DevilMayCare

Notes • The week's biggest mover was Saint Xavier (🐯), who continues to yo-yo up and down the Top 25. The Tigers check in at #15, up eight spots following an impressive run of consecutive wins over #3 McCracken County, #5 Ballard, and #7 Apollo last week. That's about as good a run as we've seen from anyone this season and demonstrates just how good the X-Men can be. They allowed just two runs during that stretch against top competition. • Covington Catholic (🇲🇶) reaches a season high #10 on the heels of a nine game win streak that includes a nine run shellacking of #21 Pikeville at Boyd County's Derby Classic last Friday. Jackson Reardon went yard as part of a 4 for 5 day at the plate. • One of the week's marquee games featured West Jessamine (🐎) hosting Frederick Douglass (🇮🇪) in a match-up of top ten teams. The rankings suggested a game that never materialized, as the Broncos ran away with a five inning mercy rule victory. Forde Cruse no-hit the Colts, while Jaylen Edmonds drove in four to power Douglass in a dominating effort. • Bowling Green (🟪🟨) outdueled visiting Taylor County in another contest between ranked teams. The Purples eked out a 5-4 win with Jackson Idlett providing two perfect, efficient innings in relief to close the show. The loss didn't ding the Cardinals at all, as they hold steady at #6 this week, but it did boost BG five spots to #12. • If you're in the Louisville area this evening and jonesing for aluminum pings and popping leather, St. Matthews should be your destination. The top ranked Shamrocks (☘️) host #5 Ballard (🐻) this evening at 5pm. Both teams are deep with quality arms, so runs may be at a premium.

I hope this schedule holds together for them. Pikeville hasn't played ten regular season games since 2016. Dohn Community forfeited last year, so that's the one to keep an eye on. Corbin and Ironton are great additions. The Panthers aren't resting on the laurels. This is how you stay on top.

Notes • Trinity, Boyd County, and McCracken County have taken up residence in slots 1-3. They've occupied the top three in every poll this season. • The Shamrocks (☘️) have lived up to their #1 billing, running off twelve straight wins, including a shutout victory over #10 Manual today. • Boyd County (🦁) is doing its best to keep pace with T, winning 13 of its last 14. The Lions topped reigning R16 champion Raceland earlier this week in a matchup of EKY powers. • PRP (🐾) took another step forward in the rankings, climbing four more spots to #4. The Panthers have won ten straight, outscoring the opposition 113-11. They rank #2 in the state for team batting average (.378) and runs per game (10.1) • Apollo (🦅) has claimed victories over #2 McCracken County, #9 Frederick Douglass, and #18 Owensboro Catholic in the month of April. Noah Cook and Carter Kimmel have combined to allow 4 earned runs in 75 ⅔ innings of work. • Speaking of O-Cath (♠️), they make their Top 25 debut on the strength of winning the All "A" championship. The Aces live up to their nickname, with four pitchers sporting sub 2.00 ERAs with 20+ innings pitched each. • Continuing the theme of dominance from the mound, Muhlenberg County (🐎) pitchers haven't allowed an earned run in four games. The Mustangs own a staff ERA of 1.38 for the season. • The week's biggest mover is heading in the wrong direction. Saint Xavier (🐯) plummeted thirteen spots to #23 after losing four straight to, admittedly, very strong competition. • After a rugged schedule left them below .500 and unranked three weeks ago, Ryle (🏴‍☠️) has re-emerged after winning 12 of 13. AJ Curry is raking at a state leading clip of .671 for the Raiders.

That was a great class. Mayer and now Corley in the League, Reese Smith is an all-timer at Boyle County, and Walker Parks is a three year starter (probable fourth to come this year) at Clemson.

Corley is an in-state product that played his high school ball at Campbellsville before becoming a Hilltopper. I tracked his senior season in 2019 for the Mr. Football Watchlist. I had a feeling he would be a very good college player, but it's hard to project a 17 year old for the NFL. Congrats to Malachi! Go make your mark. I now have a reason to follow the Jets, who took him in the 3rd Round with the 65th overall pick.

