To understand why Maile is leading off, you've got to think like the Covington Catholic coaching staff.

 

Maile hit around .400 last year, right? I have no idea what his on-base % is, but I can gaurantee you the #2 hitter will be a good bunter. Maile gets on base, gets bunted over, and it's up to the #3 hitter to drive him in.

 

Baseball is a simple game.

How many solo shots will he hit in the one spot vrs 2 or 3 run shots from the 3 spot? That will be interesting to watch.

The last time Krumps put one of his best hitters in the leadoff spot it worked out pretty well. Sean Ryan had a great year and led the Colonels to the state championship. Ironically, he too was a catcher.

 

It didn't hurt to have a guy like Timmy Grogan hitting in the 3 hole, though.

 

From what i have seen this year of Cov Cath I don't think a State Championship is in their future this year. It is early though

How many solo shots will he hit in the one spot vrs 2 or 3 run shots from the 3 spot? That will be interesting to watch.

 

Like you said earlier, there is only one real lead off at bat per game then it is random odds, which means there could very well be runners on base. Chances are he won't hit to many lead off bombs to start a game.

They need him to drive in runs with the way the pitching of Cov cath is not over powering by any means. Solo shots and double in the gap are always nice but not as nice as hitting a bomb or a double in the gap with 2 or 3 runners on.

But considering that Isler and Darner can hit those same shots, it would be nice to have atleast one runner on nearly everytime they are up.

But considering that Isler and Darner can hit those same shots, it would be nice to have atleast one runner on nearly everytime they are up.

 

True both talented players but not quite as power as Maile

True both talented players but not quite as power as Maile

 

 

Right, but if the 1-2 hitters don't get on with Maile in the 3 hole, it's still the same story, but with 2 outs. I still stay good look by Krumps, but I doubt it will last too much longer.

From what i have seen this year of Cov Cath I don't think a State Championship is in their future this year. It is early though

 

Agreed, they will have a hard time getting out of their district with Elliott for Beechwood and Roenker (spelling) for HC. Good pitching will shut down good hitting. I am not so sure that CCH has a pitcher that will be able to match these two guys in a one game playoff, unless they can get the #1 seed and sit back and watch these two battle it out.

I give credit where it is due and that was a good win for Cov Cath. They got it done when they had the opportunity and Ryle did not. I will say though that Ryle made Cov Cath's pitching look good by continuing to not swing the bats and not cashing in when they had the opportunities (still taking way to many called strikes, especially in key situations). We faced much better pitching this past weekend against E Town, Trinity and even though Ryle didn't hit fantastic we were at least able to put some runs on the board. Ryle better start hitting the ball or it will be a long road.

 

Or one could say that Cov Caths pitchers made Ryle's hitters look bad. BTW, not complaining but that was a tight strike zone. I thought Ryle's players adjusted to the strike zone well, but could not get any solid contact.

Or one could say that Cov Caths pitchers made Ryle's hitters look bad. BTW, not complaining but that was a tight strike zone. I thought Ryle's players adjusted to the strike zone well, but could not get any solid contact.

 

Maybe true, but so far this year Ryle's hitters have looked bad way too often. There are some very good ball players on this team who are really struggling right now at the plate.

One thing to remember this was a mentally tough outing for Isler. If you remember in last years Regional Tournament, it was Isler who got hit hard in the last inning. I think prior to that, he had only thrown around ten innings all season long and (BTW) this was only his second start as a HS pitcher. The only other start for him, came in his freshmen year, not a bad outing at all when the young man had to have all this on his mind, and it was only about three weeks ago that he was able to get off the floor and onto the diamond.

 

How many kids today earn three varsity letters, in all three major HS sports? Ice is the starting QB, was usually the first/second big man off the bench for Coach Listerman, and is of course a stud on the ball diamond.

One thing to remember this was a mentally tough outing for Isler. If you remember in last years Regional Tournament, it was Isler who got hit hard in the last inning. I think prior to that, he had only thrown around ten innings all season long and (BTW) this was only his second start as a HS pitcher. The only other start for him, came in his freshmen year, not a bad outing at all when the young man had to have all this on his mind, and it was only about three weeks ago that he was able to get off the floor and onto the diamond.

 

How many kids today earn three varsity letters, in all three major HS sports? Ice is the starting QB, was usually the first/second big man off the bench for Coach Listerman, and is of course a stud on the ball diamond.

I agree with you 100% OG, except the got hit hard part in the regional finals. I remember a lead off walk and some seeing eye singles, mostly opposite field.

I agree with you 100% OG, except the got hit hard part in the regional finals. I remember a lead off walk and some seeing eye singles, mostly opposite field.

 

He faced 4 batters. Walked the first one, single past the third baseman and two line shots to rightcenter.

He faced 4 batters. Walked the first one, single past the third baseman and two line shots to rightcenter.

Ryle won and in the end that is all that matters but DD be honest here. The hits were hits but they were opposite field loopers. If these are what the Ryle faithful consider line shots, I will have to reconsider how I viewed the hitters at Ryle last year.