Why is it that baseball and basketball do not get broken into classes. People are always complaining about a "Level Playing Field" when it comes to public vs. private; however, a single A school competing against a 4A school seems unlevel to me.

 

If there are going to be 8 teams go to Applebee's Park, why not have 2 from each class like the current football system. For that matter, make it 16 teams (4 from 4 divisions) and play a semi-final and final round for each division. In my opinion, this would generate much more interest and revenue for the KHSAA. What are some of your thoughts out there.

Call me old school but I like the current format. I know there is a lot of pro and con, for classes but Baseball is one sport where size can be negated, along with enrollment and not control the outcome of the game, like in Football.

I agree wholeheartedly with classification. I realize I'm shouting in the wind when it comes to basketball, so I'll just address the baseball issue. I have always felt that those who are shouting the most about "level playing fields" and inequalities among competitors are clearly the ones wh "get it" the least. They are spinning their wheels about private versus public (and as I predicted years ago, now independent versus county) when in fact, the most glaring inequalities exist in size of schools alone. Yes, I admit freely that there are situations where smaller schools can and do compete nicely on an infrequent basis. However, the exact same can be said for football, (NewCath over Ryle last season quickly comes to mind) yet we still understand that classification is necessary for continued, rational competition (Maybe not 6 classes but classification nonetheless). For a Bellevue to have to compete with Trinity, PRP, etc. in baseball (a sport that requires more than just 5 guys who can shoot and defend) is totally ridiculous and should be an embarrrassment to those bemoaning the perceived "advantages" of privates versus publics. I say drop your silly vendettas against privates schools only and look at the real and significant differences in enrollment and level of competition spread across the broad spectrum of High School competitive athletics.

I like it the way it is.

I don't think size can be neagted in baseballl. After a 30 game schedule in in basically 45 days I feel the larger school has a distinct advantage. 30 man roster with 5 or 6 of those kids that do nothing but pitch and are not playing alternate positions day in and day out. More rested, less chance of injury, more skilled because they can develop in one facet of the game????? I don't agree with 5 or 6 classes but in KY. I would like to see 3 or 4.

Keep it the way it is. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

NO CHANGE! NO CHANGE! NO CHANGE!

Here is a thread, where we discussed this topic and various opinions.

 

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=98459&highlight=Baseball+classes

If Beechwood or Lexington Christian never got to a state tourney, I would argue that baseball needs classification. Fact is, schools like that have built their traditions and have no trouble finding quality ballplayers. On the other hand in years to come as more and more big public schools establish their traditions, kids that live in Boone County won't travel to Kenton County to play for those private schools and that is when the smaller schools will suffer.

I don't think size can be neagted in baseballl. After a 30 game schedule in in basically 45 days I feel the larger school has a distinct advantage. 30 man roster with 5 or 6 of those kids that do nothing but pitch and are not playing alternate positions day in and day out. More rested, less chance of injury, more skilled because they can develop in one facet of the game????? I don't agree with 5 or 6 classes but in KY. I would like to see 3 or 4.

 

I understand everyone's plight and those on both sides have good arguements but this is a very very good point. I would not like to see a major division in Ky, however I do feel a 2 class syatem could be very effective for baseball much like that used by NCAA Division I, and Division I A. This type of class system in my opinion could be very beneficial. Have there be an A state champ, and a AA state champ and have them show down on the diamond for the true STATE Champion. Lets face it, any more the 3 classes would be silly and the talent in the upper echelons would all be very similar. However a two class system could be somewhat beneficial.

If Beechwood or Lexington Christian never got to a state tourney, I would argue that baseball needs classification. Fact is, schools like that have built their traditions and have no trouble finding quality ballplayers. On the other hand in years to come as more and more big public schools establish their traditions, kids that live in Boone County won't travel to Kenton County to play for those private schools and that is when the smaller schools will suffer.

LCC is an All A school about like I am Santa Claus. All A by numbers is the only thing they have in common with 99% of the other All A schools in the state. I am unfamilier with Beechwood's strategies but if they are legit All A then they are the exception rather than the rule. Public All A schools will never be able to compete in an unclassed baseball system with the exception of the ocassional miracle.:irked:

LCC is an All A school about like I am Santa Claus. All A by numbers is the only thing they have in common with 99% of the other All A schools in the state. I am unfamilier with Beechwood's strategies but if they are legit All A then they are the exception rather than the rule. Public All A schools will never be able to compete in an unclassed baseball system with the exception of the ocassional miracle.:irked:

I would have to agree. LCA was flat out loaded the year that they won it. It is hard for any school to get that type of team put together. Wonder how they did it? I know that none of those kids were recruited because that would be against the KHSAA bylaws.

 

 

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE HITTING FACILITY IN LEXINGTON? ISN'T IT SOMETHING LIKE LCA EDGE OR PLAYERS EDGE???

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE HITTING FACILITY IN LEXINGTON? ISN'T IT SOMETHING LIKE LCA EDGE OR PLAYERS EDGE???

Players Edge at the Chair Avenue block.

BullDog has it. It is time to put baseball into classes. The "purists" yowled and scowled when MLB went to their playoff format. Now you will never see them go back to the old. They know that is has been very successful. I think no more than three classes would cover baseball. That will be the only way to generate a "new generation" of interest in smaller schools and the athletes. The smaller schools cannot get a vision of competing and winning and going to a major play-off level. Please don't bombard us with certain small school success. Those schools are in a geographic area that compasses a large population even though their enrollment is small. That makes a huge difference in the caliber of their athletes.

I would have to agree. LCA was flat out loaded the year that they won it. It is hard for any school to get that type of team put together. Wonder how they did it? I know that none of those kids were recruited because that would be against the KHSAA bylaws.

 

 

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE HITTING FACILITY IN LEXINGTON? ISN'T IT SOMETHING LIKE LCA EDGE OR PLAYERS EDGE???

Good post and I like the hint of sarcasm. I couldn't agree with you more.:ylsuper: