April 18, 2011
I tirelessly covered the 2007 UP baseball team's entire season -- they finished Co-CFVC Champs at 12-2, made it to round 2 of the state playoffs and went 20-5 overall that season.
Having seen both that team and this year's squad in action, I can honestly say the 2011 Vikes are close to that historical 2007 Viking club.
The 07 team's top two starting pitchers (Bryan Collins and Carson McLean) were both Division I signees, while Matt Key, the team's closer, signed with Div. II UNCP -- Also Sam Buie and Drew Robinson went on to play at smaller schools
All of the aforementioned players listed in the previous graph were seniors as the 2007 UP team was stacked with 12th graders -- only Peyton Martin (JR) and Todd Collins (SOPH) were major starting contributors as underclassmen -- (Martin also went on to play at the next level)
Obviously, the 2011 team is not nearly as strong pitching-wise as the 07 team. However they do have more than capable/adequate pitching. Moreover their lineup is a bit more solid from top to bottom. Also I feel they are a better overall defensive team...not by too much mind you -- but just enough to make a difference.
Thing is, the 2011 Vikes only have three seniors featured in their top 10 players -- Gabe Gonzalez at CF/Closer/P, Keaton Thomas 2B/IF and Carson Kelly -- Ace Pitcher/RF/3B
The second batter -- Justin Allred, third batter --Nic Collins and clean-up batter Seth Breasseale are all juniors. The senior starters bat leadoff (Gonzalez) fifth (C. Kelly) and sixth (Thomas)
Then you have freshman LF Mason Collins batting seventh, sophomore Noble Davis (starting pitcher/OF) bats ninth and juniors Dylan Kelly/Ryan Gilmore alternate at the 8th slot...so the team has big potential for next year...
Believe one thing if nothing else -- this team is much improved from last year AND that team had a solid second half of the season.
The 2011 Vikings are tons better than the 2009 or 2008 teams...SO right now I say IF this team can win the conference crown outright (over 10th ranked 3A league foe Southern Lee), get two home playoff games and make it to round three they will surpass the 2007 team as the best ever at UP
Before people start saying that is a tall task...I want you all to know I agree... but being better than that 2007 Vike club requires quite lofty on-field achievements , especially when it counts most. Should they only get to round 2 then the debate will be tougher and would probably favor the 2007 team slightly
Until then they are a relatively close second to that 2007 group...at least in my opinion anyway...and don't forget Coach Chad Hill was a rookie in 2007. Now in 2011 this is his fifth season as the skipper
As for that record breaking longball display last WED -- I have seen lots of stuff happen in this game, but that was one amazing feat to witness -- 9 of UP's 11 homers would have been gone at any high school park in the state, another would have been gone in most, while one would have been gone in about half of the parks in NC...
This 2011 team is no doubt the most powerful ever at UP from top to bottom and in the middle of its lineup in terms of home-run ability. Also it is the best hitting UP team 1-9 for average I have ever seen or heard tale of taking the field for the Vikes
Comments
HeelsHoopFan April 19, 2011 at 3:40 p.m.
I am not going with you on this one my friend. The "07 squad was in a much stronger CFV conference especially in baseball and soccer. It was both an outstanding pitcher and hitters conference. This '11 squad will be tested starting today for the next couple of weeks and make no mistake about it, this "11 team is a very good squad and very hungry. They are very aggressive in the batter's box, but at times their defense is suspect as is their vocal support of each other. Last night when some of the subs were getting their chance at bat, I noticed the chatter level of both the fans and the dugout was more to my liking.
I have great expectations of this "11 team going deep in the playoffs, but Coach Hill has yet to play his cards as he has used these lopsided victories to play his bench and create team harmony. I love the way Carson Kelly, Noble Davis, Seth Breasealle and Gabe Gonzalez have been handling the pitching duties, however you can't tell me if Hill puts Nic Collins and Justin Allred in the mix UP will not be even stronger and much more flexible.
As far as I am concerned the "07 team underachieved and ran into Northern Nash in what remains one of the best high school games I have seen lately with the extra inning affair at Grays Creek last year coming in a close second. This team has practiced hard, you can tell it on the field, they are a strong baseball team and we are about to find out if they are as good as the "07 team directly. The '07 team was very athletic and talented, this "11 team is strong and promising and right where we would all like to be "living the dream."
Go Vikes, stay aggressive and focused.
RD28327 April 20, 2011 at 6:40 a.m.
This has probably got to be the best UP team ever. UP has not had a long tradition or history in the sport. Coach Hill and his staff has done a very good job working with the team. Prior to this season, UP has had only six playoff appearances, the first being in the 80s. This team has the potential to go far in the postseason.
HeelsHoopFan April 22, 2011 at 11:23 a.m.
I don't Franco, after last night's game your blog is starting to gain some Big Mo. This '11 team is starting to make believers out of folks. I wonder what ole Gardak has to say?
up90 April 23, 2011 at 12:48 a.m.
No doubt this years team is very talented and I am pulling for them to be the best UP team ever. No doubt the 2007 team was a very good team, but to imply the 2007 team was the best UP team ever is wrong. Maybe you need to go look in the trophy case or look back in the record books before making such a inaccurate claim. The 1990 UP baseball team were conference champs and made it to the 4th round of the State playoffs, one game away from the State championship. I am not saying the 1990 team was the best ever, hell there may have been teams in the 80's or 70's that played for a state championship. As a member of the 1990 team all I know is we were one game away from playing for a State championship. Enough about the good ole days, hope this 2011 team can win it all and truly be the best ever
HeelsHoopFan April 23, 2011 at 1:20 a.m.
Thanks for the background, but we are just comparing the teams since '07. We were not involved prior to that date as far as personal coverage, so our universe for comparative purposes is much more limited than the one you propose. Congrats to the '90 team and all the ones prior to that team, but we are limited to the Chad Hill coached teams as far as direct and personal observation is concerned.
Every game that passes this year leaves more question than answers, how will the team stand up to a top prospect pitcher like Maples? What about the game with SLee when they will be hurling their ace? Can this monumental hitting, by anyone's standards hold up through the playoffs? Great questions that we will see unfold in the next few days. Sure is fun talking about high school baseball. This team has given an old crow like me something to caw about.
fwm2 April 23, 2011 at 10:05 a.m.
@up90: First of all thanks for the comment and for reading, and I did not mean to offend with my post...however....
Two things right off the bat (please excuse the pun). 1. The 2007 team has the most wins in UP baseball history. 2. Blogs are OPINION pieces, they are not factual statements/stories and therefore in essence opines made within them cannot be "inaccurate"..maybe they can be misguided or ill-founded..lol...but not inaccurate
Also from what most people I have talked to say (that have been at the school 20-30 plus years) -- the 2007 team was NO DOUBT the best team in Union Pines history in terms of overall talent and season record.....They just made an early playoff exit. But the squad had two Div I pitchers and were co-Champs of a fiercely competitive 3A Cape Fear Valley Conference.
You guys were 2A back in 1990. While being one game away from playing for a state title in that division is great -- it is a little different than playing in the 3A ranks...so its a perspective thing..
Let be clear in saying I do not wish to take anything away from your achievement. It is a grand one and you should be proud --- also you cannot help that your tram was 2A...
Who knows, maybe I will even cover your team's induction into the UPHS Athletic Hall of Fame if/when that day occurs....and when it does you can tell me "I told you so," then when we shake hands ;)
Nevertheless I stand firmly by my claim that the 2007 team was the BEST baseball team in the history of Union Pines....for now anyway
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