I agree to a large extent that Robert Smith is one of the best players too and I think he will prove himself to people as the season goes by. I think most people are waiting to see if he can make a come back. If they had a chance to see him practice they would see that his attitude is better than it has ever been. He is really getting into the game.

Robert will prove his self very well this season! He hasn't lost a thang!!!

Muncie from Powell is exceptional and has been for awile. He was overlooked last year on a Powell team with alot of senior talent.

I can tell you this, if you all know of any College coaches looking for a catcher with an absolute "cannon", they need to come and watch Jason Bowling. I have timed him on several throws to second, and he is consistantly at 1.9 to 2.0's. That my friends is quick! :flame:

Oh, did I forget to mention the fact that he absolutely "kills" the ball too. I would have loved to have had him to throw to years ago.

Those are good pop times.

 

I'd like to rephrase an ealier statement about pitchers and speeds of 80+. There may be a couple or more pitchers in the 14th that can throw in the 80's, low 80's. I haven't seen any throw in the high 80's. Will there be this season? Time will tell.

Those are good pop times.

 

I'd like to rephrase an earlier statement about pitchers and speeds of 80+. There may be a couple or more pitchers in the 14th that can throw in the 80's, low 80's. I haven't seen any throw in the high 80's. Will there be this season? Time will tell.

I gunned Quentin Morgan in March last year at 86 in his first inning of work but his velocity did dramatically fall off after the first inning. It was Leslies first game of the season on a cold night so I would assume that on a warm day later in the spring that he would have been very capable of hitting the upper 80's on occasion.

I gunned Quentin Morgan in March last year at 86 in his first inning of work but his velocity did dramatically fall off after the first inning. It was Leslies first game of the season on a cold night so I would assume that on a warm day later in the spring that he would have been very capable of hitting the upper 80's on occasion.

right...i definitely agree with you on that...i have seen morgan throw and he does throw well into the 80's...but i also agree with patdad that with the exception of morgan and maybe bowling that I HAVE SAW WITH MY OWN EYES (sorry robert smith supporters..just havent saw it yet) nobody else in the 14th has that kind of velocity..if they do break 80 its like 80 or 81 maybe 82. and those are people like muncie thomas osborne

I gunned Quentin Morgan in March last year at 86 in his first inning of work but his velocity did dramatically fall off after the first inning. It was Leslies first game of the season on a cold night so I would assume that on a warm day later in the spring that he would have been very capable of hitting the upper 80's on occasion.

 

Guys, you really need to quit fooling yourselfs. I'm not doubting Morgan at all, he's a great player. But, throwing 86 in the first inning, on a cold night, during the first game of the season?

86 isnt that outlandish..he throws hard..hardest ive seen in the 14th and almost all the teams powell played last year

A pitcher needs more than one pitch to be great. Can't always rely on blowing it by the batter, eventually a team will time you. But I did enjoy watching Morgan last year.

Guys, you really need to quit fooling yourselfs. I'm not doubting Morgan at all, he's a great player. But, throwing 86 in the first inning, on a cold night, during the first game of the season?

Pat Dad , I assure you that those numbers that I quoted are correct. Leslie was playing Johnson Central in their first game of the season last year and it was a game that featured Adam Blanton against Quentin Morgan. Both were throwing 86 in the first inning with Blanton hitting 87. I gun everybody that throws a ball that either plays at Johnson Central or pitches against Johnson Central on the road. Come to a JC game and sit with me at a game if you think I made that up. I was not all that impressed with Morgan as a pitcher that particular night because he did not pitch all that well, but like I said it was cold and he had just gotten out of basketball, but he was throwing hard for the most part. You could tell that as the season would go on , he would be very capable of hitting those numbers consistantly. I would have thought that you of all people would have taken what I post as being accurate. I think if you verify with STRIKE3 or Buck Master you will find out that I dont make this stuff up. I GUN EVERYBODY and if I post it you can guarantee that it is correct.

 

And a message to sixty feet six, while it is not uncommon to find a pitcher that throws 80, it is uncommon to find one that throws 85. There is just not that many around. Take it from someone who has a son that was recruited by D1 schools( many thanks to STRIKE3 and Buck Master) and is now pitching college ball, and who has a second son that is also being recruited, I know all about how hard it is for a kid in the mountains to be seen and exposed. Dont think for a moment that they all flock to eastern Kentucky to find that needle in a haystack. If word gets out that you throw 90 , yeah'll they will come( because those kids just aren't out there), but for that mid 80's pitcher that comes from the mountains, you better get your kid on some sort of a travel team or get them to a bunch of showcases, because during the regular high school season, they aint a comin to eastern KY on a regular basis. Even at the tradition rich eastern Kentucky high school programs of Pikeville, Paintsville, and Johnson Central you just about have to beg them to come. The summer team that both of my sons have played on specialize in getting kids exposed and into colleges and travel all up and down the eastern seaboard and the southeastern United States trying to spotlight them. It's the thing that they take the most pride in. 3 years ago this team was the national NABF runner up and just about every kid on that team is now playing on a D1 school or was recruited by D1 schools, ie. Steve Blevins, Michael Hill, Alex Wilson,Adam Blanton,Justin Moore,Tyler Gatrell, Ryan Keaton.

