Tax thriving
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- July
- 10
I also didn’t have an opportunity to link to Monday’s feature on Zack Tax, the Rye Country Day senior-to-be.
The story focuses on how well Tax has pitched and played despite having to tend to his Type I diabetes. As you can see in the photo above, Tax can never forget it while he pitches, try though he might.
Tax has developed into a serious Division I prospect, using two arm angles (3/4 and side) and improving velocity to baffle hitters for both RCDS and his summer and fall club, the New York Nine. From everything I have heard and read, he has continued to flourish this summer after setting the single-season strikeout record at RCDS. Tax, if he gets there, would be the first Division I player in RCDS program history.
Anyway, give it a read and let me know what you think.
This entry was posted
on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 5:43 pm by Josh Thomson. 
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Josh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in
March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of
2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has
since covered various high school and pro sports. Away from sportswriting,
Josh lives in Westchester and spends his free time either with his
fiancee, Sarah, or expertly managing his various championship-winning
fantasy sports teams. He's visited 21 major-league baseball stadiums and
insists that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field are the best by far. Josh
graduated from Carmel High School in 1998, then went to Boston University,
where, in 2002, he received a degree in communications with a minor in
history. 
Jake Thomases has covered baseball, hockey, girls basketball, and girls soccer for the Journal News since arriving in 2003. He previously interned at The Poughkeepsie Journal while attending Vassar College. He is socking money away under his mattress to buy the Knicks, at which time he will trade Jerome James to Cleveland for a ham sandwich.
We didn’t get to see the game because of conflicting schedules but coaches mentioned that Zac threw a gem the other day for the 9. Great job and congratulations
Congrats Zac you are a gamer, have a great summer and many schools should be looking at you, you can pitch and tough in big spots Coach Chap
Has this blog become a love fest for certain summer teams? The ny 9 17u team stinks…some of their better players have already quit to join better local teams…..chapparella takes care of his own kids who would not start on other summer teams…pathetic but true…...that guy chases away the good players so his son and other lousy mamaroneck kids play..just the facts. if you cant handle the facts just shut up
Dude- You have no clue whatsoever. The NY 9 Showcase team had as good, if not better a showing, than any local team down in GA. They finished 2nd in their pool, along with Toconic American. World Yacht Clippers didn’t even make a consolation game. To say that the Mamaroneck kids on that team are lousy players is idiotic. 3 of the kids just won their 2nd NY Title and are getting a lot of attention from college coaches. You just don’t hear about it because their coach isn’t busy on these blogs selling them on a forum that makes no difference to their future.
The Clippers were scheduled to leave Ga @ 10 a.m. today and were not planning on playing a consolation. They lost two games in their pool by one run, and made a consolation in the 18U for christsakes. Why all the nagativity ? Let’s just say that all three teams played well. The Clippers also beat the Nine twice when they played. Does that mean they are a better team ? Not really. This Clipper 10’ team has a lot of talent and that’s why they had such following down south. The scouts would not be followng them if they were not a good team. Next week they are at the Virginia Canes tournament in Va. for the scouts to get another look.
Only the top team and the second place team get consolation games. The Clippers wouldn’t have made it. Good they planned an early flight.
Doesn’t really matter who wins these games, who plays in consolations, etc….. in the end , the only thing that matters is how many players are signed to play college ball and where they are going to play. That is the best way to judge these Summer teams when all is said and done.
Perfect Game Web Site :
Ryan Pennell
7/12/2009 11:45:20 AM
The World Yacht Clippers used three pitchers in a combined two-hitter to knock off the All American Prospects Red on Saturday afternoon. Starter LHP Ryan Pennell (2010, Rye Neck HS, NY) was very impressive going three inning, allowing only one hit and striking out eight batters. Pennell has a live arm and sat at 86-88 with good movement.
How Funny….Even when these teams lose and are sent home with their tail betweeen their legs they are still being followed bt the scouts?....Get real…These teams are very good local teams that can compete with most of the better local summer squads that also play and “win” some local tournaments. They are not at all superior to about 20 teams that I am aware of in the the 5 boroughs and Westchester/Putnam…..Going to Georgia and getting beat up is not a moral victory for baseball players . Unless someone needs to justify an awful expensive trip and is protecting Daddy ball players from public scrutiny…
Just an FYI, any team, no matter where your finished, can get a consolation game if they wanted. The previous week Taconic didn’t get one only because they didn’t know to ask. In 2 weeks the Clippers National knocked off the East Cobb Astros 17’s and the All American prospects these are 2 elite teams in 17U baseball.
For those that post with NO knowledge of how things work outside of their yard. Here is a copy of the e-mail from Perfect Game. Your apology is accepted by all the boys one every team down there. We had a 10:15 flight today after 17 days on the road.
17U Coaches:
A Consolation Game is offered to all teams participating in the WWBA 17U National Championships who do not make the 32-team playoffs. Consolation games will be played on Sunday, July 12.
If your team wants to play a consolation game, you MUST contact the Perfect Game Staff with your intentions. If we do not hear from a representative of a team, we will assume that that team DOES NOT want to play in a consolation game and WILL NOT be scheduled.
If you are uncertain as to whether your team will be in the playoffs or not and want to play a consolation game if you do miss the playoffs, please contact us in advance and will make schedule adjustments as your team’s situation dictates.
