TAB24

Nice game today between KY Colonels vs Bluegrass Buzz. Buzz jumped out to early 3-0 lead but Colonels came back to win 8-4. Couple of errors by Buzz opened the door and big 3 run HR by E.J. Murray helped to get Colonels going. There were also 4 great defensive plays in this game (2 each by the same player from the Colonels and Buzz). Murray made 2 great diving catches at 3rd base for Colonels and 2 great catches by Buzz CF Dustin Barker. Barker dove in the LCF Gap to rob David Etscheid of a game lead-off hit and made another great over the shoulder catch in RCF by the 390 Ft Sign to rob the Colonels RF of a triple. The kid plays a great CF. Congrats to Colonels on a nice win. I know they've struggled some here in the beginning of the summer season but have a very strong team an will do very well. Buzz are going to surprise some teams (good mixture of 17 & 18 year olds).

You obviously did not read my comments very closely. I did not say or imply that the ump accounted for all of the runs or anything close to that. In fact, I stated quite plainly that the better team won and would have won no matter who umped. Were you even at this game? If you were, then you would know what I'm talking about. There is a large number of people that were there that will agree with my comments. However, the better team won regardless.

First, let me say congrats to Lexington Christian as they are a very good team and really swing the bats aggressively. Second, in my all years of watching baseball, the home plate umpire was absolutely the most one -sided umpire I have ever seen; especially, in such a big game. You can ask any Holy Cross fan that was there and they will agree. The ump was calling strikes anywhere from the bottom of the knees all the way up to the shoulders against Holy Cross and our pitchers would have to put it on a tee on every Lexington Christian batter ( and I mean every batter). I know that sounds like sour grapes but it was absolutely true and you know it if you were there. However, let me qualify by saying that the better team won and would have won anyway - no matter who had umped. Just wished it would have been called a little more fairly. It didn't help either that our starting pitcher (Ryan Stewart) got hit on the pitching elbow in the top of the 2nd inning while at bat (score was 3-1 at the time) and could not continue pitching. However, Lexington Christian is such an aggrressive hitting team and I think they would have hit anyone we threw at them anyway. Score probably wouldn't have been as high though. Anyway, congrats again to Lexington Christian as they deserved to be state champs.

Great comeback win by HC. Down 5-1 in the bottom of the 6th and Somerset's pitcher was mowing down HC (wasn't looking good). HC CF Dustin Barker led off the bottom of the 6th with a single to CF and then HC proceeded to get several hits in a row and got on a roll. Big hit by Keith Egan to tie it. HC held Somerset scoreless in the top of the 7th. In the bottom of the 7th, Mike Sullivan hit a hard drive into CF but the wind knocked it down and CF caught it. Dustin Barker then came up big again with a single to RF. He had 2nd base stolen on a hit & run with Brad Cooper at the plate but Coop hit a hard line drive single to LF and Barker had to stop at 2nd base. Tyler Kincaid then hit a single to LF and Barker scored the winning run to end the game. He almost got crushed at home plate as every HC player piled on top of him. Another great comeback win for the tribe. Not the best team in the region but they really show a lot of heart and never quit. Couldn't happen to a better group of kids.

This was a great game to watch. It had everything in a game you'd want to see. Holy Cross was down by 1 run in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs, nobody on and Dustin Barker at the plate with an 0-2 count. He then jacked a double over the LF's head. Next batter walked & Tyler Kincaid hit a line drive down the LF line to score Barker & tie the game. Holy Cross held Beechwood in the top of the 8th and then Andy Roenker led off the bottom of the 8th with a single to RF. Paul Ritter (pitched a very nice game as well) then blasted a walk-off shot off the CF Fence to win it (he really cranked it - looked like it was going out). Great comeback win for these kids over a very good Beechwood program. It was the most emotion I've ever seen out of the Holy Cross players. Just a great H.S. game to watch.