The next really good coach in the 14th will Be Varney at Powell. Very studious and has been a key member of the Hazard coaching staff.

Could be. Not been hearing a lot of great things from Powell County thus far. However, I don't guess you can say that till practice officially begins.

The next really good coach in the 14th will Be Varney at Powell. Very studious and has been a key member of the Hazard coaching staff.[/QUOT

I agree. He is a hard worker and as long as he doesn't let previous ghosts that have held the same job influence him I believe he will prosper and be one of the long term coaches in the mountains. Has great ideas, work ethic and I have found that the kids like him. Done an excellent job assisting at Hazard and I think Powell is glad to have him.

I will have to agree with Master D. Burch at Owsley will have a dangerous squad that will compete with anyone! I really think that in the communities where there is a strong little league system, you will always have a better High School Team. The High School coaches can then concentrate on fine tuning skills rather than coaching the players from "scratch"

I can't see how it can be anyone but Coach Gene Combs. To win 2 reigonal titles in the last 5 years and to have the size of student body that he has to work with its amazing.

I played for coach Combs and he definately knows baseball. If you even stand around him for any length of time, you will learn something about baseball.

Russell Melton gets my vote. He is a class act.

GARY HAMMONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The BEST coach in the region? If you have to single one out it would have to be Gene Combs. For 10 years now they have been great competition in the 14th region. Two regional titles and not to mention he has scared the eventual regional winner in just about every regional tourney he has played in with a student body that is smaller than the schools he has been schooling. Styles can be debated but results are the finished product. He does more with less than anybody in the mountains. He creates players and then doesn't beat them himself.

The BEST coach in the region? If you have to single one out it would have to be Gene Combs. For 10 years now they have been great competition in the 14th region. Two regional titles and not to mention he has scared the eventual regional winner in just about every regional tourney he has played in with a student body that is smaller than the schools he has been schooling. Styles can be debated but results are the finished product. He does more with less than anybody in the mountains. He creates players and then doesn't beat them himself.

You are absolutely right! I was there with Gene when he started in 95. He didn't have a lot to work with, but look what time and effort can do. He definately does more with less than anyone. I only hope to be as good of a coach as Gene has been over the years.

The BEST coach in the region? If you have to single one out it would have to be Gene Combs. For 10 years now they have been great competition in the 14th region. Two regional titles and not to mention he has scared the eventual regional winner in just about every regional tourney he has played in with a student body that is smaller than the schools he has been schooling. Styles can be debated but results are the finished product. He does more with less than anybody in the mountains. He creates players and then doesn't beat them himself.

How has he done the last 2-3 years? He is a great coach, but I am wondering if he had a run of good luck with the regional titles. Because his teams for the past 3 years aren't sticking out to me. Correct me if I am wrong....but I don't think he has even won the district the past 3, falling to Powell. :confused:

How has he done the last 2-3 years? He is a great coach, but I am wondering if he had a run of good luck with the regional titles. Because his teams for the past 3 years aren't sticking out to me. Correct me if I am wrong....but I don't think he has even won the district the past 3, falling to Powell. :confused:

 

I'm going to have to say that luck had nothing to do with Gene's regional titles. If Gene was given time to get his program started at any school..he would and could win anywhere. He knows the game of baseball and can get the most out of any kid he coaches. You can get kids to do drill after drill and they may not know why they are doing it, but it will help them. Gene's kids will hit, and I know they will because I'm sure they take upto 100 cuts per practice. They will also be sound fundamentally. I sure wish Gene was coaching with me, instead of against me. :lol:

Russell Melton gets my vote. He is a class act.

I agree.... But Combs is a close second.

He has started eighth graders and freshman the past 3 years. Watch his culmination of seniors display there talents this year. Even going to regional tourneys as a runnerup, Lee has nearly played spoiler to the eventual regional winner Hazard both years and not to mention Powell has had back to back runner ups in the region. Still the best coach in the 14th but he is among some other fine coaches ( Melton,Hammonds,Meehan, Dixon and Wood).

How has he done the last 2-3 years? He is a great coach, but I am wondering if he had a run of good luck with the regional titles. Because his teams for the past 3 years aren't sticking out to me. Correct me if I am wrong....but I don't think he has even won the district the past 3, falling to Powell. :confused:

 

Nothing to do with luck. Hammonds, Todd, and JK Smith could flat out play. Regional champs in 2000, 2002, runner-up in 2001. They played Hazard great games in '03 and '04 in the opening game of the tournament, and all three of the district championship games from 2003-2005 could have gone either way. KCC beat them 4-3 in the regional last year, but if they played 10 times, Lee County would beat them 9. That's just baseball. KCC played a great game, and got a great pitching performance.

I don't think you can vote Combs the best because of what happened last year. DIdn't he pitch his #4 pitcher against KCC. The players pick up on when a coach overlooks someone and that is what happened. They thought they could easily beat KCC and they got suprised. The best coaches would have more respet for an opponent than that.