Let's get some discussion going. Baseball is right around the corner. What do folks think about HHS in 2015?

 

* Experienced group. By my count, they return at least 15 players with varsity experience.

 

* IMO, the deepest pitching staff in the region. They have hard throwers, righties, lefties, even a knuckleballer. Jones (SR), Martin (SR), Raisor (JR), Bunning (SR), Noe (SR), Ball (SR), Heck (SR), Kreeger (JR) all saw varsity action last year. Look for Doty (SOPH) to challenge for a spot in the rotation.

 

* HHS has another unique aspect with their rotation. Virtually, all of them are PO's for the most part. Not always a common thing with high school teams. As a result, they don't have to move position players each game on defense depending on who is pitching.

 

* Returning starters as position players: Hennigan (Catcher - SR - 5th year as varsity starter), Whitford (SS - SR - 4th year); Ramey (3B - SR - 3rd year); Martin (P/1B - SR - 2nd year); Mills (1B/DH - SR - 2nd year); Ball (1B/DH - SR - 2nd year); Murray (LF - SR - 2nd year); Venneman (CF - SR - 2nd year).

 

* 2B and RF seem to be wide open in terms of playing time. Will be interesting to see who steps up and takes those spots. Look for many of the juniors to have a say about those positions. They won the Freshmen Regional in 2013 and the JV championship last year. Look for them to challenge at other spots as well.

 

* As usual the schedule is loaded. They start with Beechwood right off the bat. The schedule as of today (does not include Myrtle Beach games).

 

DATE

OPPONENT

SITE

SCORE

Mar 23, 15 Beechwood away 5:00 PM

Mar 25, 15 Ryle home 5:00 PM

Mar 26, 15 Conner away 5:00 PM

Mar 28, 15 Lloyd Memorial 9:00 AM

Apr 6, 15 Newport away 5:00 PM

Apr 7, 15 Elder (Cincinnati), OH away 5:00 PM

Apr 8, 15 Holy Cross (Covington) home 5:00 PM

Apr 10, 15 Dayton home 5:00 PM

Apr 11, 15 Henry Clay 1:00 PM

Apr 11, 15 Campbell County away 3:00 PM

Apr 15, 15 Bellevue away 5:00 PM

Apr 16, 15 Scott away 6:00 PM

Apr 17, 15 Lexington Catholic 6:00 PM

Apr 18, 15 Boyle County 11:00 AM

Apr 20, 15 St. Henry away 7:00 PM

Apr 22, 15 Newport Central Catholic home 5:00 PM

Apr 23, 15 Campbell County home 5:00 PM

Apr 25, 15 La Salle (Cincinnati), OH away 12:00 PM

Apr 27, 15 Bishop Brossart away 5:00 PM

Apr 28, 15 Simon Kenton home 5:30 PM

Apr 30, 15 Walton-Verona home 5:30 PM

May 1, 15 St. Xavier (Cincinnati), OH home 5:00 PM

May 2, 15 Archbishop Moeller, OH 1:00 PM

May 2, 15 Covington Catholic away 4:00 PM

May 4, 15 Boone County away 5:00 PM

May 5, 15 Cooper away 5:00 PM

May 6, 15 Holmes home 5:00 PM

May 12, 15 Covington Catholic home 5:00 PM

May 13, 15 Dixie Heights home 5:30 PM

May 15, 15 Conner home 5:00 PM

May 16, 15 Trinity (Louisville) away 2:00 PM

 

* IMO, the biggest issue is defense. This team did not play at the level that they should or could last year.

 

* This is a good hitting club. They will score runs. Where they get into trouble on occasion is by getting themselves out in hitters counts. I think their experience will be key to avoiding swinging at those borderline strikes on 2-0, 3-1. If they can do that, they'll rake.

 

* Nice blend of power and speed. They can play small ball, they can steal bases, and they have guys who can find gaps.

 

* This team is a legitimate favorite. 2 out of 3 years as regional runners up will hopefully spur them to take the next step and win the 9th. Do they have the talent? Yep. Can they be beat? Absolutely. Looking forward to it. #bigbluewreckingcrew

You hit a lot of key points... They're loaded.... Gotta expect a big year from HHS.

It will be interesting to see how they work Doty into the mix... Maybe they'll save him until later in the year as they did Raisor last season.

It will be interesting to see how they work Doty into the mix... Maybe they'll save him until later in the year as they did Raisor last season.

