As I watched my last MTSU home game yesterday and did my usual drop by the HSBBweb monday morning pit stop, I saw Bob was shutting down the site.

I wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful friendships made over the last 7 years. Seems alot of things have totaly changed for me in the last year and new beginnings are being made in other directions.

MTSU is off to Florida International in Miami to play in the SunBelt Tournament starting Wednesday morning and my oldest is down to a handfull of games. Getting a college scholorship was our only goal and we have enjoyed so much more than we ever dreamed was possible. It has really been fun!

Youngest son's Team Vol State finished second in the Tennessee Juco state Tournament to Walter's who is headed to the Juco World Series and we wish them the best of luck! He is throwing 88-91 and seems to have a bright future ahead if he keeps improving.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful time and friendships. Some of you have become like family Fungo, BamaBomber, Opp, BBscout, HV, Jolly Roger, BNA, AHSBB, CBG, Bizazz, Catfish, Bighit, Trhit, PGstaff, JD Tennessee Baseball Report and all those wonderful women in the ladies lounge who are to numerous to single out.

Thanks Bob! You are a very special Man who I will never forget for the rest of my life. You always represented what was right and good. I will always cherish our frindship.

Fungo & Hiwassee Vol thanks for being such a great friends. You and yours will always be like my very own family!

BNA: We sure had a roller coaster blast at Vol State this year! Here's to a great 2006!

GCM: Your son is amazing and I am a true fan! He will get drafted and be the next pudge.

God Bless all of You!

The Tennessee Furum Has been comical and fun!

Tenndad,
It will never utter a "goodby" to you my friend. It will always be..."see 'ya later". Thanks for everything! You and your sons have set the bar for many a young ball players in Tennessee. You and I are fortunate that baseball and the HSBBW was there to take our sons to where they are today. Thanks for being there! I appreciate your help over the years.
Fungo

Fungo:

It has been a joy to follow your son and congrats on the all-sec third team honor. You are a class act my friend! J.B. Should do well in the draft this year and I wish for him all the best! You may have further to drive than just Auburn in your future!

SEC - First Team
1B Matt LaPorta, Florida
2B John Shelby, Kentucky
3B Chase Headley, Tennessee
SS Steven Tolleson, South Carolina
C JP Arencibia, Tennessee
OF Ryan Patterson, LSU
OF Brian Pettway, Ole Miss
OF Eli Iorg, Tennessee
DH Gabe Scott, Alabama
UT Stephen Head, Ole Miss
SP Luke Hochevar, Tennessee
SP Greg Smith, LSU
SP Jensen Lewis, Vanderbilt
RP Connor Falkenbach, Florida
RP John Madden, Auburn
--
Player of the Year: Luke Hochevar, Tennessee
Hitter of the Year: Ryan Patterson, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Nick Schmidt, Arkansas
Coach of the Year: Pat McMahon, Florida
--
SEC - Second Team
1B Mike Baxter, Vanderbilt
1B Steve Pearce, South Carolina
2B Adam Davis, Florida
3B Chris Coghlan, Ole Miss
SS Justin Tordi, Florida
C Brian Hernandez, Vanderbilt
OF Jeff Corsaletti, Florida
OF Clete Thomas, Auburn
OF Nick Stavinoha, LSU
DH Danny Hamblin, Arkansas
SP Clay Dirks, LSU
SP Aaron Rawl, South Carolina
SP Nick Schmidt, Arkansas
RP Jason Determann, LSU
RP Michael Nix, Auburn
--
SEC - Third Team
1B Karl Amonite, Auburn
2B Clay Harris, LSU
3B Shaun Lehmann, Kentucky
3B Evan Bush, Alabama
SS Eric King, Tennessee
C Thomas Berkery, Mississippi State
OF Antone DeJesus, Kentucky
OF Mark Wright, Ole Miss
OF Julio Borbon, Tennessee
DH Josh Bell, Auburn
SP Zac McCamie, South Carolina
SP Brian Ball, Florida
SP Matt Maloney, Ole Miss
RP Will Startup, Georgia
RP David Robertson, Alabama
--
SEC - All Freshman Team
SP Nick Schmidt, Arkansas
SP James Adkins, Tennssee
SP David Price, Vanderbilt
RP David Robertson, Alabama
C JP Arencibia, Tennessee
IF Ed Easley, Miss State
IF Alex Feinberg, Vanderbilt
IF Zack Cozart, Ole Miss
IF Cale Iorg, Alabama
OF Antone DeJesus, Kentucky
OF Julio Borbon, Tennessee
OF Clint Arnold, Arkansas

