North Dakota Preps

who are the favorites in the 2008 high school baseball season?

dickinson minot

South will be up there if they can find even a small amount of offense. I agree with dickinson, they will be very good, but disagree with minot. Elgie isn't Elgie with wood bats, and i don't think they do well.

7andpoo wrote:South will be up there if they can find even a small amount of offense. I agree with dickinson, they will be very good, but disagree with minot. Elgie isn't Elgie with wood bats, and i don't think they do well.

yeah, but minot is minot...

very good point. they always find a way to get it done

EDC will be like this IMO

Fargo South 1

2 fargo north

3 red river

4 shanley

5 west fargo

6wahpeton

7central

8 Devils Lake

Where do you see North's offense coming from besides Shelton and Fiske and what arms besides Larson and Shutz?  Plus Shanley can't ride Jagim all year long and where do you see the rst of their pitching coming from?

shanley has all sorts of young talent that will put up runs like jagim, mike jones, shweigert, kays, and mathern. so when jagim isnt pitching, theyll have to hope they put runs on the board in order to win. as for north, a good 1-2 pitching combo in schutz and larson will win them a good chunk of conference games and fiechtner year in and year out finds a way to bring out the best in his players.  north had some very productive players on bombers this summer like zach braaten and cristian barnum. north will struggle at catcher and the only outfielder returning is ethan shnabel.

i expect south to run the east this year. three returning starting pitchers that were good last year and will be better this year. nuff said. youre all probably bored by now from reading my rambling.

isnt shelton a catcher?

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Ming01 wrote:

7andpoo wrote:South will be up there if they can find even a small amount of offense. I agree with dickinson, they will be very good, but disagree with minot. Elgie isn't Elgie with wood bats, and i don't think they do well.

yeah, but minot is minot...

Years before, this may be true, but besides Elgie, minot has very few bats, 1 very good pitcher in bollinger, and a few decent pitchers. I just dont think they have the formula to win state.

   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state. 

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

highheat wrote:

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

well in that case the coach should have takin initative and started to call pitches and not rely on a kid, and dont tell me about a coach bringing in a wrong pitcher ours brought in a soph in the state qualifyer at wda when we were up by 2 4 batters later we were down 1 before wentz was brought in

<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=463]Saucesauer[/user] wrote:

highheat wrote:

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

well in that case the coach should have takin initative and started to call pitches and not rely on a kid, and dont tell me about a coach bringing in a wrong pitcher ours brought in a soph in the state qualifyer at wda when we were up by 2 4 batters later we were down 1 before wentz was brought in

</span>

These excuses are pathetic and embarassing. Fargo needs to man up and admit they just didn't get it done. Regardless of regular season record, Fargo is expected to be a major competitor come state tourament time. This year they weren't. Players should be embarassed, and do whatever they can to make up for it next year.

These excuses are pathetic and embarassing. Fargo needs to man up and admit they just didn't get it done. Regardless of regular season record, Fargo is expected to be a major competitor come state tourament time. This year they weren't. Players should be embarassed, and do whatever they can to make up for it next year.

For the most part i agree, but there were a couple pitching decisons that could have been better imo.

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

The catching position (not one player/read the comment) could have meant 10 more wins and a top 3 finish at state.  Along with all the passed balls  teams ran at will this year beacuse  Fargo couldn't throw anyone out.  Put Bergeron or Nygaard behind the plate for the season (and state) and it  makes a huge difference.  One POSITION can have that much impact.

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=463]Saucesauer[/user] wrote:

highheat wrote:

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

well in that case the coach should have takin initative and started to call pitches and not rely on a kid, and dont tell me about a coach bringing in a wrong pitcher ours brought in a soph in the state qualifyer at wda when we were up by 2 4 batters later we were down 1 before wentz was brought in

</span>

These excuses are pathetic and embarassing. Fargo needs to man up and admit they just didn't get it done. Regardless of regular season record, Fargo is expected to be a major competitor come state tourament time. This year they weren't. Players should be embarassed, and do whatever they can to make up for it next year.

Does that include everyone that hit .240 for the season?

