Welcome Star Readers, Twins, High School & Bristol Thoughts

Welcome Elizabethton Star readers to my blog. I plan on doing some things you won't find in the newspaper here including thoughts on our high school sports scene, live blogs on local events (when I have wireless availability) and random notes about subjects that interest me.

Also if anybody has any questions about local sports or would like my opnion on anything, please shoot me a comment either here or via e-mail at wholtsclaw@starhq.com.

I had originally planned on doing a live blog for the Sharpie 500 race on Saturday at Bristol, but was unable to do so due to our midnight deadline.

Here's a look at some of the big stories in our coverage area this week.

TWINS

The Elizabethton Twins have been on a roll since the beginning of the 2007 Appalachian League season. With the regular tilt winding down, the team has all attention focused on East Division Champion Danville, whom they will meet when the Appy League Championship Series begins at Joe O'Brien Field on Thursday.

This is a big series, not only for the Twins, but for Danville. The two squads have won the last two Appy League titles. Elizabethton topped Danville in a three-game series on the road in 2005. Last year, Danville topped Elizabethton in a postponed series at Riverside Stadium for the crown.

Thursday begins the rubber series between the Twins and Braves, who have had the most success in the League this decade. Danville's managed by Paul Runge, a former Atlanta standout, and has sent several of its players into the parent club.

Elizabethton has the winningest short-season manager in league history in Ray Smith, himself a former Minnesota catcher. The Twins have also had their share of greats take the big league diamond including Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Joe Mauer and others.

Judging the roster of both Danville and Elizabethton, there are several players who have the potential to reach the highest level of professional baseball.

Elizabethton placed an Appy League record seven players on the All-Star team, while Danville contributed four. Each team has several players who weren't named to the All-Star squads who are just as capable of shining on any given night. That's what makes this series so intriguing this year.

This series reminds me of 2005, when both teams were loaded with talent. Elizabethton saw three of its top pitchers that season (Kevin Slowey, Matt Garza, Glen Perkins) get promoted early on. Despite losing three guys who have already seen action in a Minnesota uniform within their first three years in professional baseball, Elizabethton overcame a powerful, talented Braves team, one of the top offensive squads in league history, in three games.

I will have a full preview of Thursday's series in that day's edition of the Star.

There will be a community tailgate taking place beginning at 5 p.m. in the parking lot at Joe O'Brien Field for those interested in coming to the ballpark early and enjoying the atmosphere.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

In between race coverage last weekend, I covered the Elizabethton-Happy Valley game on Friday.

I came away impressed with both teams, who underwent head coaching changes during the summer months. Shawn Witten and his staff have done a tremendous job at Elizabethton. The same can be said about Scotty Verran with his young team at Happy Valley.

I feel the future is bright in both programs. Neither may win a conference title this year, or next year for that matter. But the teams are on the right track.

Elizabethton faces a tough challenge at Science Hill this week, while the Warriors host rival Unicoi County. EHS and HV will enter their games as the underdog, but it wouldn't surprise me to see each team prevail.

One team receiving a lot of publicity this past weekend was Hampton, who overwhelmed Johnson County. The game was no surprise to me. I felt like the Bulldogs were going to be heavy favorites even though the Longhorns had the best athlete on the field (Christian Prudhomme).

Hampton has perhaps the most depth in the backfield of any team in Class 1-A this year. If the Bulldogs are going to get to Murfreesboro and challenge for a State Championship, this is their best shot by far. They'll face a stern test at Oneida this week.

Unaka opened their season with a win over Chuckey-Doak last Thursday. It's a good start for the Rangers, who were led by a monsterous defensive effort from perennial Mr. Football candidate Jacob Estep. Estep totaled over 20 tackles in the game, many for loss. I'm anxious to see how he does against Union County this week.

Cloudland lost their first meeting with Avery County, NC in 20 years on Friday, debuting their new spread offensive scheme. The Highlanders looked good at times, and seemed confused at others. They should get their first win of the season Thursday against West Greene, but nothing is a given in high school football these days.

BRISTOL

I went to the Sharpie 500 Saturday night expecting a classic Bristol race. I left severely disappointed.

I'm not saying the racing was bad — it wasn't. There was great side-by-side racing on the surface, with drivers getting three wide at times on the track. It just wasn't classic Bristol.

There wasn't any drama. The beatin' and bangin' many expected wasn't there. There wasn't a great race for the win.

Carl Edwards wasn't challenged after taking the reigns from Kasey Kahne, who himself had the track all to himself when he was atop the field during the early stages of the event.

Sometimes I think a great Busch race can build up a Nextel Cup race so much that people's expectations become so high, they can't enjoy what they see. I think that was the case for some this week. Friday night's Food City 250 was one of those classic Bristol races.

Even Wednesday's Pro Cup and Truck series races provided the drama that fans crave when they arrive at Bristol.

I think the track did a great job on its new surface. It provided some of the best racing I've seen in a long time — until Saturday night.