[gotcha2]

Its look like a long hard season for the Rebels. I bet they are kicking themselves in the rear for getting rid of staff couple years ago. Its not an accident that they are struggling now that all the former coach's players have graduated.

I agree- AC's former coach was good. I have a great amount of respect for Coach Patton. But to say that all the former coaches players have graduated and that is why they are struggling- might be a bit much. With the exception of the freshmen who were starting that season- I'd guess there wasn't a whole lot of "coaching" going on with the non-starters. The class of 2006 didn't just play ball in the spring- they played summerball, fall ball, junior league and senior league. Baseball was and is a passion for most of them.

AC has 3 seniors- ask them how many have any significant varisty experience- NONE. Now ask how many participated in junior/senior league programs, summer ball or fall ball. 2 of the 3 may have played one season of junior league as freshmen. They have spent the last 3 seasons sitting in the dug out watching. .

AC's juniors- Little played jr/sr league with the class of 2006. But has only played HS ball since his sophomore season. The other juniors- played nothing in between LL and HS ball. Little and Hammonds have been starters since they were freshmen- but the rest have been in the dug out or didn't play any ball between LL and HS ball.

AC's only sophomore- Prater- played one season of jr. league and then took a couple of years off before coming out as a freshmen.

AC has 7 Freshmen. Nelson has been with the HS team since 6th grade- he also played LL and junior league during those years. The Crowders have played since 7th grade and continued to play junior league during those years. Stumbo, Hall and Jackson played in 8th grade and also continued to play jr league. Josh Stone is a first year freshmen but also played junior league during those years.

That fact is some of these playes have been sitting in the dug out with no playing time for the last 3-4 seasons. They chose not to play summerball/fall ball or jr/sr league. Now they are making mistakes that a good little league team wouldn't make.