As we near districts, are there any programs that have underachieved at this point that were believed to contend for district/region/state title expectations?

It's really hard to to say and a little unfair before district tournaments are held.

For instance Ryle who I believe is having a down year can still win the district tourney so them getting to regional really wouldn't be an underachievement would it?

 

I'd have to wait until the district tourney games are played to judge that.

I'm not trying to be unfair. I will ask a mod to take this down then, sorry.

I'm not trying to be unfair. I will ask a mod to take this down then, sorry.

I think it is a great thread. Ryle is the first team that came to mind for me as things stand now. But, as we all know, advancing in districts is just a few key pitching match-ups away no matter what the regular season record indicates.

I'm not trying to be unfair. I will ask a mod to take this down then, sorry.

No, you don't have to take it down at all.

It's just me saying I can't list anyone myself until after the district tourney.

 

If we are simply talking about regular season underachievers I like Beech Bum would list Ryle, but as is their district, any one of the 4 teams in that district could go onto regionals. So even though Ryle had a so so season thus far I wouldn't write them off yet.

Records go out the window when the tourneys start. Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

Records go out the window when the tourneys start. Anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

 

very true, Owensboro comes to mind, lost in the finals a few years back & finished with a sub .500 record.

As we near districts, are there any programs that have underachieved at this point that were believed to contend for district/region/state title expectations?

 

At this point, I think there's no doubt Ryle has underachieved base on preseason expectations. I saw a NKY preseason coaches poll that had them at #3. For their last 10 games they are 2-8, which I believe is more losses than they had all of last year.

I truthfully don't think Ryle has underachieved. They had lost quite a few key players. The team that comes to mind for me that was also ranked high was NCC. Don't know if they lost the players Ryle lost.

I truthfully don't think Ryle has underachieved. They had lost quite a few key players. The team that comes to mind for me that was also ranked high was NCC. Don't know if they lost the players Ryle lost.

 

I'd say that Newcath lost about as much as anyone in the entire region from last year. Tough to replace 7-8 starters, including two of the best pitchers in the region.

Until any program including Ryle takes pitching as seriously as hitting they will always be a contender not a perennial power house. Even the last guy on the roster gets his swings in before every game. They may never see the dish but a team will have 1, 2, or 3 pitchers throw 120 pitches between them. A school the size of Ryle should have a gluttony of pitching and a specific rountine to develop it . Relying on summer ball teams to provide your staff or worse yet knothole, is an iffy proposition especially if you are limited on the the number of pitchers a given season.

Until any program including Ryle takes pitching as seriously as hitting they will always be a contender not a perennial power house. Even the last guy on the roster gets his swings in before every game. They may never see the dish but a team will have 1, 2, or 3 pitchers throw 120 pitches between them. A school the size of Ryle should have a gluttony of pitching and a specific rountine to develop it . Relying on summer ball teams to provide your staff or worse yet knothole, is an iffy proposition especially if you are limited on the the number of pitchers a given season.

Good subtle jab at knothole baseball, why don't they just tell all those sorry kids who play at that level to give it up, obviously if they don't play for an elite summer team that plays 60+ games, they should just quit.

I have coached both. Enjoyed winning championships in both travel and knothole. My son started in Knothole along with many other players who started or start on varsity rosters. My son was a ump for knothole while on a travel team. 18 plus players a team with each kid playing 3 innings a week for less than 20 games a season makes it tough for player development in knothole. A travel team can play 5 games a weekend in a tourney along with the weekly schedule. Playing elimination games Friday and Saturday definitely sharpens focus, no one wants to miss championship play.

I have coached both. Enjoyed winning championships in both travel and knothole. My son started in Knothole along with many other players who started or start on varsity rosters. My son was a ump for knothole while on a travel team. 18 plus players a team with each kid playing 3 innings a week for less than 20 games a season makes it tough for player development in knothole. A travel team can play 5 games a weekend in a tourney along with the weekly schedule. Playing elimination games Friday and Saturday definitely sharpens focus, no one wants to miss championship play.

Couldn't agree more. Shoot growing up, knothole was all we had and that is what I played but to think knothole can compare with travel select teams is just being silly. It's not the fault of knothole, it is simply how the league is designed.

 

When you only play a select number of games in knothole and everyone plays every game the competition is just not going to be at the level as other 16-17 and 18u travel teams. It is what it is, simple as that. It is how rec baseball has transformed over the years. It is never a knock at knothole at all. It is simply how the game has evolved over the past 10 years or so.

Until any program including Ryle takes pitching as seriously as hitting they will always be a contender not a perennial power house. Even the last guy on the roster gets his swings in before every game. They may never see the dish but a team will have 1, 2, or 3 pitchers throw 120 pitches between them. A school the size of Ryle should have a gluttony of pitching and a specific rountine to develop it . Relying on summer ball teams to provide your staff or worse yet knothole, is an iffy proposition especially if you are limited on the the number of pitchers a given season.

 

I guess you are saying, since you mentioned them several times, Ryle doesn't develop their pitchers or hasn't this year?