Ryle was mentioned as under achieving. I used them as an example, it could be any school. CovCath, Boone, and Dixie start their pitchers in the fall with the new rule change. I may be wrong but I believe Ryle and Cooper start before season tryouts. It only goes to reason bigger schools should have a bigger talent pool. My understanding CovCath has the most extensive off season training program for pitchers. The less runs you give up the less you have to score, pitching should be a major focus of any school.

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.

 

 

All about winning then I suppose from your comments not about developing. I call a foot fault, or something like that. Which is it Dingerbird? I too tire of the bashing of knothole. I could bash Kentucky baseball in general, but it is silly really.

All about winning then I suppose from your comments not about developing. I call a foot fault, or something like that. Which is it Dingerbird? I too tire of the bashing of knothole. I could bash Kentucky baseball in general, but it is silly really.

People may look at it as bashing knothole, but the reality is, it is what it is. Knothole is inferior to the travel select teams plain and simple. doesn't mean it's a bad league at all. Kids are at all different levels and some are simply better than others. Those players that may be among the best will more times than not go on to play on select travel teams while others who may not be at the same level but still love the game itself and love playing it can get that fulfillment at the knothole level.

 

It may come across as harsh but it really isn't. Both leagues serve a purpose and I support knothole 110%. It is a great league and I've coached in that league as well as select travel league. Both are great for the kids. If I had a boy who may not be at the skill level of some of the select travel teams then why would I want him playing there when he would sit the majority of the time when I could have him play on another team where he is closer to the skill level of the players on the team and will get to play more and play the game he enjoys? Nothing wrong with that at all.

It is not a knock on knothole at all, they both serve their purpose and it is what it is. You may think it's a knock on knothole but it is fact and nothing wrong with realizing the differences at all.

Campbell County after winning District last year and being regional runner up. Two top returning hitters never produced. One dad told me one kid hurt his wrist in the first game and missed several games and struggled after. They lost a lot of pitching from last year for sure. No one really stepped up and took the place of Walsh or Franzen. (Two tough guys to replace.) To the point that pitching needs to be developed to be a powerhouse program or you can hope that a couple good guys fall into your program and you can ride them for a year or two.

People may look at it as bashing knothole, but the reality is, it is what it is. Knothole is inferior to the travel select teams plain and simple. doesn't mean it's a bad league at all. Kids are at all different levels and some are simply better than others. Those players that may be among the best will more times than not go on to play on select travel teams while others who may not be at the same level but still love the game itself and love playing it can get that fulfillment at the knothole level.

 

It may come across as harsh but it really isn't. Both leagues serve a purpose and I support knothole 110%. It is a great league and I've coached in that league as well as select travel league. Both are great for the kids. If I had a boy who may not be at the skill level of some of the select travel teams then why would I want him playing there when he would sit the majority of the time when I could have him play on another team where he is closer to the skill level of the players on the team and will get to play more and play the game he enjoys? Nothing wrong with that at all.

It is not a knock on knothole at all, they both serve their purpose and it is what it is. You may think it's a knock on knothole but it is fact and nothing wrong with realizing the differences at all.

 

 

I get your point Hellbird, and don't disagree, and for similar reasons, including weather, maintain that Kentucky is a poor state in baseball versus many parts of the country.

I guess it's safe to say the answer to this topic would be Beechwood.

I guess it's safe to say the answer to this topic would be Beechwood.

Yep. After what I witnessed yesterday my answer is now Beechwood.

Yep. After what I witnessed yesterday my answer is now Beechwood.

Not sure how it's all gonna end up... But honestly, not having Combs for hitting and pitching hurt BW badly. That being said, even with him, I don't think most people should have expected them to make it out of the region this year... Dixie, HHS, Conner are all upper classmen heavy squads... And CCH is a tough team too... I honestly expected Bellevue and St Henry would get knocked out early and next on the list was prob BW... Only because they are an overall young team. So, I don't think they underachieved at all. Good season for a lot of the small schools in the area... BW, Bellevue and even Ludlow (with a first year coach and a very young core of players).

Not sure how it's all gonna end up... But honestly, not having Combs for hitting and pitching hurt BW badly. That being said, even with him, I don't think most people should have expected them to make it out of the region this year... Dixie, HHS, Conner are all upper classmen heavy squads... And CCH is a tough team too... I honestly expected Bellevue and St Henry would get knocked out early and next on the list was prob BW... Only because they are an overall young team. So, I don't think they underachieved at all. Good season for a lot of the small schools in the area... BW, Bellevue and even Ludlow (with a first year coach and a very young core of players).

My expectation of BW was that they would not bow out the way they did. Last year they were even younger and still went a round further in the regional....and almost won that game. They did not even whimper yesterday. My pre-season expectation is that they would battle to the end and that was not even close to happening.