You may contact the PG Staff in one of three ways:
Just a FYI that I’m sure Coach Millman, Coach Fletcher and I will back. Step up to the plate and see where you stand. Get out from behing your no identity and call to schedule a game. I’m sure we all could use some BP
Any doubt about the necessity of playing in these PG tournies, and East Cobb + Jupiter specifically, is dispelled in today’s article in the NY Post by Kevin Kiernan. It contains quotes from several MLB players including David Wright, Chad Billingsley , and also Yankee scouting director Damon Oppenheimer. Interesting reading for anyone whose a parent of a good ballplayer.
listen up….pg is selling pg…other guys are selling their teams at about $3,000..
All I am hearing is that there are many local summer teams comprised of excellent player that could easily beat any of these teams that self promote…...the journal news selected all section players….these teams have guys that did not “start” on their high school team…
Be honest about this….many of the “best” local players are on other summer teams that do not ask for $3,000 …
Believe it or not there are coaches still willing to coach for FREE!!!! And they do not self promote!!
Wow, yes some players that aren’t on these “expensive” teams are very very good ball players. The fact is, these teams are expensive because they provide maximum exposure. They are showcase teams, hoping to take players to the next level. And they do a great job of it. They pitch players 2-3 innings each game… it’s obvious that they want to get their players looks. It’s not about how well their team does, although I know they’d like to win every game. It’s 90% about exposing their players.
And we’ve already been through this $$$$ issue on another blog. NY9 coaches basically do coach for free, the coaches of all these elite team are 100% in it to get their players to the next level. End of story.
That is a legitimate answer to the question. At least you recognize that that there are scores of “All Section ” players that are not playing on these several expensive travel teams that “self promote” on these blogs….I have no argument if we are talking about good summer teams…But there are “many” summer teams that are equally as good, comprised of “All Section” players that do not come out here and try to monopolize a blog that is for the benefit of “all summer baseball players”...This blog should not be about just the expensive teams who self promote..
Article from the NY POST on the East Cobb tournament :
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07122009/sports/moresports/tourney_quietly_becoming_huge_part_of_ga_178853.htm?&page=0
The “scores” of All-Section players that may aspire to play college baseball that are not playing on these teams are gonna have a tougher time of it due to a lack of exposure.
That’s all that is being said here.
When schools can go down south and scout a tournament w/ 190 teams in it, that is what they are gonna do.
You are not gonna see a scout at a local game or tournament unless they are targeting a specific kid as a follow up.
A kid they probably saw at a Perfect Game event or something similar…..
The NY Nine showcase team finished 3-3 down in Georgia. 2 of the losses were by 1 run. Top Local standouts include Zac Tax (RCDS), Mike Rosenfeld and Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck), James Lombardi (Briarcliff) Bret Rosen (New Rochelle), and Ian Cole (Panas). The Nine flys home today and heads up to Boston this friday to play in the New England Ruffnecks Boston Invitational Showcase.
And I enjoy the postings of how the boys are doing this summer. Everytime one of the Na-Sayers comes on here and shoots off about money, coaches and other negatives they end up looking stupid. Just read above about the consolation games and then bam, now you look stupid again. Play where you wish, but don’t judge those that make a decision that doesn’t fit your little niche
This entry is supposed to be about Zack Tax. Let’s not ruin it for the kid and give him some respect as he has worked his tail off. Tax will have his choice of Ivy League offers.
enough about the clippers already…..how about we hear about some of the other quality summer teams out there such as the taconic rangers….coach fletcher always does an outstanding job of helping kids get into schools that fit them because at the end of the day its not the baseball but its the EDUCATION that matters in the long run
Why don’t you e-mail their coaches and ask them for updates. I don’t know why you have a problem with us getting information on kids from Hen Hud, Iona, Fox Lane, Mahopac, Beacon, Ketcham, Rye Neck etc etc. No one has come on here and boasted about records or anything else.
I’m curious about where your information comes from that CW Post is such a great academic institution? There are 5 kids from Taconic headed there. Are we missing something or did Post come out ranked #2 behind Harvard. Why bash the kids for doing the best they can athletically as well as academically.
Coach Chaparelli is on here, ask him for an update on the NY9. They are having a great summer. I’m sure the minute he posts something you’ll jump on him because he’ll mention a kid from Mamaroneck.
Coach, some of us want to know so ignore the ignorant and keep up the good work.
I do not have a son playing baseball and even I like to read updates of how local boys are doing and the looks they are getting. Keep up the updates…
was not impressed by the ny9 team this weekend at the new england ruffnecks tournament they rly stink
How did the Rangers do in New England, and the Clippers in Virginia ? Anyone know ? Any stand-outs for either team ?
ranger and clipper person if you want too know about the teams why dont you e-mail the coaches
why can’t they ask here so some other get the info also. is it because you don’t want to hear it… OK anybody know how the ironboyz of the jr legion program in shrub oak is doing? how bout u dudes give us some wpba or wba updates? rather then rag, speak up. u made the decision to play there be proud of what u did and dude, speak up. little league allstar updates anyone? these are all section one players let here it
How many High Baseball players in Sect One have been drafted out of High school in the past 10 years.