 

He's got a live arm. I would not be surprised to see them handle him as they did Jones as a sophomore. Play him JV as a non-pitcher and use him on varsity as a pitcher. Raisor came up late in large part due to Jones' injury last year. I think they'll use Doty sooner.

This is the year Coach JB has been waiting on along with everyone else. Has a very experienced team with a loaded Coaching staff. That is where I think JB has done well in adding the right people throughout the program to grow and groom these kids as players. Looks to be an exciting year for the BIrds.

Very good breakdown of Highlands. I think they are the favorite along with Beechwood to win the 9th region but I think the region may be even tougher to get out of than it was last year. Ryle and Boone have the two best pitchers in the region with Ziegelmeyer and Purnell. I would not want to face one of those guys in the first round. Highlands staff is very deep which bodes well for them in a tournament where you have to win 3 games in 3 days. Should be another year of great 9th region baseball!

Looks like Jeremy is trying to win both the 9th region as well as the GCL South.

Looks like Jeremy is trying to win both the 9th region as well as the GCL South.

 

And he's working on the GCL Co-Ed. HHS scrimmages McNick on 3/14. It will also serve as the training session for NKBUA.

 

4 of the 5 games have been scheduled for Myrtle Beach:

 

* 3/31 v. Elmira (NY) @ 10AM - this game will be at the home field of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Class A minor league team affiliated with the Cubs)

* 4/1 v. Olentangy (OH) @ 8:30PM

* 4/2 v. Pittsford Sutherland (NY) @ 3PM

* 4/3 v. Elmwood (OH) @ 6PM

 

One more game for MB is yet to be added.

GoOD luck to the Birds this year. They definitely are loaded and should be contenders once again. Hope everyone stays Healthy.

Very good breakdown of Highlands. I think they are the favorite along with Beechwood to win the 9th region but I think the region may be even tougher to get out of than it was last year. Ryle and Boone have the two best pitchers in the region with Ziegelmeyer and Purnell. I would not want to face one of those guys in the first round. Highlands staff is very deep which bodes well for them in a tournament where you have to win 3 games in 3 days. Should be another year of great 9th region baseball!

 

I agree Highlands and Beechwood are the early 9th region favorites. They are both loaded. Just remember it's a long season with many ups and downs and a lot can change over the course of a couple of months as the season progresses.

Talent and depth are there. Intangibles (willingness to listen, willingness to learn, enthusiasm for the game, do the small things, weather adversity with character, respect the game, etc.) will determine whether the team is underachieving, good or great. I am hoping for great.

 

If NKy gets a long stretch of good weather, their record will be much better. Many of the 1 v. 1 and 2 v. 2 matchups will be tossups. I like their chances in 3 v. 3 and BP games. (Of course, even with good weather, your 3 can matchup against someone else's 1 and you have a big hill to climb.) For the same reasons, if they are fortunate enough to win round 1 and round 2 of the 9th, they would have a good chance in the finals.

 

That said, only 4 regular season games really matter and they should comfortably avoid the 4 or 5 seed in district play which means you need to win 1 game to get to the 9th. If they can secure the #1 seed, that 1 game would be against the winner of the 4 v. 5 game. They would love to win the district (4th in a row?), but getting to 9th is the 1st goal.

 

They knocked on the door to state in 2012 and 2014 (lightly tapping with a 1st round exit to a solid arm from St. Henry in 2013). It is time to kick the door down in 2015!!! Go Birds!!!

So what is the word on the junior class? I have been hearing some troubling things going around and was wondering if someone could fill in the blanks please.

So what is the word on the junior class? I have been hearing some troubling things going around and was wondering if someone could fill in the blanks please.

 

Troubling how? No talent? Kids quitting? Bad attitudes?

So what is the word on the junior class? I have been hearing some troubling things going around and was wondering if someone could fill in the blanks please.

 

The only one I can think of is the Daughtery kid. He had some type of shoulder surgery and has had to miss basketball and now baseball. Not sure on any others.

The only one I can think of is the Daughtery kid. He had some type of shoulder surgery and has had to miss basketball and now baseball. Not sure on any others.

 

Is he out of basketball and baseball? Not to sure about that one just yet. Could have sworn I saw him warming up during the NCC and Bellevue basketball games.

 

What I am hearing is that some juniors have decided not to return to the program this year. Cannot confirm and do not know exactly who it is.