With the spring like weather today, Cold and rainy, I thought I would start a hot stove Conversation about the upcoming 2016 season. Who will replace the awesome players that have moved on? Smith, Sims, Quillen and others.

 

More importantly, which teams have earned a target on their back?

Can Notre Dame continue their ninth region dominance and reload?

 

Has Ryle, with their 2015 tournament success put them at the top of the heap?

 

Will NCC be in the conversation despite lawnboy?

 

Thoughts?

Highlands should dominate their Region for sure

Highlands should be favored to win it but NDA and Ryle won't be far behind. NCC is in a rebuilding year but still have there pitcher. You cant ever count Conner or Boone out. St. Henry also should be pretty solid.

I think the Birds have as good a shot as any but certain teams/players sometimes give them fits.

With another year under their belts, they have some nice Senior Leadership. I think the four returning seniors have about 21 years combined of varsity starting experience. The coaching staff has done a nice job filling in the holes as seniors graduate but they have a big one with Quillen on to Thomas More. Best of luck to the Birds and all the NKY teams.

:eek:

With the spring like weather today, Cold and rainy, I thought I would start a hot stove Conversation about the upcoming 2016 season. Who will replace the awesome players that have moved on? Smith, Sims, Quillen and others.

 

More importantly, which teams have earned a target on their back?

Can Notre Dame continue their ninth region dominance and reload?

 

Has Ryle, with their 2015 tournament success put them at the top of the heap?

 

Will NCC be in the conversation despite lawnboy?

 

Thoughts?

 

Speaking of lawnboy....... can't wait for the top 10 players for 2016!!:eek:

 

Speaking of lawnboy....... can't wait for the top 10 players for 2016!!:eek:

 

I heard a certain school got a foreign exchange student that is "lights-out", she could be at the top of MY list this year. :clap:

With the spring like weather today, Cold and rainy, I thought I would start a hot stove Conversation about the upcoming 2016 season. Who will replace the awesome players that have moved on? Smith, Sims, Quillen and others.

 

More importantly, which teams have earned a target on their back?

Can Notre Dame continue their ninth region dominance and reload?

 

Has Ryle, with their 2015 tournament success put them at the top of the heap?

 

Will NCC be in the conversation despite lawnboy?

 

Thoughts?

 

Smith and Sims will not be replaced.....I think we have seen the last of the dominating 6 year varsity starting pitcher. Both Katelyn Baker (ND) & Olivia Henry (Conner) have some big shoes to fill, both are quality pitchers. Taking nothing away from Baker, who will be a Sr., Henry (Fr.) has the most up-side simply because of her age.

 

As for Whitney Quillen, she is another that will be hard to replace.....a true spark plug, who could change a game with her glove, bat, or speed.

 

As for the "target on their back", that belongs to Highlands. Coach Coffey has one hell of a bunch returning for the 2016 campaign, not one team in NKY returns what the "cake-eaters" from the Fort return. With what this team has returning (8 starters) and what most of the top teams lost to graduation.......if the Birds don't win it this year, who knows when they will ever win it again. Trust me, I'm not the only one in the NKY softball circle saying this.

 

Notre Dame was further hurt with Abby Jones moving mid-season last year. She would have easily been a Top 3 pitcher.

 

Ryle, who didn't have one senior last year, returns every starter from last years team. However, some of them were in 7th & 8th grade, but Coach Milburn returns two of the best in the region, Sr. catcher McKenzi Dickerson & So. SS Maclai Branson. While Jr. pitcher, Kennady Carson returns in the circle, word is Fr. Hannah Bishop, who missed all of last season due to an injury, will add to the Raiders pitching staff.

 

The Breds will go through some growing pains. Losing five 4 year varsity starters C, 2B, SS, 3B, & CF, is not an easy task to replace. Good thing is, the incoming Frosh class, who went 24-0 last season and compiled a two year record of 41-5 playing frosh teams, has a wealth of talent, but it will take some time and they will take their lumps. The key to it all is finding a catcher to handle Jr. Haley Meyers.

 

Can't wait for the season to start.

Where did Abby Jones go?

Out of State from what I heard. Moved during the first part of the season this past season. Not sure exactly where?

Where did Abby Jones go?

 

Her parents, who work from the same company, both got relocated to Indiana.

I missed (or forgot in my old age) that Miss Graybill committed to UL. That's big time. Congrats to her.

2016-The year of the Catcher in NKY

3 of the best this area has ever seen.

Gabrielle Stewart-St Henry

McKenzi Dickerson-Ryle

Shelby Graybill-Highlands

2016-The year of the Catcher in NKY

3 of the best this area has ever seen.

Gabrielle Stewart-St Henry

McKenzi Dickerson-Ryle

Shelby Graybill-Highlands

 

Can add to the 9th catcher bonanza.

Kennedy Baugh NDA

Alexis Snelbaker Conner

2016-The year of the Catcher in NKY

3 of the best this area has ever seen.

Gabrielle Stewart-St Henry

McKenzi Dickerson-Ryle

Shelby Graybill-Highlands

 

I think you're talking about seniors, but as far as catching, you also have Jrs Kennedy Baugh and Lexi Snelbaker are very good as well!

Highlands will definitely be the team to beat in the 9th Region.

 

Boone County usually doesn't get much talk in any of the preseason conversations but they do return all but 1 starter from a team that went 18-10 outscoring the competition 189 to 94 while playing a tough schedule. Last years schedule included teams such as Meade County, Woodford County, East Carter, and Milford, Oh. The 2016 schedule should be even more challenging.