🦁 (21-3, PBR #2) vs. 🐏 (21-4) Boyd County plates three in the B6 to break a 2-2 tie. Raceland was held to a season low in runs by a Lions staff that's allowed a paltry eight earned over the last thirteen games coming in. These two will have much to say about how the 16th Region plays out in a few weeks.

☘ (22-4, PBR #1) vs. 🐯 (12-11, PBR #10) The Shamrocks get a sac fly from Evan Boeckmann in the T7 to complete the comeback win over the archrival Tigers. X led 4-1 through three innings on a 3 RBI knock from Conner Johnson.

2024 Schedule Aug 24 at Fairdale Aug 30 vs. Meade County Sep 6 vs. Taylor County Sep 13 at Hart County Sep 20 at Bardstown Sep 28 at Shelby County Oct 4 at Central* Oct 11 - BYE Oct 18 at LaRue County* Oct 25 vs. Christian Academy of Louisville* Nov 1 at Seneca *District

OBSERVATIONS • Trinity (☘) tightened its grip on #1 with a 5-0 week that saw the Rocks bat nearly .400 and pitch three shutouts. • After I touted their mastery from the mound last week, Taylor County (🇾🇪) got roughed up for a season worst nine runs in a loss to Powell County in the 2A Championship Tournament. The Cardinals subsequently fall a couple of spots to #6. • PRP (🐾) moves from #8 to #4 after a 4-0 week that was capped off with a mercy rule beatdown of previous #4 Lexington Catholic. The Panthers held the Knights to two base hits. • West Jessamine (🐎) continues its ascent up the rankings with another leap this week after moving five spots last week. The Colts one upped themselves by sliding up six positions to #9. • Frederick Douglass (🇨🇮) got 4 RBIs from Jeremiah Lowe to run rule previously ranked Sayre. The win concluded a 3-0 week for the Broncos, who move up four places to #13. Douglass also rocked #14 Madison Central earlier in the week. • The week's biggest mover was Woodford County (🐝), who shot eight spots to #17 after a pair of high quality wins on Saturday over #10 St. Xavier and Central Hardin.

OBSERVATIONS • The Top 6 holds firm from a week ago. In fact, this has been the order at the top for three weeks running: 1. ☘️ | 2. 🦁 | 3. 🐴 | 4. 🇾🇪 | 5. 🛡 | 6. 🐻 • Taylor County (#4) is 6-0 in one run games this season. The Cardinals have balance throughout the line-up and a pitching rotation sporting a 1.35 ERA. • Perennial power PRP (🐾) sits at #8 with a line-up raking at a clip of .380 and a staff ERA of 2.11. • St. Xavier (🐯) climbs back into the Top 10 after enduring a challenging slate of games last week, including quality wins over #12 Eastern, DeSales, and St. Ignatius (OH), plus a pair of losses to top ranked Trinity and St. Edward's (OH). • Bowling Green (🟪🟨) is off to its best start since the 2012 team ran off 18 straight wins to open their season. Drew Isenberg's 0.49 ERA leads a deep rotation of arms for the Purples. • West Jessamine (🐎) is up five spots to #15 after outscoring its last five opponents 51-6, including wins over #16 Corbin and #21 Sayre.

Kristy Orem is stepping down from her positions as girl's basketball coach and director of athletics at Pikeville Independent Schools. Under her guidance, the Lady Panthers won five of the last six 15th Region championships.

Football obviously takes a back seat in the Ashland community right now, but this is also a blow to the Tomcats on the field. Thomas wasn't just a name on the roster, he's a player of great consequence for them. He's fast, a beast in the weight room, and a productive two-way starter. An integral part of what I anticipate will be a strong Ashland team this year. This is tragic on so many fronts, football is just part of it. From what I've read, he's displaying a great attitude and outlook about his situation and recovery. He sounds like a remarkable young man.

With history like this, it's easy to fall in love with the rearview mirror, but this year's Rebels shouldn't have trouble keeping their fans focused, instead, on the horizon. Theres too much to look forward to.

One of the state's truly elite all-around football players is closing in on a college destination.