Congrats to Ludlow's Coach Kevin Gray for being voted and named NKBCA Div II Coach of the Year. A well deserved title. As a Ludlow parent I have to say what a difference Coach Gray and his entire coaching staff made in the baseball program. What an awesome season the Panthers had going from winning 5 games last year to winning 15 games this year. I also have to say not only did the staff do a great job coaching these boys this year but they became a close family. I can say I absolutely loved this baseball season and hope these coaches are here for a very long time!!!

Coach Gray is a fantastic coach and even better person. Saw him consoling and speaking to the Bellevue pitcher after the Conner game in the regional. Class act all the way!!!!!!

Well deserved..

Great Coach! I have a feeling he'll win this honor several times. He knows his stuff... Also has excellent assistant coaches and a solid core of young players to build with. Lyons and Durham will be seniors... But Slone and Eads have a couple more years to develop with him.

Kevin is extremely deserving of this honor and I'm really happy that he got it. He is a great baseball coach and an even better person. Congratulations!

No brainer...congratulations Kevin Gray! As Coach Gray says, "We work our butts off!" Indeed they did! Well deserved honor my friend!

Congrats to coach Gray! I didn't realize Ludlow played in division 2.

Kevin does a great job and demands the respect from his players and his administration!

Congrats to coach Gray! I didn't realize Ludlow played in division 2.

Kevin does a great job and demands the respect from his players and his administration!

 

That is a different division two. In the conference they play Div. III with Bellevue, Villa, Dayton, Heritage, Calvary and Silver Grove. Ludlow finished in 2nd in the conference behind Bellevue. That coaches association is the coaches award he won. I think they give one big school and one small school hence the Div. 1 and Div. 2. I am 100% correct on the conference explanation but not quite sure if I have the coaches association explanation correct.

That is a different division two. In the conference they play Div. III with Bellevue, Villa, Dayton, Heritage, Calvary and Silver Grove. Ludlow finished in 2nd in the conference behind Bellevue. That coaches association is the coaches award he won. I think they give one big school and one small school hence the Div. 1 and Div. 2. I am 100% correct on the conference explanation but not quite sure if I have the coaches association explanation correct.

 

You are correct.

this season. Coach Gray and his staff had a lot to do with this year's turnaround. Many Ludlow baseball parents stuck their necks out last year asking the school administration for changes to the baseball program. The boys had a team meeting sometime in late January and were told they did not have a coach, there was no off season work for most of this team. The new coaching staff did not start until February, they took a team with 5 wins the season before (and no off season work) to a 15-10 season (with some close 1 loss games to very good teams)---on top of all of that, he's a great guy! Again, a very well deserved honor!

The new coaching staff did not start until February, they took a team with 5 wins the season before (and no off season work) to a 15-10 season (with some close 1 loss games to very good teams)---on top of all of that, he's a great guy! Again, a very well deserved honor!

Games off the top of my head...

They beat Lloyd once, but easily could have one the second (and more important) seeding game... They had Bellevue beat, Lead Dixie 1-0 going into the 7th inning, had a late inning lead on Scott, gave a seeding game away late to St Henry...

So, very easily with one play or call or ball bouncing their way... Ludlow could have been, and probably should have been 20-5 on the year.

I expect the returning players will know what it takes to win those kind of games as they move forward. I know Coach Gray will get more out of them next season.

Congratulations Kev. :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Also Ludlow's Geoffrey Thornsburg and Tyler Lyons were voted as All Stars in the NKBCA Div II. Geoffrey as an outfielder and Tyler as a catcher.

Why are those of us who know Kevin not the least bit surprised?

 

We all said before the first pitch was thrown that there would be an awakening in Ludlow with Kevin in charge. If the players bought in they would be successful. They obviously bought in, and this was the result.

 

Congrats to Kevin, his staff, and the Panthers!!!

Congrats to Coach Gray, great job.