2010 All-Star News
August 10, 2010
“AAA” World Series
Winner’s Bracket Final
SC vs. TN
Foul Ball! The thing about a foul ball is you still have life in your at-bat. You’re not out and the game will continue. The same can be said about the 9-10 Goodlettsville American All-Stars. Tonight, the stars from Tennessee faced a scrappy team from Lexington, SC and through four complete innings, looked to be headed into Wednesday’s games as the only undefeated team, assuring themselves no worse than second place. The guys were cruising along with a 5-0 lead entering the fifth but unfortunately, World Series games are played a full six innings. South Carolina was finally able to get a few breaks, find a few holes and claw their way back into the game, eventually taking the lead and holding on for the win, 7-5. What was earlier looking like another “W” for the Tennessee stars had suddenly, in a few short minutes, turned into their first loss of the all-star season. But, as I stated earlier, this was simply foul ball. There is still life and the tournament isn’t over. Adversity is what brings you together and tonight, this team will grow stronger and more determined than ever. I was really impressed how this team played as a unit defensively and attacked each offensive at-bat with purpose. I think there is more baseball left in this tournament for the Tennessee stars and a high or even championship finish could be in store. These guys are “mmm…..mmmm…GOOD!” As far as tonight’s game, even the best sometimes fall but they always get back up and fight back even harder; the mark of a true champion and from my perspective, these little guys have what it takes to claim that honor. And how can you possibly lose with a super fan like Jacob Seals on your side. The kid can make some noise!!!!!!
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August 8, 2010
Game 2 Major League World Series
Game two of the Dixie Youth World Series brought together two strong opponents with a few years history together. Two years ago Troup County, GA hosted the 2008 Dixie Youth World Series and faced the 11-12 stars from Goodlettsville in the first game for both teams; Troup came away from the first meeting a winner but fell to Goodlettsville later in the tournament to be eliminated from the series as Goodlettsville went on to finish third. Both teams were participants in the 2009 World Series but didn’t meet on the field. This year their paths would cross again and as was the case in 2008, Troup would come out on top 2-1. Neither team could solve the others pitching so it came down to the small things that can turn a game one way or the other. Today, Troup County Georgia would get the breaks it needed to win the game as Goodlettsville walked in both runs for Georgia providing them the precious runs they needed to come out on top. Austin Carlisle, nursing a sore arm for most of the previous week, wasn’t as sharp as usual due to the lack of practice. The misfortune would be Goodlettsville’s downfall as 4 walks in the second resulted in the first run and two walks and one intentional walk, coupled with a one out single in the fifth would provide the second. To Carlisle’s credit, he gutted it out and shut down the Troup stars on three hits without his best stuff but the Goodlettsville bats couldn’t provide enough offense to help him pull out the victory which would have been enough on any other day. Unfortunately, today wasn’t that day but as is the case in a double elimination tournament, the boys live to fight again tomorrow at 8:00PM against the state champs from Alabama. Alabama lost a heartbreaker to Louisiana 4-1 after leading for much of the game.
GAME 1
“AAA” World Series
Game one for the Goodlettsville American League 9-10 year olds was similar to the major league as nerves were evident as early as the pre-game warm-ups. The 9-10 lads even struggled making routine throws to first during infield practice, but as the game began and the first ball was put in play the guys settled down and retired the Gonzales, Louisiana all stars in order. Game on! The guys quickly jumped ahead 3-0 after one and never looked back. Ryan Lyle, Hayden Lane and Seth Marlin combined to shutout Gonzales 5-0 setting up today’s second game versus the state champs from Arkansas. Arkansas sports several pitchers with strong arms for kids ten years old so the challenge will be great.
Game 2
“AAA” World Series
Jayson “Downtown” Brown
Lyle took the mound in the second and shut down the Arkansas batters to allow the Goodlettsville bats another chance to cut into the lead. Ryan Lyle opened the second with a single to set the stage and after a fielder’s choice and a strikeout it was the Arkansas pitching staff that would get into trouble by walking the Tennessee batters. This proved to be a very bad thing for Arkansas as Goodlettsville took advantage of the gifts presented them. With two out and one man on base, Arkansas walked the next three batters to allow a run which brought the top of the lineup to the plate with the bases full of eager Goodlettsville runners, waiting for the chance to tie the game and break it wide open. Austin Mayes would oblige his teammates with his second hit of the night bringing home two more runs giving Goodlettsville the lead at 5-4.
