The N.C. High School Athletic Association state baseball playoffs begin May 9.
Unless they implode during the final five North Piedmont 3A games of the season, the Mooresville Blue Devils are a lock to qualify. At 9-4, they are currently tied for second in the NPC standings.
Iredell County has two other legitimate playoff hopefuls in the NPC, but Lake Norman (6-7) and North Iredell (6-7) are jumbled together with Carson (6-7) and West Rowan (5-8). Of those four, only two are probably going to make it.
The league gets six automatic bids. In addition to Mooresville, South Rowan and Northwest Cabarrus are not in too much danger of missing out, and league-leading East Rowan has already clinched a spot.
Important dates for Lake Norman: April 29 at West Rowan; May 2 vs. North Iredell
Important dates for North Iredell: Friday vs. Carson; May 2 at Lake Norman
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Coach shouldn't be fired
OK, so let me get this straight: The Carolina Hurricanes are considering letting go of Peter Laviolette, the coach who led them to the 2006 Stanley Cup title?
I guess missing the playoffs twice in as many years since that time lends itself to serious scrutiny.Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told The Associated Press this week there isn’t a rush to decide on Laviolette’s future.
“Everything is under review, as it should be at the end of any season,’’ Rutherford told the AP.
“Even under the best of times, there (are) changes that are made,’’ he added. "And then when you miss the playoffs two years in a row, you have to consider ... the things you can do to try to change, and bring about change, in your team and give you a better chance to make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup.’’
I could see how missing the playoffs in back-to-back years after winning the Cup could get a coach fired in a place like Detroit or New Jersey. But the Hurricanes don’t have the tradition of the Red Wings or Devils, so this bantering about handing Laviolette the pink slip is disturbing.
Besides, it’s not like Carolina completely tanked after winning the Cup like it did in 2003-04 — under then-coach Paul Maurice — following its 2002 Stanley Cup Finals loss to Detroit.
The Canes barely missed the playoffs this season and last. In fact, this year Carolina finished two points shy of winning the Southeast Division with a record of 43-33-6. It did so despite mounting injuries to key players throughout the season.
Laviolette shouldn’t be skating on thin ice just yet. Cut the guy some slack.
I guess missing the playoffs twice in as many years since that time lends itself to serious scrutiny.Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told The Associated Press this week there isn’t a rush to decide on Laviolette’s future.
“Everything is under review, as it should be at the end of any season,’’ Rutherford told the AP.
“Even under the best of times, there (are) changes that are made,’’ he added. "And then when you miss the playoffs two years in a row, you have to consider ... the things you can do to try to change, and bring about change, in your team and give you a better chance to make the playoffs and win the Stanley Cup.’’
I could see how missing the playoffs in back-to-back years after winning the Cup could get a coach fired in a place like Detroit or New Jersey. But the Hurricanes don’t have the tradition of the Red Wings or Devils, so this bantering about handing Laviolette the pink slip is disturbing.
Besides, it’s not like Carolina completely tanked after winning the Cup like it did in 2003-04 — under then-coach Paul Maurice — following its 2002 Stanley Cup Finals loss to Detroit.
The Canes barely missed the playoffs this season and last. In fact, this year Carolina finished two points shy of winning the Southeast Division with a record of 43-33-6. It did so despite mounting injuries to key players throughout the season.
Laviolette shouldn’t be skating on thin ice just yet. Cut the guy some slack.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Phones ringing off the hook for Gillespie
Statesville history teacher Todd Jones got a phone call during his planning period Monday morning. A University of Miami women’s basketball coach was on the other line and wanted to speak to the Greyhounds girls basketball coach.
We would like to have Keyrra Gillespie come to Miami, Jones said the coach told him.
Small piece of advice, Hurricanes: Take a number and get in line.
Clemson, Florida and Charlotte have already offered Gillespie scholarships. Duke, Wake Forest and Kansas are a few other big names in the recruiting mix.
But interest in the junior point guard swelled in a short period of time, and it’s no coincidence the spike comes on the heels of Gillespie’s first team All-State selection March 27. College coaches around the country have been so advised.
Jones said he received 90 phone calls over the weekend from programs like California, Creighton and UCLA.
Even LSU — you know, the team that’s in the Final Four for the fifth straight year.
"I had to keep recharging my phone. It rang all weekend," Jones said. "It was crazy."
Pretty soon, those coaches can contact the three-time R&L county player of the year, and Jones brought that to Gillespie's attention.
"I said, 'You have your phone on ... I want you to answer every phone call,' "Jones said. " 'And you better be able to come back and tell me who called and everything else. I don’t care if it’s 100 of them, write down names. You need to come up with some questions you’re going to ask them, and I’ll help you with the questions if you want.’ She knows it’s coming."
Absolutely. The buzz comes with the territory.
We would like to have Keyrra Gillespie come to Miami, Jones said the coach told him.
Small piece of advice, Hurricanes: Take a number and get in line.
Clemson, Florida and Charlotte have already offered Gillespie scholarships. Duke, Wake Forest and Kansas are a few other big names in the recruiting mix.
But interest in the junior point guard swelled in a short period of time, and it’s no coincidence the spike comes on the heels of Gillespie’s first team All-State selection March 27. College coaches around the country have been so advised.
Jones said he received 90 phone calls over the weekend from programs like California, Creighton and UCLA.
Even LSU — you know, the team that’s in the Final Four for the fifth straight year.
"I had to keep recharging my phone. It rang all weekend," Jones said. "It was crazy."
Pretty soon, those coaches can contact the three-time R&L county player of the year, and Jones brought that to Gillespie's attention.
"I said, 'You have your phone on ... I want you to answer every phone call,' "Jones said. " 'And you better be able to come back and tell me who called and everything else. I don’t care if it’s 100 of them, write down names. You need to come up with some questions you’re going to ask them, and I’ll help you with the questions if you want.’ She knows it’s coming."
Absolutely. The buzz comes with the territory.
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