 

They have both also played on a team that Buck Master has done a great job with in getting eastern Kentucky kids exposed. There is nobody in eastern Kentucky that has done more for our own local kids than Buck Master. So you better do the leg work yourself, dont wait on them to come to you. I know from first hand experience what it takes.

Firebird, didn't mean anything by it. I do trust your word on things like this. I was just tired of hearing about all these guys stating these pitchers are throwing in the upper 80's and nothing to back it up with. You say you gunned Morgan at 86, I believe you. It's just these others that get on here and make statements and I feel it hurts these kids. If I'm a scout and I read what someone is saying and then I happen to visit a game while one of these kids are pitching, and he doesn't get it above 75, then I'm not coming back. And while it may be true that there probably aren't any scouts busting down a door to read about prospects here, you never know. I guess that I should take it with a grain of salt and go on.

 

I've watched Adam play and he is an athlete. If I so happen to be at JC this season, I'll look you up. :thumb:

Firebird, didn't mean anything by it. I do trust your word on things like this. I was just tired of hearing about all these guys stating these pitchers are throwing in the upper 80's and nothing to back it up with. You say you gunned Morgan at 86, I believe you. It's just these others that get on here and make statements and I feel it hurts these kids. If I'm a scout and I read what someone is saying and then I happen to visit a game while one of these kids are pitching, and he doesn't get it above 75, then I'm not coming back. And while it may be true that there probably aren't any scouts busting down a door to read about prospects here, you never know. I guess that I should take it with a grain of salt and go on.

 

I've watched Adam play and he is an athlete. If I so happen to be at JC this season, I'll look you up. :thumb:

No problem Pat Dad.

 

I know where your coming from. 90 MPH pitchers are all over the place if you read a lot of posts, but I know that you as well as I know that is not the case, but in the case of Morgan those numbers were legit.

 

I dont now if we play KCC this year or not but if we do I really look forward to meeting you. I know you love the game as much as I do. Best of luck to you guys this year!!

Getting kids exposed is exactly what you said Firebird. They have to play outside the mountains to get the exposure that is required to catch the attention of collegiate coaches anywhere. Coach A can spend 2 days in Louisville,Knoxville or Columbus and scout more talent than he can most likely find in 2 weeks in the mountains. Not a slap to the mountains because I am there, it is just a fact. Getting recruited starts by first wanting to get recruited ie, ACT scores in line,Player questionaires till your blue in the face,give up summers for travel time and play where you can be seen. As far as 85 mph in the mountains, I would probably bet there are not more than 10 in the 13th,14th, 15th, and 16th, combined that pitch at that speed. Not throw occassionally but pitch at that speed.

Getting kids exposed is exactly what you said Firebird. They have to play outside the mountains to get the exposure that is required to catch the attention of collegiate coaches anywhere. Coach A can spend 2 days in Louisville,Knoxville or Columbus and scout more talent than he can most likely find in 2 weeks in the mountains. Not a slap to the mountains because I am there, it is just a fact. Getting recruited starts by first wanting to get recruited ie, ACT scores in line,Player questionaires till your blue in the face,give up summers for travel time and play where you can be seen. As far as 85 mph in the mountains, I would probably bet there are not more than 10 in the 13th,14th, 15th, and 16th, combined that pitch at that speed. Not throw occassionally but pitch at that speed.

i definitely agree with you kids fan...theres not many guys working from 85 especially in the 14th and like weve all said morgan i believe is the only one. as far as getting scouted goes yes you can get looked at in the mountains but playing outside of the hills doesnt hurt you at all.

I agree with you firebird, and if you read all of my posts you will see that. I just hope that these kids don't just lay back and think that they will be seen by College teams. They won't unless you contact them and do some leg work on your own. I agree if you throw 90 plus, they will find out, and then they will come. But, if you are (RHP)throwing 85 to 86..they may not come, unless you can also play another position. It is different for a LHP, 85 to 86 is pretty good, especially if you are left handed!