Who is the favorite in the 13th in 2007? Middlesboro?

Id have to go with Mboro......they have everyone coming back from last years team. They should be tough, with a ton of pitching

Middlesboro would have to be the favorite. South Laurel will be tough. Watch out for Corbin and Bell also.

It will be hard for anyone in the region to beat South Laurel with Trey Smith on the mound.

South is tough with Smith on the mound, but what if they have to use him before the finals? I think M'boro is by far the top in the 13th. They have deep pitching and a great defense, their offense can break loose at anytime and put up double digits, just depends on which team shows up to play.

Would you say Whitley Co. has the youngest team with the least experience this year? If so what are their chances?

whitley lost 7 starters, they have some good young pitching that will have them in the running after this year if not by the end of this year.

All speculation you never know who will play and who may decide not to play. Baseball is the one sport that anything can happen just look at the region final last year in the 13th.

All speculation you never know who will play and who may decide not to play. Baseball is the one sport that anything can happen just look at the region final last year in the 13th.

 

What?? The two best teams played each other.

13th A -

 

You seem to be close to the Middlesboro program - any shake-ups, position changes, personnel changes, new faces in the works? That you can talk about?

 

Rumour is that Skip Frady will be back, but at Middle Infield, not behind the plate. Branham did well for a Freshman last season, but why wouldn't you want Frady at 2?

 

It's also rumoured that Breeding is going from 1B to the OF to make room for an underclassman. Is it Jones? I've often privately wondered why someone with Breeding's speed and arm was at 1B (OK, size & hands, I'm sure). But Jones is big, too, and has a serious stick.

 

My take on one possible Mboro 2007 lineup:

 

1B - Jones

2B - Hatmaker

SS - Earls

3B - Brooks (Pittman, Tolliver)

C - Frady (Branham)

LF - Breeding

CF - Hoskins

RF - Jake ?

 

Your take?

All I know is Middlesboro is loaded.

 

But I think South could be the favorite.

 

Dark horses.....

too numerous to name

South should be a handful when Smith is on the mound.

Well first of all, it is very early and I don't think anyone has much of a clue what the lineup is going to be like. The football players are just starting to come out and things still have a lot of shaping up to do. That being said, there have been some big improvements this off-season. Much of the team played summer baseball and elected not to play football so they could go full-force baseball in the fall. (long-tossing, hitting in the cage, lifting weights, etc.)

 

Brett Pittman has added a few mph on his fastball which will probably put him as the ace on this year's squad. Not only does he throw a hard FB but he throws it for a strike and has a great change to go with it.

 

Chris Tolliver who didn't get very many big games last year has also strengthened his arm quite a bit. He hit very well this past summer and it wouldn't be surprising at all if he starts at 3B.

 

Jake Partin worked on several things this past summer but most importantly, he played. Partin has never playe outfield before last season so the extra work this past summer should benefit a great deal.

 

If I had to project a lineup for next season, here is what it would be:

 

C- Branham- (needs to learn to block a little more consistently but was a good surprise last year)

1B- Jones (had a big summer and has better power than Breeding who hit 0 HRs last season)

2B- Frady (great glove and quick release, Hatmaker may regret not coming to workouts in the summer, could golf really be that time consuming?? i know the answer, it is most definitely not)

SS- Earls (very experienced player with great arm)

3B- Tolliver (prototypical 3B body with very solid stick)

LF- Breeding, Hatmaker (i don't know about this position)

CF- Hoskins- (good arm and very experienced)

RF- Partin- (big prospect with good power)

P- Pittman

So does Whitley Co. look that bad for the upcoming season or, are they just a young team? Who do you all see in their line-up this year? I know its probably a little early to talk baseball but, just curious.

Thanks for your take, 13th A.

 

I for one would like to see Jones at first. His power is needed, and I saw a big drop-off in OF play last season whenever one of the starters came out to pitch. Breeding seems to me to be more of a natural outfielder, which we need this season (BTW, he parked one in dead center against Bell last season).

 

I think that Brooks has to be in the lineup.

 

I have never seen Hatmaker play OF.

 

Not putting Branham down, but I think Frady has to play behind the plate. The difference between Frady and Branham at Catcher is much greater than the difference between Frady and either Hatmaker or Brooks at 2nd. IMO.

 

I think either Pittman or Tolliver will have to sub in the OF, along with playing 3rd either behind or alongside of Brooks.

 

Of course, these are kids, a lot can change in a year, and new players could be coming in with a lot to contribute. We, along with the Coaches, need to remember to keep an open mind. I'm looking forward to it!