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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Play Ball

While most colleges and JC's have already begun their 2011 Baseball seasons, this weekend marks the beginning of High School Baseball with the traditional scrimmage.

The CIF Blue Book defines a scrimmage as follows. "An interscholastic scrimmage in baseball is a training session between a minimum of two and a maximum of three schools where no score is kept, free substitution and time-outs are permitted, spectators are not urged to attend, and officials are not paid."

This is what makes a scrimmage unique and the reason why it is not counted as a contest. This format permits coaches to set up situations, get game experience in the execution of certain skills in a more controlled, relaxed format. The scrimmage also allows the coaches to freely substitute players in and out giving a great deal of flexibility not normally afforded in the game.

While many High School Baseball Coaches still run a scrimmage as it was intended to be, a training session with teachable moments and free substitution, some have gone far beyond this definition and treat it as a regular contest. Even to the point of sending a message or setting the tone for the season and playing to win.

This attitude goes far beyond the intent of the rule and reflects a selfish will to win when no score is to be kept.

As a Athletic director and a traditionalist, I appreciate the intent of the scrimmage rule and would hope all coaches would see the value in it as well. Remember, you will never find that surprise on your ball club, if you don't look for it.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Progress Report - Tommy Peale

It has been a long road back from "Tommy John Surgery" for former 2006 South Coast Conference Player of the Year and LBCC MVP, Tommy Peale. Even though his rehab is not completed, all indications are that he is well on his way. Tom's father Gary Peale reported that, Tommy threw his first bull pen sense the surgery and everyone in Florida was very encouraged. "Tom has done everything he has been asked to do," reports his father. "We'll just have to wait and see - Time will tell."

Tommy was a key factor in the Vikings 2006 State Championship in Baseball going 16-0 in 103 innings pitched with a 1.31 ERA. He also had a .362 batting average in 35 games as a position player. Now, five years later, he is still giving everything he has to the game.

There is an old saying I learned from my LBCC coach Bob Meyers back in 1972, "The cream always rises to the top." I believed it then and still do to this day. Whether in the game of Baseball or Life, Tommy Peale will rise to meet the challenge.

All the best my friend, we're all pulling for you!

Monday, February 7, 2011

LBCC Wins Opener 4-3

The Long Beach City College baseball team pounded out 12 hits in its season opener on its way to a 4-3 non-conference win at Barstow College on Saturday.

Long Beach (1-0) returns to action on Tuesday (Feb. 8) when it begins a three-game series against Orange Coast College. LBCC is at OCC on Tuesday, followed by the Vikings’ home opener at Joe Hicks Memorial Field on Thursday (Feb. 10). The two squads close the series on Friday (Feb. 11) at Orange Coast.

All games are set to begin at 2 p.m.