By CRAIG ADKINS
For The Reporter
Editor’s note: Reporter sports writer Craig Adkins contacted each of the Sectional 8 baseball coaches to get their thoughts on the competition and intensity of the sectional. Today’s responses are from Jered Moore of Zionsville.
Describe Sectional 8 from your standpoint.
Sectional 8 is like the ultimate movie night. Grab some popcorn and a coke and prepare to be entertained. ‘Action’ and ‘Thriller’ for the players and fans. ‘Drama’ for everyone involved. Each game is an emotional roller coaster as they are often close games with every at bat having the potential to impact the outcome. ‘Tear-jerker’ for five of the six teams who thought this was their year. ‘Mystery’ for who is going to advance out of Sectional 8, because it usually isn’t who most fans expect. And of course, ‘Comedy’ as to why Indiana hasn’t adopted a better tournament format like many other states.
Why is it so difficult to advance out of Sectional 8?
It is so difficult to advance out of Sectional 8 due to the quality of the teams and coaching staffs. The teams are loaded with talented players. Most years, five of the six teams are ranked in the 10 4A teams in the state. Additionally, one-third of the games during the season are against the five other teams in our sectional. The coaches know each team in and out and the strength and weaknesses of each player.
No matter what the sectional draw outcome is, what keeps Sectional 8 such a gauntlet and a “meat grinder?” (Eerily similar to the Hoosier Crossroads Conference).
Yes, Sectional 8 is a gauntlet for sure. I’m not sure any coach ever thinks they have a good draw in our sectional. Our sectional is deep with quality players and teams every year. Regardless of the team, you are most likely going to see a quality arm. And if you get through the first game, you have two more games against with quality players and quality arms. And if you are ‘lucky’ enough to get the bye and make it thru the first game, you end up in the championship game with your No. 2 on the mound facing your opponent’s No. 1. Unlike most sectionals, rarely does the best team on paper or the team that is ranked the highest win our sectional. The last four years, the team that finished fourth in the HCC won sectional.
Does hosting Sectional 8 make it that much harder to win it? (Noblesville is the last host to win in 2014)
I don’t think the team that hosts our sectional has an advantage or a disadvantage over the other teams. Every team in our sectional has a strong community that show up to support the teams. Also, the game day routine and being the home team which occurs during the season is disrupted in the tournament. So regardless of who is hosting, each team is facing similar challenges.
How does Sectional 8 prepare you for the rest of the tournament?
Without question, sectional 8 prepares you for the rest of the tournament. But I think it starts during the season. Being in the HCC prepares us for the sectional. We constantly face well coached teams with very talented players all season long. hen of course, we add Carmel to the mix for sectionals. I feel that if we are able to make it through sectionals, any team we would potentially face the rest of the tournament, regardless of how good they are, would be on par with what we faced in sectionals. Although the teams may be well coached or very talented, there wouldn’t be any surprises or situations we haven’t already experienced.