Highlands appears to be the clear cut favorite at this point. Pitching depth is a huge advantage. And the Birds can hit.

 

Beechwood, CovCath, and Boone are in the mix.

 

IMO it's going to take a great pitching effort to beat Highlands, as they are the best team on paper. Somebody's #1 is going to have to be dominant and win a 2-1 type game. Appears that CovCath is most capable of that.

Should be noted Highlands pitching has tossed 11 shutouts thus year which include wins over Elder, Henry Clay, LexCath, CovCath, Dixie.

Should be noted Highlands pitching has tossed 11 shutouts thus year which include wins over Elder, Henry Clay, LexCath, CovCath, Dixie.

 

Pitching has been excellent Q. However, the Henry Clay 7-0 game was a forfeit as HC used an ineligible player.

Pitching has been excellent Q. However, the Henry Clay 7-0 game was a forfeit as HC used an ineligible player.

 

Has that player not played since then?

Has that player not played since then?

 

KHSAA website shows several forfeits by Henry Clay so I would have to assume he played a few more games.

I see Highlands with their pitching as the favorite, which brings me to a question. Wouldn't you rather play Highlands in the first game of the regional rather than game 2 or the title game? If you play them in game 1, you get to go against them with your #1 pitcher versus likely being outmatched in pitching matchups in later games. You can't really control this as a team as you can't dictate who you play when. Just talking about how it could work out and how I think the best chance for someone to beat them would be in the opening game in the regional.

For me the best advice is to play them one game at a time starting tomorrow. If you try to plan too far ahead, you just might find yourself on the outside looking in.

For me the best advice is to play them one game at a time starting tomorrow. If you try to plan too far ahead, you just might find yourself on the outside looking in.

 

Who does highlands play tomorrow?

Who does highlands play tomorrow?

 

They do not play until Tuesday against the winner of Dayton and Newport.

Highlands' next game will be this Wednesday (5/20) at 5 pm at Bellevue.

This Highlands team has been in the building process for some time now. A lot of kids have played together for a lot of games throughout the years. Heck, I'm guessing about most have played together for better of 10 years. It reminds me of a team that was built and constructed about 15 years ago when Luke Maile and crew began their baseball careers as little boys only to grow into a machine in Ky Colonels and onto CCH. They rolled thru their senior year with a record of 33-4 only to lose to Beechwood in the 9th Region Championship.

 

Highlands has some of the same talent, no Luke Maile, but overall team/pitching talent arguably better. We will see in a few weeks if it can all come together for the Birds. I think it will. JB has given them the schedule to make them a better team by tough competition. They have responded and now need to keep it going. It's up to them now! Go Birds!

Highlands and Beechwood are clearly the two best teams in the ninth region. I would give a slight edge to Highlands as the best. I could see either one winning he ninth region. Two very nice teams.

Out of district 33

Boone

Ryle

District 34

Dixie

Ludlow

District 35

Cov Cath

Beechwood

District 36

Highlands

Bellevue

I would have Ryle, Dixie, Beechwood, and Highlands winning their districts. I'd expect the region title to go to Highlands or Beechwood, but it would be no suprise at all to see Cov Cath win it. All 8 teams could make some noise. Thoughts???

 

Boone and Ryle are headed to the regional tourney. Any info from the other districts?

NewCath beat Bellevue tonight

Shaping up to be a very entertaining tournament