The momentum had shifted and the guys could smell the blood in the water knowing Jayson “downtown” Brown was on his way to the plate. In the spirit of shark week, Brown was more than ready to pounce on his wounded prey, the Arkansas All-Star pitching staff, and as all great hunters do, Brown didn’t toy with his prey he immediately went for the kill as he launched the first pitch he saw over the fence for a three run homerun. Brown had now been to the plate twice and twice he produced crushing blows to the hopes of the Arkansas all stars. The Goodlettsville stars had now erased what was once a 4-0 deficit and turned it into an 8-4 lead, all with those painful two outs still shining brightly on the score board. Arkansas was left wondering where it all went wrong after such a great start to the inning and the inning, painfully, was not over. Jonathan Seals would follow up the Brown homerun with a single and Hayden Layne would reach base from another Arkansas walk. Oh, the misery just won’t end!
At this point, Arkansas is hoping anything positive will happen to get themselves out of the inning but before that could occur they would have to endure one final body blow. Not to be outdone by Mr. Downtown Brown, Brock Meyers decided to get into the act himself, launching a blast of his own over the fence to provide the final runs of the inning. The second inning came to a close after a fly out to center but the damage was irreversible as nine Goodlettsville batters crossed home to give the young stars a commanding 11-4 lead after two. PHEW!!!! WHAT A RUSH!!!
To keep this post down to 5,000 words and get myself some much needed sleep, I will say that our guys held Arkansas scoreless for the next two innings and went on to win by a score of 15-9. The win moves Goodlettsville into the winner’s bracket final by way of a bye tomorrow. A win on Tuesday assures these young stars of no worse than a co-runner up spot in this year’s series. Not bad at all if I say so myself. Great game guys and keep up the good work!
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August 7, 2010
Game one Major League World Series
First game jitters!
Game one of a World Series is much like any World Series you go to. The kids are tight and the game stays close until the nerves disappear. Tonight’s first game of the Dixie Youth World Series was just that as the Goodlettsville major league started slow through the first three innings but finished with a flourish, winning 9-2 over the state champions from Natchez Mississippi. Ryan Hatten took the mound for the boys in orange and pitched a solid game allowing two hits in the second, striking out 11 and walking 2 on 79 pitches. The defense committed one error resulting in the second run for Mississippi in the second but was solid the remainder of the game.
On the offensive side of the ball Jesse “the real” McCoy was the sparkplug that got things started for Tennessee. McCoy lead of the game with a base hit to left field and finished the day going 3-3, driving in two. Nelson Smith also was strong at the plate going 2-4 on the evening, reaching base three of the four at-bats in the game. Also joining the hit parade, nine for the team, was Big John Pentecost who went 2-2 with a mammoth homerun to center field which traveled an estimated 270 feet, taking out a few parked cars along the way and Austin Carlisle who was 1-1 with two walks and a sixth inning sac-fly to center field.
Tomorrow’s game will match Tennessee against the state champions from Georgia. Both teams played well today winning going away and the game should be a good competitive match. Game time is set for 5:30 with Goodlettsville the visitor for the second straight game.
The nine and ten recap will be coming as the information arrives. The 9-10 score was 5-0 Tennessee.
7-29-2010
Major League State Tournament
A Man among Boys!
Austin Carlisle took the mound for the Goodlettsville all-stars yesterday with the Tennessee Dixie Youth State Championship on the line. Usually a twelve year old kid would be nervous in a situation like the one at hand, but Carlisle relished the challenge before him and tackled the difficult task head on. Blocking Goodlettsville from a fourth consecutive state championship and seventh out of the last ten was a World Series caliber team from Bolivar, TN. Bolivar was once again in the championship game, losing to Goodlettsville in 2009, with seven returning players in tow. A state runner-up trophy was not an option for Bolivar this year. Their goal was to remove Goodlettsville from their championship perch they had enjoyed over the last several years and they spent the year preparing for that single task.
