Rogers pitches after all in state championship

[Rogers8Fan]

Hey guys... I was at the game yesterday. I live about 40 minutes north of Portland in Lewiston. It was amazing. We had to wait an hour just to get in and the whole place was packed.

 

Just so you know, Rogers was not shelled, but he did not have his best stuff and a couple less than perfect pitches did him in. Playing in front of 7,000 fans both teams made 3 errors due mostly to nerves, but Mt. Ararat's proved to be more costly. The errors were really clumsy, too. The only error that I don't blame was Rogers'. It was on a bunt and he needed to get the out. The bunt was great and he had to rush to get the speedy runner out. He threw off balance into the dirt and a runner scored on the throw. I believe only 2 hits were out of the infield, 1 was a bloop and 1 was that solid hit on the curve by I forget who, I think it may have been Esposito but I have Giobbi in my mind, too (heh, freshman year playing against Giobbi I dropped a routine flyball hit by him.)

 

The errors also added quite a few pitches to his pitch count. Like 10-20 over 2 innings. He walked 3 guys, he only walked I believe 6 the entire season. I think one of the reasons he may have struggled is because Deering is a lot more mature and advanced in baseball skills than any other team he played. What I'm saying is he should have tried to throw his changeup more. He only threw it once or twice. He kept trying to blow people away with his fastball or buckle their knees with a curve. Yes, he did that very well, too... 8 times to be exact. However, he tried to do it too much. He did a poor job of mixing his pitches. I remember in the first inning they were making contact which stunned everyone... but in 2 of the at-bats of runners who got on base in the 1st inning (maybe it was the 2nd, but it happened) he threw 4 fastballs to one guy and then 3 curves to another and then walked the guy because it was 3-0.

 

Don't get over Rogers just yet. Deering were ranked the #25 team in the nation by Baseball America. They went down to #41 but they did nothing wrong, and that doesn't count them beating Rogers.

 

Portland, which is where Deering is, cheats! Haha, they are the only place in the state with good indoor baseball fascilities. And those are important for Maine. And it's well known Deering is the richest part of Portland so those kids probably have more money to spend on going there than anyone else. It's amazing... because Deering is only graduating 5 seniors, and had 9 juniors on the team and 3 freshmen!

 

Rogers left the game in the 5th inning (maybe 4th? I think 5th,,) to a minute-long standing ovation. It was so great. I don't think it could be understood by anyone in Wisconsin the pandemoneum Rogers created. He is ours, and we don't have much. Especially since we are really a hockey state (well, I say that because I'm in the center of the extreme hockeyness in Lewiston.)

 

The day belonged to Ryan Reid, though. Reid was throwing mid-80s and he had no problem putting away a much less talented Mt. Ararat team. I wouldn't give Reid too much credit, but good luck to him in the future. He's on scholarship to James Madison University so hopefully he'll help his stock there. Haha, I don't think this great pitching performance is much because he's really a better hitter. His (if I remember correctly) 0-3 performance with a whiff doesn't help.

 

 

 

I'd just like to say good luck to Rogers in the future, and Milwaukee... don't screw him up!

 

You drafted another Maine kid in Jeremy Shorey a few years back and he ended up blowing it in Ogden and he now works with my dad building ships. Then again, he was drafted in the 11th or 12th round or so.

 

I'd post pictures of the game on here but I don't believe there is a way to.

[Rogers8Fan]

Quote:

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Anybody else a bit irked that he (a) got hurt and (b) got knocked around by a Maine high school team?

 

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

---

 

Like I said, Deering should be considered as more than just a "Maine high school team." I'm sure they would do well in a national competition.

[Rogers8Fan]

Dang, there really is no way I can import pictures here, is there?

[colbyjack]

Rogers8Fan, thanks a lot for your posts. We hope you stick around and follow his career along with us.

 

As for pictures, I do know some people post pics, but I believe you have to have the web-space to do so. I would suggest emailing them to our webmaster:

 

webmaster@brewerfan.net

 

Thanks again! Looking forward to officially adding Mark to our system.

[Katuluu]

I can host the pictures for you if you want to post them. I believe Brian can as well.

[Rogers8Fan]

I'll send them to that brewerfan address. Some of the pictures are poor quality because the battery on my camera was quite low and I pretty much had 2 seconds to zoom in (which I couldn't all the way) and snap a pic.

[batman]

Rogers8Fan, thanks sooo much for for the in-person game story. I was being somewhat facetious with that "is anyone else" post, but I didn't have any idea that the team he pitched against was so highly thought of. That's good to know... and I do think we can sort of understand how important Mark is to y'all up in Maine, as there aren't very many WI high draft choices or big leaguers, either. Our two states aren't all that different, really, considering the weather and the dominance of other sports.

 

Anyway, thanks again. Can't wait to see the pictures!

 

~Bill

[DuWayne Steurer]

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I can't see criticizing the kid for taking advantage of an opportunity like he had last night.

 

The chance that he ever actually makes it to the bigs and sticks is somewhat low, and I'm sure he's aware of that.

 

In the real world where people have, ya know, feelings and emotions, something like a lowly HS championship game can mean an awful lot.

[batman]

In the real world where people have, ya know, feelings and emotions, something like a lowly HS championship game can mean an awful lot.

 

Yeah, I agree. I would've pitched if it were me. As long as he was ready, not pitching on three days rest or whatever, feeling good, and on a strict pitch count... go for it.

 

~Bill

[Rogers8Fan]

Well, Wisconsin has 3 of the 4 major sports in their state to go with... I mean, Maine the STATE has an independent baseball team, a minor league baseball team, a minor league hockey team, and a junior hockey team to cheer for. Sure, our home teams are in Boston, but we don't get much of a real sense of home.