Concord Invite Preview

Details: August 28, 2010 at 9:00 AM. To be played at Concord High School.

Last Season Review: Concord - 1st, Bethany Christian - 2nd, Jimtown - 3rd, Rochester - 4th.

3 Interesting Facts:
- Bethany Christian has never won this invitational.
- Bethany Christian has never entered this event with a winning record.
- Concord has won this invitational at least 7 years in a row.

Concord Details: Concord has gotten off to a busy start to the season. After making the State finals last year, they have started this season with a 3-2 record. Their losses have come against Penn and Bremen. Penn has a traditionally strong program, and Bremen has an experienced team this year. These aren't bad losses, but the Bremen loss is certainly a sign that the Minutemen may be a bit down. On the flip side, Concord defeated Elkhart Central, a team who also defeated Goshen 4-1. So they've beaten a good team handily as well.

Jimtown Details: Jimtown is off to a 2-2 start to the season, winning against Mishawaka and NorthWood in a pair of 4-1 victories. Both victories came with close victories at many positions. They then lost two close matches to Elkhart Memorial (2-3) and Bremen (1-4). Though the lineup has stayed fairly steady, the wins have come from all positions for this young team. However, they haven't all come on the same night. No position for the Jimmies has a losing record... but only one has a winning record.

Rochester Details: The Rhinos enter with two early season losses, and then 2 matches I can't find results for. They lost 3-2 to Triton on last Thursday and 3-2 to South Bend Clay on last Wednesday. This week they've played Laville and Maconaquah, I just found the Maconaquah score, where the Zebras lost 1-4. But I've yet to a Laville score.

Bethany Christian Details: We've had a busy week already playing 3 matches. After the first two weeks we sit with a record of 4-1. Our loss to Columbia City was a close heartbreaker, but we bounced back nicely against Fremont on Thursday.

Projected Lineups:
Concord
#1S: Jason Denton (5-0)
#2S: Sean Purcell (3-2)
#3S: Matt Kotva (2-3)
#1D: T Cunningham-Tony Fenech (3-2)
#2D: Bronson DuMont-Jack Hinkle or Michael Eisman-Trevor Warren (#2 doubles is 2-3)

Jimtown
#1S: Brett Aller (2-2)
#2S: Max Polluck (2-2)
#3S: John Gray (3-1)
#1D: Cole Peterson-Jake Ward (2-2)
#2D: Austin Ward-Augie Farwig (2-2)

Rochester
from known results...
#1S: Aaron Stuart (1-3)
#2S: Max Hsu (0-3)
#3S: Brandt Eytcheson (0-3)
#1D: Cody Hershbeger-Josh Calhoun (2-1)
#2D: Jake Schroder-Taylor Peck (2-1)

Outlook:
With Concord graduating so many good players, this is an opportunity for our team to get our first victory ever against the Minutemen. Jimtown is in the same state, having graduated all the players from their first ever Sectional title (congrats again to the Jimmies!) Rochester enters having been very competitive in each of their matches. I really think we can compete for the tournament title this year, but there are things about each lineup that make me a little nervous. I'm looking forward to the competition, looking forward to working guys in, looking forward to our first tournament preparing us for the ultimate tournament - the Sectional.