As the game began, it looked as if all of the preparation and hard work would come to fruition for Bolivar as they shut down the Goodlettsville batters in the top half of the first and reeled off three hits in the bottom half of the inning, producing one run. The Bolivar crowd was alive with anticipation! The big celebration was only a few innings away and they could virtually taste the sweet aroma of victory. Austin Carlisle looked out of sync with his head coach which meant doom for the boys in gold.
Never a team to panic, the Goodlettsville all-stars responded to the first round body blow and in the second inning came out swinging. Heath Pentecost lead off the inning with a single followed by a Trevor Talmadge walk, Dalton Hall would later load the bases with a single and Josh “baby face” Brown broke the ice with a two-run single to right center field to give Goodlettsville the lead they would never relinquish.
Carlisle took the mound in the second, more in tune with his coach’s signals and proceeded to mow down the Bolivar boys with no remorse. Carlisle established his dominance from the last out of the first inning to the final out of the fourth as no Bolivar hitter put a bat on the ball resulting in ten consecutive strikeouts. The momentum had turned and the game was now in Goodlettsville’s hands.
The mood from the other side of the fence went from jubilation after the first inning to one of dismay as they watched, helplessly, as Carlisle continued to get stronger as the game progressed. The Goodlettsville batters never let up after the first, scoring in every inning except the fourth. In all, nine hits were collected for Goodlettsville as seven players had at least one. Dalton Hall and Heath Pentecost both went 2-3 on the evening.
When the game ended the final carnage read: Goodlettsville 8 Bolivar 1. On the mound, Austin Carlisle walked one batter, allowed four hits and struck out fifteen! If you weren’t paying attention, that meant that Carlisle struck out fifteen of the eighteen outs needed in a six inning game, relying on his defense to put out three batters the entire game. That’s a man amongst boys folks!
7-26-2010
Major league State Tournament
Goodlettsville runs into resilient foe
The Goodlettsville major all-stars played the Bolivar all-stars today at 10:00am in the championship game of the state tournament. Goodlettsville entered the game undefeated while Bolivar was sporting one loss. A win for Goodlettsville would send them to the Dixie Youth World Series for a fifth consecutive year and nine out of the last eleven but today, the Bolivar all-stars, with history stacked against them, pulled out a hard fought 6-4 victory to send both teams into a one game final at 6:00pm tomorrow. The winner of this one moves on to Gonzales, LA as the Tennessee State Champion.
Both teams fought hard collecting seven hits each, but it was the Bolivar all-stars who did the most damage with the seven they got, taking advantage of miscues on Goodlettsville’s side and capitalizing on each one to earn the victory setting up tomorrow’s finale.
7-25-2010
Major League State Tournament
Nothing to lose!
From that point the game stayed within reach for Perry County but they could only muster 2 hits on the rest of the night and couldn’t string anything together to get any runs home. By the fifth inning the game was virtually in the bag as Ryan Hatten entered the game. Ryan closed out the final two innings and secured the victory, 8-4. Perry County played hard and came away with their heads held high as they gave Goodlettsville the best challenge of the tournament. Next up is the championship game at 10:00AM tomorrow versus Bolivar. Both teams met last year in the championship game, won by Goodlettsville. Emotions will be high as Bolivar has been very vocal the entire week.
7-24-2010
Major League State Tournament
Carlisle Towers above the competition!
Austin Carlisle, for those of you who know him, is a fairly big kid. I use that description loosely because he is anything but fairly big. Today he was more than a big body on the mound, he was a huge tower blocking out the sun that was shining on the Summertown all stars up to this point in the 2010 Tennessee State Tournament. Summertown had enjoyed a three game undefeated streak heading into the winners bracket final tonight, but came away shaking their heads as Carlisle totally dismantled their batters one by one. After the carnage was over, thirteen batters came to the plate and one lonely soul reached base due to a walk. The result was a four inning no-hitter, the third consecutive for the tournament for Goodlettsville, and an even more impressive 11-0 victory for the Goodlettsville all-stars. Austin closed out the game with eleven consecutive strike outs on 58 pitches, 65% of which were strikes. Summertown was helpless against his 70 plus mph pitches and the wicked breaking ball that he mixed in for good measure. The tournament count now stands at 12 innings played, 40 runs to 0 in the favor of Goodlettsville and zero hits allowed for the tournament. The pitching staff is BRUTAL!
