of assurance that the player will play, and excel past high school. A little homework by anyone proves that to be false.

A good player is good wherever he chooses to attend high school. The Parochials just have more of them at any given time. If you formed a team out of Medina, Brunswick and Highland, you would have one heck of a team equivalent to any private institution. It is all about numbers and depth of talent.

Tallmadge is a solid program with a great coach and its community feeder system brings in solid talent each and every year. Highland made the Elite 8 two years in a row and their feeder system has yet to get to high school. They use the CVBA, as many others do, and each age level has had a team now for 3 years, and there is some nice talent coming around the pike. The Hornets never had that in the past, and credit can be given as follows:

The 2007 Class, many playing all 4 years of Varsity and made some noise.

The current players who played summer premier ball versus doing nothing.

The parents and young players committing to travel baseball

Coach Jeff Rollyson and his baseball knowledge and abilities.

The key is to be competitive and enjoy the experience, and to provide a venue for any player with a goal to play beyond high school, and not for a plastic trophy and barstool chatter 20 years down the road.

When a community team does win a huge game or tournament, people rally behind it because it is not expected very often versus seeing the same old teams year in and year out.

Good Luck to WJ. Coach K does a fine job there.

[BuckNut2006]

There will always be solid players/families that opt for a Parochial education and not attend their community public school. That is fine and a personal choice. There will always be solid players who choose to attend their community public school, that is fine, a personal choice, and 99% of the time that is the norm.

Walsh Jesuit pulls from several communities, as does CVCA right across the street, as does every Parochial school. From an educational standpoint, that is a personal preference. When athletics ONLY become the impetus for the decision, some parents feel going to a "powerhouse" program is some sort of assurance that the player will play, and excel past high school. A little homework by anyone proves that to be false.

A good player is good wherever he chooses to attend high school. The Parochials just have more of them at any given time. If you formed a team out of Medina, Brunswick and Highland, you would have one heck of a team equivalent to any private institution. It is all about numbers and depth of talent.

Tallmadge is a solid program with a great coach and its community feeder system brings in solid talent each and every year. Highland made the Elite 8 two years in a row and their feeder system has yet to get to high school. They use the CVBA, as many others do, and each age level has had a team now for 3 years, and there is some nice talent coming around the pike. The Hornets never had that in the past, and credit can be given as follows:

The 2007 Class, many playing all 4 years of Varsity and made some noise.

The current players who played summer premier ball versus doing nothing.

The parents and young players committing to travel baseball

Coach Jeff Rollyson and his baseball knowledge and abilities.

The key is to be competitive and enjoy the experience, and to provide a venue for any player with a goal to play beyond high school, and not for a plastic trophy and barstool chatter 20 years down the road.

When a community team does win a huge game or tournament, people rally behind it because it is not expected very often versus seeing the same old teams year in and year out.

Good Luck to WJ. Coach K does a fine job there.

Good post!

I agree 100%, a good-great athlete will get noticed no matter where he plays. Besides, many of these athletes build their reputation playing AAU or travel team sports.

IMHO, it is the "tweener" athlete who may benefit from playing on a highly competetive high school team. A college scout, may review films of a star player, yet notice a player who looks to have a lot of potential...sort of flying under the radar. Scout may give the kid the benefit of the doubt for being able to start for a school with a great team. May not receive the consideration playing for a less competetive program.

[BuckNut2006]

The coach liner was paid for by the booster club. Sorry your booster club didn't step up to the plate on that one. It is my understanding that the 1st & 3rd play was unintentional. The kid actually got picked. Even if it was a play and they were up 7 or 8 runs, it was the 2nd or 3rd inning. Are you suggesting that in tournament play a team should stop putting runs on the board that early in the game? I suppose pulling the pitcher so he can walk off to applause is a bit over the top. I will give you that one. I am sure that both coach Rolly and Linn are excellent coaches. You should understand something, though. I think it was Bum Phillips who once said that "I could takes yours and beat mine and I could take mine and beat yours". Coach Kaczmar's program is in a different universe than every other program in Northeast Ohio. I know that it is hard to appreciate it when you constantly come out on the losing end of things. Yes, the rules make it possible for a school like Walsh to be what they are. You need to take it up with the guys who make the rules. As long as the rules are what they are, Walsh will continue to thrive. Hoban and St. VM have the same advantage that Walsh has and look how bad St. VM is. Hoban underachieves as well. I think that validates how good Coach Kaczmar's program really is. I send my kids to Walsh because I am willing to sacrifice (and believe me $9,500 a year is a sacrifice) for my kids. It is just a bonus that baseball happens to be my family's passion as well. Hornet Dad, you happen to live in America where you have some control over what "class" you belong to. You can resent those from Walsh because they choose to live and raise their kids a different way than you do. But I will bet that whatever "class" you belong to, it is because of your own efforts, or lack of, than it is because of someone else. It would be nice if we could just talk about the players and the teams without the discussion always ending up as a public/private or "class" argument.

Yes, Hoban has underachieved the past 3 or 4 years...most notably this year.

STVM is having a bad year, but they have managed to beat Walsh the past few years and went deep into the post season 2 years ago, only losing to eventual state champ Ursuline (if I am wrong, I apologize). STVM also keeps their highly competetive schedule, playing Walsh, Hoban, Bennie, NDCL, STI, St Ed, etc. Not very pretty when talent is down.

Yet the point is well taken...even though Hoban, STVM etc can draw, their programs are vulnerable to very good public school teams.

[GoTribe06]

bucknut, im pretty sure you are wrong about stvm going far into the postseason and losing to Ursiline.. ursiline is DIII and stvm is DII and walsh won state two years ago and has won the district the past 5 years

[BuckNut2006]

bucknut, im pretty sure you are wrong about stvm going far into the postseason and losing to Ursiline.. ursiline is DIII and stvm is DII and walsh won state two years ago and has won the district the past 5 years

Tribe...I had a few friends who had sons playing on that STVM team. I could have sworn it was Ursuline they lost to. However I am not 100% certain. But the Irish did win a few games advancing into the playoffs.

[DR.PITCH]

The Irish were in DIII for a few years prior to this year so they may well have had to play Ursiline

[GoTribe06]

oh alright.. i may be mistaken then