Guys, I just saw the announcement on the site and I really need to adjust to the reality of life without HSBBWeb and the daily joy these messages from all our friends have brought me these past few years.

Congratulations on your sons this season, they feel like my own.

I'll post more later.

I too want to join in on this last hurrah...thank you all for a great time of sharing. My son would not be where he is without this forum and the great advice. HV, Fungo, Tenndad and Bob (especially), thank you for the "internet friendship". As you said, Tenndad, getting a school to allow my son to play baseball for four more years and get an education was truly an answered prayer....and HSBBweb helped him along the way. I would love to take the ride all over again. I would follow the same road.

What is the next level from here?

May God bless each and every young man that has passed by this stand....

PS. My son just called and said he shook hands with Coach K of Duke basketball (could not spell the whole name, did not want to mess up) and had a great conversation with him...what a game...the memmories continue

I'm a bit speechless (which is rare).

Bob, you know what you've meant to all of us. I'm gonna miss this. Where will I tell all the upcoming parents about where to get the information they need about "growing up baseball"?

Maybe we can keep some Tennessee talk going someplace like JD's site at tbca.org. He has a message board set up for HS, Juco, and College.

We will definitely miss this site as it is the warehouse of all you need to know in baseball. I guess I need to get Bob to let me copy some of his stuff and transfer. And definitely come over to the tbca.org site and converse. I just don't wanna become a coacht where the 18 and under crowd dominate and cause a ruccus (i really don't think i spelled that right). But anyway, meeting Bob and HV at the TBCA clinic last January was a good thing as it gave me a chance to put names and faces together. Maybe I can put you on staff??? Thanks to all the people who have conversed and left messages to and for me and to Bob for having the idea to do it. JD

Tennessee guys- I really believe something will work out for the site. However, just in case I want to tell all of you guys how much I've enjoyed and appreciated the assistance of some of you, the humor of all of you, and the hope of meeting some of you down the road. You've always made the KY lady feel welcomed in your space and I was looking forward to be able to "officially" post here next fall. I still hope I get a chance to meet some of you in the fall, cheer for your sons, and hopefully have you cheer a little for my Tiger! Take care and good luck to all of your sons.

TennDad,
I plan to stay in touch. Here is my email: glegg@charter.net

All of you email me with your email address.

Greg

To the Tenn Crew:
Words fail at a time like this.....
I had no idea Bob was pulling the plug
But to Bama Bomber, Fungo, Tenn Dad, HV, Bob, I will miss what you guys have to say about our love of the game and the love we have for our sons who have able to follow their dream in to college. I will miss the bond we have found with one another.
I have your Email address and will keep you up to date on Jeremy and my family and hope you do the same.

A friend for ever

The one and only

The Jolly Roger

I was off today and had time to reflect on the news that Bob will soon pull the plug on the website. Bob is a good friend and I respect his decision. I can only guess how difficult a decision it was for him, knowing how the sites closure felt to me, I’m sure it was tenfold for him.

I don’t want to name everyone because I may miss someone, but it is amazing the friendships we have developed over the years. These friendships cross many boundaries and countless miles, but it does not diminish the value. We have shared the good and the bad; helped our sons through injuries and were there no matter any outcome. Can I put a value on these last few years? I think not.

The knowledge from the information Bob shared with all us and that gained from other individuals has helped more than will ever really be known. We all hope to make a difference in our life and Bob has his accomplished with this site over the past years. Bob, THANK YOU!

