I just saw yesterday on Baseball America's top 50 high school teams that Praire Ridge is ranked 28th in the country, Neuqua is ranked 41st

Is PR really the 28th best team in the country? Or is it just all politics?

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-school/team-r...ngs/2008/265628.html

Rankings are just a subjective tool that publisher's use, because reader's like it and it creates some chatter.

Politics???

PR is going to have to fight just to win their division.

Politics??? Their head coach resigned in November and a new coach was hired in the middle of January. Who then would be the political puppet master? They have a ton of talent (5 Division I Seniors) and have a shot to be an excellent team this spring. Pre-season rankings are there just to generate discussion and predict what may occur.

"Who then would be the political puppet master" You are obviously not very familiar with the program.

I know where you are going with this rrf, but I think pitchandcatch 97 is quite familiar with the program.

Congrats to both teams!

quote:

Originally posted by jarthur:
Congrats to both teams!

And Good Luck!
Yeah Baby!

PR should be very strong in 2008.

What is interesting, is when you look at the top 50 teams in the country. I believe the 2007 wins and loss records are found next too each team on the right hand side of the page. PR has the worst wins lost record out of all of those teams.

Regardless...
PR will be solid this year

I agree, PR is going to be very solid team this year, that is if they gel well as a team.

However 5 D1 players does not always make you an automatic power house of a team. But congrats to both teams! Its an outstanding achievement nonetheless.

I hear Haskins hired the former Liberty University head coach to help him this year. He is a no non-sense guy who can teach. Plus he has won evrywhere he has been. Knows the players too.

I can't believe how active this IL site is. You snow people must really love baseball. Our first game is Feb 23rd. HOPE ALL THE SNOW GOES AWAY SO YOU CAN GET A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THIS YEAR! I can remember some snow outs in HS in the mid 70's in Dupage co. Only have to worry about rain now here in GA.

Hey Roy, any idea why he left Liberty?

Supposedly he was let go becasue Liberty hired a new athletic director and the athletic director wanted a new coach. Matt Royer was a solid coach there though.

I think a PR player is going to Liberty U next year

Interesting....

First, Having 5 Division One athletes makes you a powerhouse, I had 5 DI's we finished 4th in state and lost to New Trier in the State Semis (2000), I think they too had 5 DI's. Secondly, Matt Royer is on staff at PR, he will be coaching the infielders, he was released because he stood behind his beliefs in opposition of the athletic director. Lastly, any recognition at the national level is an incredible honor.

Playball2 ...with all due respect.....I'd say a team is a powerhouse when it wins a ton of games. In HS many teams have had great seasons only to lose early in the playoffs. It is so easy to lose a baseball game and I don't think you have to finish as a champ or close to it to be considered a powerhouse.

I'd call PR a powerhouse more based upon their record over the years than what they might be this year. They have been a factor in their Sectional just about every year (except last year when they had all these D-1 guys) and for that you have to call them a powerhouse.

JMHO

To go from a 19-16 record to number one in the state with no new key players is a stretch. They don't have the pitching depth to rank that high for the course of the season. I think that the five D1 players are fooling the Baseball America people before the season starts. To call them a powerhouse is definitely premature. With that being said, their core players work as hard as any players you'll see. Whatever they get at the end of the season, they will have earned.

Where is Prairie Ridge HS?

Crystal Lake.