Number7 wrote:Where do you see North's offense coming from besides Shelton and Fiske and what arms besides Larson and Shutz?  Plus Shanley can't ride Jagim all year long and where do you see the rst of their pitching coming from?

shanley has other good talent for pitching...kays and frappier will also play big roles as well as schweigart will

<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=2113]teddybear[/user] wrote:

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=463]Saucesauer[/user] wrote:

highheat wrote:

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

well in that case the coach should have takin initative and started to call pitches and not rely on a kid, and dont tell me about a coach bringing in a wrong pitcher ours brought in a soph in the state qualifyer at wda when we were up by 2 4 batters later we were down 1 before wentz was brought in

</span>

These excuses are pathetic and embarassing. Fargo needs to man up and admit they just didn't get it done. Regardless of regular season record, Fargo is expected to be a major competitor come state tourament time. This year they weren't. Players should be embarassed, and do whatever they can to make up for it next year.

Does that include everyone that hit .240 for the season?

</span>

Is that supposed to be an insult? Come on now, .240 is obviously not getting it done for your team. Any player who is satisfied with that shouldn't be playing the game.

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=2113]teddybear[/user] wrote:

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=463]Saucesauer[/user] wrote:

highheat wrote:

Saucesauer wrote:

teddybear wrote:   

shs01240 wrote:<span class="texteditorenhanced">[user=1334]highheat[/user] wrote:

i would say that was a failed experiment by bill ibach. he should have been playing third for post 2 but ibach scared off nygaard and bergeron so he had to find another catcher. he might end up behind the plate for north though.

</span>

I wouldn't necessarily call it a failed experiment. Sure he was extremely raw, but he handled all the responsibilities better than most would have had they been in the same situation. He's got a HUGE upside at catcher if he works his tail off this offseason. Not to mention he put up unexpected numbers at the plate for Post 2.

Shelton did an ok job considering the situatuion he was put into but the catching position alone cost Post 2 a number of games this year.  Not having a catcher that could frame a pitch, block the ball or even catch alot of balls that hit the glove cost the team alot of runs and frustrated the pitching staff.  The pitchers and catchers were never really on the same page which never allowed the pitchers to get into the rythem needed to be effective.  Shelton and the team would have been better off if he played third the entire year but Ibach's inability to make the game fun ran off both Nygaard and Bergeron.  Put either of those two behind the plate and Post 2 ends up with a minimum of 10 more wins and top 3 finish at state.

In absolutly no way does one player take a team from bottem 4 at state to top 3 and yet again does no one player give a team 10 more wins!

fargo lost enough games off of runs being scored from passed balls, poor judgement and lack of ability behind the plate. and if you have a good catcher behing the plate who knows what pitches to call it makes all the difference in the world. it also wouldve helped if ibach wouldve thrown his better pitchers too, especially when it counted, like at state. putting a 16 year old on the mound with a 2-5 record and an era over 7 in a loser out game at state is ridiculous.

well in that case the coach should have takin initative and started to call pitches and not rely on a kid, and dont tell me about a coach bringing in a wrong pitcher ours brought in a soph in the state qualifyer at wda when we were up by 2 4 batters later we were down 1 before wentz was brought in

</span>

These excuses are pathetic and embarassing. Fargo needs to man up and admit they just didn't get it done. Regardless of regular season record, Fargo is expected to be a major competitor come state tourament time. This year they weren't. Players should be embarassed, and do whatever they can to make up for it next year.

Does that include everyone that hit .240 for the season?

</span>

Is that supposed to be an insult? Come on now, .240 is obviously not getting it done for your team. Any player who is satisfied with that shouldn't be playing the game.

The coach is the one that shoudn't be satisfied w/a .240 hitter.  On a team like Fargo that as you say "needs to man up" and "is expected to be a major contributer at state" a .240 hitter shouldn't see the field.  That's not an excuse just poor and as you say "embarassing" performance as well as stupid coaching. 

You can only blame people(coaches) for so long and than you have to man up and take responsibilty for what your team cant do and make them do it

Saucesauer wrote:You can only blame people(coaches) for so long and than you have to man up and take responsibilty for what your team cant do and make them do it

Huh?