Providence HS roster????

I don’t post here much, but I think it’s time. I want to thank everyone for all for the e-mails, phone calls and good wishes. We’ve heard from families from all over town including East, Myers Park, Latin, Christian and South. We are truly overwhelmed by the generous offers of support from the baseball community. Our true friends have stepped up in a big way and we couldn’t be more grateful. Lynn & Pete at Grand Slam have been unbelievably wonderful and everybody in the On Deck Program has been terrific.

I should clarify that AJ did go to school workouts AND On Deck work outs, sometimes seven per week until Hignight gave him and Alex Martin permission to skip the school workouts in preparation for the Jupiter tournament. And as for not hustling, NCO4Dad, you have very likely known AJ for years…when has he ever NOT hustled? It’s disappointing that you think it’s OK to scapegoat a hardworking player over a coach's power trip. Find me one other coach who knows AJ and believes he didn't take tryouts seriously.

All of this could not have happened at a worse time. Right now we’re anxiously awaiting the final rubber stamp for AJ’s college commitment. I cannot believe that a coach and an AD would so willfully sabotage a kid’s chance for a top quality education and show such callous disregard for his feelings just to “send a message.” AJ is shattered but I’m proud of how he’s taking this and it helps immeasurably to know so many people care about what happens to him.

To put the whole situation in perspective, some of you remember a great kid and a fine ballplayer who died of brain cancer when these boys were 11. I’m sure his parents, Brandon Hill’s parents, and Antonio Cousart’s mom would love to have their biggest problem be that their son didn’t make the baseball team. Sure this is a bummer, but it doesn’t even register on the scale of what those families have faced.

After all that’s gone on at Providence, this year’s seniors deserve a great year. There’s enough talent there to make TWO excellent teams and they’ll be fine without AJ. I wish them a great season and the success they’ve waited for since they were freshmen.

Sharon Mason

 

There is only one person who can comment accurately on this situation, and that is the coach. Posts by any other person is just spreading idle gossip and rumors.

We have a policy on this board that players will not be slammed. I am holding everyone to that standard. Reporting "what you have heard" falls directly into this category.

Sharon Mason had a heart-felt and sensitive post about the situation. As far as I am concerned, and as long as I am a moderator on this site, the situation is closed for posting.

Period.