The 19th Hole

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Wanted to take a moment and wish all of our listeners a Happy Holiday season. 2011 Has been a banner year here at KGYM with the addition of a new local sports show as well as the debut of our FM translator 106.3 FM in Iowa City. 2012 will be even better with more exciting news and events around the corner.

I also want to tell everyone that my New Year's resolution is to become better at keeping up with my blog and the Gym Class twitter account. Thanks for being patient with me, I'm from a different generation and still becoming one with the new technology of the world.

Also remember, Spring Training is only eight weeks away! And golf is not too far in the future after that!

Hit 'em straight,
Scott

Coaches also get into the act. Some head coaches and many assistants draw up their projections, all trying to stay a step ahead in determining which team they may face Oct. 26 when the 4A playoffs get underway.

Is it a perfect science?

Of course not.

Everyone has a method they use to try and come up with the correct scenarios. In my case, I project each team's record at the end of the season and then calculate their points and seed the teams in order from 1 through 16.

I have the favorites winning each remaining game in the regular season, but upsets do occur that cause seedings to be reworked.

There are more "tossup" games this year in the eastern half of the state coming down the stretch than we have had in many years. Despite that, I have calculated the 4A points for the teams in the eastern half of the state and come up with the following first round playoff matchups:

SCENARIO 1: If Iowa City High beats Linn-Mar:

#1 Cedar Falls (9-0) vs. #16 Clinton (3-6)

#8 Davenport Assumption (7-2) vs. #9 Xavier (5-4)

#4 Bettendorf (8-1) vs. #13 Muscatine (5-4)

#5 North Scott (8-1) vs. #12 CR Washington (5-4)

#2 Iowa City High (8-1) vs. #15 Davenport Central (4-5)

#7 Pleasant Valley (7-2) vs. #10 Kennedy (5-4)

#3 Linn-Mar (8-1) vs. #14 Waterloo East (5-4)

#6 Iowa City West (7-2) vs. #11 Dubuque Wahlert (5-4)

SCENARIO 2: If Linn-Mar beats Iowa City High

#1 Linn-Mar vs. #16 Clinton

#8 Davenport Assumption vs. #9 Xavier

#4 North Scott vs. #13 Muscatine

#5 Iowa City High vs. #12 CR Washington

#2 Cedar Falls vs. #15 Davenport Central

#7 Pleasant Valley vs. #10 Kennedy

#3 Bettendorf vs. #14 Waterloo East

#6 Iowa City West vs. 11 Dubuque Wahlert

IN CLASS 3A DISTRICT 5, Marion's task to make the playoffs is pretty simple - they must win out. That will be a tough task. The Indians (2-3, 4-3) play at Union (3-2, 5-2) this Friday followed by a home finale with district leader Maquoketa (5-0, 6-1). Anything short of two wins and it appears Marion will be out of the postseason.

Hit 'em straight!
Scott

(This article also appears at the Metrosportsreport.com website)