Who are the potential candidates for the 2nd base spot? Outfield contenders: Krieger, Walkenhorst, Dougherty, and Beal...?

 

Could the Doty kid get a shot to play some 2nd base? Or are the coaches seeing him as more pitcher/catcher?

Also, playing varsity? Or does he play some JV as well?

Could the Doty kid get a shot to play some 2nd base? Or are the coaches seeing him as more pitcher/catcher?

Also, playing varsity? Or does he play some JV as well?

 

Meant for that to say, do they see him as a pitcher / catcher "only"?

 

Do they seem him playing varsity "only" or also JV?

 

My thought is, if Doty is gonna be a 4th or 5th pitcher... Why not let him play some 2nd base or somewhere so he can get more Varsity at bats?

 

Just a thought, thinking outside the box... Only if they don't already have a couple kids in mind for second base.

 

So you name 4 guys for outfielder spots, what happens to the three that do not take that spot? I will give my opinions on each after having seen them play. Kreeger has a solid bat, but may help this team quite a bit on the mound. No doubt he can play. Walkenhorst is a 1B and IMO has the best glove at that position than anyone in the program. Makes decent contact, but needs to be a stronger presence at the plate. Dougherty is currently injured and would be the best defensive outfielder of the bunch. Not as fast as Murray or Vennaman, but I would take my chances that he would get to as many balls or more than them in the outfield. Of the four, probably has the most power and would just need to be more consistent day in and day out. Beal is the fastest of the bunch and can go get them in the outfield as well. Speed is a plus on the basepaths, just needs to make better use of that speed by hitting the ball on the ground and working on bunting for base hits. All four of these kids could/would start at most programs in Northern Kentucky. Second base could be a big question mark. Perhaps Austin Mayhew can be more consistent with the leather and earn that spot. Has a nice bat which would be a plus for sure.

Both Walkenhorst and Dougherty can bring a left handed bat to the line-up which could be a plus in their favor. Krieger will be battling for the role of the 5th or 6th starter IMO with a top 4 of Jones, Martin, Raisor, and Bunning. Maybe it's time to start calling out who will provide middle relief if needed and who will close the games out.

What about Mitchel Cain at 2nd?

Both Walkenhorst and Dougherty can bring a left handed bat to the line-up which could be a plus in their favor. Krieger will be battling for the role of the 5th or 6th starter IMO with a top 4 of Jones, Martin, Raisor, and Bunning. Maybe it's time to start calling out who will provide middle relief if needed and who will close the games out.

What about Mitchel Cain at 2nd?

 

Cain would be a good choice, but it is my understanding that he is not playing. There are several kids that can pitch in addition to the 4 you mentioned. You have Ball, Kreeger, Doty, Walkenhorst, Heck, Casebolt and I believe that Hennigan and Venemann could pitch if need be. Interesting quandry for the coaches to have this year. Biggest issue may be sticking 6 or so juniors on JV and potentially keeping some decent younger kids from playing.

I seen Walkenhorst play a lot in the Summer. He played an excellent OF for the Bluegrass Lions and has a good approach at the plate. Kid takes the game serious and plays hard.

 

Agree with everything that you said here. Baseball is the game he loves. Just do not believe he is a better outfielder than the 3 mentioned with him, but IMO he is the best first baseman in the program at all levels.

Meant for that to say, do they see him as a pitcher / catcher "only"?

 

Do they seem him playing varsity "only" or also JV?

 

My thought is, if Doty is gonna be a 4th or 5th pitcher... Why not let him play some 2nd base or somewhere so he can get more Varsity at bats?

 

Just a thought, thinking outside the box... Only if they don't already have a couple kids in mind for second base.

 

First of all, Doty will pitch at the Varsity level and maybe even some at the JV level in order to keep him sharp and on schedule. He may catch some at Varsity level, but I do not see him playing everyday no matter where it is. Bat was a little suspect last year and there are kids in the program that hit better and more consistently that may find themselves playing JV again this year as well.

These are kids from last years roster that I know of that are playing/trying out. Jr's will be Sr's, So's will be Jr's, and so on.

 

 

 

32 Kenny Ball IF, P, C Jr. 12 Conner Kreeger So.

18 Lou Bunning P, 1B, OF Jr. 25 Joseph Martin 1B, 3B, P Jr.

Ethan Doty Fr. 5 Donnie Mills 1B, 3B Jr.

