Young, but a year older (Preview of CovCath)

[Theoldguy]

Young, but a year older

Covington Catholic counting on juniors to improve upon last year's success

BY TOM RAMSTETTER | TRAMSTETTER@ENQUIRER.COM

 

 

Covington Catholic cruised to its 21st consecutive 20-win season in 2007, finishing with a 29-10 record, a 35th District title, a Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference championship, a Doc Morris Tournament title and a runner-up finish at the Ninth Region tournament.

 

 

Not bad for what coach Bill Krumpelbeck called the youngest team he has coached in 32 seasons at CovCath.

 

"We started five sophomores last season," Krumpelbeck said. "Our strengths are young, talented players. Our weakness is youth. You need senior leaders to win championships at the high school level. We will have to overcome our youth and hope our juniors can lead beyond their years."

 

Those juniors are led by catcher Luke Maile, who is perhaps the top player in the region. Maile hit .405 in 2007, rapping out 53 hits and 22 extra-base hits, and set a school record with 66 RBI. Krumpelbeck said he is also an excellent defensive catcher.

 

"He has an awful lot of talent, one of the most talented players I've coached," Krumpelbeck said. "He already has (college) offers, and he hasn't even played his junior season yet."

 

Krumpelbeck said Maile, who was on a college visit this week, is the first player to get scholarship offers this early in his career since Todd Etler in 1992. Etler was picked by the Reds in third round of the Major League Baseball draft that year as a pitcher and later made it to Triple-A before an injury cut short his career.

 

"I've played with (Maile) since we were 8," junior shortstop Tyler Holocher said. "He's one of the best players I've seen. He's got great leadership and loves the game. He's hard-working, and he's the real deal."

 

Krumpelbeck said Holocher, who hit .302 in 2007 while starting at shortstop, is another key to the Colonels' success.

"He's one of the hardest workers I have on the club," he said. "He started at shortstop as a sophomore. That's pretty unusual. He always stays extra. He's always one of the last out of the cage, and he's just really serious about playing."

 

It's all part of the job, according to Holocher.

"I just try to help the team out any way I can, whether it's hitting, bunting, making the routine plays in the field," Holocher said. "I'm the only returning infielder we have, so I have to anchor down the infield."

 

In addition to Maile and Holocher, the other junior starters include Ryan Darner (.420, 28 RBI) at third base, Zack Isler (.333) at first base, Brandon Nutini (.261) in center field, Mitch Shover (.400) at second base and Brandon LaFever (.333) in the outfield.

 

Krumpelbeck said the pitching staff will be anchored by senior Dan Niehaus, who went 8-2 last season, Nutini (3-1), Ryan Sainola (3-0), and Isler.

 

"Ryan Darner swings the bat real good," Holocher said. "He hits for average, and he hits the gaps a lot. We should have a lot of experience for pitching with Niehaus and Nutini, who pitched in the regional finals. Sainola pitched in the regional semis, and Isler has been pitching varsity since he was a freshman."

 

Overall the Colonels shortstop expects another successful season.

"We look pretty good. We get good senior leadership out of the couple that we have, we have some experience and we are coming together pretty good," Holocher said.

 

"Coach tells us every day that our goal is to win state. I absolutely want to win the region. But our No. 1 goal is to win state."

[cch5432]

"Ryan Darner swings the bat real good," Holocher said.

 

:lol: What happened to grammar at CovCath? :sssh:

 

Seriously though the fact that this team has both Darner and Maile increases the amount of pitches they see and runs they score dramatically.

[The Great Game]

Even without Shover they are still probably the favorite in the 9th. A good question is if they are deep enough in their pitching staff to keep the top arms fresh down the stretch?

[Theoldguy]

Even without Shover they are still probably the favorite in the 9th. A good question is if they are deep enough in their pitching staff to keep the top arms fresh down the stretch?

 

 

That is indeed the 64 thousand dollar question not just for CovCath but any team in the Ninth.

 

For CovCath at least, it all depends on Sainola and whether or not he is back 100%. Niehaus, Nutini, and a healthy Isler are enough but if you add a 100% Sainola arm in, with the offense that CovCath should have this season, then you are looking at one tough team to beat.

 

[Theoldguy]

:lol: What happened to grammar at CovCath? :sssh:

 

Seriously though the fact that this team has both Darner and Maile increases the amount of pitches they see and runs they score dramatically.

 

 

He was misquoted maybe? :lol:

[cooperstown]

That is indeed the 64 thousand dollar question not just for CovCath but any team in the Ninth.

 

For CovCath at least, it all depends on Sainola and whether or not he is back 100%. Niehaus, Nutini, and a healthy Isler are enough but if you add a 100% Sainola arm in, with the offense that CovCath should have this season, then you are looking at one tough team to beat.

 

 

I look for sophomore Adam Warning to get some innings also. Maybe not against the top teams in the 9th just yet, but he is a very capable pitcher and should be an important member of their staff the next two years.

[cch5432]

I look for sophomore Adam Warning to get some innings also. Maybe not against the top teams in the 9th just yet, but he is a very capable pitcher and should be an important member of their staff the next two years.

 

:thumb: He was excellent against Dixie.

[Theoldguy]

I look for sophomore Adam Warning to get some innings also. Maybe not against the top teams in the 9th just yet, but he is a very capable pitcher and should be an important member of their staff the next two years.

 

 

Never in my life have I seen a mother who was so embarrassed, by what she (Mrs. Warning) said when her son pitched that game. She of course was rooting on her young son who for a frosh, was doing a great job, when a Dixie player got on base. The next batter hit a come backer to young Warning who turned to throw to second base to get a easy 1-6-3 DP. Well young Warning who I am sure wasn't use to pitching on a mound such as Dixie had at Turkeyfoot, took a step toward second base and forgetting that there was a pretty good step off, found the ball being thrown into center field. While I can assure you young Warning was embarrassed and rather upset with himself for the error, his poor Mother yelled out "Oh ^*#@" as the ball went sailing over the head of the infielder and into center field, and poor Mrs. Warning face went beet red, a second after she said the word, clearly heard by ever single CovCath fan at the game. BTW, she was congratulated by each and every one of the men who were watching the CovCath game for knowing her baseball. I don't think I will ever forget how red her face got.....:lol::thumb:

[CCH24]

As a matter of fact I think Chris Gerwe, if any sophomores, will throw this year over Warning. I have been told he has been looking much better than any other JV pitchers. Also, look for Krumme to get some relief innings this year for the Varsity staff.