Offense:
Next on the plate for the Goodlettsville all-stars is a date, tomorrow at 8:00PM, versus the all stars from Perry County who defeated Wayne County earlier in the day. Summertown will face Bolivar, who exacted some revenge on Madison Central for an earlier loss in the tournament. That game is scheduled for 6:00pm.
7-23-2010
Major League State
Game 2: Score 19-0
Big Arms on Display
Day two of the major league state ended much the same way as the first with the Goodlettsville all-stars defeating their foe in four no-hit innings. The score of this one was more lopsided due to the Adamsville pitching staff having stronger arms than the previous opponent.
Ryan Hatten pitched 2 shutout innings while John Pentecost and little brother Heath Pentecost pitched the final two to complete the no-hitter. The two day tally for the pitching staff reads; eight innings, zero runs allowed and zero hits allowed. The offense has scored 29 runs in the first two games.
The team gets a bye tonight and will play tomorrow at 8:00 versus the Madison Central American all-stars and the Summertown/Perry County winner (in progress) which will be played tonight at 8:00.
Heath Pentecost, Nelson Smith and CJ Laws, all eleven years old, provided the offensive spark today. Heath Pentecost took over the leadoff spot and proceeded to collect two hits in three at bats. Nelson Smith did him one better going three for three on the day and CJ Laws finished the day 2-2 with a homerun to straight away center field. Ryan Hatten was 2-4 Jesse McCoy was 2-2 while several others collected one hit on the day.
Defensive Play of the Game
The defensive play of the game was brought to you by Jackson Broadwell who fielded a nicely hit ball in the gap between first and second. Jackson dove for the ball and threw the runner out from his stomach to complete the 4-3 force play.
7/22/2010
Major League State
The major league all-stars opened state tournament play tonight after a long wait against the all-stars from Ramer. The start of the game was delayed due to the first game going over with Bolivar defeating Charlotte Park 17-1.
Needless to say the wait didn’t affect the guys as they proceeded to jump out to a 3-0 lead after the top half of the first. Austin Carlisle took the mound mowing down the opposition 1, 2, 3, overwhelming the Ramer batters with 75mph fastballs. The top half of the second saw the big blue collect 5-hits from the first six batters. The final hit was a long homerun by John Pentecost which closed out the scoring at 6 runs and put the total at 9-0 entering the bottom of the second. The bottom of the inning was much the same as the first as Austin Carlisle continued his dominance on the mound sitting down the all-stars from Ramer 1,2,3 again to finish his night of work. John Pentecost took the mound in the third and struck out the side and Ryan Hatten finished things off walking two and striking out three to complete a combined no-hitter. The game ended in four innings with the Goodlettsville all-stars winning by a score of 10-0.
Next up for the 11-12 all-stars is a 12:00 date with Adamsville which defeated Selmer 1-0.
7-18-2010
“AA” State Bracket Finals
Yesterday we had the two Goodlettsville All-Star teams meeting again for the fourth time in the all-star season. This time it was for the bracket championship in the state tournament with an automatic bid to the Region tournament in North Carolina on the line. A recap of the series reminds us that the American League has gotten the best of the National League, winning all three games played. The National League also had a close call versus Summertown winning in nine innings to reach the finals. We have the history, now we can move to the game at hand…..
Bracket Final:
There is a saying in all sports that it is very difficult to beat a team three times in a row much less four straight times. I guess it has something to do with familiarity after a few games; who knows. The old saying came true in the bracket finals as the National League finally broke through the ice and defeated the Americans 10-5. The American League committed a bevy of uncharacteristic errors and as all good teams do, the National League took advantage of every one.
Game 2
There is another saying I have heard for most of my life around tournament baseball and that is, if the team that needs to win two games to win the title wins the first game, the momentum shifts to their favor and they usually win the second as well. This happened in the 2008 11-12 World Series as Alabama entered the final day undefeated versus Louisiana after defeating our own Goodlettsville All-Stars 3-2. They only needed one victory to be crowned World Series Champs but Louisiana defeated Alabama in the first game and then repeated the feat in the second to claim the title. Our 2004 11-12 team accomplished the same feat to win the league’s only World Series crown. Ok, I’m babbling, back to the final game…. The bracket final was a total nerve shattering war as both teams fought to a draw entering the 6th and final inning with the title on the line and an automatic bid to the Region. Again, history would repeat itself as the National League would score six runs in the top of the sixth and claim the bracket championship, 9-3. Both teams play today at 2:00. The National League plays the winner of Bolivar and Lexington while the American League will play the loser of the Bolivar- Lexington game. The winner of the American League’s game will finish third in the state and qualify for the region tournament in North Carolina. If you can make it to Jackson, go root these guys on and help send two Goodlettsville teams to the region. The games are being played next to Pringles Park, home to the Jackson Professional minor league franchise.
