The Playoff Road Begins

I am a believer that any team that has an ace pitcher that they can count on holding the opposition to a couple runs or less every game needs to pitch that pitcher the first game of the week.

I read in the Telegram Sunday that Todd Brewer the head coach of Southern Nash was going to hold his ace until Tuesday in what he hopes is a matchup with Rocky Mount again.  You can just about know that Northern Nash will pitch the best they have Monday with the beginning of the Big East baseball tournament.

Northern has nothing to lose.  If they lose Monday, Tuesday or Thursday their season is over.  The only way they will get an invite to the state playoffs is win this week's tournament otherwise their next defeat ends their season.

Rocky Mount has the same dilemma.  David Harrison has pitched  the first conference game every week this season.  Should the Gryphons save him for Thursday.  My answer is no.  Survive and advance. There is no guarantee that Southern will beat Northern any more than Rocky Mount beating either without the best available pitcher on the mound.

This pitch count deal is hard on everybody especially teams  playing three games this week. Any pitchers who throws 30 pitches Monday is out for Tuesday and any pitcher who throws 45 Tuesday is out for Thurday.

I Don't think even though they have lost only once in conference play that Hunt has more than one reliable  pitcher.   If both Rocky Mount and Hunt survive and play Thursday it will be a great gamble to save your best for Thursday.

Who ever wins this tournament will be the team with the second best pitcher in the league on their team against the other teams second best pitcher.  Southern, Fike, Nash Central and Northern will win only if every thrower they have had a great week.

Now why I want to pitch my best early every week.  Suppose there is rain Wednesday and the tournament is cancelled when it rains through Friday.  That puts me in a position my best pitcher has not pitched in two weeks when we start the playoffs. I want him still as close as possible to the same routine as possible when he throws his first pitch in the playoffs next week.

Tonight third seed Southern Nash 5-5 13-9 host Northern Nash 0-10, 5-16. The winner heads Tuesday to Rocky Mount 8-2 14-6.  Fike 4-6 12-11 host Nash Central 4-6 13-9.  The winner plays Hunt Tuesday at Hunt 8-1 15-7.