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If ties ran abound in the Southeast Kansas League, it was a mirror-image when the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League coaches took the stage during the KSEK/1340 ESPN Preseason Coaches Luncheon Thursday at Watco in Pittsburg.
Just as in the SEK League, a pair of teams tied for sixth in the CNC poll — Baxter Springs and Southeast — and two teams tied for first in the league — Riverton and St. Mary’s-Colgan.
“I was a little surprised that we were picked that high,” said Panthers’ head coach Chuck Smith.
Colgan and the Rams came out with exactly the same number of total votes as well as first-place votes in the poll.
“To be picked where we’re at, I think, has a lot to do with what happened last year,” said Riverton head coach Cory White.
The Rams won the CNC League last year by way of their win over Colgan.
Galena was picked third in the poll followed by Girard and Frontenac to round out the top five.
“Last year, we took some lumps and played with some young kids,” said Frontenac head coach John Palumbo. “Hopefully, that will pay off this season.”
Baxter Springs and Southeast tied for sixth in the poll followed by Erie and Northeast.
“There’s really not a lot to talk about when you were 2-7 last year,” said Baxter Springs head football coach Brett Hartley.
Hartley will have the challenge of playing without any seniors this season.
However, second-year Erie head coach Don Barcus has just the opposite issue. The Red Devils will return 10 seniors for the 2009 season.
“We’re looking for better things and our success will come from our seniors,” Barcus said.
He said that the Red Devils are bigger in numbers as well as in size.
“We’re stronger in the weight room than we were last year,” Barcus said. “We’re just going to try to get after it.”
Northeast head coach Phil Hobbs also has a similar situation as the Vikings have 16 seniors out for their final year in the CNC. Next year, Northeast will move to the Three Rivers League.
“We’ve had better numbers in the weight room than last year and we’re expecting our numbers on the field to be up,” Hobbs said.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140. Follow Morning Sun sports at twitter.com/mssports
KSEK/ESPN 1340 CNC League coaches poll
1. Riverton (4) 67
1. St. Mary’s Colgan (4) 67
3. Galena 60
4. Girard 50
5. Frontenac 37
6. Baxter Springs 34
6. Southeast 34
8. Erie 29
9. Northeast 17
- First place votes in parenthesis
If ties ran abound in the Southeast Kansas League, it was a mirror-image when the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League coaches took the stage during the KSEK/1340 ESPN Preseason Coaches Luncheon Thursday at Watco in Pittsburg.
Just as in the SEK League, a pair of teams tied for sixth in the CNC poll — Baxter Springs and Southeast — and two teams tied for first in the league — Riverton and St. Mary’s-Colgan.
“I was a little surprised that we were picked that high,” said Panthers’ head coach Chuck Smith.
Colgan and the Rams came out with exactly the same number of total votes as well as first-place votes in the poll.
“To be picked where we’re at, I think, has a lot to do with what happened last year,” said Riverton head coach Cory White.
The Rams won the CNC League last year by way of their win over Colgan.
Galena was picked third in the poll followed by Girard and Frontenac to round out the top five.
“Last year, we took some lumps and played with some young kids,” said Frontenac head coach John Palumbo. “Hopefully, that will pay off this season.”
Baxter Springs and Southeast tied for sixth in the poll followed by Erie and Northeast.
“There’s really not a lot to talk about when you were 2-7 last year,” said Baxter Springs head football coach Brett Hartley.
Hartley will have the challenge of playing without any seniors this season.
However, second-year Erie head coach Don Barcus has just the opposite issue. The Red Devils will return 10 seniors for the 2009 season.
“We’re looking for better things and our success will come from our seniors,” Barcus said.
He said that the Red Devils are bigger in numbers as well as in size.
“We’re stronger in the weight room than we were last year,” Barcus said. “We’re just going to try to get after it.”
Northeast head coach Phil Hobbs also has a similar situation as the Vikings have 16 seniors out for their final year in the CNC. Next year, Northeast will move to the Three Rivers League.
“We’ve had better numbers in the weight room than last year and we’re expecting our numbers on the field to be up,” Hobbs said.
Matthew Clark can be reached at matthew.clark@morningsun.net or at 620-231-2600, Ext. 140. Follow Morning Sun sports at twitter.com/mssports
KSEK/ESPN 1340 CNC League coaches poll
1. Riverton (4) 67
1. St. Mary’s Colgan (4) 67
3. Galena 60
4. Girard 50
5. Frontenac 37
6. Baxter Springs 34
6. Southeast 34
8. Erie 29
9. Northeast 17
- First place votes in parenthesis
