eagles depart for spring fling

The Seymour Eagles left town without a sound Monday afternoon en route to a destination they’ve been working toward all season.

The 29-8 Eagles will play the Dyer County Choctaws Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Central Time) in the first round of the 2007 BlueCross Spring Fling at the Blackman Baseball Field.

The ’07 Eagles compiled the most wins in school history on their way to a co-regular season District 3-AA Championship, a runner-up finish in the District 3-AA Tournament, a Region 2-AA Championship, and a sectional championship.

The Eagles planned to stop at Cumberland College to practice Monday afternoon on the way to their hotel in Lavergne.

Should Seymour defeat Dyer County, the Eagles would then play the winner of the Goodpasture-Lexington game in the double elimination tourney.

Dyer County is 32-12-1 on the season, having gone on the road to defeat Sheffield in their sectional game, 15-0. Seymour’s Tuesday night, first round opponent was coming off a 9-0 loss to The University School of Jackson in the Region 7-AA Championship game.

The University School of Jackson Bruins (37-5) are considered the tournament’s hottest team, entering the first round riding a 14-game winning streak. USJ is in the same bracket as Seymour’s most heated district rival, Gibbs.

One of the clubs to beat USJ this year is Goodpasture (34-5), who happens to be in Seymour’s opening round bracket. Goodpasture plays Lexington (17-7) in the tourney’s first round on Tuesday.

The other two squads competing against the Eagles for the state title are Marshall County (28-12) and Marion County (31-14).

The Eagles last went to the state tournament in 2004. Seymour also made the final round of eight in 2003 and in 2001. Seymour finished in third place in the 2001 state tournament.

Seymour’s head coach, Scott Norman, says that he sees some similarities between the 2007 Eagles and the 2001 team.

“I’ve said all year that this team reminds me of the 2001 team,” Norman commented. “But this year’s team is as strong as any team I’ve taken (to the state tournament.)

Norman said that the Eagles just need to continue to play their game and not get too far away from what got them to the state tourney in the first place.

Seymour placed eight players on this year’s District 3-AA All District Team. Senior second baseman Chase Fellin, junior right fielder Drew Fox, senior first baseman/pitcher Cody Church, senior first baseman/pitcher Kyle Koeneman, senior third baseman Derek Sise, junior catcher Wes Walker, senior shortstop Riley Finch, and junior pitcher Matt Lynam were all named to the 2007 All-District Team.

Seymour High School also featured some track and field athletes who earned the chance to compete for a state championship this week in Murfreesboro, the official site of the 2007 BlueCross Spring Fling.

Keep up with Seymour’s Spring Fling results this week in baseball and track and field at www.seymourherald.com.