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7-17-2010
The Showdown
“AA”
7-16-2010
“AA” State Tournament
Civil War: Round 3
It is never easy for the Goodlettsville All-Star teams to play each other in tournament play. Every year it is a slugfest and emotions run high. This year we have another State Tournament pitting two teams from Goodlettsville battling it out for the right to be called State Champion. In order for these two teams to meet, both had to defeat quality teams from across the state. The District champion American League defeated a strong team from Summertown, 10-2, this afternoon to reach tonight’s showdown. Landon “R-e-g-g-i-e” Goodman and Chase Nelson went 3-3 for the game to power the American League attack. The National League downed the All-Stars from Selmer shortly thereafter, 8-0 to set up the showdown.
Everyone familiar with the 7-8 division agrees the National League is supposed to be the stronger side but they came away from the district tournament with their noses bloodied by the American League. Tonight, at 8:00, the National League gets another chance to right the ship and prove that they are indeed, the team to beat. Both teams are at the top of their game entering the contest as the American League has surrendered only three runs after two games and the National League hasn’t allowed an opponent to cross the plate after their two games which is a very difficult task, given the offensive nature of 7-8 baseball. Good luck to both teams and may the best team win. Play nice parents! J
7-15-2010
“AA” State Tournament update
Both teams won today. The District Champion American League defeated Houston County 9-1 while the National League won their opening game 13-0. There was no other news except the score. Both teams play tomorrow with the American League playing at noon and the National League at 1:30. Good luck to both teams!!
7-12-2010
“AAA” Championship Night
The District 4 AAA championship was played tonight in Coopertown pitting the Goodlettsville American League versus the Goodlettsville National League. The big question that needed to be answered was would the National League have anything left after the emotion draining ordeal versus a more than game Pleasant View team. The answer would come quickly as the National League jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the game behind the arm of Justin Smith. As the game progressed, the American League began to wear down the nationals and pulled ahead 5-2. The National league would muster one final charge and move within one at 5-4 but in the end, the American League had too much left in the tank and walked away with the tournament trophy, defeating the National League 6-5. Both teams will advance to the State Tournament held in Rockwood, TN on July 22. Good luck to both teams and hopefully one will bring home the State Title and advance to the Dixie Youth World Series in Gonzales, LA, August 6-12.
Stay tuned…… There’s more to come in the following weeks from hopefully every age division.
7-12-2010
“AAA” Suspense!!!
The American League won the “big game” a few days back versus the National League and advanced to the final four undefeated. The prize for winning the game of the week was a date with a very dangerous Lebanon All-Star team which battled the American league 1-0 on opening night, giving up the only run via a throwing error to third. Lebanon has a pitching staff that could give the American League fits so a win was not conceded in this one and a loss would put three teams left with one loss each. If that were to happen, all three would have to draw for a bye into the championship while the other two would have to battle it out to play the team with the bye so this game was HUGE!!!
Lebanon struck first, taking the lead 1-0 after one inning but the American league was not to be denied as they continued to pressure Lebanon and finally took command of the game and won going away, 9-2.
National League Hollywood Drama!!!