3 Grayson Heck IF, P Jr. 11 Brady Murray OF Jr.

13 Luke Hennigan C Jr. 21 Jacob Noe OF, P Jr.

2 Mitchell Jones OF, P Jr. 33 Ricky Raisor P So.

44 Todd Ramey 1B, 3B, C Jr.

6 Alex Veneman OF, P Jr. 4 Jake Whitford SS/2B Jr.

 

Not too shabby of a roster !!! Good Lord

Agree with everything that you said here. Baseball is the game he loves. Just do not believe he is a better outfielder than the 3 mentioned with him, but IMO he is the best first baseman in the program at all levels.

 

Did Walkenhorst opt out of Basketball voluntarily?

Won't Heck be the starting 2nd baseman?

 

Here is my list of starters..

 

1st. Martin/Mills

2nd. Heck

3rd. Ramey/Ball

SS. Whitford

LF. Murray/ Kreeger/Noe

CF. Venemann/Dougherty/Noe

RF. Walkenhorst

C. Hennigan/Doty

Won't Heck be the starting 2nd baseman?

 

Here is my list of starters..

 

1st. Martin/Mills

2nd. Heck

3rd. Ramey/Ball

SS. Whitford

LF. Murray/ Kreeger/Noe

CF. Venemann/Dougherty/Noe

RF. Walkenhorst

C. Hennigan/Doty

 

Forgot about Heck. My mistake.

I think 2B is Heck's to lose. He'll get first shot. However, I see Mayhew (as well as Kreeger as I think he could play IF) fighting for the 2B spot.

 

I don't think Doty will see many varsity at-bats. I think they will handle him the same way as they did Jones as Frosh/Soph. He will pitch varsity and play JV otherwise. He has a decent bat, but he needs to be more consistent. The only way to get there is to get more AB's, and that won't happen with the varsity on a day-to-day basis. One other thing, as good of a pitcher he is, his catching days may largely be done at HHS.

 

I think the Juniors (Walkenhorst, Dougherty, and Kreeger) and Noe fight it out for the RF spot. Whoever shows the most consistent bat, gets the gig.

 

I think you will see Noe in the role of reliever that was handled in past years by Liggett and Vermeil. Regarding Noe, he has the best change up on the staff.

 

The pitching staff is so deep that you will likely see them use one of their lefties to get one or two outs against quaiity left handed hitters. Not many high school teams can do that.

 

Finally, just because a player doesn't start the season with the varsity (or playing regularly) doesn't mean that he won't become a contributor. Neither Ramey in 2013, nor Raisor in 2014 were on the varsity roster initially. They did not travel to MB in those seasons, however, by the end, they were key contributors.

 

There will be a heck of a battle at DH. Mills and Ball both hit well last year, and if Martin is at first (which he will be most days he doesn't pitch), that means a solid hitter is on the bench available to PH.

 

The first few weeks will see a wide variety of line ups. Especially in MB given that the JV will also be going. JB is going to give the boys the chance to win spots.

 

#bigbluewreckingcrew

Any word on Rocco Pangallo trying out this year? Thought I heard during Football season that he was going to give it a shot.

Any word on Rocco Pangallo trying out this year? Thought I heard during Football season that he was going to give it a shot.

 

I know that Pat Schoepf is trying out, not sure on Pangallo. The problem is that the program is not in a state where they need kids to come to or back. Really do not see how a kid that has not played for 2+ years is going to make the team as a senior especially when you have underclassman that are already better.

I still think weather is going to be a huge factor in the first 1/2 of the season. If they get good weather, you will see a ton of arms, defensive alignments and opportunities. If the weather is bad, you have to make sure your "knowns" get their work in -- Jones, Martin, Bunning, Raisor, Noe, etc. get their innings / pitch counts; Mills, Martin, Whitford, Ramey, Murray, Venneman, Hennigan, Ball, etc. get their AB and innings in the field. Time to show themselves on the mound, 2B and RF will be short and those given a shot will need to make their mark. Alternatively, some highly skilled players will have to tear it up at JV and demand to be "brought up" a la Ramey in 2013.

 

Once you get to May 1st, rotations and lineups will probably be set and reps will go to those guys.

 

Good news is that unless it is a complete washout or lots of lightning, Varsity + select JV will get 60-70 innings in 5 days at Ripken in MB to show what they've got. With full turf fields (other than pitching mound and home plate), great drainage and a quality grounds crew running a professional organization, anyone that wants to show that they belong on Varsity / in a starting role, will have an opportunity to be seen.

 

Should be fun. Already wish I was going!!!

Sounds like catching instruction will be improved this year.

 

Sam Liggett has joined the staff.