All LPD & All Region D Baseball

[Unchained]

That's a joke
The POY and the fact that there is 1 Indian on that first team

[larry_legend]

I think the DH is left off of the first team. On another one I saw Justin Wilson was 1st team DH.

[R0cketer]

Does seem like Kelly got a bit of the shaft on that voting IMO

[Unchained]

At the end of the day,state title > regional awards. I'd wager the fellers could care less about it (although they deserved more than 1)

[imported_yellowjacket]

These awards have turned into a feel good thing over the years and mostly given out to the kids that everyone says are going to be great and are talked about all the time. They very seldom give the awards to the kids that work hard and earn the award, because that would leave out to many kids and teams, throughout the district and region. It,s turned into you vote for my kid and I'll vote yours and spread it out over all the teams. In the end the gold on the finger and in the trophy case is the top award given. Congrats JJK on a great year.

[Unchained]

BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier Sports Writer
Published: June 18, 2008

Cody Bentley had one mission in mind when the 2008 baseball season began.

The J.J. Kelly High School senior set his sights on a Virginia High School League Group A state title and was bound and determined not to let anything stand in the way of his team attaining that goal.

"We just stayed focused on what we had to do,"? Bentley said. "[J.J. Kelly coach David Wyrick] told us just to focus on the main goal and we did it. It was just a total team effort."?

Bentley spearheaded that effort and as a result earned Bristol Herald Courier Southwest Virginia player of the year honors.

Bentley put up some gaudy statistics en route to leading the Indians to their ninth state title in school history. He compiled a
team-high batting average of .484 (44-for-91), connected for five home runs and had 33 RBIs. He also stole 10 bases, doubled 14 times and struck out just five times the entire season.

On the mound, he was 7-0 with a 3.08 ERA and struck out 71 batters in 52 1/3 innings of work.

Plus, it was in the big games where Bentley flourished the most.

In the state quarterfinals, he tossed a one-hitter and struck out nine as Kelly collected a 3-0 road victory over Region C champion Glenvar. Oh yeah, he also did it in the midst of a thunderstorm.

In the state semifinals, Bentley reached base in all five of his plate appearances as the Indians crushed Luray, 15-1. One day later in the state finals, Bentley drove in three runs as Kelly rallied for a 14-9 victory over Essex and clinched the state title.

He also pitched the final inning, striking out the final batter of the game and setting off an emotional celebration.
"It's a players' dream to be out there in the last inning,"? Bentley said. "To be the guy that strikes the last guy out. But again that whole game was a team effort. All of us "? every single one of us "? contributed."?

Kelly actually trailed 9-5 after four innings in the state finals, before scoring nine unanswered runs to close out the game and clinch the state crown.
"Since we were freshmen, Coach Wyrick had "?Believe' on the back of our t-shirts,"? Bentley said. "I never really understood that until our last game. We could have just fell over and quit. Our goal was to win it and we were able to do it."?

For Bentley, a bright future still lies ahead. He will continue his career at East Tennessee State University.

Meanwhile, he leaves J.J. Kelly with his name added to the long list of stars that the Indians have produced over the years.
"We were always told to leave our legacy at the school,"? Bentley said. "They said after you leave here, know that you did everything you could to help this team and program. I think all five of us seniors did that."?

And by doing so, Bentley accomplished his mission.
[email protected] | (276) 645-2570

Note: For the complete All-Southwest Virginia team, please read Wednesday's edition of the Bristol Herald Courier.

The following is a look at the top Bristol Herald Courier All-Southwest Virginia winners (since 1993)
2008 "?Cody Bentley, J.J. Kelly (Player); Mark Francisco, Abingdon (Coach)
2007"? Jordan Barnett, Richlands (Player); Larry Cannon, John Battle (Coach)
2006"?Trey Smith, George Wythe (Player); David Wyrick, J.J. Kelly (Coach)
2005"?Nate Clark, Gate City (Player); J.W. Salyers, Castlewood (Coach)
2004"?Jason Steel, Gate City (Player); Casey Herald, Tazewell (Pitcher); Shannon Carter, Gate City (Coach)
2003"?C.J. Lee, Virginia High (Player); Casey Herald, Tazewell (Pitcher); Stan Rogers, Gate City (Coach)
2002"?Chad Longworth, J.J. Kelly (Player); David Lambert, John Battle (Coach)
2001"?Heath Miller, Honaker (Player); Jimmy King, John Battle (Coach)
2000"?Justin Branson, Virginia High (Player); Jimmy King, John Battle (Coach)
1999"?Jimmy Gobble, John Battle (Player); Doc Adams, Lebanon (Coach)
1998"?Ryan Adkins, J.J. Kelly (Player); Doc Adams, Lebanon (Coach)
1997"?Nic Lively, Virginia High (Player); Mack Shupe, J.J. Kelly (Coach)
1996"?Todd Zirkle, Powell Valley (Player); Mark Daniels, Virginia High (Coach)
1995"?Shannon Carter, Gate City (Player); Steve Hubbard, Coeburn (Coach)
1994"?Denny Wagner, Castlewood (Player); Stan Rogers, Gate City (Coach)
1993"?Shawn Fouch, Virginia High (Player); Eddie Icenhour, Virginia High (Coach)

[Unchained]

BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 18, 2008

Eight years ago, Mark Francisco was a long way from the baseball diamond.

After completing a successful career at Clinch Valley College (now known as the University of Virginia's College at Wise), Francisco was working at Twin City Federal Bank.

However, he yearned to return to the sport he loved. So, he changed his career path, entered the teaching profession and joined Trey McCall's coaching staff at Abingdon High School.

In 2006, he became the Falcons' head coach after serving four years as McCall's assistant.
"Trey was a great guy to follow,"? Francisco said. "I haven't really changed a whole lot. I've followed the same pattern he set out."?

Francisco has compiled a 52-21 record in his three seasons as Abingdon's head coach and had his most memorable season this spring.

The Falcons went 19-8, claimed the Region IV title and qualified for the Virginia High School League Group AA state tournament.

As a result, Francisco has been selected as the Bristol Herald Courier's Southwest Virginia coach of the year.

"It was an exciting season,"? Francisco said. "To start out like we did, I was just real proud of our kids for being so resilient and being able to come back and do what we did."?

Abingdon opened the season by losing four of its first five games, before turning things around.

"I don't think it was really a single moment [that turned things around],"? Francisco said. "We just stuck with it and slowly got better as the season went on. We started playing our best baseball at the end of the year."?

Abingdon's run through the Region IV tournament was especially impressive. The Falcons earned wins over River Ridge District members Salem, Blacksburg and Hidden Valley en route to the third regional title in school history and first since 1987.

The low-key Francisco gives credit to his staff of assistant coaches and the team, which seemed to have a new hero every night.

"It was a good group of kids to coach,"? Francisco said. "I'm very blessed to have good kids to coach. As the season went along, we got better and the kids seemed to have a lot more fun. It was a tight-knit group."?

A tight-knit group led by a determined head coach.
[email protected] | (276) 645-2570

[1inStripes]

I must say Abingdon's got some nice looking unis. As good of a player as Smith was, and could have been better had it not been for the injuries, Bentley was more deserving of the award IMO.