15th Region Champion Johnson Central (32-9) battles it out with 9th Region Champion Highlands (23-17) in the opening round of the Rawlings/KHSAA State Tournament on Thursday @ 11:00a.m. Thoughts? Predictions?

Go Birds! :angrybird12:

Birds will win

I really don't know anything about Johnson Central at all. Anyone out there who does who would be willing to share some knowledge? Offensive team, defensive, both? Players to pay attention to...etc...

Went and looked at the JC schedule, and from the looks of it they have played a tough one. Several teams they own wins over Campbell Co., West Jessamine, CAL, PRP, Tates Creek, Butler, N. Laurel. However, they also were defeated by Greenup Co. 5-3, Scott Co. 1-0 in 8inn and Ryle 3-2 in 8inn. Of their 9 losses, 6 were by 1 run and 6 were in extra innings.

JC has a 1.71 team ERA. That's not too shabby.

Birds win 2-1

I'd say JC, a very young team that has only 3 SRs, finds their identity in being a defensive team rather than an offensive team. They have a nice rotation in Sophomores Tate Meade and Braxton Kelly, Junior Jacob Patton and Senior Josh Hitchcock. Meade is their power pitcher who can crank his fastball up to the 89-91 range with decent movement. Kelly is a mid to upper 80s guy that can mix in a good curve but his best pitch is probably his slider. Patton and Hitchcock neither have a really overpowering fastball but use their off-speed stuff well to keep hitters at bay. Hitchcock and Meade have state tournament experience as Meade was brought in to throw 3 innings against Tates Creek in 2014 and Hitchcock was the starter in their loss against eventual State Champ St. X. If I were guessing I'd say Hitchcock will be their starter for this game.

JC has a 1.71 team ERA. That's not too shabby.

 

Sure isn't!

Do you think when the Birds won the region , JC said...aw no, not those Bluebirds from Ft Thomas Highlands?!?!? They ruin everything....

Do you think when the Birds won the region ' date=' JC said...aw no, not those Bluebirds from Ft Thomas Highlands?!?!? They ruin everything....[/quote']

 

That is funny!

Hope to see a good game. Know nothing on JC other than what's been mentioned. I'm sure they are as eager as are the Birds. PLAY BALL

Is there a stream of the audio anyplace?

Is khsaa going to broadcast the games on the youtube channel again this year?

Is khsaa going to broadcast the games on the youtube channel again this year?

 

According to KHSAA they are only going to have the semi's and the finals and I am sure that you will have to pay for it. Sad that things have come to this point with high school athletics