To my good friends in the Tennessee forum (and that one Bama); we’ve had that place humming more than a few times. Is there anything we didn’t cover when it came to baseball in our state? There couldn’t have been much! We had a special first round draft pick and many championship teams with parents drop by the site. Ray-Bans was born, TN-Scout-For Real started the hunt for instate talent, The Recruitinator is know far and wide, Bubba is in a class all his own and HiwasseeVol keeps the Big Orange in check.. We have started more than a few days with a laugh after checking in the forum. Best of all we have gotten to follow our sons on their path and it’s much better not to do it alone. It just doesn’t get any better that what we have had in our forum. For that, I THANK YOU ALL!

I also want to thank the Ladies. Bob gave them a special place and they are quite a group and a great addition here. Jolly, I remember one that gave you a run for your money!

There are many with more baseball knowledge than me that have stayed and offered advice to the greenhorns that turned up every year. You are the special ones here. THANK YOU ALL!

I have many email addresses and will stay in touch. For any that might not have mine, it is HiwasseeVol@comcast.net I still want to follow each and very son, don’t leave me out of the loop.

THANKS TO ALL....

Thanks tenn dad we will miss your son at MTSU. What a great young man and team player. I will miss this site and all of you.

To the Tenn guys and Bama- I can't count the number of times you guys have made me laugh out loud. I really appreciate your witty banter!

BTW- my kids hear me in the study laughing and they just shake their heads and wonder how their Mom ever became such a baseball website nut.

Seriously though, you guys are the best! Good luck to all of your families and hope to see you wherever this wonderful site ends up!

Folks

Why do I keep hearing a sad song--- it aint over yet---Jerry and I are still working on keeping it goping---

HAng in there and stay tuned

Thanks TR and PG--definitely staying tuned!

I hope we can keep this going in some form or fashion. I do need to echo other thoughts on here about the friends I've made in cyberspace as well as getting to know folks like Bob in person.

Wes and I were already friends from having boys play ball together, but there was a time when I didn't know who HiwasseeVol was. There are probably times when he still wishes he had his anonymity (I know I do ).

I'm heading to the beach tomorrow afternoon and will not have computer access, so when I leave the office tomorrow it may be the last time I'm privileged to grace this site.

To all who have helped me in my journey with Adam, I can't thank you enough. I hope there are still a few tales to tell before he has to hang up his cleats.

Bob, you and your site have been a part of my life these past few years. Thank you again for all you've done. I wish nothing but the best for you and yours.

What a ride! How could I ever express my thanks to all who have given such assistance over the years? I appreciate all the help and knowledge from everyone. Bob, I truly appreciate you taking your time and money to start up the site in the first place. It must be awesome to think of the hundreds of kids who have gone on to play college ball due to your efforts. I'm sure I will see you from time to time. Take care.

Most of you have my email. If not, it is:
mccown1982@aol.com. Please keep in touch.

Roger McCown

Thanks Bob. You're the greatest! You've helped a countless number of HS baseball players move on to the next level and a countless number of parents maintain their sanity. Wishing you the best of everything as you move up to the next level.

Wes (HV) -- Thanks for all your help with the Tennessee(and sometimes Alabama) pages, especially. Also, thank you for the many hours spent creating and updating the Top Tennessee Players pages.

Orlando -- Thanks for all your help while finding my way around Florida and thanks for the advice and insight into recruiting and JUCO's.

BAMA -- Thank you for the opportunities you have provided my son through the Bama Bombers and Perfect Game.

TennDad -- I've enjoyed this year's roller-coaster ride at Vol State and I've enjoyed getting to know you and your family. Wait'll next year!

Hoop -- Thanks for turning me on to this site.

"Others" on this site that have offered advice, offered encouragement, given me directions, answered my dumb questions, sent Private Messages, THANK YOU and I hope we meet again.

Guys,
Keep in mind that Bob did pass the torch and there is a new person in charge, MNmom is now in charge. You can read about it in the announcement forum.

Lets give her our support.