The NBC is going to be very good from top to bottom.......Louisville is going to be a very good team especially with their pitching staff, West Branch should be good, Alliance is going to suprise people but they have a nice pitching staff, Marlington has their top 3 pitchers back, Canton South will be decent, Carrolton has Josh Graham back, Minerva and Northwest i'm not sure about.
1) Louisville: Very good pitching coming back from last years team. This team should be carried by their veteran experience. I would say they are the team to beat until proven otherwise. Seaman could very well be the 2008 POY.
2) Alliance: I see the aviators suprising a lot of people this season. Alot of new names on the field but a lot of chemistry and experience will take them a long, long way. I don't see them fielding the best team in the conference every night, but I would never look past a team like Alliance and Jeff Graffice who thrive on being the underdog. I think that with Nordquist, Williams, and Brick on the hill...Alliance can beat any team in the conference. One thing I've seen from them so far, is a lack of leadership...someone needs to step up and take control of the team on and off the field.
3) West Branch: In my opinion the toughest lineup in the conference. Pitchers will have a tough time with Cambell, Harris, and Woods. I also think that Brent Stoffer should see some of the field, he's got a good bat could make an impact in there somewhere. I pick them at 3 because like the past 2 seasons I'm still not impressed with their pitching staff...You can't be consistently successful in this conference with just 1 good ace. Someone needs to step up behind Newhart.
I agree. But let's not talk about errors, that cost us the WB game last year. lol
I just think that West Branch's only problem is that they can't be consistently competitive with the top half of the league all year, with just 1 pitcher.
Look at the past 2 years:
2006 - Alliance was led by Hendershot and Bates
2007 - Canton South was led by Justin Gill and a combination of relievers behind Nathan Clark
This is where West Branch has, and will struggle until they find someone to step up.
If Marlington had a decent catcher I could easily see them making a run at the title with the pitching they have coming back. The dukes have the 1-2 punch but a teams not very good with a bad catcher...
I think the stat to look at is that the past 2 seasons the team that had a all-league catcher has won the league.
I like louisville and westbranch to compete and be the two battling at the end of the year for the league. it should be a good year for the NBC all teams will be competitive. good luck to all!!!
Has anyone started winter workouts yet? I know it's not time for mandatory practices but usually every team has a group of players who step up and get the non-winter athletes in the gym, weight room, cages, etc. and get themselves a step ahead of everyone else.
1) Louisville
2) West Branch
3) Marlington
4) Alliance
No love for Carrollton...? They made it to the District Final last year against a very good Zanesville team. All i have to say is in the NBC anything can happen on any given day, just like minerva made a post season run last year. I see like everybody is sayin that Alliance and West Branch are my top 2, although Louisville and South have the potential, i guess all i can say is we will see come tourney time, which team stepped up and took control.
Carrollton has always been hyped up to make noise in the conference. They are in the same boat as West Branch in my opinion, they have ONE great pitcher. The only difference is that West Branch will have one of the toughest lineups in the league this season.
I've been to every Alliance practice...lacking the dedication and desire from years past. I go down to Professional Baseball Academy and see the same 6 or 7 guys there trying to get better and no one else.
No love for carrollton? why give them love. This is an NBC thread that talks about opinions on who's going to win the league. Carrollton might make some noise down in their district but not in the NBC.
No love for carrollton? why give them love. This is an NBC thread that talks about opinions on who's going to win the league. Carrollton might make some noise down in their district but not in the NBC.
I agree. Carrollton will make noise and beat up on their district, but I think it's safe to say that if they came up to the Canton District it would be a different story. Winning the Canton District is basically like winning the "NBC Tournament"
I believe the NBC is going to be very interesting this year, and I am looking forward to watching some good baseball....
Can't wait to see my 'beloved' aviators make a run for it this year. They are definately not the same team as what we have seen in the past, but the excitement is still there as they will bring some very experienced players in baseball to the plate......Looking forward to another GREAT year of baseball from the "RED & BLUE".........
I'm not real sure why everyone is trying to hype up northwest and carrollton? but I know that everyone that thinks alliance is going to be nothing needs to wake up because they have depth and one of the best pitching staffs in the league...........Marke my words...Logan Nordquist and JJ Williams is going to be a solid 1 2 punch
That "trio" is no better than 3rd or 4th best in the league. With Louisville, West Branch and possibly Marlington ahead of them. Solid group, yes. Enough to put Alliance at the top of the league, No.
I would put Alliance at 2nd in the league as far as pitching goes. No doubt in my mind Williams, Nordquist, and Brick all have what it takes to knock off Newhart & whoever draws the straw for #2 this year, as well as Morrison and Hatfield(?)
I think that Brick would have a perfect role in the rotation as the late inning guy who can come in and close the door. He's got good "stuff" and with that "loopy" arm delivery he has, he's just what Alliance will need after Nordquist and Williams.
Linear Mode