A day after losing the “big game,” the National League took the field versus the last of the big four district teams, Pleasant View. Pleasant View had played the National League in a practice game before the all-star season began and lost 8-7 so the tension was in the air as the National League knew that a trip to the championship game versus the American League and a return trip to the state tournament was not given and their tournament lives were intimately on the line. The National League’s fears were realized as Pleasant View went toe to toe and blow for blow for three innings, 0-0, before the ice was broken in the bottom of the fourth when Pleasant View broke through for a run to make the score 1-0 through four innings. The score stayed the same through five innings and now it came down to three final outs for the National League and their tournament season. The drama couldn’t have been any tenser as the score stayed the same with two out and two runners on base in the sixth and final inning. This is the point in the game when coach Chad Waters counted his blessings for the pleasure and good fortune of having Jake Rucker on his side of the dugout. With all of the pressure a kid could possibly endure on his shoulders, Jake proceeded to take one deep over the fence for a three-run, pressure packed, home-run to put the National League ahead and ultimately win the game 3-2. You can let your breath out now. PHEW!!!! Pleasant View provided a stern test and now the question remains; can the National League come back tonight at 6:00pm with anything left after such an energy draining win over a worthy opponent? A game versus the Goodlettsville American League should help recharge the batteries but will it be enough? Come on out tonight to Coopertown up I-24 and find out……..
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7-11-2010
“AAA” Recap
Well, the big game has come and gone and as usual, I was wrong on the outcome as I was all year when it came to predicting the 9-10 division. The American League had me completely fooled. (Shame on them) They looked, at best, like an average team entering the game versus the National League, but that was apparently their plan all along. Play some close games, let the National side get all the glory and then lay the smack down when the two teams met on the field. Ryan Lyle, Hayden Layne and Seth Marlin combined to pitch a masterful game, ambushing the National League’s fearsome threesome of Luke Brown, Justin Smith and Jake Rucker by a score of 6-1. The first inning was all the American League would need as nine or ten batters came to the plate, producing five or six runs in the process. The National League settled down and played lights out the rest of the evening but the damage was done.
In order for the National League to exact some revenge they will have to defeat a solid Pleasant View team which defeated Coopertown, 13-3 earlier in the day. The American League has the pleasure of facing the ever dangerous Lebanon All-Stars in a rematch from the first game of the District, won by the American League, 1-0. Both games should be competitive and there will be no guarantees on the outcome because all four teams are state tournament worthy. Come out and support these two great Goodlettsville teams and help push them to the District finals. A rematch would be a sight to see and I anticipate a much closer score based on the second through sixth innings last night.
To be continued……. I hope!
7/10/2010
All Star update: “As best as we can”
We have not received any updates from the all star coaches except the 11-12 team which played here so we will do as best as we can.
“A”
The single “A” teams both advanced to the state tournament which is being held in Jackson, TN this weekend. The American League All Stars defeated the National League for the District title last week. The American League looks poised for a run at the State title but don’t count out the National League, coached by Josh Brown. These little guys are improving day after day and may be primed to upset some teams and make a run themselves.
“AA”
The 7-8 District came down to the American League and the National League as well. The National League was the big bully on the block entering the All-Star season but it was the “Little guys”, the American league, who bloodied the bullies’ noses and ran away with the District title. Both teams will advance to Jackson, TN for the State Tournament which is this weekend. Your guess is as good as mine as to which team will fair the best in the tournament. Good luck to both teams.
“AAA”
The 9-10 American and National League division has entered District tournament play after both going undefeated in the Sub-District. I had a chance to watch a few games from both Sub-District tournaments and was really impressed with the talent from around District 4. Springfield gave the American League all they wanted for 4 innings in the Sub-District opener for both teams and on the other side, Lebanon was a handful for the National League as well. The District 4 tournament, being played as we speak, will be a hard one for either team to win as Lebanon and Pleasant View have fielded two very fine teams as well. If you want to see some good 9-10 baseball, take a ride up I-24 to Coopertown and watch these teams battle it out. The two State representatives from this District will be tough outs for any team in the state.
District Update:
The National league has won its first two games, winning big in both games while the American League had a more difficult road to travel facing Lebanon last night and squeaking by 1-0 and then returning this morning and defeating Pleasant View 6-2 to advance to the winner’s bracket final versus the National League tonight at 8:00pm. This one will be intense. The early favorite, in my opinion, is the National League. These guys are young but they are playing as well as a team can possibly play. Come tonight and find out if I was right…..
“Major League”
The top dogs in the park opened defense of their state championship with two wins over Charlotte Park to win the District title. Austin Carlisle fired a no-hitter in the first game, 10-0, while John Pentecost, Heath Pentecost and Ryan Hatten combined to shut out their opponent 20-0 in the second game. Next up for the Major League is the State Tournament, which will be played July 22 in Waynesboro, TN